Obamas Move Into Blair House

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama moved his family into a new temporary home, the historic Blair House, on Thursday, then went to dinner with his wife at a nearby restaurant just as President George W. Bush was starting his televised farewell address to the nation.

The Obamas will be staying at the government's official guest residence until they move across Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House on Tuesday.

Obama's motorcade left his downtown transition office and passed rows of bleachers set up for next week's inauguration as he arrived at Blair House. His black SUV pulled up on a pedestrian street on the north side of the White House that is normally closed to traffic.

Obama had asked to move into the guest house at the beginning of the month when his two daughters were starting at their new school, but the Bush administration said the house was unavailable until Thursday.

Instead, Obama and his family moved from their Hyde Park home in Chicago to the Hay-Adams Hotel near the White House. His wife, Michelle, and their daughters _ Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, arrived there on Jan. 3, followed by Obama a day later.

Aides said the entire family has moved to Blair House, which sits across the street from the White House.

When the president-elect went out to dinner with wife, his motorcade traveled two blocks to the Equinox Restaurant.

Blair House is rich in history, luxurious in appointment and _ after the departure of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard _ finally vacant for Obama and his family to move in.

Blair House is actually four interconnected townhouses forming a complex of more than 100 rooms that is larger than the White House at 70,000 square feet. The original Blair House was built around 1824 by Dr. Joseph Lovell, the first U.S. surgeon general, and purchased by newspaper publisher Francis Preston Blair, a close friend of President Andrew Jackson and part of his "Kitchen Cabinet."

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On the Net:

Blair House: http://blairhouse.org/

Comments

[BlackYowe]

So glad the petty little Bushes are blowing back to Texas like tumbleweeds!

[lioness39]

"Blair House is actually four interconnected townhouses forming a complex of more than 100 rooms that is larger than the White House at 70,000 square feet."

And one defunct PM from Austrailia couldn't have made room for a family of four and their secret service personnel? This is more of the pettiness and arrogance that was emblematic of Bush's regime.

[hadassah23]

He should have stayed at his embassy like Tony Blair did who was also offered rooms there. At the same time. If I'm not mistaken, Blair House is actually 4 different houses combined together over the years that contain 119 rooms.

Howard is a Bush crony who spoke out against Obama during the pres. campaign. I am not surprised that the first lady decided that one ex pm (also unpopular in his country like his friend) and his wife take precedence over our this country's next president and his family.

[LLisaLL]

*disclaimer - my post is not intended to defend the actions of the Bush Administration and the availability of Blair House to PEO

As the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister in the country's history, John Howard enjoyed a healthy approval rating amongst the population up until the end, when mounting opposition to the country's presence in Iraq and his ability to deal with domestic economic issues tipped the majority in favor of the opposition. As truths were uncovered about Iraq, Howard's close friendship with Bush became a liability. It also helped when the opposition finally dumped Kim Beazley and Rudd was able to take over leadership.

Australians don't look to JH as 'unpopular' in the same sense as Americans do with GWB.

[Amalek]

Australians are loud and drink a lot. Obama needs his rest. He has got a lot of cleaning up to do.

[katielady]

W never fails to elevate himself to the worst of the worst; most spiteful and mean-spirited.. did anyone mention he calls himself 'born again'.. Born again what!!!!

[keene]

Are those SUV's "green" or are they gas guzzlers?

[LARRYB28]

there goes the neighborhood

[1dogs2]

Laura has always been a little thin-skinned. She refused to shake hands with Steven Colbert after his bit at the Press Club dinner in which he needled Bush, but primarily skewered the press -- who were also not amused. I was, though.

[sharsharbinks]

Too bad Laura couldn't have gotten above it all and have done the right thing for the Obama girls sake.

[Halter]

Hope Obama's people have the place swept for cameras and listening devices.

[pcplz]

Too bad that Laura Bush almost.....yup.....almost made it out of the whole shebang with grace and dignity. Then....she had, just had, to show her colors.

She will be remembered for her final petty decision. Ungracious, thoughtless and mean spirited.

Ah, tooooo bad.

Buh bye!!

[duhhh]

Bitter? Party of one, Bitter?

[Rivermont]

Get over it and move on.

[mssreader]

Hmmm, I think Blair House size of 4 townhouses is a bit big for one man. Sad to see this kind of pettiness when he could so easily have been given the Lincoln bedroom since bushie thinks so highly of him.

[DeloresT]

I agree with all of the comments that I have read so far. Iwas quite concerned about those little girls having to move so much. Please let's keep this man and his little family prayed up.

[stuckintx]

What an ungracious, disrespectful boor John Howard is. No dignity. ANY dignitary of substance would INSIST on moving their stay to somewhere else to show respect to the incoming PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. This was totally deliberate, colossally shameful, Laura. There is something seriously wrong with you.

[amp27]

laura didn't like the was obama spoke about her husband. oh well. the obamas dealt with it fine, just another transition. they haven't had an easy path, and it didn't seem to be a terrible hardship for them.

it just shows how ungracious republicans can be, nothing new.

[duhhh]

Bitter? Party of one, Bitter?

[Rivermont]

Shows you what a non-issue it was to adults.

[learnsomething]

This was the pettiness of passive aggressive Laura Bush. She also went out and bought new china for the White House, to spite Michelle. There is no reason for her to have bought new china, when she was leaving the White House in a matter of days.

[stuckintx]

If this is true, I hope Michelle sends them to her with a note saying " I couldn't possible keep these knowing how much you must have liked them ".

[BethinIllinois]

I read that each new prez gets to spend up to $100 grand to redecorate. (I think that's obscene, by the way. I think it's especially obscene given the current economic climate.) In any case, I'm sure the Obamas can pick out new dishes!

[duhhh]

Bitter? Party of one, Bitter?

[hadassah23]

I don't understand how this spites Michelle? If she doesn't like it, can't she just box it up and get what she wants?

[MaryanneAZ]

They were nearly $500,000 in new gold rimmed dishes that the Bush family will never use in an official capacity. What a collosal waste of money in light of the upcoming new administration. This is just another one of those foolish traditions that each First Lady picks out china for the China Room for display purposes. We need to be a lot more practical in light of the serious issues in our economy today.

[zendem1]

Oh my..we're almost there..

[Fromageball]

Does anyone actually know that Laura was responsible for this?

[KarenT]

The press reported that Laura's staff told the Obama staff it was booked.

[Solja]

They were just mad because Obama stomped all over the Bush name for 2 years. Come to think of it, I wouldn't let them stay either. LOL Obama destroyed the Bush name during the campaign. LOL Not to even mention what Bush did to his own name, but Obama put the nails in the coffin.

[learnsomething]

Laura is responsible. She is the one who is responsible for Blair House.

Blair House as always been available for the incoming president and his family, anything after the election, leading up to inauguration day. This was a spiteful dig at the Obama's.

[naschkatze]

Sounds like the Obamas got their own back, though, by being sighted at a restaurant just as Little Georgie's speech was getting started. LOL.

[Solja]

Blair House is supposed to be available for the incoming President 2 weeks before the Inauguration. PE Obama asked if they could move in early because of the kids school starting. The Bushwigs did not break "custom", Obama did. Nonetheless, they shouldn't have lied (once again). They could have simply done the right thing for the kids and left politics out of it.

The Bushwigs COULD HAVE fixed it and called it a mistake by simply calling them back and offering it to them since it wasn't in use. Even if the former PM was going to come, he still could have stayed there. The place is big enough for his and the Obama's extended families.

But like someone already said, they don't care. I'm so glad to see them go. They could have left on Nov. 5 from my point of view.