Cherie Blair wrote in The Times yesterday offering advice to Michele Obama on her upcoming new role.
1) Never, ever miss a photo opportunity, even if you have just got out of bed with your five times a night husband. Remember all publicity is good publicity!
2) Do treat the White House as Your home. If you want to redecorate the Oval office, then the American taxpayer will fund whatever you want, leopardskin sofas, mirrored walls, maybe even one of those spinning glitterballs.. I always thought that would look terrific in there, oh and ditch the rug.
3) The citizens of the world are very generous people, when they offer you something for free, take all that you can get, a bit like a supermarket trolly sweep. You wouldn't want to offend them by making them think you don't like their stuff!
4) Don't bring your children into politics, you've got to have some secrets left for your memoirs to boost up sales.
5) If you visit the queen of England remember that a flunky will unpack your bag, so don't put anything personal in there. You wouldn't want the staff to gossip.
6) If you do visit the Queeen of England don't believe the old adage that only royalty can get pregnant in a palace... mind you for a Liverpudlian I guess I am royalty.
7) Remember not to bad mouth Hilary when the press are about, it's amazing what they can overhear even when they are just walking past.
8) If you choose to abuse your position to gain a financial advantage, do try to choose someone who is not a convicted fraudster, it can be very embarrassing.
9) Be careful who you choose to have girlie moments with, some people can be terribly indiscreet and there are some narrow minded people out there who just do not understand us highly intelligent beings.
10) Be careful what you wish for. I told the press I wouldn't miss them when we left Downing Street and now I'm reduced to writing tacky advice columns, albeit for the quality press, just so I can see my name in the papers, and of course we need the money.
ianrthorpe
Michelle and Cherie have a lot in common, starting with a lack of fashion sense.
While America's bloggers were trying to analyse the "message" of that black dress with the red splash on the front (e.g. "the colour says we're on top now, the splash of red represents the blood shed by racists") I'm afraid I lost my self restraint and commented on one blog "there's no message, she was having a heavy period and had forgotten her tampons."
They removed the comment. Result!