White House To Obamas: Sorry, We're Booked

New York Times:

The White House has turned down a request from the family of President-elect Barack Obama to move into Blair House in early January so that his daughters can start school on January 5.

The Obamas were told that Blair House, where incoming presidents usually stay in the five days before Inauguration Day, is booked in early January, a spokesperson to the Obama transition said. "We explored the idea so that the girls could start school on schedule,' the spokesperson said. "But, there were previously scheduled events and guests that couldn't be displaced."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Lea4388]

03:50 AM on 12/15/2008

Oh well, while some things have changed, still other things remain the same.
Whatever. The Obamas have other options.

[AbyssinianLion]

09:55 AM on 12/14/2008

They scheduled parties in the Blair House to celebrate the complete destruction of America and their incompetence as an admin? These are the last "Mission Accomplished" parties? Thanks for the last kick in the @ss.

[goodtomeetyou]

03:53 AM on 12/14/2008

No child left behind my a zz.

[the964kid]

01:03 AM on 12/14/2008

America to the Bush & co : f**k you.

[BethinIllinois]

11:12 PM on 12/13/2008

Saw somthing on the Washington Post web site that makes perfect sense: this is POLITICS!

It was politics that made Obama ask for something he wasn't to get, so he could pretend to be president a few weeks before he actually is. It was pure politics -- he can make Bush look bad, even though Bush is simply taking advantage of the things he is ENTITLED TO by virute of the fact that YES, HE ISISHSIS PRESIDENT of the United States.

Obamas asked. They were denied. And now everyone's going crazy b/c their poor little children can't start school ribght away, etc etc. Excuse me, if the Obamas were that concerned about them, then he wouldn't have run for president.

Get over it. The Bushes -- and I loathe George, have the right to the accoutrements of the presidency until Jan. 20. Obamas get Blair house on Jan. 15, not Jan. 2. The world does NOT revolve around sasha and Malia. Too bad. tought toenails.

[Sabreen60]

02:30 AM on 12/14/2008

This has got to be the dumb est comment I've read all night.

[Yuma]

03:39 AM on 12/14/2008

WTF????

[richdoll]

09:45 PM on 12/13/2008

it's tacky mrs.bush was aware the children were going to school in the beginning of the new year the acommodations should have been made for a smooth transition. where were they to stay until the 15th in a hotel?

[Lupin77]

09:07 PM on 12/13/2008

As the president elect he takes priority over any plans for Blair House made by the present inmates of the WH. If the family wants to stay there, Blair House should be quickly turned over to the whenever they want it.

[msjimmied]

09:03 PM on 12/13/2008

What!!? No room at the Inn for the Messiah?!! OK, I know he is just a man...but it would seen since his family needs should be met, don't you think this arbitrary "5 days before inauguration" is kind of rigid? So who are these guys that cannot shuffle their plans is what I would want to know! Get them rooms somewhere else. This country is full of empty rooms, thanks to foreclosures.

[mebble]

07:55 PM on 12/13/2008

What more could be expected from the Bush Administration. This is just the way they are. And they'll be gone soon enough. Just be patient. The Obamas aren't complaining.

[eden4barack08]

08:42 PM on 12/13/2008

The Obamas NEVER complain anyway.

[pascaljim]

07:40 PM on 12/13/2008

Prior to moving into WH, Obama should tent and fumigate to get rid of the BUGS

[IkeChicago]

07:00 PM on 12/13/2008

That's the problem Obama is having, he calls for transparency and the press want him to drop his pants on a daily basis.

If he walks on water today, they'll demand that he walks on air tomorrow, if not they will deemed him a fraud. Now I've seen Bush unable to read a simple sentence and he is constantly given a pass.

[Yuma]

03:40 AM on 12/14/2008

Amen!

[eden4barack08]

06:55 PM on 12/13/2008

Contacting the White House

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Comments Line: 202-456-1111 (M-F 9-5)

E-MAIL: Please send your comments to [e-mail].

The Blair House belongs to the people. It is funded as a guest house for foreign dignitaries, not for staff parties. Let the WH know how you feel over their choice to have staff parties, and deny accommodations to our next First Family, as our past Presidential transitions have enjoyed, at the date of their choice.

[TIRM]

03:23 PM on 12/14/2008

You should probably know what you are talking about before you incit people to clog their phone lines and send pointless emails. No president has ever occupied the Blair House early. All things shall come in due time, there is no point in getting your underwear in an knot over this since this is the way it has been done in the past. Obama is no more special than any other person to hold the office, and I suggest you all stop treating him like he is.

[eden4barack08]

01:07 AM on 12/15/2008

The Carters stayed all of January, as did the Reagans, GHB only one night because he was coming from the VP house, the Clintons almost all of December and January, the Bushes from the 15th. Just because they chose that date, doesn't mean they should enforce it on the next POTUS.

There's no such thing as a "usual date Jan15". It's not written anywhere, and past transitions show otherwise.

You're the one who should know what you're talking about first! Why would you take such a risk of coming out ignorant, when the information is out there at your fingertips?

[booker52]

06:36 PM on 12/13/2008

One word for the Bushes, tacky. I did like what David S from MSNBC said last night, he would open up he home for the Bushes company and show them as much hospitality as Bush did looking for the WMD's in Iraq, none!!! Too funny David by half!!!!

[OB-GYN]

06:34 PM on 12/13/2008

Blair House Jackson Place Conference Room:

An elegant setting, this room features a table with seating for 22 and is used as a meeting and dining room. The room is lit by an English mid-19th century gasolier—now electrified.

Bet this might be a reason PE Obama would like to have access starting in early January. Lots of work to do on this economy.

[mrskorn]

06:29 PM on 12/13/2008

The usual date for entry is January 15....so why should Obama get something different? Sorry, life doesn't revolve around him.

[eden4barack08]

06:33 PM on 12/13/2008

Not a fact. The Carters stayed all of January, as did the Reagans, GHB only one night because he was coming from the VP house, the Clintons almost all of December and January, the Bushes from the 15th. Just because they chose that date, doesn't mean they should enforce it on the next POTUS.

There's no such thing as a "usual date Jan15". It's not written anywhere, and past transitions show otherwise.

[MossyOak]

06:34 PM on 12/13/2008

You better hope life revolves around him, mr.scorn, unless you have a plan to bring American back to snuff. If so, we'd be glad to hear it. Until then, life does revolve around him.

[disgusted48]

09:48 PM on 12/13/2008

touche!