I’ve always had a soft spot for Laura Bush ever since I heard her hobbies were reading and smoking (even though I gave up the latter 13 years ago). And also because (and Jeff alludes to this a bit) there’s something a little subversive about her, something that makes you think that she doesn’t really give a damn about living up to everyone else’s expectations of the First Lady, regardless of how many inner-city tots or breast cancer survivors they make her pose next to. Wearing the beaded beige sofa cover to a gathering of over-thin, over-dressed, over-botoxed society matrons? Kind of flipping them the bird, I thought. She could look stunning if she wanted to, but I think she wears those ill-fitting, muddy-colored, boxy pantsuits as another middle finger to the world.

On the other hand, there’s no excuse for touring Europe in that wrinkled blue suit. She’s the First Lady — doesn’t anyone in her entourage know how to use a travel steamer?

That last seems a bit unfair, Jeff; do you really think the Obamas are going to push policy to meddle in individual family squabbles?

However, here’s a trick I found useful over the past 20 years or so: Keep repeating, “He’s a president, not a king.” Even assuming he gets a Democratic Congress, I expect a very different President Obama than candidate Obama. As for more government direction for the economy, I’d be pleased if they just closed the Enron loophole.

I don’t think we know yet quite how we want to look at political spouses, but off limits is off limits. They matter, and that’s not gonna change.

That said, i can’t see any room for objection to Michelle Obama other than that she supports and affirms the idea that her husband is quite a bit more socialist-y liberal than he’s trying to come across. She’s not out ahead of him, or leaning in a whole ‘nother direction (the latter being the vibe i suspect people correctly get from Laura, ironically just as we did from Barbara Bush).

My hesitation with the Obamas generally is a clear preference to having more governmental direction of the economy, individual lives, and odd details of family life (for a preview of coming attractions, check GoogleNews with “Quebec, field trip, custody”). But Michelle would be a fine First Lady, even if i didn’t support ninety percent of her husband’s political agenda — and i probably wouldn’t support at least fifty percent of McCain’s: it’s all a matter of degree.

I’d rather not get into it over the candidate’s wives’ styles. It just serves to demean and/or obscure their true selves and their real contributions. Same as the endless freakin’ discussions about Hillary’s pantsuits. Can we talk issues? The commenters here are always so thought-provoking. Or, maybe we talk about John McCain’s sartorial choices? Who’s dressing him this week?