Any news from Michelle Kwan these days?

[CoyoteChris]

Guess I assumed she would appreciate a position in the state dept or another govt dept that she had a passion for. I never saw her as a politician per se in my mind. Just because the horse she backed lost the race (If Jill's recount doesnt turn the tables) doesnt mean she isnt qualified nor that she would be turned down for such a position. If such positions are truely patronage, then she needs to mearly wait four years for "The Empire Strikes Back". I wish her well and I bet she lands on her feet.

 

[Mathman]

Guess I assumed she would appreciate a position in the state dept or another govt dept that she had a passion for. I never saw her as a politician per se in my mind. Just because the horse she backed lost the race (If Jill's recount doesnt turn the tables) doesnt mean she isnt qualified nor that she would be turned down for such a position. If such positions are truely patronage, then she needs to mearly wait four years for "The Empire Strikes Back". I wish her well and I bet she lands on her feet.

I agree entirely with everything in this post.

Michelle does have a passion for the causes that she advocates for, and I am sure that she greatly appreciated and enjoyed her positions at the State Department. As for what the future might bring, no crystal ball here. But Donald Trump, whatever his faults may be, at least has the virtue that he likes skating and skaters.

About patronage, I assume that the sort of position that Michelle held is in the hands of the Secretary of State, or more likely, of the department heads within that huge bureaucracy. There are many career diplomat types who are not hired and fired when there is a change at the top.

As an aside, if Mitt Romney is selected as Secretary of State -- who knows -- an opportunity might develop for Kristi Yamaguchi, if she should have any interest. Kristi worked with Romney on the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and supported his candidacy in 2012. She even made a commercial for Romney which aired during the London summer games.

http://images.politico.com/global/2012/07/kristi_romney_ap_605.jpg

 

[CoyoteChris]

I agree entirely with everything in this post.

Michelle does have a passion for the causes that she advocates for, and I am sure that she greatly appreciated and enjoyed her positions at the State Department. As for what the future might bring, no crystal ball here. But Donald Trump, whatever his faults may be, at least has the virtue that he likes skating and skaters.

About patronage, I assume that the sort of position that Michelle held is in the hands of the Secretary of State, or more likely, of the department heads within that huge bureaucracy. There are many career diplomat types who are not hired and fired when there is a change at the top.

As an aside, if Mitt Romney is selected as Secretary of State -- who knows -- an opportunity might develop for Kristi Yamaguchi, if she should have any interest. Kristi worked with Romney on the 2002 winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and supported his candidacy in 2012. She even made a commercial for Romney which aired during the London summer games.

http://images.politico.com/global/2012/07/kristi_romney_ap_605.jpg

I think both Kristi and MK would do well in the state dept although I have my doubts they would want to move to a foreign office post away from their relatively young families. But there are pleanty of local positions they could fill. I agree that while the upper echelon jobs are de facto patronage positions, many are not. I am pulling for Mitt as I think he has a brain, a heart and is moral. He will have a tough job to do with many worries but appointing or smoothing the path into the state dept for intellegent caring moral skating types is not a bad idea...he could do a while lot worse.

 

[Mathman]

These posts are extremely misguided. I worked on the campaign as well and can attest to how much Michelle genuinely cares about issues. She isn't doing this to meet famous people, get praise, or post on her Instagram. She cares about promoting the AAPI community, about protecting those with disabilities, about making our country fairer and stronger. She worked extremely long hours seven days a week for the campaign and every single staff member appreciated the hard work she did. She was not in charge of "organizing the other employees and volunteers," she was in charge of making sure that other surrogates were willing and able to promote the campaign's message on a variety of platforms. So she may have well used her celebrity to do that, but she did it to do help the campaign and in the interest of her country. She is not a politician, so I don't think it's even fair for you to make these invalid characterizations -- she has been a dedicated staff member to causes she believes in. Nothing is wrong with that.

Thanks for the first-hand report.

I think both Kristi and MK would do well in the state dept although I have my doubts they would want to move to a foreign office post away from their relatively young families. But there are pleanty of local positions they could fill. I agree that while the upper echelon jobs are de facto patronage positions, many are not.

Good point. I doubt if Kristi would want to leave California (although at one time her husband owned homes in North Carolina and in Minnesota). But I think that both Michelle and her husband would be quite at home based in Washington, D.C. and maybe traveling about the world on special occasions. Clay’s last regular job was in the Department of Education, overseeing foreign language education in U.S. schools.

Part of Michelle’s job in the Obama administration was service on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. This organization promotes various fitness programs for children and also pushes on Title IX issues.

There is a professor of kinetics and sports medicine at Michigan State who advises the Council on scientific data and medical research. He refers to people like Michelle as the “face people” – that is, the sports celebrities, etc., who give pep talks, hold media interviews, and the like, in support of the Council's programs. (Gymnast Dominic Dawes is one of the co-chairs.)

I am pulling for Mitt as I think he has a brain, a heart and is moral. He will have a tough job to do with many worries but appointing or smoothing the path into the state dept for intellegent caring moral skating types is not a bad idea...he could do a while lot worse.

I think (hope) that President-elect Trump realizes that negotiating and carrying out U.S. foreign policy is not a joke to be handed out to a clown. Romney's biggest competitor for the job is Rudy Giuliani.

 

[Dee4707]

I think (hope) that President-elect Trump realizes that negotiating and carrying out U.S. foreign policy is not a joke to be handed out to a clown. Romney's biggest competitor for the job is Rudy Giuliani.

Couldn't agree with you more!!!

 

[Mathman]

One of the most interesting things that I noticed from following Michelle’s campaigning journey on social media was this.

The millennial generation and college students in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander groups that she spoke to were children when Michelle was skating in the late 1990s. Many of them, in thanking Michelle for coming to their campus or group meeting, told the same story. That when they were children growing up, they never saw an Asian face on TV. It was like they didn’t exist.

But once in a while there was a skating competition, and there was Michelle Kwan, representin’ like crazy.

 

[CoyoteChris]

One of the most interesting things that I noticed from following Michelle’s campaigning journey on social media was this.

The millennial generation and college students in the Asian-American and Pacific Islander groups that she spoke to were children when Michelle was skating in the late 1990s. Many of them, in thanking Michelle for coming to their campus or group meeting, told the same story. That when they were children growing up, they never saw an Asian face on TV. It was like they didn’t exist.

But once in a while there was a skating competition, and there was Michelle Kwan, representin’ like crazy.

I never thought about the dearth of Asians on TV till I looked it up just now...sure, there was Lucy Lui and Connie Chung and a certain Star Trek officer. But there were a few...here are the top 100. Many obscure, some famous.
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls003469884/

Chris who is old enough to remember Keye Luke, Charlie Chan's number one son.

 

[Mathman]

Thanks for the list! But where is Nancy (Suzie Wong) Kwan?

Here she is, enjoying being a girl in Flower Drum Song.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/eb/08/5c/eb085cc29337b4e70c0ba89a04e6453d.jpg

I see that this list was compiled by peggyfrommannix (Gail Fisher, one of the first black actresses to portray a serious character on TV.)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/01/38/db/0138db909bddddd55f263effbe8ddac0.jpg

 

[CoyoteChris]

Thanks for the list! But where is Nancy (Suzie Wong) Kwan?

Here she is, enjoying being a girl in Flower Drum Song.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/eb/08/5c/eb085cc29337b4e70c0ba89a04e6453d.jpg

I see that this list was compiled by peggyfrommannix (Gail Fisher, one of the first black actresses to portray a serious character on TV.)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/01/38/db/0138db909bddddd55f263effbe8ddac0.jpg

I LOVE that piece from Flower Drum Song....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjWn-ueeeLw
We need Mirai to skate to it....or Mao!

 

[Mathman]

Oh no! Just when you think you are out, they pull you back in!

GoLocal Politics in Rhode Island is floating the possibility of Michelle's husband running for governor of Rhode Island again next year. :eeking:

They say that despite making "rookie mistakes" the first time around, he might be just the ticket to mount a challenge on the left to the current governor, Gina Raimondo. Raimondo, in the opinion of these authors, has not made good on her economic promises. They see her as having some of the same liabilities as Hillary Clinton -- political insider, beholding to big money Wall Street interests, and anti-union. They are casting Clay Pell in the Bernie Sanders role, to rally the progressive voters in this almost totally Democratic state.

http://www.golocalprov.com/politics...mocratic-primary-like-sanders-beat-clinton-in

Among his assets:

Fourth, there is the Michelle Kwan factor. Yes, she campaigned for Clinton, but her youth - and star-wattage - are not to be taken lightly.

Thus, with Trump in Washington and a perceived unfriendly Raimondo in the Governor’s office the public unions in Rhode Island need a dramatic victory — Pell with his name recognition, millions and dynamic wife could be just the answer.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Oh no! Just when you think you are out, they pull you back in!

GoLocal Politics in Rhode Island is floating the possibility of Michelle's husband running for governor of Rhode Island again next year. :eeking:

They say that despite making "rookie mistakes" the first time around, he might be just the ticket to mount a challenge on the left to the current governor, Gina Raimondo. Raimondo, in the opinion of these authors, has not made good on her economic promises. They see her as having some of the same liabilities as Hillary Clinton -- political insider, beholding to big money Wall Street interests, and anti-union. They are casting Clay Pell in the Bernie Sanders role, to rally the progressive voters in this almost totally Democratic state.

http://www.golocalprov.com/politics...mocratic-primary-like-sanders-beat-clinton-in

Among his assets:

But but but....Gina broke the glass ceiling in Rhode Island! Reduced payday loan interest rates! On the other hand, we could all register in RI and we GSers have enough votes to put MK...er...Pell over the top! I wonder how big the Gov's mansion is in RI?
The GS party victory party is on!

 

[heyang]

Can't believe she is 36. If you look at the donor political records from California, you will find that Michelle gave to the Republican party during that period, never to a Democratic candidate. Wonder why the change occurred in party and when?

There were Republicans who decided that they couldn't support a Trump candidacy. It's as simple as that IMHO.
Michelle got to know HRC while working within the Obama administration. I suspect they advocate for many common causes - women's rights, children, etc
Trump's comments during his campaign turned off many female voters.

 

[heyang]

Couldn't agree with you more!!!

I'm from the NYC/NJ/CT tri-state area and I have lost all respect for Guiliani's sycophantic behavior during the campaign. Glad Christie's out of the running for a key role, as well.

 

[Mathman]

...I wonder how big the Gov's mansion is in RI?…

I just looked it up. Rhode Island is one of five states that does not have a governors's mansion. (They tried to build one once but ran out of money.) Mrs. Raimondo lives at home.

The article mentions that even so, one Rhode Island's governors spent a year at the Big House for corruption and bribery. (They weren't talking about the University of Michigan football stadium. )

http://www.630wpro.com/2015/06/29/why-doesnt-ri-have-a-governors-mansion/

 

[CoyoteChris]

I just looked it up. Rhode Island is one of five states that does not have a governors's mansion. (They tried to build one once but ran out of money.) Mrs. Raimondo lives at home.

The article mentions that even so, one Rhode Island's governors spent a year at the Big House for corruption and bribery. (They weren't talking about the University of Michigan football stadium. )

http://www.630wpro.com/2015/06/29/why-doesnt-ri-have-a-governors-mansion/

Ha! Four of the last seven Illinois governors went to jail!
http://abc7chicago.com/archive/8973798/

Idaho was given the Simplot family mansion for a Gov's residence, but they decided that even for free, the price was too great so they gave it back to the Simplot family, who decided to demolish it instead of paying taxes on it. Is this a great country or what?
http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article52947515.html

 

[Mathman]

^

 

[NanaPat]

Idaho was given the Simplot family mansion for a Gov's residence, but they decided that even for free, the price was too great so they gave it back to the Simplot family, who decided to demolish it instead of paying taxes on it. Is this a great country or what?

The Canadian Prime Minister lives at 24 sussex Drive. Don't know if it was given to the government, but it was originally a family home (mansion). It is in such bad repair that the current Prime Minister doesn't live there. He lives in a renovated "cottage" a few doors down on the grounds of the Governor General's house.

The National Capital Commission wanted the previous PM to move out so they could do needed repairs, but he refused because of the optics: wasting the taxpayer's money and maybe not being seen as a real PM if he didn't live at 24 Sussex. The new PM has young children and agreed to a change of housing as soon as they told him about the asbestos. And mold. The previous PM also had children, but I think they were a bit older when the issue of moving came up.

 

[CoyoteChris]

The Canadian Prime Minister lives at 24 sussex Drive. Don't know if it was given to the government, but it was originally a family home (mansion). It is in such bad repair that the current Prime Minister doesn't live there. He lives in a renovated "cottage" a few doors down on the grounds of the Governor General's house.

The National Capital Commission wanted the previous PM to move out so they could do needed repairs, but he refused because of the optics: wasting the taxpayer's money and maybe not being seen as a real PM if he didn't live at 24 Sussex. The new PM has young children and agreed to a change of housing as soon as they told him about the asbestos. And mold. The previous PM also had children, but I think they were a bit older when the issue of moving came up.

24 Sussex Dr. looks like some nice digs. I hope they fix it up and keep it for the PM.

 

[NanaPat]

24 Sussex Dr. looks like some nice digs. I hope they fix it up and keep it for the PM.

There is discussion to whether it's better/cheaper to fix it or just tear it down and build something new. There is a proposal to fix up the current residence for "official" use only and build something new (don't know if annex or separate building on the grounds) for the PM and his family to actually live in. That sounds like a viable plan, though probably the most expensive alternative!

 

[CoyoteChris]

There is discussion to whether it's better/cheaper to fix it or just tear it down and build something new. There is a proposal to fix up the current residence for "official" use only and build something new (don't know if annex or separate building on the grounds) for the PM and his family to actually live in. That sounds like a viable plan, though probably the most expensive alternative!

Well, it would make a nice museum! But tradition and beautiful archatechture that can not be duplicated today stand for something too. Many British country homes were simply blown up as the families that inherited them could not afford the new taxes. Thankfully, the English found a way in their hearts to save some of them so I could enjoy Downton Abby and Jane Austin DVDs....or at least I think that was the reason.... I hope every Canadian gives a looney so that the building stays the residence.
Chris who is trying to convince the British to burn down Washington DC again....