Sorry, We’re Booked, White House Tells Obamas

[kpete]

December 12, 2008, 1:11 pm
Sorry, We’re Booked, White House Tells Obamas
By Helene Cooper

Updated | 3:12 p.m. CHICAGO—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 Jan. 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.”

It remained unclear who on Bushes guest list outranked the incoming President.

“It’s not a public schedule,” said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for First Lady Laura Bush, in refusing to disclose who was staying at Blair House. “It’s not a question of outranking the Obamas. Blair House will be available to them on January 15.”

more at:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/sorry-were-booked-white-house-tells-obamas/?hp

[zbdent]

1. "But, hey ... if you can match the $100K that the renters are giving us,

we'll put you first in line if they cancel ..."

[BunkerHill24]

2. Where is Minister Farrakhan? One Billion plus! oops!

[pnwmom]

3. Liars! The guest quarters is NOT booked: it's EMPTY till inauguration.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/12/future-first-fa.html

The Blair House says that they are ready for the Obamas whenever -- if ever -- they choose to come, yet they have no idea when that will be. They also confirm that there are no other foreign dignitaries scheduled to stay at the Blair House for the duration of the Bush administration.

The president often hosts receptions on the first floor of the Blair House, however -- which may be why the White House was not comfortable with allowing the Obamas to move in when there were scheduled events.

But the Blair House describes the president-elect's residential quarters within the house as a separate area -- purposely designed to provide privacy from the rest of the house. Still, the White House insists that, regardless of the set-up, the dates are non-negotiable, as is tradition.

“Blair House is available for them on January 15th,” says Sally McDonough, spokeswoman to Laura Bush.

[spindrifter]

4. Ridiculous crap from the Selfish Party.

[baldguy]

5. The Bushes are a bunch of assholes.

[avaistheone1]

6. A thread is already going on this topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7975985&mesg_id=7975985

[Cha]

7. That's right, 'cause nothing

outranks the Obamas:bounce: