Jack & Jill Politics

One of those goosebumps moments:

From East Wing Rules:

Michelle’s First State Dinner for India

India, a democratic superpower has over a billion citizens with its own arsenal of nuclear weapons and the shared disgrace with America of being one of the top three polluters on the planet will have the distinct honor of being the first nation to receive the full ceremonial honors from a state visit. No doubt, difficult topics will be discussed by the heads of state. Yet, it is Michelle Obama who is going to hold the spotlight as she chooses, flatware, table coverings, floral design, china patterns, glassware, the menu(s), entertainment and music, seating arrangements, invitations for teas, luncheons and the attendees for the historic first state dinner on November 24th while choosing a never before seen fully formal gown to be discussed for eternity. Believe it or not, the gown actually helps settle the detailed choices of color used in the State Dining Room’s or the East Room’s table decor. Either room may be used and the East Room would hold more elegant diners, but makes the after dinner entertainment space a new challenge. If Michelle Obama is a last minute dress chooser – oh dear.

Her staff has been on the case since May. No rest for the weary as November looms large in the Obama White House cultural portfolio. Michelle Obama received kudos for her first turn as an international hostess with the G20 heads of state and their spouses. Her choice of a gift for the event was rare and a keepsake. The huge state dinner is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving which makes it doubly rich for grand and gravy leftovers. That Wednesday the president should pardon a turkey – lately the saved pre-poultry birds have dined on some incredible tranquilizers before meeting the president due to some of the wilder pardon photos.

Mrs. Obama must also make Blair House ready and work with the State Departments protocol experts on name pronunciation, food requirements, allergies and taboos, complete with full black tie etiquette. A briefing book has already been compiled and the secret invite right now is for the under two dozen friends and staff that get to attend a tasting menu featuring choices for the meals. Her residence staff is theming floral pieces for all of the bathrooms and a host of contract workers need to be ready to produce the pièce de résistance of an elaborate multi-course meal for at most 140 people. It will be the hardest ticket to obtain in Washington DC since the inaugural. All those people who have spent time sucking up to the first lady’s friend and Social Secretary while writing puff pieces about her are about to find out if the investment was worth it.

Rest of the article is at the link above. East Wing Rules rocks.