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

[mi]

Just another example of the true heart of
Bush.
Can hardly wait to see him and his evil, destructive
reign come to an end.

[truthbrigade]

That's what happens when no one fears you. You're so congenial and weak; they know there’ll be no consequences to their rudeness towards you. How do we know that? Well, he reinstated Joe Lieberman after accusing Obama of shady background and supporting his opponent. He appointed Hillary to DoS after she dissed him repeatedly and declared that he is NOT fit to be Commander in Chief (but McCain is!!); still no consequences.
When you act like a Yo Yo, they'll take you for a ride.

[Patricia84]

lol.

[bobbysgurl]

This is the what happens when you are feared, for no apparent reason.

If Obama isn't feared by the GOP, then they would be working with him instead of against him to get this country back on track. The reason the GOP caucus in the Senate did not help pass the bail-out bill for the car companies was strictly political.

The country is more important than any one individual or any one party. Get a grip.

[BrahminNoodles]

Bushes admit that no one is staying at Blair House:

"A State Department official said he didn’t know of any foreign dignitaries staying at Blair House in early January.

"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/

Even though the purpose of Blair House is quite clear:

"Today, while Congressional funding provides only for the management and routine maintenance of Blair House,..." http://www.blairhouse.org/fund.html

"The Chief of Protocol of the United States is responsible for the operation of Blair House..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blair_House

The Bushes are allowing non residents to use Blair House for going away parties instead of using Blair House for its intended purposes.

[Harmony1812]

"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,
Bush has friends?

[eljodio]

Well, Joseph and Mary had to take it in the manger 'cause the Inn was full.

[JeanPaulSatire]

As much as I believe Chïmpy to be the worst.president.EVER, I did not have a negative impression of Laura.

Until now.

This completely avoidable bit of mean-spiritedness not only is a major blemish on her reputation, but because it is happening so late in her tenure as First Lady, it will remembered more easily and fully than most of the things she has done.

I guess even Laura is not immune from self-inflicted wounds.

[Mahi Joe]

I guess she had to do something or her fifteen minutes of fame would have ended. So sad to see someone like Laura stoop so low as to reflect her husband's demeanor.

[Harmony1812]

The headline should be:
Bush's hate for Obama goes so far as to hurt two little girls.

[Mahi Joe]

I am sure those who will be staying at the Blair house will truly enjoy all the papperazi standing outside the front door exposing them to the public and documenting their every move. Say Cheese!

[BrahminNoodles]

That's the big problem. No one is staying there. The Bushes are allowing their staffs to use the guest house for going away parties.

[Mahi Joe]

Typical of Lil Georgie. He never did have any class to begin with and this only goes to show you how little he respects anyone but his own deluded self.

[CLEDUC]

I hope the media stake them out and embarrass them. If I had a booking there, I'd be moving it. I certainly wouldn't want to show up to a function there now under these circumstances.

[ManwithaParachute]

If you ignore the trolls they eventually all end up in the South with their masters of Republican financial disaster.

Conservatives/Republicans support creationism in schools because they evolution theory will place them on a rung of the development ladder below Liberals/Democrats.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

Nah, evolution places Republicans below four-legged fish of millions of years ago.

[CLEDUC]

I looked it up only to find that this "5 days before Inauguration" "rule" seems bogus. The Clintons were offered Blair House and stayed there briefly in December. They ran their transition from a hotel because of what the Bush's/government was going to charge their transition for Blair House and the air costs. The Secret Service costs for the hotel were going to be more but at that time, didn't appear to be charged to the transition. (source 1991 NYT story)

The Reagans also stayed at Blair House in December '80 and they were also there before Reagan's Inauguration. I don't know how much they were there in between.

So I don't know where this "5 days before" rule comes from

[eden4barack08]

Of course it's bogus. I think Laura just invented it, because that's the date she chose to move to Blair House in 2001. That doesn't make it a "tradition".

[BrahminNoodles]

All protocol and precedent began with George W. Bush!

Future generations will change the calender.

No more BC/AD

Will become BW/AW

[janeInCA]

Agree with you.

[BrahminNoodles]

The Reagans were in residence for all of January 1981.

Haig Press Briefing - Blair House, DC 01/01/1981

Reagan, Baker, Brady, Small - Briefing Blair House 01/06/1981

Reagan Remarks, Q&A - Return to Blair House 01/01/1981

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/textual/smof/heinze.htm

[OB-GYN]

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 whitehouse.govhouse.gov.

[eden4barack08]

Thank you.

[myfatherschild]

Thank you.

[lancpa]

The alternative is to get them a hotel which will be be open to the public so tax payers pick up the tab, not to mention the number of streets around the hotel which will be closed. Which is more of an inconvenience?

[BrahminNoodles]

Poor Republicans can't keep their outrages and priorities straight. Following the 1992 election, Bill Clinton was criticised for NOT using Blair House for his first post election visit to Washington:

Published: November 18, 1992
"In spurning the luxury of a government mansion for a luxury hotel, President-elect Bill Clinton may be making a point, but he won't save the taxpayers any money.

"In fact, his decision to stay at the Hay-Adams Hotel instead of Blair House will cost more because of the additional Secret Service protection needed, said State Department officials who operate the Government mansion, which usually houses visiting heads of state.

"Blair House, a short walk across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, has full security, according to the State Department's Office of Protocol, which operates the residence. But hotels must be made secure, it said.

"Hence, teams of Secret Service agents will be on duty round the clock in rooms above and below the hotel's Presidential suite, as well as on both sides, State Department officials said. Agents will also set up a command post on the Clintons' floor for the two-day visit and be on duty in the corridors, meeting rooms and lobby. The service would not say how many agents were needed or the cost entailed.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DC1F39F93BA25752C1A964958260

[eden4barack08]

But how's that possible? I thought he was at Blair House since Dec 7th, but also ran his transition from the hotel.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977413,00.html

[BrahminNoodles]

Note that the above article references a two day visit in NOVEMBER, 1992.

His FIRST visit to Washington after the election.

NOVEMBER comes before December on most calenders.

[urbanscorpio88]

There is a simple solution to this hoo-hah, just ask Bush to pack his meagre belongings and vacate the White House.........

[eden4barack08]

What's simpler than following tradition and extending the courtesy of staying at Blair House to the next POTUS, at whatever date they need it, just like the others? Why is Bush breaking that tradition?
Hasn't he done enough damage already? Not even the decency towards the one who's gonna have to clean up his mess, and put the country back on track?

[Mahi Joe]

Lil Georgie is only doing this out of pure spite. Remember who you are dealing with here. This type of behavior is in keeping with the ignorant, immature, arrogant behavior we have seen for the past eight years. Do you really think Lil Georgie is going to change in his last few days? Dream on lol.

[coralnegro]

Agree, they should've done that a long time ago. Better yet they can have all the parties they want in the good old ranch in texas. Not at my or any taxpayer expense. Blair house should be for incomming presidents, not for outgoing political idiots.

[tbone99]

Obamas to White House - the very sight of you ruins our appetite.

And the post dinner film ,nights of AbuGraib with dessert might make us vomit on the silk carpet.

[BrahminNoodles]

ArturoYee
Excuse me - don't prior commitment have priority over newer requests?
We taught that to our children! Once you make a commitment - you keep it.
Or has that changed now in our western culture? I really want to know -
Posted 09:19 AM on 12/13/2008

Bottom line is this: Blair House is funded by Congress and administered by the State Department of Protocol as a Guest House for the United States Government. The only reason it should not be made available to the Obama family is if there are foreign guests scheduled to be in residence between now and Inauguration Day.

There is nothing in the legislation establishing and funding Blair House that makes Blair House a location for White House staffers to hold parties. Washington, D.C. social life is governed by the Order of Precedence and Protocol. The only member of the President's staff who is even listed in his Chief of Staff. The people who are having the parties could easily go somewhere else. Blair House is being misused by being allowed to be a venue for parties for the staff of the White House.

[BrahminNoodles]

^...State Department Office of Protocol...

[hotstuff]

The blair house is funded by us, just like the white house! If Bush's had half a brain they would have known the Prez Elect would need it early for school admission! Other prez got it early to!

[roshni]

I resent the fact that Bush is having ANY party on us. He has been the worst president in history and I fail to understand what he could be celebrating since he is a total failure.

[coralnegro]

And who said that GWB had half a brain. I agree, if I am paying for the Blair House, therefore, the Bush should hand it over.

[ArturoYee]

Thanks for the information - something I did not know - so relate what you just educated me with just now with Obama's using the Blair House and their use for it as a local residence?

My thoughts would have been for the school to understand the situation and make the requested exception.

[roshni]

The school cannot start classes 10 days late. There are other children involved. The girls could miss the first 10 days of school, but they are switching in the middle of the year and already need all the transition help they can get.
This is very rude and inconsiderate of the Bush family, not to mention disrespectful. Bush parties do not take precedence over the education of the Obama kids.

[BrahminNoodles]

Laura's secretary says that "tradition" dictates that the President Elect wait until 5 days before to move in.

Blair House purchased 1942

No succession until Truman in 1945. The Trumans stayed in Blair after FDR died, because it took the movers two weeks to pack up Eleanor's 12 years of "stuff."

Eisenhowers didn't stay in Blair House AT ALL during the 1952 transition.

Kennedy's moved into White House directly from their house in Georgetown.

Nixons stayed at the Shoreham Hotel in 1969.

Carters were given access for all of January, 1977.

Reagans given access for all of January 1981.

Bush 41 spent one night in Blair, but went there from the Vice Presidents mansion, in 1989.

Clintons given access for all of January 1993.

GW moves in 5 days prior to swearing in. In the mind of the Bush sycophant in the Social Office, the 5 day rule became TRADITION because that is what W had done.

[eden4barack08]

So, for the school to delay the start of ALL students to accommodate two?
WTH??

[ArturoYee]

What we taught our children (two boys) are that we always find solutions the minimizes other people's inconveniences and we take responsibility of our needs first.

[eden4barack08]

What's the inconvenience to the Bushes for an empty house, that was supposed to be available for the next President?

[CeeLee]

The only difference the Republicreeps make for support of OFFICIAL chidren is that if you are KNOCKED up out of WEDLOCK and WHITE, you can have Neimans and Saks shopping sprees paid for by their affiated party. Other wise if you want to register for school and BLACK GET BACK.

What a surprise!