Michelle Kwan Throws Her Hat into the Political Rink

[canbelto]

Michelle is exactly the kind of diplomatic, friendly, even-keeled, familiar face Joe Biden's campaign needs. Biden's two biggest weaknesses are his tendency to go off the rails with his speeches and for blurting things out at inopportune moments. Michelle is someone who stays so on message that years later she still refuses to say a bad word about any of her competitors nor Frank Carroll. So in other words, Michelle is a good "surrogate" for Joe Biden.

It doesn't matter because I'm Anyone But Trump at this point but just pointing out why this job is a good fit for Michelle.

 

[Japanfan]

Tara and Johnny have a good vibe together generally, and especially when they are covering events like color commentary for the Kentucky Derby and the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.

Color commentary for the Westminster Dog Show?

That golden retriever has a lovely cream-colored coat!

The grey on that Visla is a bit dull?

Beautiful black and grey highlights on the Shih-tsu!


I mean, they can't be commenting on the handlers, who usually dress conservatively, so to keep the focus on the dog.

 

[Sylvia]

Color commentary for the Westminster Dog Show?

The National Dog Show as reporters and digital contributors (broadcast by NBC): https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...nal-Dog-Show-2016-Philadelphia-400854751.html

 

[aftershocks]

After her skating career, I had hoped Kwan would open a bakery and call it 'Yeast Of Eden'.

Not so surprisingly, there is a commercial enterprise aptly using that name! So MK would now possibly be infringing on their trademark, if she were to use the same name for a bakery! In the current instance, it's a brewery located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California!

https://yoebeer.com/

Apparently, it's a restaurant and a brewery.

In addition, Yeast of Eden, is the title of the fourth book in Sarah Fox's Pancake House Mystery series. No kidding.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38353307-yeast-of-eden

 

[Japanfan]

The National Dog Show as reporters and digital contributors (broadcast by NBC): https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...nal-Dog-Show-2016-Philadelphia-400854751.html

Same thing as I said above.

I expect sassy and funny from Johnny and Tara. I'm sure Johnny will have some insightful commentary about the poodles' hairdo's and other hairdo's.

I expect a bit more from them than the routine "What a gorgeous line-up of dogs!"

 

[CoolGuy]

If you want actual color commentary, you need Dick Button.

 

[aftershocks]

Cross-posting from Kaetlyn Osmond retirement thread:

To be fair, Osmond was 4th in SP at 2018 Worlds, and came in first because both Kostner and Zag had not just made regular mistakes, but had major meltdowns. Had they all skated clean, or with minor mistakes, the scores might have been different.

If, if, if... If Michelle Kwan had beaten 3-loop/ 3-loop Tara Lipinski in '98 and 3/3 jump URing Sarah Hughes in '02, wowza, would MK be even more of a boffo icon!

Probably not! Because it was in part how MK handled her Olympics gold medal losses that further endeared our Kween to the masses. Now (beyond all the record gold medals and perfect scores), MK is a Public Diplomacy phenom, and a Political Presidential Campaign Surrogate Extraordinaire, among numerous other achievements and honors beyond figure skating !!! Maybe one day soon, MK will take on an important role in a newly revived and well-fumigated White House! Clean the reeking swamp, indeed!
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100126220801/conearth/images/9/90/Broom_icon.png

If only Hillary Clinton had beaten Trump's you know what!!!

IOW, it always is what it is, what it is, and what it will be!

ETA:
Bringing over to this thread the recent article written by Michelle Kwan (linked by @Sylvia in the Chubb lecture thread), because I think it's important to read. Not to be missed!
https://www.bustle.com/p/without-th...uldnt-have-been-athlete-so-much-more-17168408

 

[aftershocks]

Tara and Johnny have a good vibe together generally, and especially when they are covering events like color commentary for the Kentucky Derby and the Westminster National Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.

The National Dog Show as reporters and digital contributors (broadcast by NBC): https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/new...nal-Dog-Show-2016-Philadelphia-400854751.html

No doubt! The chemistry, the drama, the freakin' fun of it all. Tara & Johnny are self-styled cultural icons. Figure skating will always be what they are known for and how they rose to fame, but fs commentary is only one of their current gigs, and not even the one they do to perfection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-kSJMDRJq8 Johnny promoting the 2016 National Dog Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUmGKmZ1N6Y Johnny, Tara & friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhRvJxPE9Uc J&T discuss Dog Show Fashion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbHhqGgQemM 'born this way' expressions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upUmAsChEWs J&T promoting the Beverly Hills Dog Show, with a cool feature on Tara's dog, Dublin: Awww, so sweet!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd_XjKIANdk J&T brave the Wild, Wild West in a Super Bowl promotion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cuF17VtL34 Additional hilarious Super Bowl promotion (2015?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JimMyXj0thM J&T on Kentucky Derby hat fashion; and meeting some of the horses, including California Chrome (2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzm5DaoexMA J&T on Oscar fashion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqSTbElLN5Q J&T on 2018 Olympics behind-the-scenes prep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb6UDvD2Jvw J&T on how figure skaters warm-up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwukYAR5nTc J&T 'take Korea' They also shined at the Rio Summer Olympics!
Just a sampling of NBC's 'dynamic duo' ...

ETA: Johnny & Tara makeover a Labrador Retriever dog handler, at her request
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FsW1XRmYLk [cuts off before we get to see which outfit was picked; I don't think the lady really needed any help from J&T ]

 

[Winnipeg]

I can't see Kwan ever running (or being elected) for an a political office herself but she could be very good at behind the scenes.

 

[olympic]

Go Michelle. Biden? Don't care. I would vote for a turnip if it were running against Trump

 

[VGThuy]

In her latest talk at Yale, someone asked if Kwan wanted to run for office, and if I remember correctly, she basically said no. I think she's more into putting her energies into supporting people and causes rather than being the head person when it comes to politics. Things can always change, but some thing tells me she prefers not to be a politician for now and putting herself in the line of fire. I also got a sense that she herself doesn't feel she's qualified.

 

[CoolGuy]

I'm just waiting for a figure skater to show their support for Buttigieg with a picture of a figure skating boot.
(because a figure skate has a boot and two edges, you know, like Boot Edge Edge...)

 

[Frau Muller]

Michelle is exactly the kind of diplomatic, friendly, even-keeled, familiar face Joe Biden's campaign needs. Biden's two biggest weaknesses are his tendency to go off the rails with his speeches and for blurting things out at inopportune moments. Michelle is someone who stays so on message that years later she still refuses to say a bad word about any of her competitors nor Frank Carroll. So in other words, Michelle is a good "surrogate" for Joe Biden.

It doesn't matter because I'm Anyone But Trump at this point but just pointing out why this job is a good fit for Michelle.

Because Michelle has that Cosmic Connection. ‘Nuff said.

 

[RoyThree]

I'm just waiting for a figure skater to show their support for Buttigieg with a picture of a figure skating boot.
(because a figure skate has a boot and two edges, you know, like Boot Edge Edge...)

Calling Jackie Wong.

 

[cmk]

I'm just waiting for a figure skater to show their support for Buttigieg with a picture of a figure skating boot.
(because a figure skate has a boot and two edges, you know, like Boot Edge Edge...)

Calling Jackie Wong.

Calling Adam Rippon.

 

[RoyThree]

Calling Adam Rippon.

That works too.

 

[aftershocks]

In her latest talk at Yale, someone asked if Kwan wanted to run for office, and if I remember correctly, she basically said no. I think she's more into putting her energies into supporting people and causes rather than being the head person when it comes to politics. Things can always change, but some thing tells me she prefers not to be a politician for now and putting herself in the line of fire. I also got a sense that she herself doesn't feel she's qualified.

ITA, but I doubt she would rule out a possible future position at the WH under a Biden administration, just as she would have accepted a prominent WH staff position under a Hillary Clinton administration, had it been forthcoming.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Michelle just reported this on her Instagram account! Thank goodness she's OK.

"Totally shook and need to get something off my chest. I’m very upset at the person who was driving at 6 am this morning in the fast lane on Interstate 26 in Columbia, South Carolina, dropped a massive mattress, pulled aside when they realized they caused a collision, and sped away from me. Luckily the driver who hit me was paying attention and slammed on his breaks - he still hit me hard but grateful that it didn’t throw me into oncoming traffic which was going 70 mph. Thank God nobody was hurt - just felt very scared and now angry at the coward that drove away. Sorry but just need to share and also remind folks to secure furniture or hire movers because you can really kill somebody."

 

[Sylvia]

Glad she's OK!!!

I've re-posted the above in her fan thread & added a link to her IG post: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/michelle-kwan-threads-merged.95345/page-22#post-5701619

 

[Debbie S]

Glad Michelle wasn't hurt. I feel her, I was hit 2 weeks ago by a hit-and-run driver.

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

More on the role that surrogates play. It's a constant struggle to keep voters engaged everywhere when the candidate can't be everywhere at the same time.

Celebrities, politicians, and ice cream moguls: Stand-ins flood 2020 campaign trail

Trapped in Washington, 2020 candidates are engaged in a desperate effort to reach out and connect with primary voters.

www.politico.com

 

[jeffisjeff]

Morning Edition on NPR had a story today about celebrity surrogates, and Michelle Kwan got a mention, along with the likes of Cardi B, Mandy Moore, etc. I believe she was the only athlete mentioned.