Sunday Roundup

My favorite story of the week was the news that Michelle Obama's mother will be coming to live with the first family in the White House -- there to help Malia and Sasha make the transition to a new school, new friends, and the presidential spotlight. As my own mother lived with us -- a soulful presence in my daughters' life - I know firsthand there is nothing like a Yaya (Greek for grandmother). "First Granny" Marian Robinson's White House move provides a powerful teachable moment for America, offering the perfect solution to both our nation's child care crisis, and the cultural black mark of abandoning our seniors in old age homes. You've been sending great suggestions for issues and guests for Rachel Maddow's show, which I'm guest hosting on Monday. Please keep submitting them in the comments section.

Comments

[spartanmom]

Here is a petition to encourage Ms. Robinson to join the First Family in the White House.
Sign it if you will and spread it around

"We the undersigned, want to let Marion Robinson know that the American people support her presence in the Obama White House.

We welcome the example of a traditional extended family that it would set for our nation.

We believe that ensuring the well being of the Obama children is in the National interest

And we therefore urge Ms. Robinson to take our support into consideration as she and her family work through this important decision."

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/we-want-a-first-granny

Do something

Be Change

[ncmom54]

A First Grandma...Awesome! Their wisdom & values imparted to grandchildren is second to none. hopefully this will make a strong statement to restore the place of honor where our elders belong.

[candlegravity]

I totally agree with you Arianna. I'm an American and have been living in Japan for 10 years now. The culture here doesn't frown at all on living with the grandparents throughout their entire lives. Grandparents can play an instrumental role in a child's life and as an earlier blogger posted, adults living with parents being a bad thing exists perhaps only in America. It's a shame really. Not everything is great here in Japan, but one thing I've noticed is that the closeness of families over here seems to result in sounder human beings across the board. Perhaps that is why crime here is so much lower than anywhere else in the world. That's not to say there are not a few things the Japanese could learn from America, but that's never a problem as Japan often looks to America for examples. It's just a shame America rarely looks outside it's own borders for ideas.

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http://www.HopeWon.com
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[bitchslappin]

See if you can get Susan Crawford on to talk about the future of the Internet and the position of the US in Broadband Rollout. Considering how this election was won, there is no more important issue to rally around. It is the engine that can fuel our economic recovery. And with her advisory position to Obama re FCC appointments, she's in a great position to give us a wrap up of what we can expect in new policy re our publicly owned but privately controlled spectrum.

[araselis]

It took me a while to find a screen name that did not already exist. BUT, I did want to comment on Michelle's mother moving in to the white house. ABSOLUTELY!! My reasons are the following. First of all, we put my grandmother in a retirement home (otherwise called as an old folk's home). This is the woman who raised me when my mother left to live in another country. But in the first world where we moved; things were different, and grandparents became a liability; and so to my great sadness; my mother decided to put her in a retirement home". Although, this was an expensive place; There was not a day that passed that my heart was not torn; and to this day; i think about her loneliness and the loneliness of the others that were with her. I swore never to do the same to my mother. I hope that the Obama's move will encourage others to follow because there is no greater unconditional love than that of a grandmother.

[Bellamama]

Arianna,
Your hosting The Rachel Maddow show was the first time I saw you on TV. When you spoke about Ms. Robinson moving into the White House you became electric. Remembering what it was like to have Yaya at home and the impact on you and your girls showed America what a a blessing it was for your family to have the support of a grandparent. Bravo!

[IcelanderLight]

Arianna, my wife and I LOVED your MSNBC segment on the possibility of Marian Robinson in the White House. We both enthusiastically vote for her to take up residence there. Is it possible for us to be more proud of this top leadership of our country? Calvin & Ingrid Arnason

[bbwitz]

good job Arianna!
loved the First Granny commentary . .
where the video??
in all our talk of diversity, let's bring back respecting elders!
THANK YOU!

[Frannyvida]

I am a fan of Marian Robinson. Moving into the White House would be a plus for us all. Powered Women are the center of the universe. They need to be honored, respected and heard. I miss the most powerful woman in my life, but she is one of my better angels. Marion is our Country's YaYa.

[kathip]

ARIANNA,
You are so on target about the benefit of extended family on the Maddow show last night. Please post a video of your comments about Michelle Obama's mother moving into the white house. I want to share it with others. Great job filling in for Rachel.

[learnsomething]

Arianna, President-elect Obama didn't say it is definitive that his mother-in -law is coming to live with him, he said "it is up to her", meaning he doesn't know yet.

[mcrochip]

If she does come, will the Obamas have to add a Mother-in-law suite to the White House?

I, too, enjoyed watching Arianna host the Rachel Maddow Show last night. Unfortunately, it followed David Shuster filling in for Keith, and David's no fun at all.

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

Arianna, I suggest you open a discussion about how the medical and pharmaceutical community keep saying that thimerosal has been removed from vaccines when it hasn't (check the CDC web site: it's still in the tetanus shots and the flu shots that are now recommended for young children and pregnant women). Better yet, how about discussing the fact that these communities continue to oppose a large scale research study to compare vaccinated vs unvaccinated children. It's going to take an act of Congress to get this done -- and even then we aren't so sure.

[nanton29]

Arrianna, I will enjoy your hosting no matter who is on the show. However please reserve a small segment for Bill Maher.

[peacefull1]

Oregon Congressman Peter DeFasio deserves to be a guest
Voted against the war, voted against the Wall-street bailout
Has been advocating for alternative energy and transportation for decades
Basically he's been way out in front on the vital issues of our time
And Oregonians don't get enough air-time

[changeishere08]

you are right peacfull1. i'm from the Washington state and spent time in Oregon. Oregon needs more media exposure. I am very impressed with Rep DeFasio.

[PatCroft]

Oh and Arianna why not seek answers to why the gas prices are remaining so low. Could it be because all the hedge fund banks are out of business. Isn"t it a little bit coincidental. Did these fat cats drive the price of gas up beyond 4.50 a gallon to the breaking point of many households?

[Vixter]

I want to know why, if the gas prices are lower than we have seen in over a year, there are still gas surcharges for over-the-road trucks, taxi cabs, etc.