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

[MossyOak]

Being pragmatic and down to earth, O and M will find someplace that isn't 70000 sq. ft. and do just fine. They have a lot of class and the whole thing probably means a lot more to us than it does to them. But you can take it to the bank (if you can find a honest, solvent one) that it won't be the last glove across the face gesture from the departing Bush League.

[IkeChicago]

Moss

They just can't stay anywhere, first their is the SS, then there is the perimeter to secure. Many places is a security nightmare, just like his residence in Chicago that had to be secured.

[MossyOak]

Ike, if the guy can't find a house to live in two weeks, you think he can run the U.S.?

[IkeChicago]

It's not like the Bush staff has anything to celebrate, they should be sneaking out of town with disguises not partying in Blair House.

If it's a choice between the Bush staff partying and Barack Obama and his kids, I'm with Obama today, tomorrow and in the future. Could some one in the MSM please tell Bush that he and his staff have nothing to party about and to get the he ll out of town.

[DaBluAce]

totally agree with you!!

[classc 1]

ROFLMAO!! De*ad on right you are!!

[Sapna]

TheShrub and his cronies need to get the heck out of the WH right now! After destroying the country for 8 years they want to have staff parties! These people truly have no shame and no brains.

[pupbayer]

Hate to tell Barack but the girls already missed the start of school. Is this a big deal? Really? Surely he has friends who can accommodate them for a couple of weeks. I hope every little slight isn't made into something big. The whining is getting very old very quickly.

[MossyOak]

We've been whining about Bush for going on eight years now.

[genia]

Why...do you wingers always turn a victim into the villain. Scary to think ....children are being raised by these standards.

The Obamas finding accommodations isn't the real issue here.
The Blair House isn't intended for staff parties. The Blair house has 14 bedrooms.......hello?
Just who is staying there and how long they staying?

The Blair House................................
http://www.blairhouse.org/

[eden4barack08]

"Is this a big deal?" ?!? We're talking about our next President you dumb bleep.
How about upholding our history and tradition, and allowing them the courtesy given to ALL transitions? Why does Bush want to be the odd ball in this too?
Hasn't he done enough damage, changing the rules to his will in this country already?

[janeInCA]

Are you Mr. Phil? calling us a bunch of whiners while the economy is going in the right direction?

[BWonka]

The whining is getting very old very quickly.

And yet that is all you ever do.......

[DaBluAce]

then don't come on here to read the whining....problem solved....see how easy that was.....you have a choice.......

[lewis3k]

Bush get your sorry AS out of the WH . You and the Republicans have destroyed this Country.

JEALOUS is a BEETCH.

Get the H*ell on, please leave. Commander-in-THIEF.

[DaBluAce]

too funny...but I agree

[Gunwing]

This is just plain disrespect on the part of the Bush family thats all I can say.

[texastrixie]

If Hillary Clinton could, it would be a supreme gesture if she could offer her home in DC. I think she has a home there. It already is set up for maximum Secret Service protection because of Bill. The Clintons have worked hard to assist Obama. If they could see their way through to giving up their house for a few weeks, it would make us look all the more unified, and also make the Bushes look as selfish as they truly are. Of if not the Clintons, there has to be some Demo biggie who would be thrilled to host the new first family for a week or two.

The current administration's justifications are stupid. Receptions? Move the stupid receptions to the White House if they are that important. The public rooms of the White House will remain intact, even if the Bushes are moving. The White House can handle mulitple, concurrent receptions, if need be. The various agencies just fork over the costs to the WH. You can be sure that if Obama was leaving the WH and young children would be coming in, if they had to, the Obamas probably would just say, come on in. Its not like there were only 4 bedrooms in this place. And its not as if the Bushes will have tons of family hanging around, waiting for an inauguration. There is no reason that the Bushes and Obamas would necessarily even have to see each other.

[eden4barack08]

I'm sure the Obamas have no trouble finding other arrangements at all. But that's beside the point. Even if they're taking it as they always do, with so much class and dignity, that doesn't change how unacceptable, classless and rude of a gesture it is from the Bushes.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

This is the same clown who spent his entire Crawford vacation in 2005 explaining to the MSM why he couldn't meet for ten minutes with Cindy Sheehan. Bushie in fact spent so much energy hiding from Cindy Sheehan, it took him three days to find out about Hurricane Katrina.

Bushie lies about everything, so why should we believe him now?

[wrenny]

I'm certainly no fan of the Bush administration, but I don't see any conflict from what the articles reports. It even ends with the remark from the Obama transition spokesperson that the White House has been extremely accommodating to the Obama family needs — and the entire process has been smooth and friendly. The Obamas aren't pushing, and the Bushes aren't being rude - it's just an unfortunate circumstance that the place isn't available earlier than when most incoming presidential families need it. There have been reports that Bush has issued orders for his staff to be as accommodating as possible to make the transition smooth - he has no wish to leave office looking even worse than he already does to so many people.

[RTFanatic]

Um...didn't they think a new administration would be moving in in 09? Stupid is as stupid does. Forrest Gump is smarter than Bu$h.

[pupbayer]

The article says the president-elect usually stays there the 5 days before Jan. 20 NOT weeks before. I'm sure they can find other housing for a couple of weeks.

[eden4barack08]

The Obamas always respond with class and dignity, no matter what the situation.
But the Bushes are wrong to change the tradition of the Blair House's availability to PEs, and choose to use it for staff parties instead.
They've been doing everything correctly until now, why stop here and put a blemish on their departure? Laura Bush should not want to be remembered as the only First Lady who turned away her successor from Blair House for parties.

[DaBluAce]

What else would you expect them to say....they are trying not to make those bush whacks look even worst then they already do.....but the american people aren't stupid.....we know how bush whack roll.....he is a mean spirited sob and he and his will get their just dessert...life is like a boomerrang.....you throw out shh...i.t and it will come right back to ya......

[hapiday]

channelerchik, that is a great idea (stay with the Bidens) the ride back and forth to school is about a 1 hour total 2 hrs. That's not too bad for two weeks. They have a big house and security might not be a problem. That would be so nice. They all could really get to know each other. I bet the Bidens would welcome them.

[genia]

The Blair House wasn't intended for parties. It's main intention was as a guest house for foreign dignitaries.

The Blair House is bigger (70,000)...yes bigger then the White House (50,000). It has 119 rooms, 14 bedrooms and 38 bathrooms.

HOW can it be booked?
Our tax dollars are footing the bill.....I want the Obamas in there.
Blair House.......................
http://www.blairhouse.org/

[pattyrenee]

OK, this doesn't make any sense at all now. Why can't the Obama's share a few of the 14 bedrooms? 70,000 sq. ft, should take care of any extra guests. They really only need two bedrooms for 15 days or so. Big bleeping deal! Bush should step up to the plate and have them anyway.

[eden4barack08]

In fact it's not booked. That's what makes this more ludicrous! It's being used for purposes it is not intended for, AND denying our next First Family a rightful courtesy, given to all transitions.

Here's them saying it's not booked:

"A White House official said that Mr. Bush does not have family or friends from Texas staying at Blair House during the period which the Obamas requested. But Blair House, the official said, has been booked for "receptions and gatherings" by members of the outgoing Bush administration. Those receptions, the official said, "don"t make it suitable for full-time occupancy by the Obamas yet." http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/sorry-were-booked-white-house-tells-obamas/

[CitizenTess]

SHAME ON YOU MRS BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME ON YOU!

[eden4barack08]

It's a pity that she tried to keep it together, being the only civil voice in that WH, until now. It's a shame to go out with such a classless act, a real shame for Laura.

[hapiday]

Lady Michelle is a pretty smart woman. I'm sure she is working with real estate agents right now looking for a furnished house to rent in the Maryland/ D.C. area. The Obamas will be fine they will work it out. I'm sure they had a plan-B just in case. The Obama team will find a nice place to accommodate the family and security. It puts a small kink in the plans but everything will work out. You can't expect too much from the Bushes.

[eden4barack08]

No doubt they will, I'm sure they're flooded with offers from friends too, but that's not the point. Blair House is traditionally available to PEs for transitions, at whatever date they need it, and it is familiar and convenient for all official purposes, most important of all the Secret Service. It has been so for ALL past PEs, why should it be different for the Obamas? Because they happen to follow the dum.best Pres ever? So now he wants to go out as the least courteous too? And for what? For staff parties?
Where are the priorities?

[harobamason]

I'm sorry doesn.t the booked party now have to make new arrangements?

I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

[eden4barack08]

Ask the Bushes why they refuse to make new arrangements for their staff parties.

Blair House isn't even funded for staff parties!

[jingles32]

I'm sure it would be way tougher for theses so called guests/party goers to find other accomodations than the President elect and his family finding a home for 3 weeks, Secret Service and all.

[JFaye]

It's unfortunate this is happening. However, Mrs. Obama will make it an adventure for their daughters (I'm sure)... Three moves in three weeks is a bit much though. As a taxpayer, I join the chorus of others who want to know who or what takes priority and at taxpayers expense over housing our President-Elect and his family.

Mrs. Bush does seem reasonable and hopefully she will bring some logic and order to this madness.

[DianeGhil]

I guess the White house in all of its brilliance could not be moved, but make sure you inconvenience the next president of the United States.
I really hope there is a loud cry telling the current white house they are leaving - party somewhere else.