Obamas Homeless in D.C.

"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. . . A State Department official said he didn’t know of any foreign dignitaries staying at Blair House in early January.

A White House official said that Mr. Bush does not have family or friends from Texas staying at Blair House during the period which the Obamas requested. But Blair House, the official said, has been booked for “receptions and gatherings” by members of the outgoing Bush administration. Those receptions, the official said, “don’t make it suitable for full-time occupancy by the Obamas yet.”

What's going on here?

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

He will be but until the Senate counts the votes in January. He is not really even technically the President Elect.

Tired of this non-story already.

I had been out of work for months when I found a job in Washington just before the house was foreclosed on in Houston. With our last buck we loaded the kids in the our car and old pickup, and drove to Wash. We had no place to stay, so we stayed in a Best Western and looked for something to rent before I started my job on Monday.

I love Obama, but give me a break about this Homeless crap, OK?

to be sufficiently controversial enough without a flaming title in the OP? :shrug:

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."

Given that 'homeless' doesn't usually mean that you have the resources to stay in a hotel or lease a short term rental. But then, that really isn't your point, is it?

Our house in Houston was foreclosed on and I borrowed money to be able to stay in the motel. I considered myself very fortunate indeed. then I had to borrow money to pay the deposit on a rental so we could move in.

I don't know what 'homeless' means, technically, I wasn't on the street, thankfully, but then I didn't have anyplace to go back to either.

:shrug:

is wishing that Blair house were available, since they are already familiar with that facility.

DC condo is available for 5 nights for $30,000. maybe he'll give the obama's a break. :sarcasm:

No telling what kind of videos are lying around.

"Deputy Dawg does Washington"?

:rofl:

I think they could afford a hotel if one becomes necessary...

in a HOTEL? As it is, they have several blocks cordoned off around their house in Chicago. How are they supposed to secure them in a hotel?

And the really galling part is that the guest quarters at Blair will be sitting empty all January.

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

and by Alah, that's how long he'll stay put. He did offer Obama his alleged cave in Afghanistan
for a small fee....

What guest can possibly trump the president-elect?

Andrea Merkel over for a neck rub. :shrug:

just a power play. (See post 13.)

The Obamas will be OK.

Was there not talk a while back that she had "moved out" of the WH??

She's probably dug her claws into the carpet and furniture and won't move out til the night of Jan 14th!

The frigging "house" is reportedly 70,000 square feet, for God's sake. They can't spare a couple rooms for two weeks??????? And seeing as how it is OUR tax dollars running the place, what is with this "private gatherings, no information will be released" bullshit? Oh, yeah, the current regime is into private meetings in tax dollar supported buildings, I forgot.

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

Blair House is now a complex of four connected townhouses, including the original Blair House. During the 1980s, Blair House underwent significant restorations, with a new wing added to the north. An adjacent townhouse, Trowbridge House, is being renovated to serve as an official guest residence for former U.S. presidents while in the capital. The combined square footage of the four adjacent townhouses exceeds 70,000 feet, making it larger than the White House.
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Is chimp not wanting to share the city/spotlight til the 15th?? Good luck with that...

I would assume that its set up for the security requirements.

the girls are probably allergic to cats. :(