Obamas Meet Bushes at White House

Photograph of Barack Obama, Laura Bush, George Bush and Michelle Obama outside the White House by Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

It's almost time for the Presidential torch to be passed, and, in keeping with tradition, President-elect Barack Obama and Michelle Obama met with President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush for the pre-Inauguration coffee at the White House. Michelle Obama, who is wearing a yellow Isabel Toldeo dress and coat with teal pumps (ooh), gave Laura Bush a gift—the NBC commentators did not recall seeing an incoming Presidential family giving the outgoing family a gift before.

Our site in Washington D.C., DCist, has all the details—a person was struck on the Metro's Red Line, the National Mall entrances started to close about an hour ago, and ticket holders are having trouble getting in! And DCist just started the liveblog with reports from the field—you can follow along by checking out this live video stream of NBC's coverage.

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By Jen Chung in News on January 20, 2009 10:28 AM

Comments [rss]

RevWaldo

W's Song:

Carry on my wayward son

There'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more

Once I rose above the noise and confusion

Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion

I was soaring ever higher

But I flew too high

Though my eyes could see

I still was a blind man

Though my mind could think

I still was a mad man

I can hear the voices when I'm dreaming

I can hear them say

Carry on my wayward son

There'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more

Masquerading as a man with a reason

My charade is the event of the season

And if I claim to be a wise man

It surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion

Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean

I set a course for winds of fortune

But I hear the voices say

Carry on my wayward son

There'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more

You will always remember

Nothing equals the splendor

Now your life's no longer empty

Surely heaven waits for you

Carry on my wayward son

There'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more

Clarice City

For eight years Laura Bush has had the fixed and expression and empty- eyed gaze of a drug induced state of wonder. Today was no exception. Poor thing is probably force- fed sedatives.

NannyState

It started with Jenna and now Mom is pharmed out too.

EastRiver

Would it kill them to introduce Jimmy Carter by his full name, James Earl Carter, Jr.?

Spirit of 76

He wants to be known as "Jimmy." That's his choice. I have never heard him introduce himself as "James Carter." It's always, "Hi, I'm Jimmy Carter." It's his byline on the books he writes. He's just a folksy kind of guy. It's like the way many guys don't like getting into business suits. I'd also hazard a guess that like many guys, he's not happy about being a "Junior," especially at his age.

Don't you love the way Bush is giving Obama the sidelong glance in the photo? I think that tells everything about what he thinks of his successor.

EastRiver

He can introduce himself however he wants but when someone else is introducing him it would be nice to add some formality This is the Presidency, not the Baseball Hall of Fame. Notice that Bill Clinton was still introduced as William Jefferson Clinton.