Not exactly rolling out the welcome mat...

Happy New Year everyone! Yeah, it's been awhile since I have posted, first it was the holidays, then I was under the weather, but today I am much better! My goal for 2009 is to post more often. Everyone expects a momentous year, what with Obama's inauguration, a new administration taking charge, and the continuing financial crisis.

So much has happened in the past couple of weeks! Bush got shoes thrown at him in Iraq, Blagojevich went ahead and appointed Obama's replacement while plans to impeach him are underway, things got tragically bad in the Middle East, and Cheney called himself "warm and lovable" (no, I am not making that up!).

But one of the smaller stories that caught my attention was the Blair House dustup. Blair House is the official presidential guest house, and according to tradition, the incoming President and his family are put up there during the days leading up to inauguration. In December, Obama requested an early move-in date because his daughters were to start school on January 5. But the request was denied, because Blair House was booked! What? Who or what event could possibly trump the President-elect? Really now, I can't think of anyone who, if asked very politely, wouldn't cheerfully rebook themselves and their entourage into a nearby hotel to accomodate the Obama family. But noooo, the prospective first family is currently residing at the Hay-Adams hotel, and then will have to move into Blair House, then again into the White House! Yeah, just a nice little last-minute snub courtesy of the Bush administration. Besides the obvious lack of common courtesy, the extra security required at the hotel is costing us taxpayers a not-insignificant amount of money. Blair House already has appropriate security.

So just WHO is the extremely important dignitary that bumped the Obama family out? None other than the former prime minister of Australia, John Howard, hated in his own country for his support of Bush's horrific adventure in Iraq. Bush is awarding him the Medal of Freedom. Right. MUCH more important that the soon-to-be leader of the free world. Um hmm.

It's just a perfect metaphor for how Bush has treated each and every American (other than the rich and powerful) since the day he took office eight years ago. With disdain and disrespect.

I can't WAIT for January 20.