From the Other Side of the Edge….
So Many Impressive Women, …and then there’s Michelle
By Joe Facinoli

I love women.

I find them more interesting than men, …I communicate with them better (with some notable exceptions), …and I usually enjoy their company much more than most guys I know.

And it has been my great pleasure to have been involved with so many of them (maybe someday, I’ll get one right) in my life, ….but that’s more than irrelevant, to this small thesis.

I recently had the good fortune, of finding two shows on C-Span, which reminded me of how much I admire women who have devoted their lives, while working extremely hard in the process, to finding the kind of success that was once reserved only for men.

I’ve also been forced, for the past 5 years, to bear witness to a woman, who reminds me of what I despise most in any human being, male or female.

There is no arguable doubt, that women have a tougher time than men, in finding the same rung on life’s ladder. And that’s so antiquated, and just so wrong, that it’s hard to believe this concept still exists.

But when a woman finds her way to the top, or close to it, of any organization or group, we are more often than not benefited by her struggles and tenacious journey, in finding a particularly effective leader before us.

However, when that “hard work” factor is not involved, things can quickly slide the other way, for most women.

Not so for the current “Lady of the House”, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, in Northwest DC.

Her stock defied all laws of gravity, and somehow slid itself uphill, when she should have been, more deservedly, face down, in the mud at the bottom of the slope.

My two recent shows on C-Span, presented to me three “Ladies” of a different order. Full of class, dignity, and the comfort with themselves that comes from deserved success, at the highest levels of their professions, due to those hard fought efforts, …and a lot of talent.

Associate Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan, and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

All three are liberals, generally, and Democrats. But all three know when to temper their ideologies, for the good of the most people, even as they hold steadfastly to their beliefs.

They respect the institutions they represent, and more importantly, the people their decisions will effect. And they are honored, and humbled, to have attained their lofty positions.

Hmmm….., Respect and Honor, …..those are two words, among several others, which are certainly quite foreign to ALL of the adult residents at that little spot on Pa. Avenue.

And Humility? That one is left to stand in the corner, alone and forgotten, on their cold, dark, back porch.

Ginsburg, Kagan, and Yellen all have impressive resumes, from before they held their current posts, and especially since rising to their present roles.

They made changes to their worlds, for the betterment of more than just a few. They fought the hard, good fights, at every stop along the way, ….and they made a difference.

And then there’s Michelle (our belle) Obama.

She was ashamed to be an American, and pouted about it apparently, for her whole life, until her husband found out that white people would actually vote for him, and in large numbers, …some way, somehow.

Then ALL was suddenly good in her world, and she could be “proud to be an American, for the first time in my life”, at the age of 44, and only after she woke up one day, and magically found herself atop the biggest heap of all.

She had hit the Mega-Lottery, …and she hadn’t even bought a ticket.

Since then, …has she paid any of her “good fortune” back to anyone who might have helped her get to where she never, apparently, thought she would ever be??

Or, …has she ever tried to pay any of this Lotto “money” forward, to anyone,…at all??

Not a chance. Why,…when someone drops off truckloads of gold ingots and Krugerrands, right on your front step, what the hell are you supposed to do with it, ….ask where it came from ??!!??

Share it? Give it to someone who really needs it ?? Make a difference with it?? C’mon, ….naahh, …ya spend that loot, with both hands !!!

And that’s what they do.

24 day, $4 million Hawaiian vacations, on our dime, and that’s just the last one. Dozens of other vacays, costing many more millions. Hundreds of golf dates, for hubby, while the country falls through the rat hole. $12K party dresses, to show off for the Prez of France, ….and on and on.

Where’s the “resume”? Where’s the list of accomplishments, equal to the accolades she receives, from her adoring national media.

Where’s the concern about “income inequality”, and the rich, paying their “fair share” ??

Guess that doesn’t count, …if it’s not their money they’re spending.

And there are so many other accomplished women these days. So many, that it’s hard to believe that only 4.6% of all American CEOs, in the Fortune 500, are women.

But boy has that small number ever made a difference! And made their presence felt, with what they have done, and accomplished.

A few examples are below.

And btw, all of these women have long resumes, have stuck with their careers, and career paths, and have overcome harassment, prejudice, glass ceilings, and all manner of obstacles, to get to where they wanted to be. And all of them are approximately the same age as our First Lady.

Michelle, …our sweet, lovable Belle ? What did she do, along these lines?

Took “hand-out”, made-for-her, jobs, even after she was a lawyer, and then “gave up” her law license, for reasons known only to her (and the Illinois Supreme Court), just four years after she graduated law school, and then landed in the lap of a most likely arranged marriage, which brought her even more hand out goodies, and then the cushiest job of all.

Not exactly a “career path”.

Some other noteworthy gals, who did it the right way, and have plenty of men jealous of them:

--Mary Barra, 56 years old, CEO of General Motors.

--Virginia Rometty, 55, CEO of IBM.

--Indra Nooyi, 57, CEO of Pepsico.

--Marissa Mayer, 37, CEO of Yahoo! .

--Meg Whitman, 56, CEO of Hewlett-Packard.

--Denise Morrison, 59, CEO of Campbell Soup Co.

--Patricia Woertz, 59, CEO of Archer Daniels Midland Co.

--Ellen Kullman, 58, CEO of DuPont.

--Marillyn Hewson, 52, CEO of Lockheed Martin.

--Ursula Burns, 56, CEO of Xerox.

And then there’s always Oprah, and Tory Burch, and Martha Stewart, but that’s probably not even fair.

Some other black ladies mixed in this group, and some Jewish women too, and all share the same work ethic, pride of accomplishment, and ability to lead. Things they learned along their difficult “paths”, and in spite of all they were forced to overcome.

And there were never any excuses, either. Not from this bunch.

So what did the country get, ….for their First Lady?? Anything close to these marvelous women on the list above, and to so many more that could be included ???

Nope, ….we got the worst example that anyone could find, of someone who is supposed to be held high, and to BE an example, for all to follow, and admire, and to be led by.

And the next time she does any of the things just mentioned, …it will be the first time. And she’ll probably throw up,…before she can get through it!

Nope, ….we got a “taker”, and a “user”, and an excuse maker, and someone who plays the “victim/race card” any chance she gets, and always to her best advantage.

By the way, with all this in mind (and speaking of throwing up), ….how good is ol’ “Hills” baby, lookin’ right now? 

Keep the Faith (and keep a “safety” bag nearby),

Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
Intelligent Response Encouraged !!

© Copyright 2014, Joe Facinoli