Let Them Eat Cake

by

J P Bender

The quotation, as attributed to Marie Antoinette, was claimed to have been uttered during one of the famines that occurred in France during the reign of her husband Louis XVI. Upon being alerted that the people were suffering due to widespread bread shortages, the Queen is said to have replied,

Enfin je me rappelai le pis-aller d’une grande princesse à qui l’on disait que les paysans n’avaient pas de pain, et qui répondit : Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.

Finally as I recall, the last resort of a great Queen who was told that the peasants had no bread, and who responded: "Let them eat brioche."

Today, in modern day France, Michelle Obama thinks being America’s First Lady is ‘hell’, according to Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who revealed it in a wildly indiscreet book.

Since February 2008, Miss Bruni has been married to the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. Miss Bruni, the divulges that Mrs. Obama replied when asked about her position as the U.S. president’s wife: ‘Don’t ask! It’s hell. I can’t stand it!’

Within three hours of learning of the book, a spokesperson for Michelle Obama was denying a book's claim that first lady Michelle Obama told Carla Bruni that life in the White House is “hell.”

Some hell - every White House is a bit defensive about presidential vacations and President Obama's staff is no exception. This is Mr. Obama's 11th vacation since taking office. As of today, he has spent all or part of 43 days on "vacation" away from the White House. He has also made 14 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 32 days. It brings his total time away to all or part of 74 days.

Let’s not forget the lavish vacation in Spain recently with Mrs. Obama and her entourage that cost the U.S. taxpayers almost a million dollars. So how many days have you spent on vacation since Obama took office? Now don’t get confused with the terminology – being laid off without a job, is not the same as being on vacation.

If memory serves me correct, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI lost their jobs over her comments.

Be sure to attuned the first phase of the ceremony – on November 2nd.