"Blair House" was APPALLED at the Obama's request to bunk there in early Jan.

[pnwmom]

I didn't know houses had feelings. I better be more careful around mine, then.

:shrug:


Whatever the Bushes might say, their reaction was a blatant show of power. How typically nasty of them.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1325772,CST-NWS-SNEED.article

The backshot: A source tells Sneed: "There were reportedly two reasons for the request: Obama's children start school in early January -- and the move could be interpreted as a New Year's symbolic gesture showing the president-elect in a presidential capacity across from the White House on Jan. 2, the day after New Year's Day."
• • The buckshot: Blair House, the president's guest house for visiting dignitaries, nixed the request. "It was a polite rejection," the source added. "But I'm told Blair House was appalled."

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/07/howard-blair-house/

Last night on MSNBC’s “Countdown,” Bloomberg journalist Margaret Carlson revealed that when the White House turned down Obama’s request in early December, it had not yet even invited Howard to stay at the Blair House:
I reported…on December 11 and 12 that there were no foreign dignitaries booked into Blair House during that period of time. … I have the feeling they asked him to come and stay so that there might be some plausible reason for not letting the Obamas stay there.
She also pointed out that Blair House has “119 rooms with 35 bathrooms. Howard wouldn’t even have to share a sink with the Obamas.”

[CatWoman]

1. Damn

hope my house doesn't get any ideas -- I may have to sleep with one eye open :)

[pnwmom]

8. Yeah, I'm sure my house must have a grudge against me.

Actually, that explains a lot . . . .

;)

[DevonRex]

12. Tee hee. That must be the "royal" appalled. nt

[Pirate Smile]

2. Sneed? Isn't that the jackass that said Rahm was on tape 21 times - according to "rumors"?

This sounds like another one of Sneed's BS RW "rumors".

Blair House said they were completely ready for the Obamas. The Bush's rejected the request.

[NewJeffCT]

48. Yes, that is the same Michael Sneed

I can't imagine there are too many female journalists named Michael Sneed out there?

[NashVegas]

3. It's Unfortunate the Story Was Leaked

Neither party comes out looking good.

The Obamas are going to learn there's a reason why etiquette and protocol are strictly adhered to in formal settings in the circles they are about to travel it, and it has to do with sparing everyone involved from embarrassing themselves.

[pnwmom]

7. Why should the Obamas be embarrassed? Their request was perfectly

reasonable, because it would have been much more cost effective for the Secret Service to guard them there than at a hotel.

And with 119 rooms, there was no question of space. In fact, Blair and Uribe had been invited along with Howard, but turned them down. The Obamas could have stayed wherever they were going to put Blair. (The Times in the UK said that Blair said no because he didn't want to be known as the one who had bumped Obama.)

[Pirate Smile]

9. The Obamas made a perfectly reasonable request.

Geez.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. Your post is embarrassing. Those who admonish the most about etiquette usually posess the least

true understanding.

I understand that the Clintons moved into Blair House in December before their first term.

[DevonRex]

11. Oh my. Your post is embarassing to even read. Seriously, I'm embarassed for you.

[NashVegas]

54. You'd Do Better To Worry About Yourself, My Dear

:hi:

[DevonRex]

63. And you would do better to learn the facts of the protocol of Blair House

before posting your absurdly snooty post above.

See reply #63 for the REAL protocol and etiquette of Blair House.

[TexasObserver]

87. so true

but if one is named after lard ....

[pnwmom]

15. BTW, the Obamas have been traveling in those "circles" for years.

The Senate is an august body in and of itself.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

16. Funny, they used to say similar things about the Clintons

They were regarded as stumbling bumpkins from Arkansas by elite Washington insiders. Which probably says a lot more about those elite insiders than it does about either the Obamas or the Clintons.

[pnwmom]

32. I remember that, too. They clearly viewed him as a hick and a usurper. n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

60. Yep. They laughed at them behind their backs.

Sometimes right to their faces. The Clintons are regarded as the establishment now but that was not always the case.

[Canuckistanian]

20. Why does Obama end up looking bad in this?

He made a reservation request in a traditional presidential hotel. Well in advance, as well.

Where did Obama go wrong in your opinion?

[NashVegas]

49. Both Parties Look Bad

It is a reasonable request; it was equally reasonable for the Bush's to turn it down.

It's unfortunate it was leaked.

If someone on the Obama side leaked the story, it looks like they were purposely attempting to embarrass the Bush's, but the reality is they publicized themselves on the losing end of a pissing match. If it was leaked by a Bushie, it looks like they were purposely embarrass the Obamas, but it the reality they don't look good, either. Lose-lose all around.

[Raineyb]

69. So Obama looks bad IF he leaked but there's no evidence that he actually leaked.

Considering your lack of evidence of wrong-doing on Obama's part it would appear that the only one who should be embarrassed is Bush. Unfortunately, that moron doesn't have enough sense to have any damn shame.

This both sides look bad is meme of yours is nothing more than false neutrality.

Regards

[Divernan]

21. Pray do enlighten all of us yokels with a cite to any etiquette/protocol provision

prohibiting the President elect of the United States from requesting the use of Blair House.

You can't, can you?

I don't know what circles YOU travel in, but the Obamas are not "about" to travel in Washington, DC's "formal settings". They have been doing so since he was elected to the US Senate.

Pardon me while I go to wash my white kid gloves with the pearl buttons. A lady never leaves home without already having donned her gloves, you know.

[FloridaJudy]

31. The Obamas politely requested

A courtesy that has been extended to every other PE in recent memory - and that would have saved the taxpayers a considerable sum, and the Secret Service a great deal of trouble. How is this presumptuous?

Unless of course, one thinks that "those people" aren't entitled to the same privileges, in which case

[Raster]

36. Oh puhleeze.

"The Obamas are going to learn ..." Hmm, are they now?

[bitchkitty]

37. Oh, well, protocol.

I call bullshit.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlooInBloo]

55. BWAHAHAHAA!!!!!

[DevonRex]

58. So, the Obamas should learn their "place." I mean obviously they're not of the social station

of the Bushes. Perhaps those darkies can learn in time what it means to have manners. Even "house negroes" eventually learn some etiquette, right? So there is some dim hope that Barack and Michelle might learn to travel in polite society.

HEAVY, HEAVY, VERY OBVIOUS :sarcasm:

[Phx_Dem]

59. You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

There is no "strictly adhered" to protocol for when Presidents-elect can move into Blair House. Protocol states they never move in AFTER Jan. 15.

The Clintons were using Blair House in December 1991
Reagans moved in on January 1, 1980

Bush is the only President petty enough to deny the Blair House to the President-elect when it was empty. But, frankly, doesn't need to be empty to accommodate the Obama family. The place is 70,000 square feet. If the President's family can live in the WHite House while accommodating public tours (as in the past), the PE can share the Blair House in one man, or a reception downstairs.

[DevonRex]

61. So the Clintons were living there in December 1991. Guess they didn't know their place, huh?

And the Reagans had the utter gall to move in January 1?

Well, leave it to hillbillies and hollywood types and black people to not follow the supremely polite social etiquette of the Bush family. After all, they are the upper crust and know better than everybody else. :sarcasm:

Thank you for the information. This puts everything in perspective, one which doesn't put that poster in a good light at all.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

62. Silly, those people aren't named Obama.

The whole point of being an Obama-hater is that it only draws criticism when an Obama does it.

[DevonRex]

65. Bingo! Funny how some people here agree with the Bushes, huh? nt

[NashVegas]

67. I've Got a Pretty Good Idea A Lot of People Here Are Dancing to Margaret Carlson's Tune

And have no desire to join them in a stupid piece of trash story that started life by being leaked to by a Village Idiot ringleader like Margaret Carlson.

[Shakespeare]

80. LOL. You won't admit you were wrong.

When definitively proved to be so. :rofl:

[Kermit77]

75. Crisco I agree with you. The White house plans things years in advance

The White House staff emaculately plans every detail of a transition years in advance and a big request can completely ruin everything and cause an overwhelming amount of stress.

I am just thinking of the poor overworked ushers, waiters and maids who work at the White House and Blair House.

When the Obama's transition starts in 8 years, I am sure they will appreciate having these same plans laid out for them.

[DevonRex]

77. Funny, but Howard wasn't asked to stay there until AFTER Obama

asked to stay there. Pretty much ruins your argument. Sheesh.

[treestar]

88. Immaculately

And if so, it's the only thing Chimpy immaciulately did.

118 rooms and no one in it - the poor maids would probably loved to have the Obamas there.

[EFerrari]

79. The Obamas have traveled all around the world and met with many luminaries,

and unlike the Bushes, have never brought shame on the American people. They are not the ones that need the lesson in manners here.

[Window]

81. What a sorry statement. It was a perfectly reasonable request as the

girls had to attend school. Should them have commuted from Chicago daily.

Damn.

[TexasObserver]

86. You forgot that sarcasm thingie.

If you're serious, poor, poor you.

[GentryDixon]

90. You are beyond believable.

Obama had a legitimate request that was pissed on by the current, soon to be replaced, spiteful little troll currently residing in the White House. How shameful of he and his minions, and you for agreeing he was correct.

[xxqqqzme]

91. Ger a grip. It's the cowboy wannabe and the

little mrs. in this mix. Blair House is where all presidents have stayed before moving into the White House.

Dimson is a petty, vindictive little man who enjoys reminding ANYone that he is still in power.

[AspenRose]

4. Those uppity Obama people

Who the hell do they think they are, anyway?


:sarcasm:

[my2sense]

13. You beat me to it.

[rvablue]

35. Seriously,

I mean he is only the next POTUS.

And, of course, the class act that is Obama would never retaliate, with firings and such.

But he could, you know, invite every living diginitary in the entire world to stay for a week consecutively for the next four years.

Those whom were outraged need to work out their grief, right?

[TahitiNut]

84. You got it.

Them black folks don't know good manners, I guess. Golly... I guess they just can't help it.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[baldguy]

5. Blair House falls under the authority of the White House Chief of Protocol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_Protocol_of_the_United_States

[ellisonz]

83. What's she doing with Katherine Harris's hair?

Nancy Brinker

[baldguy]

92. The hair is standard GOP-issue

$29.95 at WalMart.

[babylonsister]

6. I'm appalled they and that house were appalled. How idiotic.

If there's no precedent, Obama should have been able to start one given his situation with his kids.

[Fridays Child]

14. Sour grapes, party of two?

George and Laura display their stunning immaturity, right up to the last bitter second.

[southernyankeebelle]

17. How sad

Goes to show you that republicans are really, really mad they lost the power. Also it shows how racist the republicans are. And they say they want to put america first huh.

[Divine Discontent]

18. oh, come ON! They didn't want any "ni**ers" in there - I guess being gay, I know damn well

how people treat you when they find you unworthy for something. My best friends mom told me in front of her son that his old friend couldn't come stay with his gay partner in her place because the thought of them having sex in her home made her nauseous! I looked at her and said, "um, Gay couples don't fly down to people's homes, especially your tiny mobile, to think, let's have sex so she can hear us doing it! I really don't think that's gonna be on their mind, they're coming here to visit your son, then they'll probably go get a hotel room for a night or two". I wanted to tell her she was a bigot, but I held up since I didn't want to make my friend's life harder. And thus, I can easily see why they wanted to be that way with PE Obama and family - to not think there's millions of people disgusted that a black man is coming to the White House to do something other than yard work or repairs just makes them very disgusted. I hope he "ethnicitizes" the place just to piss them off! Of couse, I'm still also holding out hope he will help push for greater GLBT rights too, but we'll see about that.

[AtomicKitten]

19. I marvel at their utter lack of respect for the Pres-Elect.

I wonder if it's partisan, bad manners, or both.

[opihimoimoi]

22. I am APPALLED at the SHALLOWNESS displayed by Those in charge of Blair House

Their rejection reeks of Negativity....

[SoCalDem]

23. and they may end up "assigned" elsewhere..after Jan 20

:evilgrin:

[Divine Discontent]

24. they wouldn't want to work under him anyhow... reading this OP confirms bigotry

the other reports didn't make me think that, it just seemed like being jerks b/c they could, but reading they were appalled by Obama says it all!

[hedgehog]

25. That's something I'll be wondering about. When the Clintons put their friends in charge of the White

House travel office, everyone was appalled and Travelgate was born. Lost in the uproar was the fact that some Bush holdovers had been leaking (mis)information about the Clintons for several weeks.

[SoCalDem]

26. I think Obama is less "heavy-handed", and can make

a lateral re-assignment seem like a promotion:evilgrin:

[opihimoimoi]

43. Obamas style of Leadership is such that his GOODNESS will be OBVIOUS

and well recieved...the results will soon emerge...the Odds looking good....

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Any bush social nastiness has that old rag's paw prints all over it.

[Control-Z]

29. You could have warned us

Your posted pic just turned my stomach. And I had just finished my dinner.

Ew!

[peace frog]

66. GAH!! My eyes!!

She's devolved from being the silver douchebag to an outright hag.

[SharonAnn]

82. As Nixon said "That woman knows how to hate!"

[Mz Pip]

28. Obama is the PRESIDENT-ELECT

not some low life out of town cousin who always stays too long. Appalled? A nearly empty house is appalled? Give me a break. What kind of twits run that place to be "appalled" by a polite and not at all unreasonable request from the PRESIDENT-ELECT of the US. Must be some real assholes who keep that calendar.

[Poiuyt]

30. That sentence could be read two ways:

Blair House, the president's guest house for visiting dignitaries, nixed the request. "It was a polite rejection," the source added. "But I'm told Blair House was appalled."

Was Blair House appalled that Obama made the request? Or was it (or they) appalled that Bush rejected them?

[pnwmom]

34. Hmmm. . .

guess someone needs to ask the house.

:shrug:

(I agree that it is possible, but I doubt that your interpretation implies. Not when read in the context of the whole article.)

[Poiuyt]

38. It's very poor writing

[Occam Bandage]

39. Since Blair House was the one doing the rejecting,

I'm pretty sure they weren't appalled at the rejection.

[glitch]

52. Unless the Bushies were the ones doing the rejection and Blair House was appalled at them.

I doubt Obama asked Blair House directly, I am sure the request went through channels. Anyone along the chain could've done the rejecting.

[Hawkowl]

33. Antagonize your prosecutor

At least I HOPE Obama plans on prosecuting Bush.

[EraOfResponsibility]

40. B-b-b-but Obama deserved it because he shut Howard Dean out

:sarcasm:

[gauguin57]

42. I knew the Amityville Horror house could talk ... "Geeet ouuuut!" ... but this is ridiculous.

Maybe it's good the Obamas aren't staying at Blair House. If the house is talking, maybe it's haunted or possessed by demons or something.

[agentS]

44. Bush's last dirty dig before leaving office?

He still has 11 more days, and he decides to end it on a cheap shot.
Well, he did say the Obamas could use it from Jan 15th onward.
Makes me wonder if the Bushtards will even clean up the oval office before they leave...

[ladjf]

70. It's the electronic bugs all over the White House that I'm worried

about. nt

[farmbo]

45. They started with lies about Clinton's typewriters and end with this Blair House Bunk...

With them it's all about tearing down their opponents with personal smears-- even if they have to make them up.

[glitch]

46. Blair House: You're Fired!

Not to be vindictive but who the hell do they think they are? I am sure there are plenty in this economy who would love to staff Blair House.

edit to add: if true.

[flpoljunkie]

47. What is 'appalling' is for the Blair House to turn down the Obama's request.

How delicious the Obamas and their Secret Service detail are now right across the street from the White House at the Hay Adams Hotel.

[bdamomma]

50. this is pure arrogance and ignorance towards a Pres Elect.

Bush is really an asshole. This is a slap in the face to all of us.

John Howard of Australia is staying there, the most hated politician in Australia Bush is giving him a Presidential Medal of Freedom, :wtf:

[glitch]

53. The more I read this the more it looks like Blair House was appalled that the Bushies rejected the

request. Which makes more sense, petty spite is a Bush thing and since far more people are appalled by any and all Bush actions than they are by polite requests for accommodation.

[mod mom]

56. I wish some news organization would come out with a $ figure that the snub cost taxpayers.

I heard the Blair House is secure while mucho dinero had to be spent securing the hotel.

I sooner we get these cons out of office-the better for the country.

[polichick]

57. That's what it sounds like to me.

[pnwmom]

64. I don't read it that way, since it said that Blair House "nixed" the request.

Why would Blair House be appalled at its own nixing?

[DevonRex]

68. Yep. And obviously the regular staff of Blair House didn't do the nixing.

They would have no power to do that. It's Bush people, at the orders of the Bushes, who did the nixing. So the Bushes were the ones who were "appalled." They're nothing but petty assholes.

[WI_DEM]

71. Damn that Blair House--pretty snooty building if you ask me.

[ddeclue]

72. Didn't you ever see Amityville Horror?

Of COURSE houses have feelings...

If you anger yours enough it might leave a message in blood on the wall saying "GET OUT!"...It might start throwing the furniture around the room at you too..

:rofl:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

93. The White House already throws furniture at Shrub, didn't ya know??

Remember how the furniture gets hostile and hits him in the face?

And the vicious bag of pretzels?? Makin' him choke??

And the carpet munching? He's chewing on acrylic pile, from the look of the scrapes on his chin, temples, forehead, knuckles......

.....PTUI........

:rofl:


:evilgrin:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

73. Were they asked to come through the servant's entrance?

Yeesh.

[Kermit77]

74. I kinda believe this report - The White House ushers are pretty anal

I was watching a documentary about the White House staff and they were saying the the staff plans things a year in advance and if there is the slightest change it can totally wreck everything. The ushers and staff are under a lot of pressure this time of year.

Back in 1988 during the auguration everything was planned and then Poppy Bush wanted to make one little change (I think he wanted to land his helicopter on the east lawn - but there were already tables and chairs set up for a party) and the White House director had a hissy fit. He called Mrs. Bush and threatened to quit if they did this.

I say take it easy on the White House and Blair House staff. They will be working for the Obamas in two weeks and we want them to treat our new President right.

[Hekate]

76. Bush-people: petty, small, mean, rude, arrogant. How can we miss them when they won't go away? nt

[peaches2003]

78. I am SO sick of the arrogant uppity Bushes

Who the hell do they think they are? All I read online is that they are such an example of good taste and class and that the Obamas will trash the White House. Laura is a little TX country bumpkin who does what the WH staff and professionals tell her to do when it comes to decorating and style. I'm sure she's just as nasty in real life as her mother-in-law, the bitch of all time.

[TexasObserver]

85. Blair House will remain, but its arrogant manager had better be job hunting.

I wonder how the job market looks for overpaid, spoiled assholes who think they're important, but aren't, in DC.

[Hellataz]

89. Why should anyone be appalled at someone's REQUEST. It wasn't like he demanded to stay there.

I thought his request was fair, no reason for anyone to get their panties in a bunch over it. Gheesh.