Think about one quarter of your life. Now imagine your father's been campaigning for that long. Check out how much Malia Obama, age nine, has grown since her Dad started his candidacy for President (the first photo was taken February 2007; the second in May 2008):
This time they're in Maui, and what's eerie is how much she looks like her Mom in this beach photo.
I'm wondering if Soren is with Chelsea as she visits Montana, a state with extensive hiking possibilities. Maybe tiny New York dogs prefer peeing on sidewalks and fire hydrants. Chelsea's still campaigning hard for her mom, and bloggers everywhere pounced on her Dad's hint in People that she might run for office herself someday. And, wow, can that girl dance:
Heather Brand of mccainblogette was the only official photographer allowed inside the gates at the McCain Sedona Memorial Day Bash, but even she couldn't provide us with photos of Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal, or Charlie Crist (who are all getting the buzz about becoming veep candidates). What she did give us, though, is a great new photo of Bridget McCain, who looks like she at least was having a good time at the barbecue.
If Bridget McCain, who's used to crowds without too many other brown faces around, was at the ranch in Sedona this past weekend for the big McCain barbecue, she had a nice surprise. There were two other Americans with South Asian roots there -- Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and his beautiful wife Supriya. I can just picture Supriya and Bridget chatting in a shady corner, can't you?
Photo Source: Mark V. Genre via Creative Commons
Rock the Vote is looking for summer interns to bring out the youth vote this November and get a ground-level introduction to political activism. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but the final deadline is May 30, 3008.
... and the First Daughter wasn't talking about Japanese horror movies and X-men. Back from her European honeymoon, she described her father getting choked up and her mother's reaction to a storm that hit the ranch the day before the Wedding:
"It was a slight disaster," Jenna said of a storm that caused part of the wedding tent to blow away a day before the reception, getting everything wet and toppling the band's set-up for the next day.
"We named my mom, although she's not this...she may kill me afterwards, 'Mommy-Zilla,'" said Jenna, explaining how her mother helped repair the preparations that had been compromised. "Well, just cause I didn't really care. And thank goodness she was 'Mommy-Zilla' because she did everything. Is that mean?"
Laura laughed and jokingly said, "Yeah. I'm insulted."
If you're a blogger, you feel a strange connection with Meghan McCain during this campaign. You figure that, like you, she must check her site stats regularly to see who's visiting from where and for what. You're happy to catch her reading her own posts on-line while snacking (because your keyboard gets Pop Tart jam on it sometimes, too). And you'd bet a pricey meal that she googles the name and URL of her blog every now and then to track down the buzz. Hey, that stuff comes with the territory. Of course, you're probably not blogging in a private jet with leather seats and First Class service, but still ...
Malia and Sasha weren't in school yesterday. They joined their parents on the trail in Des Moines, Iowa instead, probably because it's looking like their father's going to clinch the Democratic nomination soon, and they want to be there when he does. Sasha can tell you that he's a serious, focused competitor -- and fun, too:
When you're an ex and wannabe First Daughter at the same time, even what you buy at a quick grocery store stop makes the news. The Eugene Register-Guard gives us the shopping list (along with a gorgeous photo of Chelsea):
Clinton emerged Monday from a white stretch Ford Suburban SUV, wearing jeans and a white jacket ... Accompanied by her chief of staff, Bari Lurie, the 28-year-old Clinton first picked out two green apples from the produce aisle. Then she loaded up on pretzels, popcorn, a dozen cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, Special K bars and, in a seemingly impulsive purchase, a large plastic jar of nuts-and-M&Ms trail mix ...
Clinton placed two 12-packs of soda under her arm (Mountain Dew and Diet Coke) and found her way to the checkout line. She paid in cash.
“This is like our royalty,” marveled Mary Linn, a Fred Meyer pharmacy technician who joined co-workers watching Clinton at the checkout line. “OK guys, she’s normal: She’s getting chocolate,” Linn said.
Meghan McCain shows off photos of her beautiful sister Bridget, aka "Lil' Peanut," in the blogettes' newest video production:
With Emma Claire Edwards' father endorsing Malia Obama's dad, Sparrow can't help imagining two ten-year-olds (they're both nine now) giggling and eating popcorn as they watch Shrek 5 in the red plush White House movie theater. Now that's a play date. If Senator Obama picks John Edwards as his running mate, Malia and Emma Claire could also have sleepovers at Number One Observatory Circle.
In a recent Mother's Day interview with Kathryn Jean Lopez, Mrs. McCain talked about who was really in charge of Bridget's adoption from Bangladesh:
You know, she chose me, I’m convinced. She was only ten weeks old but she captured my heart. As you know, she had a very severe cleft palate and she had a number of other little problems along with another little baby. When I realized, when the nuns prevailed upon me and said: You know these babies need help you could help them, all of a sudden a light bulb kind of went off in my head and it was like: “Yeah you know I can help them.” I’m in a situation where I can get some help for these kids. It was just a matter of really responding to the call and then of course realizing on the flight home that I just couldn’t give her up. I didn’t go there with any intention of adopting or adding to our family in any way, and as luck and God would have it she is our lovely daughter to this day. And even though it was a surprise to my husband, he loves her just the way I do, and she adds such a special dimension to our family.She also talked about daughter Meghan's blog ("... I read it all the time. I was her biggest supporter and biggest fan when she started it ... It’s wonderful, it really is. She has such a different and unique perspective of the campaign. It’s just through different eyes, and I just love it ...") and her oldest daughter's company on the trail ("... Just the fact that she’s around certainly me makes me feel better. And also her support. We support each other on this. If I have a bad day she’s there, and certainly if she has a bad day I’m there ..."). Meghan recently posted a bundle of photos like this one featuring the close relationship she shares with her Mom.
Chelsea Clinton wished all mothers a Happy Mother's Day via YouTube, telling them that their daughters can become the "second woman President."
Appropriately, but strikingly, there was no sign or mention of daddy in the video.
Looks like daughter Meghan McCain is playing a key de-stressing role in her father's campaign, pulling down Dad's paper and making her parents laugh by putting on a pair of silly glasses. Good thing she's along for the ride -- the McCains (like the Clintons and the Obamas) have already been on the trail for over a year, and they've got SIX MORE MONTHS to go till the November election. A shared family laugh goes a long way when you're exhausted.
Since it's right near their home state, the (real) Obama girls joined their parents on the campaign trail for the first time since Iowa. TIME reports that they enjoyed two picnics and a roller-skating party, and watched their Daddy play a game of pickup basketball.
The youngest daughter of Cindy and John McCain, Bridget, has been busy with homework, volunteer trips to New Orleans, and playing on the volleyball and basketball teams at school in Arizona, but she still finds time to join the family on the campaign trail every now and then. Here's another sweet photo of Bridget and her big sis Meghan, and their Mom's take on the youngest McCain's role:
When Bridget drops into the campaign, Mrs. McCain goes out of her way to point her out. "I want to make sure everyone knows she's a part of us, too," she said.
Check out Chelsea Clinton's Kentucky Derby outfit -- light blue, summery, cool, and chic, but it's eerie how much she's a mini-Mommy in the photo.
|
