That’s about my only vague point; that Bush could’ve made it happen if he’d *wanted *to. I thought it was funny and “typical,” not outrageous or evil, or whatever. It would’ve been a nice gesture, a public opportunity for Bush to look, what, non-petty, or something. And the displaced guests could’ve been diplomatically compensated. It could’ve been a win-win situation, instead of a silly footnote.
Right. Because Bush would’ve come out looking like such a nice guy.
Bush boots visiting foreign dignitary from Blair House to cater to Obama family whims
Bush to world leader: Get out, our incoming Pres. is more important
Breaking news: World revolves around Obama
Foreign dignitary put up at Holiday Inn; says he enjoys the continental breakfast and wake up calls
I can see the headlines now. Certainly not win-win.
And Obama strikes me as the kind of guy who gets that. I highly doubt he’d even accept the offer, if it were “Sure! No problem! We’ll have to move this guy out first, but you can have it whenever you like!”
As John Mace said, the security probably wouldn’t be adequate there. Also, apparently it was such a dive that Michelle refused to stay there when she visited him (I heard her say that in their 60 Minutes interview). Apparently, Barack is a bit of a cheapskate about certain things. 
But why would the public care? I’d never heard of Blair House until this thread and I assumed the incoming prez was on his own for housing until the day of the inaugeration.
Besides that, in the middle of all that’s happening in the world right now (economic downturn, Iraq War, Christmas, The Dark Knight on DVD), who will even remember this by next week, let alone January 15th?
There is no way to “diplomatically compensate” someone in this instance. They would have been snubbed. Period.
And in all seriousness, Barack Obama doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would want or expect some distinguished guest to be displaced. The guests are not just guests of the Bush administration, they are the guests of the People of the United States of America. It would reflect badly on the Bushes, on the Obamas, and on the country to snub someone that way. Can’t imagine an incoming POTUS would want to be the cause of that.
lissener, you say it would be an opportunity to make Bush look non-petty, but I think the actual effect would be to make Obama seem petty in the extreme. Not the reputation I would want to have if I were him.
I have no doubt that Bush could’ve ejected the tenants of the house had he wanted to. I fail to see why that course of action would be intelligent.
It might make Bush look gracious and accommodating. At what cost, and to whom?
You know, I actually hadn’t thought of it from this perspective. You’re right of course. So I still get to be cynical, imagining how it would be spun in Obama’s disfavor. I was wrong about the win-win; it would probably in all actuality be more of a lose-lose.
Still, an amusing footnote.
You keep saying that, but if this is amusing, what’s a boring night like at the lissener household? I can’t even imagine.
And from what I understand, this is pretty much what happened. It is the media and bloggers that are making this into an issue.
Oh, and if it has not already been mention, the scheduling is handled by the office of the First Lady, not the President. It is part of her duties as offical U.S. hostess. IF you are going to pit a Bush, you have to pit Laura.
Ooh, that sounds dirty.
It’s not really amusing at all. It sounds pretty much like a normal event that no one involved actually thought twice about. If you can see how it might get spun in Obama’s disfavor, maybe then you will concede that YOU are the one who is trying to spin it in Bush’s disfavor.
Bush took a crap today. Clearly, he was motivated in part by a desire to soil the toilet that Obama will use once he is president. Maybe not that big a deal, but an amusing footnote.
It is not Bush’s problem. Obama will just have to make other arrangements. Not a big deal.
“Welcome to the White House, Mr. President. Here’s your official bathroom, but I wouldn’t go in there, you know what I’m saying? Light a match, whew!”
If it helps, it seems nobody’s living there, it’s being used for receptions and various other meetings by the outgoing staff. Everyone’s trying to get everything done at once, looks like.
Exactly. I mean if it was McCain, and he got the Adminstration to throw someone out 10 days early, someone who had resevations and promises, imagine the furor that would cause here. “How dare he throw his weight around and trample on the rights of the average guy!!”
Omama asked (and it was a reasonable request), The Admin demurred as it was already booked (which was correct thing to do) , and from what I see Obama is good with that and understands (which is what I’d expect of the gentleman). This is a non-story. But it did make the front page of the Mercury News, so evidently some dudes think it’s news.
Most public schools have residency requirements. If D.C. follows what Ohio does, hotels don’t count, nor do friend’s houses, nor do temporary quarters such as his Senatorial lodging unless he considers these his permanent residents. So until the Obamas physically move into the White House, and change their primary address for taxation and voting purposes, technically they’re still residents of Illinois and their children are ineligible to attend schools in the White House district.
So perhaps it’s not as simple as the Obamas not having a place to stay for a few days, but that the public school district will not allow the children to begin classes on January 5th because the Obamas are not legally considered full-time residents yet.
If he sends his kids to private schools, I’m out of ideas.
What do you mean “hotels don’t count”? You live where you live. Or are you saying that if ypu live in a hotel you have no valid address? That makes no sense. I have no doubt that your address is where you live, whether it be a private residence (owned by you or your uncle or your friend, it does not matter), a hotel, a nursing home or a cardboard box. Where ever you live and sleep, that is your residence.
He’s sending them to Sidwell Friends School, the same private school that Chelsea Clinton attended.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081122/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_school_12