Michelle Obama’s Next Move

[DonViejo]

Dec 3, 2012 12:00 AM EST

What’s next for our incredibly popular first lady?

Chatting with a group backstage on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October, Michelle Obama made it clear that she wasn’t thinking about what she might do in the future. “I’m just looking ahead to getting Barack back in office and continuing the work he’s been doing,” she said. “Supporting him is my focus.”

But others think the first lady—who spent the past four years seeking to better the lives of military families and fighting to end childhood obesity before becoming one of the stars of her husband’s reelection effort this fall—could have bigger things ahead of her, if she so chooses. “Michelle is Superwoman. What can’t she do?” Samuel L. Jackson recently told Newsweek. “That’s why people love her. She can be on the Supreme Court and anywhere else she wants. She can be the president. She’s history and she’ll stay history because she is so amazingly smart and together.”

Jackson isn’t the only person thinking along these lines. “I’d love to see her get more into politics because it would be a breath of fresh air in D.C.,” says Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. “She’s honest and straightforward, which is not what you see in Washington much. She is exactly what we need around here.”

Yet therein lies the contradiction of Michelle Obama: a woman who is perhaps one of the most skilled politicians of our time seems to have little interest in pursuing politics herself. “Nothing she’s done indicates she wants more power on the national or international front,” says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. “Yet everyone else says she has to have it.”

One top White House official is dismissive of the possibility that Michelle would go the Hillary route and become a politician. “Michelle Obama doesn’t have the temperament for the constant b.s. that goes on in D.C.,” says this official. “She watched her husband fight fights that he shouldn’t have to. She’s seen the ugly side of Washington up close and personal and has no interest in dealing with that firsthand. I think she knows there are other ways to impact the system from the outside in. She’ll find those, but it won’t be through public office. That’s not who she is.”

more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/12/02/samuel-l-jackson-and-other-on-michelle-obama-s-next-move.html

[BeyondGeography]

1. Don't ever see her joining in the DC petty party

Worth thinking about I guess, but this article is mostly about filling space.

[PoliticalBiker]

2. FLOTUS

As amazing as I see Michelle is, I wouldn't want to see her in public office... at least not in an elected role.
Elected offices are full of bullshit and is not something I see necessary for her to have to put up with.
Perhaps an appointed office, but even that would be too close to the D.C stink cloud.
Head of charitable organizations could be a possiblity. One where she is able to excercise her passion to make a difference for the good of all without having to be beholden to a particular party philosophy.
I could also see her on the SCOTUS. She is far more intelligent than most on that bench anyway. Her grasp of the effect of decisions made there and the impact to the majority of Americans is so far above those like Alito, Scalia and Roberts it's laughable.

[Hekate]

3. SCOTUS is far-fetched. She may be qualified, but she's the President's WIFE

Doesn't the author of that article understand the firestorm such a nomination would cause? Because that's all the President can do: nominate. Congress has to confirm, and it would be ugly past belief.

Michelle has better things to do with her time -- and I know she will do them.

Hekate