Obama plans regular happy hours

[Beacool]

By AMIE PARNES | 2/10/09

You can stiff the president on a policy issue and defy him on a political one, but who can turn down an invitation to the White House?

Using one of the world’s most famous private residences as bait, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are unleashing a bipartisan charm offensive and exploiting every square inch of their new home to make friends and influence rivals. The social calendar suggests a return to the days of Camelot.

Since moving into their new digs, the first couple has hosted a half-dozen gatherings — from bipartisan cocktail receptions to a public open house to the more intimate Super Bowl party two Sundays ago — ending many of their days past midnight. Most recently, on Wednesday, the Obamas opened the White House doors to House caucus leaders from the moderate Blue Dog Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus. White House aides say the couple hopes to make the Wednesday cocktail parties a tradition.

Friends say the Obamas are looking to maintain the dizzying social calendar they had in their pre-White House days, while using their knack for socializing to find new friends and win hearts on Capitol Hill and in other Washington power centers.

“They want to replicate the same kind of environment they had in Chicago,” said a longtime friend of the Obamas, adding that White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is “the perfect person” for the job because she knows the couple’s former life inside out and is “designing the calendar to reflect the kinds of things they like to do.”

“If there was a party or an event , they were there,” the friend said. “They’ve always liked to go to lots of restaurants and be a part of the community. Now they want to be a part of D.C.”

“Barack and Michelle have always been interested in the details of people’s lives,” the confidant said, calling them “people people.” “They know who’s engaged to whom, what people’s spouses do for a living, all about their parents, where they grew up, names of children.”

The president, the friend added, “likes to be in the know.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18635.html

[Mme. Defarge]

1. Beats spying on everyone!

[Captain Hilts]

7. It's a pleasant change of tone from the previous admin, isn't it?

[morillon]

17. OMG! I almost had Hornsby's Cider coming out of my nose on that one. ;-) n/t

[Captain Hilts]

2. Spare me the "Camelot" shit. Really.

Kennedy had great PR, but was a so-so prez. Obama's got the potential to be a MUCH better president.

He has less baggage than JFK and is not as reckless.

[Beacool]

4. I wonder if people would still hold Kennedy in such high regard if he had finished his term.

Would he have become the icon he is today? People tend to glorify those who died before their time, such as Marylin Monroe and James Dean. The term "Camelot" certainly wasn't used to refer to his administration until after his death.

Let's not forget that the seeds of the Vietnam war started during his time in office, not Johnson's. He also showed that he was a novice with his handling of the Bay of Pigs.

;-)

[Captain Hilts]

5. And the Cuban Missile Crisis happened because he came across as a total immature...

bobby soxer to Khrushchev.

If Averill Harrimann had been president, it NEVER would have happened.

Then, JFK gave us the "Best and the Brightest" that gave us the Vietnam War. Most folks don't understand the irony intended in the title.

[damonm]

11. Not QUITE accurate.

Ike got us involved in 'Nam. And, 2 days before his assassination, JFK told one of his aides (in the wake of the Diem coup) "We need to ask some serious questions about just what the hell we're trying to accomplish here - it may well be time to cut our losses."

Ike also left him the Bay of Pigs, and kennedy made the mistake of trusting Ike's people.

Don't forget the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, nor the push for the Moon that spun off the high-tech industry.

Kennedy wouldn't have been, IMHO, one of the great ones, but neither would he have been a W-class catastrophe.

[Hekate]

38. Thank you. Just, thanks. nt

[olegramps]

39. The seeds of war were planted by Eisenhower.

Where did you get your talking points from? Rush Limbaugh or Hannity. The fact is that Kennedy was disillusioned with the situation and was contemplating a complete pull out of the advisors.

[Usrename]

19. If he had lived, his name would be on the moon instead of Nixon's.

Obama may still prove to be just as reckless as JFK. He did get out of the limo and walk down Pennsylvania Ave during the inauguration.

[Beacool]

22. So did most of the others.

Carter, Clinton, Bush.......

:shrug:

[Occam Bandage]

27. The "reckless" charge wasn't in reference to his untimely end.

It was, rather, aimed at his nuclear brinksmanship and aggressive interventionism.

[FirstLight]

3. Wed cocktail parties....?

MAN! would I love to go to one of THOSE! :loveya:

Michelle is so fucking classy, I imagine she is one hell of a hostess. Not to mention that the white house is a great place for a party!
right ON!

[Beacool]

6. A Cape Coder, please........

(Cranberry and vodka).

:party:

[Captain Hilts]

8. Blue State Drinks: A Manhattan!

[FirstLight]

9. mmmmm....WE have a local drink here

a Tahoe Blu... something w/pineapple juice and blue agave, and vodka I think?

we should create a "50 States" bartender's guidebook - with famous drinks from all over our nation, and send Obama a copy!

[Beacool]

10. Sounds delicious!!!

Good idea about the drink list.

:D

[bdamomma]

40. I would love to see Boehner make an a$$ out of himself

he does it so well.

[JuniperLea]

12. I'll have gin and tonic, please!

And keep 'em coming!

[crispini]

13. Sweeeeeeeeet!

How do I score an invite?

[Beacool]

18. It helps to be a moderate Republican who Obama wants to woo.

:eyes:

[pot luck]

30. The Black Caucus is made up of moderate Republicans?

[Beacool]

31. I'm sure that they'll de invited too.

Big house, many parties.

:shrug:

[pot luck]

33. The article you posted says that they've already been invited to the White House tomorrow.

"Since moving into their new digs, the first couple has hosted a half-dozen gatherings — from bipartisan cocktail receptions to a public open house to the more intimate Super Bowl party two Sundays ago — ending many of their days past midnight. Most recently, on Wednesday, the Obamas opened the White House doors to House caucus leaders from the moderate Blue Dog Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus. White House aides say the couple hopes to make the Wednesday cocktail parties a tradition."


It seems he's reaching out to both sides.

[Beacool]

37. Of course he is,

I was just joking about the Repugs.

:D

[pot luck]

47. Sorry. My sense of humor has been lacking lately.

:)

[Sanity Claws]

14. Someone has to create a drink in honor of Barack

How about Kahlua with Half and Half? Maybe throw in some bootleg rotgut for his Chicago background too.

On edit -- I just remembered he's part Irish. Maybe add some Irish whiskey too.

[jazzjunkysue]

16. Frangelico and creme de cacao and a splash of tequila.

It's gonna be a hit.

[Sanity Claws]

21. Why frangelico and tequila?

What connection do they have with Obama?
Other than that, it sounds like a delicious drink with a kick.

[jazzjunkysue]

46. You got it. Hazlenut with attitude.

:grin:

[Beacool]

20. That drink already exists.

It's a White Russian (minus the Chicago rutgut).

:beer:

[Sanity Claws]

23. White Russian has vodka.

What about Kaluha, creme de cacao, half and half, and a dash of aged Irish Whiskey?

[Beacool]

26. White Russians also have kahlua

White Russian Recipe



2 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
Light Cream

Directions
Pour vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with light cream and serve.

;-)

[Born_A_Truman]

24. King Alphonse

Pour the Kahlua into a Pousse Cafe glass. Take a teaspoon, touch the edge of the spoon to the inside side of the glass right near the surface of the Kahlua, round back side of the teaspoon up. Gently pour the Cream onto the round backside of the spoon. Make sure that the Cream floats on top of the Kahlua, and that they do not mix.

Yummy!

[Sanity Claws]

25. Where does the rotgut go?

Kidding.
You live a very different life from me. Where did you pick up that drink? Sounds like something from a casino at Monte Carlo.

[Born_A_Truman]

34. I was a bartender years ago

Floating the cream perfectly so it didn't mix was an art.

[backscatter712]

29. Blue Hawaiian

1 oz light rum
1 cherry
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz cream of coconut
1 slice pineapple

Blend light rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut with one cup ice in an electric blender at high speed. Pour contents into a highball glass. Decorate with the slice of pineapple and a cherry.

http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink1385.html

[jazzjunkysue]

15. You mean, he's not afraid of people?

Are you sure we're talking about the american president?

I'm so used to the pretend cowboy sneering at everyone and then hiding in crawford, I almost forgot that the pres is supposed to be everyone's pres.

We'll never know how much we needed this man.

[backscatter712]

28. Replicating the same environment they had in Chicago.

Assigned Reading: The Audacity of Hope, Chapter 1.

Among other things, Obama talks about how back in Chicago, he'd get together with Republicans and Democrats and settle legislative disputes in restaurants over beer and cigars, and over a poker game, and shows his concern over the buildup of hostility and divisiveness in politics, especially with the rise of Reagan, and especially with the rise of the Gingrich revolution, George W. Bush and so on.

Clearly, the Republicans are still completely batshit, and incapable of anything resembling reasoned negotiation and give and take. He's developing an environment where they will be rewarded when they work out differences in a civil way, and left to twist in the wind when they lash out. Eventually, Pavlovian conditioning may get them to cool their heels.

But this will probably take one hell of a long time. It wasn't going to happen in two weeks.

[AwakeAtLast]

32. In other words: They are getting rid of the STENCH of BUSH

and I couldn't be HAPPIER!!! :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce:

[DeepBlueC]

35. In solidarity, we should have a DU happy hour!

:toast:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. I hope Obama gets time to go to the gym and have a game of basketball?

I hope he gets enough sleep!!!

[Myrina]

41. Great ... enjoy those cocktails while the rest of us wait in line at the food pantry ...

:eyes: This has the potential to look very, very bad.

[AllentownJake]

42. It worked for FDR

:shrug:

[Blue_Tires]

43. keep your friends close?

[Beacool]

44. And your enemies drunk..................

:rofl:

[mentalsolstice]

45. Big deal! Bu$h had happy hours on Wednsdays!

Oh wait...they were happy hours for one, and they were also on Fri., Sat., Sun., Mon. and Tuesdays.