Cheat Sheet

And there's no safe place in all of DC and suburbs where Michelle and the girls can stay for a little while until their new home is ready? My family moved a lot, and several times had to stay in motels (seven of us) until the new house was ready, so that we would have a home base from which to start school on time. My parents felt that was very important, as do the Obamas. I'll bet they could find a way, if there isn't some Secret Service requirement that eliminates all the potential ingenious solutions.

So... this is not good. These two little girls are going to be in the spotlight no matter what is done to shield them. Their lives are forever changed. I expect them to bear up with the joy and dignity that we have already seen from them. They have parents and a grandmother who are expert in helping them grow into intelligent and accomplished young women. I am rather certain that if it is deemed to be in their best interests to start school at Sidwell on time, a way will be found to make it happen. If it is not in their best interests, I am rather certain that we will never know why.

Regarding the availability of Blair house, to use a bureaucratic rule as a reason to keep this family away from an orderly transition to becoming our "first family," is unconscionable. Are there Bush personages who are going to be there? Are there Republican donors who will be there? If so, shame on you for not moving your festivities elsewhere. I am sure there are any number of personages in the greater Washington area with appropriately grand residences who would be happy to take you in, or hotels with elegantly appointed suites and private rooms that would also be willing to receive you. If we're talking about heads of state, royalty, or other internationally prominent persons, I would also suggest that there are any number of Washington hotels that would be delighted to turn over a floor or two to you and your security personnel and other members of your entourages. The Obamas belong at Blair House, not camping out in rented or borrowed quarters. The Bushes should assert whatever power they have left and, as Capt. Picard would say, "Make it so."

with all the army bases around washington, some investigation should be made into temporary qtrs used for general officers (which are usually very nice and equivalent to any 1st rated hotel). there is ft mcnair, ft belvoir, bolling af baseit is shameful that the obamas are being denied access to blair house in favor of some "party/celebration" that could easily be moved to another location before the hotels fill up for the inaugural activities.

Another reason to widget the days left in the Bush reign.

This user is no longer registered.

Come on... what an idiotic bunch of nit pickers...
if all other previous incoming Presidents got possession of the House on Jan. 15th, and the White House naturally had other events planned til then, then why in the world would it be available... fault is Obama machine for not planning on where they would stay since they were ordained to win.. weren't they???

philipjames

That's where you're wrong. It isn't true that all the other PEs took possession on the 15th of January. Do some research. You'll find there's no such thing as a set date. Each PE has chosen and requested their own. The Carters used all of January, as did the Reagans, GHB only did one night because he was already nearby at the VP house, the Clintons had since Dec 7th, and it's only the last Bushes who decided to go on the 15th. That was their choice, that doesn't make it the next President's mandatory date. The Bushes are way off and wrong on this one. The country's next President accommodations take precedence to any staff parties Bush wants to have. Not to mention that Blair House is not even funded as a party place, but rather as a guest house. HUGE faux pas on the part of Laura Bush. Shame on her!

Contacting the White House The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Phone Comments Line: 202-456-1111 (M-F 9-5) E-MAIL: Please send your comments to comments@whitehouse.gov.

The Blair House belongs to the people. It is funded as a guest house for foreign dignitaries, not for staff parties. Let the WH know how you feel over their choice to have staff parties, and deny accommodations to our next First Family, as our past Presidential transitions have enjoyed, at the date of their choice.

Traditionally, new Presidents and their families move into Blair House @ Jan 15. Fact is someone on the Obama team should have been working with the Bush White House as soon as Barak won Democrat nomination for President.

Venezia:
Your information seems solid but consider...
Blair House was probably booked well in advance and depending on who is stayting there security could be an issue. Needless to say, this is an opportuniity for Obama administration to establish policies and procedures dictating when new Adminstrations can move into Blair House.