to think Donald and Melania will have trouble keeping the staff? [Title edited by MNHQ]

[yolofish]

Just thinking about it: can you imagine being the butler/maitre d/housekeeper/chamber maid etc at the White House and facing your employers changing from the Obamas to Don and Mel? I really do think they will have trouble hanging on to the domestic staff over the next few months

Some have told tales in the past, but in a good way. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend the movie The Butler.

I'm just wondering why the new first lady has any obligation to 'fill Michelle's shoes'?

Regardless of what we think of Trump, leave her out of it fgs. Trump was elected to office, not his wife.

Hairy, I suspect you have come to the thread after the title was edited.

Sufficient to say that the OP referred to Melania by a different name. If you read just the first few posts you will see what she called her and hopefully why people are saying it was so inappropriate.

Thanks for reminding me of that film Seneca. I made a mental note to watch it when it came out but had forgotten all about it

I'm just wondering why the new first lady has any obligation to 'fill Michelle's shoes'?

Regardless of what we think of Trump, leave her out of it fgs. Trump was elected to office, not his wife.

I think Americans have an expectation of their First Lady. Of course she doesn't have to be like Michelle Obama (I suspect she'd be utterly incapable of that anyway) but the the role of FLOTUS is one that people watch. They'll be expecting something of her other than wearing lots of fur and diamonds. Even though I imagine Melania sees herself as more of a Jackie Kennedy than an Eleanor Roosevelt.

I think Americans have an expectation of their First Lady

I think they do - I think being FLOTUS is actually a job, rather than just being his wife. She will have her own staff, her own office, but not a salary - so yes there are some expectations that go beyond just wearing nice clothes and looking pretty

Nancy Reagan had quite a powerful role when Ronald was in his last stages.

I don't think they have to be as full on as Michelle Obama though? I'm sure I read she saw herself as being more of a jackie Kennedy. She does speak 5 languages she must be reasonably intelligent, don't get all the hate directed at her here.

The Butler is a great film and there's a good book as well about behind the scenes stuff in the White House, fascinating read. It's called The Residence, interviews with lots and lots of different staff. Some of whom have served several presidents.

Laura Bush was no Michelle Obama, but no one cared.

There's nothing wrong with Melania taking on a Laura Bush-type role.

Perhaps because her era was pre Michelle Obama?

Besides if I remember correctly Laura Bush got behind children's literacy as her main cause. And Michelle Obama's was childhood obesity/healthy living. Melania will probably be encouraged to find something similar. I don't think re-decorating the White House (as Jackie Kennedy did) will cut it these days.

I don't think name calling, mockery or snideness achieves anything other than showing how spiteful and immature you are OP. Enough misogyny already. Can we try to behave a little more like adults?

Which makes no difference. Michelle Obama is the exception, not the rule.

As for the literacy thing, considering what an abject disaster "No Child Left Behind" was (Bush's policy), that's just laughable.

Which makes no difference. Melania will still be expected to be seen to be doing something worthwhile.

Mitzy And she's been in for less than 4 days, so how about giving her a chance instead of assuming that she'll just be a vapid waste of space?

Um. She's not in yet actually.

Argue semantics some more Mitzy.

Stop being so peevish. It's not semantics, it's fact. She won't become First Lady until the end of January. That's when the job begins, so she she has a few weeks thinking time about what she sees her role entailing.

First of all you gotta believe she will last long enough (in the White House) to 'bling' it out.
If she does then the West wing will probably be turned into some gharish nauseating color enough to kill a fly.

Every First Lady takes on some cause I thought? as in, it's an informal requirement of the job? I read today that Melania intends to make cyberbullying her cause.

First of all you gotta believe she will last long enough (in the White House) to 'bling' it out.
If she does then the West wing will probably be turned into some gharish nauseating color enough to kill a fly.
You utter snob. At least she won't steal the furniture like Hillary.

Mitzy Makes no difference to anything I said. She will be FLOTUS. What she chooses to do is up to her, and there's no point criticising her 4 days after Trump was elected for something she may or may not do.

Yes indeed, she will be FLOTUS. No flies on you............

Time will tell what kind of FLOTUS she turns out to be. But as with all First Ladies she'll be in for a lot of scrutiny now, then, and beyond. I'm sure she herself is aware of this, so no point getting distressed on her behalf.

I have a lot of respect for Michelle Obama but I don't think we should hold her up as a feminist role model. She was Barack's mentor early in their law careers but he got to be president and make important decisions and she has some campaigns and wears nice clothes. Her campaigns are worthwhile but it's not like being the actual president or Secretary of State or anything, is it?

There's an excellent documentary on the White House staff that people could do with watching, it's called iirc Inside The White House and interviews members of staff going back to Reagan. They're not backwards in coming forwards in their opinions of the presidents and their families and the programme gives a very good overview of what goes on behind the scenes.
The Trumps are used to having staff. They'll know how to handle them. The first family will have plenty of support from people with a vested interest in making sure everything 'behind the scenes' runs as smoothly as possible so that DT can concentrate on not fucking up that much