Future First Family Denied Early Move-In at the Blair House

WOW! A mountain has been made out of a mole hill on this issue. Yes, Obama asked if it would be OK to move into the Blair House before the 15th to start his girls in school for the beginning of the 2nd semester of school. This is not an outrageous request, in fact, it is perfectly reasonable. Reagan, and Clinton both took residency at Blair House before the 15th. But the Bush family says its not available, and Obama has publicly stated that its no big deal, that Bush has been very cooperative in the transition, they will get a hotel. While I think it reflects poorly on Bush, Obama has been very understanding about the timing of his move and the unavailability of the Blair House. If staying in a hotel is OK with Obama, then the rest of his supporters should support him in that decision (follow his lead). His daughters will start school on time, and only a little inconvenience will occur. Its time to move on and get past the partisan bickering. No one is traumatically damaged in this situation, so we need to move on and let history be the judge of these events.

With regards to obama's birth certificate. If he was a true American he would produce the birth certificate. Why didn't he attend his grandmothers funeral? Oh I forgot...she was a typical white woman. It makes me sick when people refer to Jackie O and michelle in the same sentence. Look what she wore on the election night and then said for the 1st time I am proud to be an American. I am not proud to have this family representing Americans as the 1st family. Is it true that michelle's mother is also moving to the white house? The change obama talked about is upon us. You elected him...so here comes the change.

As a former educator, Laura Bush has forgotten that NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND means something. Shame on Laura - of all people - talk to George and give the Obama family the key to the Blair House now. How refreshing that the Obama family actually does put their children's education first, and believes that starting in a new school on time is important.

Entitlement - the theme to obama's song.

It's the rules, stupid. One President at the time. Sit down and wait your turn.

Let them stay at the Holiday Inn or Nancy Pelosi's house. Gee, people get a life. This guy needs to wait his turn. He's not the president yet. He's not even the president-elect yet.

I don't think it's really a bif deal. I'm a conservative republican (the two are no longer interchangable) and I really hope Obama can turn thigns around. Bush had it hard. He had to face the worst attack on the U.S. I think he's done ok for what he had to face, though many mistakes were made. As for the Blair House issue, like others have said Obama just has to wait his turn. It's not a big deal. It's not personal. Lots of kids transfer schools or start late, and they do great.

Unbelievable. As a Canadian, I don't see the problem here at all. Education is important. Alot of Americans may not understand that. The children need to start school on time with the other classmates. The Blair house has no dignitaries scheduled, so move in there until the White House is theirs. The Bush family is gone on the 20th regardless. Democracy is alive and well. The country voted. Move on to something more important than whether the kids can start on time. This is a very petty issue that never should have even been a discussion. The Bush staff should have been more than welcoming as their citizens voted this family to be their First Family when the Bushs' are done.

Tax-payer dollars provide for Blair House. If the Obama family needs a place to live, the needs of the country's new first family should trump whatever frivolity the Bushes have planned. There are plenty of rooms in the White House; the Obama family security should prevail.

Tax-payer dollars provide a Blair House.

A precedent cannot be created. He should calm down and wait for his turn. What's the rush? WH is still engaged at the moment.

But the snarler could get a hut: every dog has his day

Nine Days between Jan 5 and 15th when Traditionally Available to President Elect ? No? Jeb, Neil, or Marvin have Reservations?

Seamless? No, Priceless!

Take a deep breath, everyone. January 20 will come. And hey, Republicans, relax. We've got it from here.

Jan. 5th so that the girls could start school on schedule.

Since 1942 when the Federal Government purchased the Blair house at the suggestion of Eleanor Roosevelt the Blair House has been used as the President’s guest house for visiting dignitaries. (Eleanor had encountered and objected to seeing visiting Prime Minister Winston Churchill wandering around the White House at night in his underwear.) President Truman lived at Blair House from 1948 until 1951 with his wife Bess and daughter Margaret. The White House had been undergoing its most extensive remodeling since it was rebuilt after the British burned it in 1814. President Truman had the facility set aside for President-elect Eisenhower's use soon after the November election. Since that time it is always reserved for the President-elect’s use starting no later than Jan. 15. President-elects Kennedy, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton either occupied or had full use of the residence in late December or Early January. When not booked for a diginatary or president elect, the main floor reception areas have often been a convenient location for White House Staff to have functions and parties.

The initial refusal of the request by the Obama Transition Team was made by Sally McDonough a staff member of Laura Bush. It seems that the White House Staff had presumed the use of, but not officially booked, the facility for a private bash of White House Staff and invitees. The Blair House management staff also confirm that there are no other foreign dignitaries scheduled to stay at the Blair House for the duration of the Bush administration.

Yet Sally McDonough, spokeswoman to Laura Bush, insists that, regardless of the set-up, the January 15 date is non-negotiable. “Blair House is available for them on January 15th,” she says.

Looks to me like some staffers wanted to have a fancy place to throw a Texas style Beer Bash!

Laura Bush's spokesperson said no?
Laura Bush, the former educator?
Laura Bush, who knows the reason for the request is to start school children on time?
I can't believe Laura Bush would do such a thing.
Now her husband, on the other hand, well, what do you expect?

Isn't it interesting how gas is now a buck fifty a gallon AFTER Obama was elected. Hmmmm...gotta be a connection there somewhere with the price of gas, don't you think? Speaking of gas, isn't it interesting how the media (thank you Tom Brokaw) is now willing to mention that we have a ... shhhhhh ... closet smoker in the Oval Office ... with the initials ... BO. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. What a drag to have to have secret service accompany you off premises, Mr. Pres, thanks to the White House smoking ban Hillary instituted, just so you can take a drag. No prob, though. Just use the Febreze that covered up who you really are during the campaign. Now, for all you 53% who will be crowning your Messiah on January 20, would you mind terribly if BO would unveil the biggest coverup and come out as the "white" person his original birth certificate says he is, so Oprah can exhale again?
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! God, I love this country and the absurdity of our grown-up playacting, especially the way we idolize our mere mortals into God status.

He will be the President (Elect) officially after the Electoral Collage votes. The Blair house is a motel and one needs reservations. Barry/Barack may be a citizen but he was born in Kenya. He is aware of this as is most of the world including the FBI.

Obama can't solve economic problem, he is part of it with his ties to the liberal agenda and other liberals like Barney Frank, Waters, Meeks,Palosi and others. There push on Freddie and Fannie to make bad loans that could not be paid cost us our banking crisis, thus the global financial crisis. And their over taxation and corruption added fuel to the fire. Let us work and spend our money instead of this confiscation of the American labor with a "spread the wealth" agenda. It doesn't work and we are seeing the fruits of it.

For those crybabies still whining about Obama's birth certificate, that is readily available for viewing on the internet if you bother to research it. I saw the 'official' copy of his Hawaiian birth certificate, so just CHILL! Yes he is an American Citizen. Sheez. As for the Obama's moving into the Blair house, the Bushie is putting them off because of some Holiday parties for his STAFF at the Blair house, which is NOT its intended usage. The usage is for the stay of foreign visitors. Since none are scheduled during that time, Bushie should have his staff parties at the White House and let Obama stay at Blair House. But we all know that the Bushies can't think on the fly for the last 8 years, its too taxing on their little brains. Common sense is just too much for them.

oh yes - while I am on a roll- If you also think that President Bush, alone, by himself, made all those mistakes, you are also crazy. No man alive could read all that is required to make the decisions that he had to make. He trusted his people to do that and surmize everything for him. A whole lot of lies was fed to him from trusted people and he based his decisions on their word and look how America has treated him. And all those lying people that fed him so many lies - look who hired them. If the Bush Administration is so bad, why is Obama hiring them???What is the old saying about keep your friends close but your enemies closer-----Duh!!!!