Before the White House, Obamas Moving to Washington

[skorpo]

Source: Washington Post

By Anne E. Kornblut
It's official: the Obama family is moving to Washington this weekend.

With their Hawaiian vacation drawing to a close and the start of school looming next week, a transition official confirmed that the Obamas will make their personal transition to the nation's capital over the weekend. They are planning to stay at a local -- as-yet unspecified -- hotel until Jan. 15, when they will be allowed to move into Blair House, the official presidential guest residence near the White House.

President-elect Barack Obama will be working on an economic recovery plan, the transition official said, and will be here for the start of school.

He and his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, will be in Hawaii until New Year's Day, before making a final stop in Chicago en route to their new home.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/30/before_the_white_house_obamas.html?wprss=the-trail

---

Looks like the move is this weekend. Chicago will miss them.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. And now,

that gorgeous family becomes our very own local news.

(Oh, man, please let me not explode between now and January 20, 2009 when that fucking helicopter lifts Chimpy Fucknuts up and out of my airspace.)

Amen.

[rasputin1952]

4. I'd rather see him leaving via Paddywagon...

but the chopper will do...:D

[jmowreader]

19. They'll take him away in a USMC Black Hawk

It would be better if they took him away in a US Army Chinook--on a one-way flight to Pope AFB, where he'll board a C-17 for the flight that will take him to Iraq so he can complete his service. I mean, come on: anyone ELSE went AWOL during a war, they'd ship his ass back to the war to finish up his hitch. Why should Bush be any different?

[AlinPA]

2. I'm sure the girls have been warned about the slimy media who will be

writing trash about them and chasing after them like hyenas.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. I wonder.......

There was a deal made with the press to leave Chelsea alone, and it was honored beautifully.

I would think that same kind of deal would be in place for the girls.

I hope.

[AlinPA]

6. It would be good, but media is even more personality centered now and behave like wild dogs.

[AnneD]

7. Actually....

the DC press has been much hands off when it comes to the children. After all-it's not like they are in public office. They may be in a photo or two but not all the craziness. They are off limits.

That being said-I loved the still photos of the Kennedy children. I was 7 at the time and seeing them for me was like being in that world. Mom would save the pictures from the newspaper for me to look at and try to read the captions. I think that would be a positive image for many young children to see.

[Captain Hilts]

10. The Bush Twins were over 18 and got on the police blotter. Once you get on the blotter...

it's a free-for-all.

[2Design]

11. I believe people in general were more polite at that time n/t

[Captain Hilts]

9. The press actually left Chelsea alone. Right wing talk show hosts didn't...

but the press generally did.

I think they'll do the same thing here, especially since the kids are so young.

[bdamomma]

22. those girls are going to grow up fast.

I hope the media respects their privacy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I still think it is stinky that Bush wouldn't let them move into Blair House

early. I'm sure the Secret Service agrees--protecting the President Elect, especially this one, is a difficult job.

[wiley]

14. So Who is in Blair House?

We will find out.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. No one-

they are using it for parties.

[mnhtnbb]

23. Maybe Pickles has been using Blair House so she doesn't have to put up with Bushie boy.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Does anyone know how old this Blair House 'tradition' is? I've never heard of it until this

time, and I've read a LOT of presidential history. It must be pretty new.

[tammywammy]

12. From what I can gather from the Blair House website

They have copies of the Guest Book on there,

President-Elect George HW Bush & Barbara moved in Jan 18-20 1989
PE Clinton & Hillary stayed there Dec 7-8, 1992
PE George W Bush & Laura Jan 12-20, 2001


But it could go back further and it just not be on their site or that PE's stayed elsewhere.

[onehandle]

13. I understand that President Carter let the Reagans move in early.

They were eager to start "work."

[tammywammy]

15. I don't know if they moved in early

Or if Nancy just had a lot of contractors going in early to do her renovations.

[SoCalDem]

16. or her astrologer needed to check out the vibes

:)

[peaches2003]

20. Interesting when Chimpy moved into Blair House

January 12- 3 days early. But the Bush parties are too important for him to extend the courtesy to the Obamas.

[MrsBrady]

18. interesting website and history of this house

http://www.blairhouse.org/

looks like there is a house next door under renovation to be used by former presidents, also.

interesting.

[Seedersandleechers]

25. Where are the bedrooms?

For some reason the site doesn't show any bedrooms.

[Bunny]

21. I wonder why they'd bother to move to Blair House at all.

It's only for five days, and if they're settled into the hotel suite, why wouldn't they just stay there until the Inauguration? It seems disruptive to move to the hotel for two weeks, then Blair House for five days, then the White House.

[mnhtnbb]

24. Probably on their own dime for the hotel and then funded at Blair House by Feds.

I imagine Secret Service would rather have them at Blair House, too.

[janx]

26. Kids starting school:

Proximity to school, getting the kids settled in, etc.

http://www.sidwell.edu/calendars/block.asp?StartDate=1%2F1%2F2009&ModuleID=328%3A374%3A376%3A368%3A477%3A459&ClassID=&pageaction=ViewPublicBlock