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

[karma13612]

This is a shame really.

The White House hasn't seen little children for so many years, it forgot how to accomodate them during transition.

I can't recall how old Chelsea would have been when Bill first got elected.

I know it will be worked out, but you would think that they would now have to make some kind of stipulation that if PE's have school age children, that need to start school prior to the 15th of January, that some type of accommodations can be made.

They want to start the girls in their new school ON TIME. They want them to fit in and be treated the same as the other kids starting school at the same time.

This is what happens when clueless old white pasty flabby repubs are in 'power' too long. I can't wait to get this country back to lean, mean (ready to take on 21st century problems), clean (of mind and heart, with low levels of corruption), and green.

[Pepper14]

I got news for you it sure isn't going to happen with this adminstration. It is already tainted with the slime of Chicago.

[concernvoter]

I'm sure Obama and his family want have a problem staying in the hotel.

[Republicrats]

exactly

[thatsitfortheother1]

What? You can't spell "won't" either?

[JMBrodie]

Motel 6?

[debrouillard]

The Blair House is an already secured environment. If he was to move in to some Hotel,then the secret service will have to start setting up security measures now,which will take time and you know the kind of bill they will put forward.

Why go through all of that when theres already a secured place. By the way who is this guest who cant be moved in to a Hotel?

[Pepper14]

I read where Obama has 31 million dollars left over that they don't know what to do with. Why doesn't he buy himself a house in Washington?

[iowacorn]

lessee.... they told joseph and mary there was no room in the inn...

[cyoohoos]

Good one

[longislandlol]

The evil that we've seen these last 8 years has nothing to do with Christianity-- if this is what the religious right stands for then the christian values and morals are immoral--- and devoid of value---

[coralnegro]

Agree

[1differentdrummer]

And, besides, you have to use the back door and eat in the kitchen.

[JMBrodie]

Cute. Good one.

[coralnegro]

Are you talking about the Bush and the republicans...

[leatherbunny]

At this point does anyone really believe G. W. gives a flying F what anyone else think about him?

[Arthur954]

Paul Bremer must be in town

[haval2]

Starting school on time is way too low on the importance scale for a President like Bush. Wonder how hard the fool laughed. Shameful. Boot one of the good ole oil boys...sure they can bunk in another hotel for your final days...

[JScott]

Ya wonder if BO was white and repthuglican (for that matter if it were McCain, remember him?) would there be this problem

[FogBelter]

Probably every square inch of available White House space is occupied by overheating industrial paper shredders and degaussing machines.

[Coattails]

Not a big surprise to me, the White House typically schedules events months in advance.

Obama will have to deal with it soon enough, planning has to be detailed in advance with VIP's and foreign dignitaries, and needs to be kept secretively for security purposes for good reasons.

I would bet that the Obama family could find a nice condo/apartment/house/townhome they could buyout for a week or so to let their children attend their regular school schedule in DC.

I doubt though that the school would make a big deal of the kids starting elementary school a week or 2 late, it isn't exactly serious business.

[Marcospinelli]

What a ridiculous response.

The problem is security. This is the most threatened PE ever. His security takes precedence over any foreign dignitaries' well-being, if the Blair House was unavailable for that reason. But had you read the article, you would have seen that it's not the reason. Parties being thrown by members of the Bush administration at the Blair House is the reason it's not available.

Dismissing the effect on children of starting school late is another classic response by a clueless apologist for mediocrity. It is a big deal, and not putting these concerns affecting children's lives first and foremost is why we're trailing the rest of the world in everything but great big weapons systems.

[USADownUnder]

Amen Marcospinelli!

[eden4barack08]

WOW! Do you know that you're talking about the future First Family? And they should "..find a nice condo/apartment/house/townhome..", seriously??

You speak of "advance planning", so how about the historical American Presidential transition TRADITION, that the future President may occupy the Blair House in the days prior to inauguration, if needed? THAT is the planning the Bushes should've taken into account, not their private little affairs!

This is ludicrous, and unacceptable behavior on the part of the Bushes. I'm actually surprised at Laura since she does try, at least publicly, to act civil and accomodating. I guess she doesn't care anymore either!

[gojo357]

It's not like Obama doesn't have a millions of dollars left over from his donations to his campaign that he could use to find somewhere to stay for a week. While I understand it may a bit inconvenient, it's not exactly the end of the world. Besides, it's good for him to practice his problem solving skills because he is definitely going to need to be in shape to clean up the mess left by the previous administration.

I kind of think it's funny that Obama is already breaking his campaign promises that he made to the American people, proving that he is just another politician on the take. Change, LOL. I think the joke going around now is instead of dollars in our pockets we will have nothing but Change..........

[CrzyRussell]

The traditional occupancy date is 01/15 ... which was offered to Obama. I don't see the big deal. I don't think it would be fair to cancel other peoples functions that were planned way in advance for ANYONES convenience.

[debrouillard]

Yeah,but theres no guest that cant be moved in to a Hotel to accomodate The Next President.

[roshni]

I hope MSM keeps close tabs on who exactly these VIP's are so that we can tell who is more important than our PE and his family.

[SeanONe]

RV1

[JMBrodie]

Motel 1 -- and we'll leave the light on.

[SeanONe]

It wouldn't hurt them to stay in an RV for a few days. They could show some solidarity with the peeps, even if they do get a loaner RV from Mr. De Niro. It's the modern day log cabin.

[Softnsweet]

We are talking about Washington DC. Where will they park the RV? I can tell you have never been there so move on.

[stateMachine]

Totally- and, for everyday the Obamas spend in an RV, the Bush's should spend one day in the ghetto.

[brooklyncitizen]

i'd say prison...i want him in prison the ghetto doesn't deserve Bush they have enough problems.

[Angelic11]

check out the new front page headline.

new thread.

[Ramirez]

Obama should get his pick of houses.
********

Some see God's will in Obama win

By Dahleen Glanton | Tribune correspondent
November 29, 2008

EAST POINT, Ga.—The day after Barack Obama was elected president, Larry Younginer knelt in front of the congregants at his suburban Atlanta church and offered a prayer of thanks.

"Lord, we have again come to you in prayer, and you have heard our cries from heaven, and you have sent us again from the state called Illinois, a man called Barack to heal our land," said Younginer, a 62-year-old retired information systems worker at Coca Cola in Atlanta. "We pray that you will build a hedge around him that will protect him from those who would do him harm."

Younginer, like many others, is convinced that Obama was destined to be president.

-snip-

Lawrence Carter, dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel] said many people look for a sign from God when times are turbulent. And, he said, there are many elements to Obama's win in which Christians can find spiritual significance.

"It is powerful and significant on a spiritual level that there is the emergence of Barack Obama 40 years after the passing of Dr. King," said Carter. "No one saw him coming, and Christians believe God comes at us from strange angles and places we don't expect, like Jesus being born in a manger."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-godsend_glantonnov29,0,7660180.story

[eden4barack08]

And the far right faux-christians believe he's the anti-christ. Looks like they balance each other out, although if I had to choose I'd take the positive, feel-good exaggerations, rather than the negative, evil, hateful ones any day.

[independent32955]

Christians would pray that prayer regardless of who won...believing that it is God's will that one person or another be placed in power.

That said, the REAL problem is those who profess to be Christians and yet wrap themselves up in right-wing conservatism...THEY are the real danger to America.

[coralnegro]

Please it was not only God, it was more people tired of the Bush policy and the republican party. Obama could've been green and I would've voted for him or any democrat.

[uncomplicatedlife]

Obama's side has this to say:
The White House has been extremely accommodating to the Obama family needs — and the entire process has been smooth and friendly,” the transition official said.

What's the hubub? Why is this news?

[Softnsweet]

It is news because the incoming president is being told no because the bushes want to party. Now that is news.

[independent32955]

You're missing the point of a classy obama response to a classless bush.

come jan 21, bush is just some idiot private citizen on the run from international prosecution for his crimes. does this inconvenience the next first family sure, but it's probably more of a headache for the SS if the obamas decide to let the girls start early...

at any rate, it shows just how self-absorbed the bushes are...good-bye and good riddance to very bad rubbish.