Happy birthday, Mrs President? Hillary celebrates her 60th

[babsbunny]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article3101951.ece

By David Usborne in New York
Published: 27 October 2007
Elvis Costello is no Marilyn Monroe, but as anyone who attended Hillary Clinton's 60th birthday bash at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre on Thursday night will attest he is as skilled as anyone at turning song into political flattery. "Happy Birthday," he crooned as the evening wound up, "Mrs President".

If Costello, who had the backing on stage from the boys of the Wallflowers, was a bit ahead of himself – the 2008 vote is still a full year away – who can blame him? No one likes to get older, but optimism was the theme of the night and it was reflective of the mood surrounding Clinton these days.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. INCOMING!!!

:hide:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. How dare she have the greatest artist of the last 30 years sing for her?

The nerve.

[emilyg]

4. LOL.

[Kurovski]

17. Joni Mitchell was NOT in attendance!

Hmph!

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Wouldn't it be Madame President?

Or does the marital status of a female president still need to be indicated in speech?

[zanne]

6. That's what struck me right off.

It should be either Madame President or Ms. President. Anything but "Mrs." President. They may as well call her Mrs. Bill President.

[iverglas]

7. let me nip this in the bud!

It's Madam President.

Madame is not an English word!!

(Sorry: rant -- Canadian, and tired to death of women being called "Madame" in English as media and politicians do here incessantly when referring to French-Canadian women. PM Jean Chrétien's wife was called "Madame Chrétien", for instance; he was called Mr. Chrétien. The worst damn thing is that our recent female Governors General have been called "Madame" in English for no damn reason: Madame Clarkson, e.g. It's just plain putting on airs, and it is just ignorant.)

"Madame" is nothing more or less than the French equivalent of "Mrs." -- although it is now used as the equivalent of "Ms." as well. It the precise counterpart of Monsieur -- more or less literally, "my lord", "my lady".

"Madam" is the term as adopted into English that goes in front of a title: Mr./Madam Justice, Mr./Madam Ambassador, etc. "Mistress", or Mrs., the counterpart of Mr., would have done, but it has been firmly attached to the meaning "wife of", and isn't correctly used for anything else. (It isn't correctly used, period, in the 21st century, of course, when identifying women as "wife of" is just slightly passé.)

"Mrs. President" would, in archaic usage, be the wife of the president.

So Happy Birthday, Madam President, it may someday be.

One way or another, please let me not have to suffer through 4 or 8 years of hearing people say "Mrs. President" ...

[cuke]

9. I think "Mrs President" was meant to spoof Marilyn Monroe

but I would have to hear the audio to know for sure

What was Sir Elvis wearing?

[polichick]

12. Yeah, he messed up with that one...

And he didn't quite give it the hot and heavy delivery that was granted Mr. President so long ago ~ equal rights my ass! :)

[rodeodance]

5. Have a great day Hil. I raise a glass to you on this special day.

[Colobo]

8. Happy B-Day, Senate Majority Leader Clinton

President Obama sends his regards. :)

[cali]

10. huh? how could she ever be Madame Speaker?

She serves in the Senate, not the House.

[Colobo]

11. Minor gaffe there- thinking about Pelosi.

[Danieljay]

13. Why do you hate Hillary?

shh.. I know you don't but all the Hillary supporters will accuse you! Obama Rocks, he'd be a great vice president to Al Gore.

Less Al Gore of course, he'd make a fine president! When are he and Al gonna chat?

[emilyg]

14. in 2008

:hi:

[Colobo]

15. I like Hillary. I just think Obama would be a better president.

[Danieljay]

16. It was tongue in cheek. That being said, you are right, Obama would be a great President.

I'm just afraid Hillary or Obama couldn't win a general election. I know too many Dems (having lived in the past in the midwest) that would'nt vote for a woman or a minority when it came down to it.

Sad.

[zanne]

19. My thoughts exactly. nt

[LWolf]

18. Has she already been Selected while I wasn't looking? n/t