With Angela Merkel and our Hillary Clinton topping the ridiculously unbalanced Forbes list of 100 Most Powerful Women, I did not have much hope for a more serious list of Most Powerful Couples of 2012. I was not wrong. The Clintons top the list with the Gateses #2 and the Obamas #3, but beyond #5, Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols, this list is as wildly incoherent as the list of powerful women – maybe more so.
Here is the gallery.
One might argue that this is a more difficult list to develop since both members must exert power, but like the 100 Most Powerful Women list, this one is most eloquent in who is missing. Where are foundation head Cherie and Quartet Envoy Tony Blair? They are less important than entertainers, models, and sports figures?
Seriously? Shakira and Gerard Pique? Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady? They merit appearing on this list? Beyonce and Jay-Z outrank Christane Amanpour and Jaimie Rubin, Diane Von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, AND Tina Brown and Harold Evans? Why Ellen DeGeneres and Portia? Where is the “Portia power?” Seems they were gratuitously included just to have a gay couple there, but to rank them above Tina Brown whose Newsweek endorsed Romney a few days ago and Evans, whose September Condé Nast Traveler features in depth coverage of a tour of Asia by the secretary of state seems patently ridiculous.
Forbes, please be serious. We love seeing our Clintons honored, but give it some heft.
The World’s Most Powerful Couples In 2012
Jenna Goudreau, Forbes Staff
Who says women can’t have it all? On the 2012 FORBES list of the world’s 100 most powerful women, 70% are married, with an average 2.1 kids. Often, these women don’t do it alone. Some have the help of extended family or a stay-at-home husband. Others marry their power equals and scramble to make it work. Here’s a look at the world’s most powerful couples, and what it takes to house two top careers under one roof.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton together form the world’s top power pair. Hillary, the second most powerful woman in the world, made history as one of a handful of women to ever run for U.S. president. In her current role, she is the nation’s chief foreign advisor and is constantly on the go, traveling to over 40 countries in 2012 alone. Meanwhile, Bill served two presidential terms as ruler of the world’s largest economy and remains an active diplomat today.
I think they got it wrong. Second in line should’ve been Secretary Clinton and Vice President Biden. No one ever said the couples had to be married.
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Both of this lists say a lot about our “culture”. Style ALWAYS triumphs over substance in this country.
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I don’t think it is an excuse but it looks like money – own or company – had a lot to do in this list.
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That still doesn’t explain Ellen and Portia or Bundchen and Brady – the latter the most bizarre designation of “power.”
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off topic, but here’s a hill and bill sighting!
http://s.einnews.com/oFvtB2-Tu5
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Ooohhh… Thank you for this! How cute! This is the first really good picture we have seen of little Tally. She’s adorable! I’m glad they are having a fun, restful time.
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Oh dear god that hat! She could look alright if she ditched the kooky accessories. Tally is adorable though.
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As we age, many of us (especially Jersey Girls) admire her wisdom in avoiding the sun on her face. Shading it has served her well. We, on the other hand, baked in Belmar with baby oil all over us. Stupid of us! So GO HAT!
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in hillary’s defense, since she’s on vacation, i don’t think she cares what she looks like, lol.
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The kooky accseory is not meant to be a fashion statement. She wears these big floppy hats when she’s out because the sun bothers her. Also, because she ends up with even more freckles than she already has.
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awwwh so cute! I hope they are enjoying their time off. Tally does’t look like the little dog by seamus we saw in the other picture we saw of bill and marc on the beach must have been marc and chelsea’s dog soren.
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Tally was in the wide shot on the right. You could only see her hind leg and tail.
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Thank you, they both look so happy walking their pooches.
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i didn’t even know till recently that they got a second dog, lol.
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Neither did her staff! I knew because someone put a twitpic up a few years ago – right after Chelsea got married – of them walking the dogs up near Croton. (Also, I have a dear friend in Chappaqua who sees them all the time. When it’s only President Clinton who is home, he walks Seamus and carries Tally.)
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You are way better than the article writer girls. He didn’t know the little dog’s name. ( I didn’t even know there is other dog.) Love the matching leash!
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That’s sweet that he carries Tally while walking Seamus. He’s a good daddy.
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I think he had to be! Tally looks like Hillary’s dog, maybe she got it as a present.
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Tally is Hillary’s dog, she wanted a small dog of her own. Although I don’t know if she purchased her or got her as a gift.
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Bill got Tally for her. I know that because when he was puppy-shopping a guy tweeted that he was looking for a dog at the same place as President Clinton. It was a little after the time when she was in Africa the first time – August 2009. Hillary had done an interview where someone had asked her about her conversations with him when she’s away. She responded that they talk about everyday things and mentioned that the dog was sick and had to go to the vet. When I saw the tweet I thought Seamus had died, but then we saw those pics from Ossining, and there were both Seamus and little Tally. He had been shopping for a little puppy for her.
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Ahhhh, that’s so sweet. Thanks for the explanation.
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Bill and Hill are right where they belong – at the top. She has great influence throughout the world, and enjoys much well deserved respect. She is not a self-important, glory-grabber unlike some in the Dem Party, and she clearly, sincerely wants to empower people – ESPECIALLY WOMEN (thank goodness someone cares) throughout the world. We already know about her legendary intellect, great compassion, competence, and her many other PRESIDENTIAL qualities As for Big Dawg, the work he is doing through his Clinton Foundation, alone, is enough to get him on the list. Add to that the fact that he is a fountain of creative ideas and solutions, he understands the needs and issues of this country better than anyone other than Hillary, and is so articulate and rational, it’s impossible not to listen when he speaks, and it’s easy to see why he he has such influence.
The Clintons have been through some pretty rough times, and in many ways have been treated so unfairly by the media and by others. Im glad to see good things happening for them, now. They deserve it.
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Well said, Freespirit!
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Hear, hear!!!
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