So today, here's the scoop on a few good women who have made and will continue to make leadership contributions to our country.

* So what if the White House gig didn't work out for Social Secretary Desiree Rogers?  She's still got mad skills in business (and fashion - she really knows how to pull together a hot outfit). WSJ. Magazine talked to Ms. Rogers about her plans to leave "linen hell and flower hell" at the White House behind for some kind of heaven - or at least less stress - in Chicago. Surely this isn't the last we'll hear from this Harvard-MBA-having business executive/social butterfly/fashionista.    [WSJ. Magazine]  

* Julianna Smoot just one upped every velvet rope bitch who has ever denied you entrance into a hot club.   As the new socialista in the White House (she'll take over where Desiree Rogers left off), Smoot gets to say "yes" or "um, no" to each and every eager beaver trying to get into a White House party. Sure, she's going straight to linen, flower and list hell, but power over the White House door is worth making that deal with a domestic devil.  

So who's Julianna Smoot anyway? All you really need to know about Julianna is that she's organized up the ying yang, has a killer rolodex and can raise money like a mofo. (Although fundraising won't be part of her duties, it's a nice skill to have in her back pocket.  And who knows? In this economy the White House might expect her to do extra.) Anyway, we introduced you to Julianna right here on Polichicks about 2 years ago, but you can also read up on her at Wikipedia.

* This chick started the Tea Party movement.  If you're hoping to start a social revolution, perhaps you'll learn a little sumpin' sumpin' about organizational strategy (and chutzpa) from Keli Carender. [Denver Post]

* What do Ayanna Pressley, Kamala Harris, Terri Sewell and Robin Kelly have in common? They'll smack a fool for stepping on their new Louboutin shoes? Um, obviously.  Who wouldn't? The answer we're looking for is that all four of these women have got it going on in the smarts and leadership departments. They are some of the most promising up and coming African American female leaders - well, leaders period - that our country has seen in a long time.  [The Root]

That's all for now! 

xo xo

Colombian pop star Shakira stopped by the White House Monday to meet with President Obama and Veep Joe Biden.  The singer, who is a long-time children's advocate,  discussed early childhood development issues with the president and veep. 

Shakira was in Washington on behalf of the ALAS Foundation, a nonprofit coalition of Latin artists, a nonprofit coalition of Latin artists, business leaders and intellectuals that promotes public policies in support of early childhood education in Latin America.  Shakira is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the founder of the Barefoot Foundation, which focuses on creating access to education for children.

After her White House visit, Shakira headed to the World Bank to announce the World Bank's Early Child Development Program, which will spend $300 million on children's educational programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Above, check out the video of Shakira's World Bank appearance and watch her discuss child development issues with Greta Van Susteren on FOX News over here.

We've seen it time and time again: A male politician gets busted for getting a little sumpin' sumpin' on the side.  Then his wife wife falls to her knees, looks to the heavens, and asks WWJD? (What would J.Lo do?)

Well, as Diddy learned the hard way, J. Lo would roll out, play Ben Affleck a few beats, and then marry and have twins with Mark Antony.  But not all women follow Jenny from the Block's play book.

Silda Spitzer stayed with her husband and NY governor Eliot after learning that he was getting it on with a call girl their daughter's age.  Dina McGreevey, wife of former New Jersey governor James McGreevey, stood by her husband's side as he announced that he is a "gay American," who cheated on his wife with a male staffer.  Larry Craig's wife stayed after the senator was accused of looking for male on male action in a public restroom.  David Vitter's wife stayed after the senator got some side action from an escort.  Elizabeth Edwards stayed with former presidential candidate John, long after we all knew that he fathered a child with another woman. (She just left him recently.) And we know Bubba's wife stayed.

The only woman known not to stand by her man in recent times is Jenny Sanford, wife of the South Carolina governor who went missing and then turned out to be in Argentina with his "soul mate" mistress. Jenny refused to stand on the podium with her shamed husband, looking shocked, humiliated, and grief stricken like so many political wives have done before her.  Instead, she left the bastard, declared her independence, and wrote a book that is a must read before your next cocktail party.

But doing what the Jennys - um, Sanford and the one from the block- did is no easy task.  Getting cheated on can hurt like hell and send you into a tailspin. So before you judge any woman who stays (especially a woman in public life), stand in her stilettos for a moment. Moments after she finds out that her husband has strayed, there are camera's in her face, reporters asking questions, and the public deciding what she should do, before she even gets a chance to cry or smack her husband's face. Not to mention get a chance think about whether she still loves her husband or what to do about the kids.  And then she has to watch every detail about the affair on TV over and over again: how pretty or not the other woman was, whether or not she was paid, and so forth.  The wife is subject to it all at once: the good, the bad and the fugly. Not an easy position to be in. 

So today, public attention is on another wife, altthough not a political one.  Unless you've spent the last few months in a cave, you know that golfer Tiger Woods cheated on his wife Elin with more women than she would want to count.  Elin appears to have left Tiger, having moved out of the couple's mansion and ditched her wedding ring.  But no one really knows her intentions, because neither she nor Tiger have spoken to the press... until today.

Just a couple hours from now, Tiger will publicly apologize to the public - and presumably his wife (why does the public need an apology anyway?) - for his philandering ways.  Will Elin stand beside her man political wife style, with a pained, humilated look on her face?  Or will she join the Jennys, leave her husband to his mess and keep it moving?

At 11 am EST today, inquiring (read nosey) Americans will be able to answer: What would Elin do?

Schools: closed. Airports: closed.  Federal government: closed. Starbucks:closed... Wait. What?

Here's your Daily Polichicks (sans latte):

* We send our get well wishes to President Bill Clinton, who was just hospitalized in NYC for chest pains. [Los Angeles Times]

* This guy can shut down the whole United States government with just one call. Wow. Now that's powah. [New York Times]

* Mika Brzezinski (did we spell that right?), co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, tells how to avoid a job that's like a bad boyfriend.  [Cosmopolitan]

* Wanna see Levi Johnston's peen?  Well, you can't.  But you can see everything else in the current issue of Playgirl magazine. [People]

That's all for now.  But do stop by again for upcoming interviews with some fabulous women in politics who are really doing their thang. In heels.

Oh, and if you know somebody that you think we should profile, give us a heads up at hi@polichicks.net. Thanks y'all! xoxo

Up this week is Ayla Brown, daughter of new U.S. Senator Scott Brown, former American Idol contestant, and current b-baller for Boston College. 

Here she sings our National Anthem with the Boston Pops at a 2008 July 4th celebration.

Rate her pipes in the comments.

American designer Isaac Mizrahi is over the moon about Michelle Obama's dress choice for the State of the Union address.  Why? Because she wore his dress!

Mizrahi said in his video blog that he thinks Mrs. Obama looked "exquisitely beautiful" in the dress, and that he was "thrilled" to learn that she'd worn it. 

"It was the right dress at the right time, which is what fashion is all about," Mizrahi gushes about the First Lady's choice. It was "not left, not right; it was kind of a bipartisan dress," because it was purple, a combo of red and blue.

In the video, Mizrahi is all giddy Mrs. Obama's whole look, noting that her new bob hairstyle is "divine" and "really gorgeous."

Oh, and lookie here below.  Mizrahi isn't the only one who thinks Michelle looks hot in purple.

We're putting this out on the fly, so please excuse our brevity. 

Here's little diddy about today's news.  Read up:

* It's getting nasty up there in Massachusetts!  Today voters will choose a new U.S. senator to take Sen. Ted Kennedy's old seat, and the dead heat race beetween Attorney Gerneral Martha Coakley (D) and State Senator Scott Brown (R) is so hot it's on fire!  

The Coakley and Brown camps have said all kinds of mean things about each other, and even indicated that they don't mind getting physical.  A Coakley aide shoved a reporter to the ground when the reporter tried to ask a question, and Brown's supporters have made violent threats against Coakley.

So what's at stake here?  Well first, the Dems right to continue to call Massachusetts a dark blue state.  And second, healthcare reform.  If Brown wins this race, the Dems will no longer have the 60 senate votes they need to pass their healthcare bill.   [Boston Globe]

* And speaking of Scott Brown and hot, he posed nude in a steamy pictorial for Cosmopolitan during his law school days!  He was profiled as the winner of Cosmo's "America's Sexiest Man" contest.  Oh, and another little tidbit of Brown trivia is that his daughter, Ayla, was once an American Idol contestant. [The Hollywood Gossip]

* Oh, say it isn't so Clef!  Wyclef Jean responded to allegations that his Yele charity has misappropriated funds, to put it nicely.  Wyclef admitted that "mistakes" had been made, but denied that funds were used for his own "personal benefits."  Promising immediate relief in Haiti, Yele has raised over $2 million dollars since the earthquake.  Not one penny has been spent on the Haitians yet. [AOL Sphere]

* More wives are bringing home the bacon.  A new Pew study shows that wives are increasingly becoming the breadwinners of the family. [Washington Post]

That's all, Fabulistas!  Have a great day!

xo xo

Happy Birthday, Martin!

xo xo

Sorry we haven't been around much.  We've been swamped with holiday stuff and what not.  We kept meaning to write each day this week, and now here it is Friday!  

Aye yie yie yie.  Where did the week go?

Anyway, here we are, back to the surf the web for news, so you'll be spared the task. So without further ado, here's your Daily Polichicks:

* Looks like another cat rolled up into the White House for a free meal.  We just might swing by there for some munchies ourselves.  Hey Barack, what's in the fridge? [Politico]

* In case you're ever invited to the White House (or not), here are 8 secrets to being the life of the party. Getting totally sloshed and loudly telling knock knock jokes the Secret Service is not one of them.  [Cosmopolitan]

* RNC Chairman Michale Steele says the GOP can't win back it's majority in Congress in 2010. "Shut your pie hole," respond GOP aides. (That's not an exact quote, but whatever.)

* Politico profiled 10 smart and savvy young women who are making an impact on the DC social scene and charity circuit:  Andrea Rodgers, Pamela Sorenson, Kate Michael, Katherine Kennedy, Angie Goff, Courtney Caldwell, Kelly Ann Collins, Anna Kimsey,  Ashley Taylor, and Amanda Polk. Good stuff.  Cheers to each of them!

Oh, by the way, our capital city is fabulously diverse (55% African American, 36% white, 8% Latino, 4% Asian and so forth). You can't tell from the Politico article, but the DC social scene reflects that diversity, as there are women of all backgrounds in all communities hosting events and making charitable contributions in the District.  DC is full of fabulistas!

* Today Anartica is hotter than Texas.  Wait.  What? [Houston Chronicle]

* And this is also hotter than Texas.

* Alright, alright.  We'll include more "real news." Healthcare reform drama continues, as House democrats strategize  on how to compromise with the Senate to come up with a final bill.    "...Merely to rubber-stamp what the Senate does is not enough," said Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ). [The Washington Post]

* U.S. agencies knew a whole lot stuff about the underwear bomber's terrorist intentions, but failed to do anything about it, causing President Obama it interrupt the Oprah Show Thursday to yap make a speech about it, making us miss learning about how women in live in Brazil. [LA Times]

That's all.  By everybody!

xo xo

Here's today's Washington update: it's cold and we're not going outside.

Now here's your Daily Polichicks:

* President Obama is hot under the collar over security failures that allowed a terrorist to board a plane with a bomb on Christamas day. "These ass clowns in national security effed up, and they better get it together," the president said in a speech.  Maybe that's not an exact quote, but whatever, close enough.

Okay, Fine! Be sticklers about it.  Here's what he said exactly: "It now appears that, weeks ago, this information [about a terrorist plan] was passed to a component of our intelligence community but was not effectively distributed so as to get the suspect's name on a no-fly list. . . Had this critical information been shared . . . the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America... A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable."  [The Washington Post]

* Welcome home, big boy! Operation Bombshell teaches military wives to strip for their returning soldier husbands.  Talk about military benefits...  [The New York Times]

* Military sex lives aren't all that's getting hot.  The custody battle between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnson heats up as an Alaska judge rules that court proceedings will remain public. Our inquiring minds say thank you, Alaska judge. Thank you. [The Washington Post]

* U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor maintains close ties to her old neighborhood and the Latino community.  "Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got," Sotomayor told C-SPAN. "I'm still Jenny Sonny from the block.  Used to have a little, now I have a lot. No matter where I go, I know where I came from." That's not an exact quote, but you know how we roll, close enough.

Fine! Fine! Be all nit picky again. (Geez. Give us a freakin' break.) Here's what she actually said: "[When President Obama offered me the nomination, he asked me to make two promises.] The first was to remain the person I was, and the second was to stay connected to my community. I said to him that those were two easy promises to make, because those two things I could not change." [USA Today]

* If you're nobody, you can be somebody. [USA Today]

That's all.  Bundle up, everybody!

xo xo

Mueller reportedly has taken her husband back and the couple plans to get counseling.  Can't say we agree with that solution, but to each her own.  Hopefully, Mueller finds the strength to leave if she determines that's best for her and her children.

Domestic violence is not cool.  If you or someone you know suffers from domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) for help.

Now here's your Daily Polichicks:

* The U.S. Senate passed a healthcare reform bill on Christmas eve. 

* John "have a baby by me, baby, be a millionaire" Edwards is building houses for impoverished families in El Salvador.

* Do other women think you're beautiful?  If so, they're not trying to vote for you.  Washington Post reporter and author Anne Kornblut speaks on the hurdles a woman will have to jump to be the first woman president. She also examines three themes that commonly emerge when talking about women in politics over here.  Kornblut's book, Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and What It Will Take for A Woman to Win, comes out on Tuesday. 

* Oh, and just FYI, here's a timeline of key events in women's political history.  And here's an analysis of women's leadership styles and

* As Ambassador for Save the Children,  Jennifer Garner lobbies on Capitol Hill for children's education.  The actress supports legislation that would provide $1 billion in support for "full service community schools" (schools that, in addition to education, provide services such as dental care and nutrition classes).  Garner is a mother of two and wife of actor Ben Affleck.  She starred in the popular TV series Alias and the movies "Juno" and "13 going on 30."

* F#$%!

Peace out. xo xo

First Lady Michelle Obama and the First Daughters, Sasha And Malia, paid a visit to children at Children's National Medical Center (known locally as Children's Hospital) the day before Christmas Eve. First Pup Bo Obama came along too.

Mrs. Obama and the girls read Christmas books to the children.  When While Mrs. Obama was reading, Bo spied a suspicious, bearded white guy in a red suit and hat lurking around the Christmas tree behind Sasha and Malia and began to bark. Even Santa can't pass Bo's security check.   Perhap the First Pup should keep watch at state dinners, so gate crashers a la the Salahis don't slip in for a free meal.

After the book reading, Mrs. Obama and her girls answered children's questions about their holiday plans and what they got the president for Christmas.  Watch above. 

Oh sure, pretend like you haven't!

Anyway, we told ourselves that we wouldn't talk about our shared lovah in today's Daily Polichicks, because we really should focus on more political and newsworthy topics.  This was a painful decision for us, because we just can't get enough of Tiger's scandal.  You know how we love drama! So note below how we found an excuse to work him in anyway.  LOL. 

Moving right along, here's your Daily Polichicks:

* President Obama and his family are in Norway today, where the president accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.  Award ceremony attendees included the royal family of Norway, actor Will Smith and recording artist Wyclef Jean.

* Barbara Walters names Michelle Obama the most fascinating person of 2009.

* Tiger Woods will not receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award Congress gives to civilians.  Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) proposed legislation in March that would give the golfer the honor for good sportsmanship and breaking down barriers in golf.  Rep. Baca said in a statement Wednesday that he will no longer pursue the legislation "in light of the recent developments surrounding Tiger Woods and his family."

* And on that note, searching for lipstick on your man's collar is so 1950.  The "in" method of investigation, according to the New York Times, is going through his phone to find incriminating text messages.

Hmmm, now that we think about it, breaking into his voicemail is also quite effective... um, so we heard... not that we're confessing anything.... 

* Lindsay!! OMG!! (Polichicks readers, Do NOT click on this at work. At home only, click here and here.)

Goodbye everybody!!

xo xo

Ashley Dupre, the paid sex worker whose "professional relationship" with New York Governor Ellot Spitzer led to his resignation, has some advice for Elin and Tiger Woods.