Bill Clinton's Title

[sp1814]

If Hilary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, and if she wins the next US Presidential elections...what will Bill Clinton's title be?

Actually, let me clarify, ex-Presidents are always called 'Mr President', even after they leave office (after watching two series of The West Wing back to back, I'm pretty sure on this..)

But what if Bill had never been President? Would he be The First Husband, or what???

[China Doll]

How about... 'Foxy'?

[dot.hawkes]

first gentleman

[jno]

their usual titles are POTUS and FLOTUS. Hillary would still be a POTUS (president of the United States), but Bill... I dunno, what did they call Denis Thatcher? FMOTUS... first man of the US...

China Doll, I think the lead in your paintwork is getting to you...

http://voanews.com/english/2007-08-16-voa10.cf m

[China Doll]

Cheers jno, I'd only just got rid of that last mental image... cheeky swine! ;0P

Oooh... How about 'The Silver Sax'... He plays the sax doesn't he?

Or....

'The Witless Wonder'

That'd be a good name for a band too.

What are they putting in PG tips these days?!

[jno]

Clinton the unstoppable sax machine does have a ring to it

[China Doll]

'The Silver Horned Fox'

I'm really sorry Splat!

(Actually I'm only almost sorry, but it's the thought that counts right?)

[dot.hawkes]

no actually he would be the first gentleman, and the family would be the first family.

[China Doll]

He can still be a sax playing, silver horned fox too dot, multi tasking is not just for women.

I'm going to get off this thread before Splat comes back and kills me

[sp1814]

First Gentleman has a certain ring to it.

China Doll...I'll accept that Putin can be considered 'hunky', I'll even go as far as saying that Blair had a certain je ne c'est quoi.

But Bill Clinton?

You've just crossed the line. The invisible line that divides good taste with...with...being certifiable.

First Gentleman sounds right, but my guess is the US political establishment haven't come up witbh a title.

A quick Google search on came up with:

http://billforfirstlady.com/

Admittedly, a very funny site - but not at all helpful.

[China Doll]

Blair? Putin? Sweet Jesus....

Frankly my little puddle of Splat, if that's your take on it, then you really should have gone to spec savers!

[sp1814]

dot.hawkins

Thanks for the confirmation on that. I was typing my last post before I read your post.

China Doll...consider yourself admonished.

Oh, by the way - I think it was you who asked last week for names of politicians who want (for want of a better word) 'do-able'.

It took me a while, but I've got one.

David Milliband.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_up s/06/programmes_david_milliband_in_nairobi/img /2.jpg

[China Doll]

Hmmm... maybe... some rose tinted vino help might be needed...

He's not exactly manly and rugged looking is he?

[sp1814]

China Doll

Admittedly, that's not a good photo - but it's the best I could find.

In real life, he has a passing resemblence to Mathew Horne from 'The Catherine Tate Show':

http://www.sheilaburnett-photography.com/Pictu res/SPOT-Mathew%20Horne.jpg

[jno]

sp1814, Clinton was always very popular with women. Not just the ones with kneepads but female voters generally. They felt he liked them and understood women's concerns (unlike the first Bush, who was typically compared by women to their first husband). He's also famous for personal charisma - not a matter of being photogenic particularly, but the ability to make you feel you're the only person in the world when he talks to you - male or female. He is said (like the queen) to have a fantastic memory for people, which they would also find flattering.

In short, though you may not think he looks sexy, it would appear he's got something about him that women find hard to resist. I should add that I've never met him and have no idea how true this is; but it's a quality that's not to be sneezed at.

[China Doll]

Ooooh.... I must start watching the Catherine Tate show!!

I've come over all unnecessary.... time for another cup of tea I think!

(For goodness sake, I'm still in my 20's and I sound like I'm older than my mother!)

[sp1814]

jno

Interesting point you raised about Clinton's personal charisma.

I'd never thought of it that way.

Personally, as a bloke (I'm going to generalise about men here), charisma has never worked on me because I'm a bit shallow.

I've always thought that Clinton kinda looked like a cushion that's been taught to walk upright.

[jno]

goodness, IaP, haven't seen you for a while; hope you're well.

[China Doll]

Charisma is vastly underrated Splat.

I mean, if you think about people like Ray Winston or Robbie Coltrain... not attractive in the standard sense but nevertheless attractive.

Charisma is a very powerful tool.

[jno]

the thing is, sp1814, it's personal: it's apparent in real life rather than in photos or even on telly... an old-fashioned attribute, I suppose, not really geared for a mass media age. But it worked; he got the job.

He's also seriously intelligent, but that isn't a big factor in US politics; their preference, even for president, is a friendly guy you'd like to have a beer with. Hence George W Bush... who's friendly but not specially bright, hardworking or charismatic. (Apparently he takes even more time off than Ronald Reagan.) It's hard to imagine British voters electing an amiable doofus who couldn't string a sentence together, though.