I must have misplaced my outrage for the moment
posted at 8:48 am on January 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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According to the Australian press, you and I are “miffed”, “outraged”, and protesting the decision to have former Prime Minister John Howard stay at Blair House instead of President-elect Barack Obama this week. It’s a “hot topic” on the blogs and radio and TV talk shows. I’m glad someone let me know:
John Howard’s decision to stay at the luxurious Blair House mansion in Washington DC has sparked a firestorm of protest in the US.
Outraged American taxpayers are demanding the former Australian prime minister book a hotel or stay at the Australian embassy.
The story is also a hot topic on US radio and TV talk shows.
For weeks the name of the occupant booked at Blair House on January 12 was a mystery.
President-elect Barack Obama and his family asked to stay at Blair House before taking the keys to the White House but were told it was already booked.
It forced Obama, his wife Michelle and young daughters, Malia and Sasha, to stay at a DC hotel, the Hay-Adams.
Howard is in DC to receive a Medal of Freedom from President Bush for his stalwart support of the US in the war on terror. Australia, under Howard’s governance, fought side by side with the US in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Howard provided a clear voice of reason for the fight against radical Islamist terrorists. He did so at considerable risk to his own political career, which apparently ended with his loss to Kevin Rudd in December 2007, after almost twelve years at the helm. (Rudd has also been supportive of the US and the war.)
Tony Blair has also arrived to receive the same medal for the same reason, but he’s staying at the British Embassy, as Bush had already offered Blair House to Howard. Alvaro Uribe, president of Colombia, will also receive a Medal of Freedom for his work in ending abuses and fighting narco-traffickers while holding off FARC terrorists backed by Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. They will only be in town one night, and we should be happy to offer American hospitality to any of these three men, but Howard and Blair especially.
Besides, the Hay-Adams ain’t exactly Motel 6. I’ve been there for a meeting, and it’s one of the most luxurious hotels in Washington. I don’t think Michelle Obama and the kids are going to be terribly uncomfortable in those digs, “forced” there or not. Please curse me with a room at the Hay-Adams the next time I’m in town in our nation’s capital, if I can’t get the Obama administration to put me up at Blair.
And, oh, by the way — Obama isn’t the President yet. In fact, since he resigned from the Senate, he’s actually just a private citizen at the moment. Howard’s award of the Medal of Freedom is an official act of government, and Howard is here in the US as our guest. It makes more sense to offer the facility to Howard than to Obama.
So how did Australia’s 9 News determine that we’re “miffed”? The reporter read the comments on the Washington Post piece on Obama’s “inconvenient” stay at the Hay-Adams. That’s reporting for you …
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Respectfully, I’d assume that the two brothers would have their last name both spelled the same way – I’m confident it’s a typo, but one can imagine what’s gonna happen if people don’t look at what they’re clicking on..
Reaps on January 8, 2009 at 7:06 PM
The Obamas JUST ASKING is extremely presumptuous, as if they exist in some world where only they exist and everyone else (and everything) is like, well, some fruit to be picked at their pleasure for their amusement and use.
And, their “response” such as it was printed to be (”no big deal”) when they were told by the White House that Blair House had long-standing, prior engagements (and thus was not available on the whim of the Obamas) (who, I remind everyone, is not the President during this time and prior to, so his presumptuous request was literally from “an ordinary citizen” presuming upon national resources — the very inquiry represents preposterousness on the part of Barack and wife) is what the media made public, so, who can say what actually took place.
About that, why did Obama aligned individuals then pepper the internet with “outrage” and further denigrations of President Bush (and the U.S.) after, as you suggest, it was “no big deal” to Obama? The Left USES media to introduce and insert these negatives into the popular discourse while then Obama (and others like him) step back and do the stage-pony-dance-and-bragging-smiles.
So I tend to think it WAS a big deal to Barack (else, why would he even ASK in the first place) and he later then tried to act differently, while the urchins who support him then did the heavy, gritty gossipy stuff in media and on the internet (like they always do).
It’s almost certainly a negation of Howard more than anything, and, an effort by Obama (and wife) to continue to be “princely” if not “Queenly” in my view. These two are course individuals and their pretenses precede them.
S on January 8, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Rather, “coarse individuals” (not, “course individuals”) ^^.
S on January 8, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Noticed that, too, huh? Same with the Left’s newfound “belief” whatevers. Suddenly a lot of Democrats are claiming to be Catholics, for starters. Big surprise to me and the Catholic Church.
I THINK what’s occuring is that they’ve noticed the usefulness of these things so, hey, suddenly they’re patriotic (not) and “religious” (not, if you peek under the covers, ethically).
S on January 8, 2009 at 7:13 PM
President Electeds receive funded offices, office staffs, transportation, Secret Service detail/s, communications, almost certainly food and entertainment, just about everything and anything paid for by taxpayers.
So I’m assuming that the Obamas are luxuriating in the current luxury hotel in D.C. at the taxpayers’ expense, also.
That he/they asked for the Blair House is just them illustrating their own bad taste and stupidity. But the Blair House is there for them as it is for all Presidents Elected for, I think it is, the same week prior to the Inauguration. Obama just assumed he’d “ask” and it’d be handed over to him — after all, the world revolves around him, never occured to him that the nation had other commitments while he waited with baited breath to have the run of the White House.
The media is just using the “no” said to Obama to denigrate further the fact that Obama hasn’t been handed the Crown Jewels and they all seem to assume he should be.
About him receiving a salary, he can’t be being paid for a job he doesn’t yet have unless there’s been some arrangement made about the nation tithing to Obama “during his development time.”
S on January 8, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Just asking also tells me that The One will be handing out Blair House invitations like party favors for the next four year, since that’s what was expecting Bush to do.
Ronnie on January 8, 2009 at 7:24 PM
It’s not “derangement” when you react negatively to a filthy Chicago bastard intent on wrecking the nation. That’s called patriotism and I am a patriot.
Just you wait, once the filthy bastard starts in on his schemes with Pelosi and Reid, “ODS” is going to be the norm on HA until the filthy bastard shuts us down.
highhopes on January 8, 2009 at 7:59 PM
This is misleading as holy blue hell and makes it seem as if Blair house is off limits to Obama, period. This is untrue, as he didn’t ‘ask to stay’ but ‘asked to stay before he is traditionally allowed.’ Damn journalists.
TinMan13 on January 8, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Um, isn’t the Blair House like a guest house for the president? So, it’s like GW can invite a guest there? And isn’t GW STILL the president? Why the H@ll should GW have to accomodate someone in his guest house when he already has an invited guest there? YEah, I’m miffed at everyone thinking Obamessiah should be treated like Jesus!
ihasurnominashun on January 8, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Wow, you totally refuted Ed with a statement he carelessly made in a theoretical parallel timeline! SCORE!
joewm315 on January 8, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Reaps on January 8, 2009 at 7:06 PM
You’re right – it’s Stefanovic on both counts
The Thin Man Returns on January 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I’m outraged that I forgot to be outraged!
SouthernGent on January 8, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Take it easy on bastards, I have known a few nice ones.
Egomanical con man, I’d say.
And Drywall has probably given birth to several. He has to love community organizers and government for a reason.
IlikedAUH2O on January 8, 2009 at 10:45 PM
BobMbx
The One and his glorious spouse have complained about this outrage. And everyone should know…
They use supernatural forces to speak through others when the subject is beneath them and might burst their politically correct bubble or upset their affirmative action sheltered emotions.
So they have complained. And we should be very sorry.
IlikedAUH2O on January 8, 2009 at 10:55 PM
highhopes, you’re officially a tool brah.
dakine on January 9, 2009 at 12:24 AM
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