First Lady: First Dog Arrives in April

If they find a rescue Portuguese Water dog, I will fall off my chair. Actually, my guess is a friend will place a PWD in rescue just as the Obamas are ready to adopt.

‘Nother vacation scheduled, eh? I sure wish I had money to take a vacation.

Why not just say that they are getting a Portuguese Water Dog from Ted Kennedy? They don’t need to bend to the will of shelter dog fanatics. There is a place for purebred dogs.

jennifert7: did you make the same comment every time Bush went to the ranch at Crawford?

“did you make the same comment every time Bush went to the ranch at Crawford?”
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | Feb 25, 2009 10:14:17 AM
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I’ll make a safe bet and say that you did say that everytime Bush went TO HIS HOME IN CRAWFORD. Why aren’t you saying the same about Obama now?

Obama went to HIS HOME state of HI at Christmas, remember? And we went for the long weekend when his kids were off, TO HIS HOME IN CHICAGO. Forget that, did you?

Before I go, I can’t help but add how the responses here remind me of a SNL skit done a couple of weeks or so back on the GOP brainstorming for attack angles. They concluded on going after Sasha and Malia.
The responses here are as equally petty and grasping at straws. There’s a conspiratorial attack mode against, of all things, a Portuguese Waterdog dog for the girls, which exceeds the imagination and detail of the SNL writers.

I don’t begrudge them their vacations. After all, the President is never really on vacation.
I just wish he’d stop scolding other people who spend money. President Obama is as much spending on the taxpayer’s dime as the bank executives.

In times of economic crisis vacations are something America cannot afford to pay for along with his continual campaigning flights all over America.
He also needs to keep his mouth shut, the markets are tanking over his bad news. He can no no more than Bush, except to put us further into debt.

This president is never not on vacation. He has never worked.
By the way, anyone notice how much investors loved his speech …. NOT!

new GOP platform: No vacations for Democratic presidents.

“new GOP platform: No vacations for Democratic presidents.”
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | Feb 25, 2009 10:35:13 AM
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I like it. It’s a good start. Maybe if we break out into some brainstorming groups we can build on that.

With all the crap Obama has been dealing with from the previous administration mess and the crybaby republicans. I say he needs more vacations, like once a month to re-group & be fresh plus a a big bottle of Tequila Gold to boot.
The difference between Bush & Obama vacatons. Obama came to work right away (earned & deserves his private time) and Bush went on vacation right away (didn’t earn it & was vacant from the get). You can’t compare the two.

Oh, for God’s sake, grow up AKC! Like the Bushs were never asked about Jenna and Barbara? Clinton was never asked about Chelsea? Carter about Amy?

This president is never not on vacation. He has never worked.
By the way, anyone notice how much investors loved his speech …. NOT!
Posted by: beebop | Feb 25, 2009 10:28:40 AM
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The investors didn’t love the fact that existing home purchases fell by 5.3% last month. Since purchases were expected to rise, not fall during this period, investors are responding negatively to that news.
It’s funny that Republicans ridicule Obama as “messiah” and “the one,” but they seem to be the only ones delusional enough to believe that he and he alone has the power to make the markets rise and fall with each word that comes forth from his lips! LOL Riiight.

Gov. LePetomane, ‘(The girls) said we’re going to get one, so let’s just shut up about it.’ I agree with the girls. You just keep arguing about vacation time… Meh.

When you total the days, Bush spent 3 of his eight years either at camp David, in Texas, or at his family home in Maine. Everyone who is saying no vacation needs to shut up and pay attention to the fact that the president of the U.S. is virtually NEVER on vacation, even when he’s gone. Please phone Rush today and ask him to give away some Brittney Spears tickets, remind Rush that he’s just a deejay.

Mrs. Obama said she was surprised at how interested the American public has been in the search for the White House dog. “One of the things I didn’t anticipate is the level of the excitement about the dog. I knew my kids were excited. They’ve been excited for years. They’ve even calmed down, because they feel like, ‘They said we’re going to get one, so let’s just shut up about it.’” The American Public isn’t really very interested Michelle, it’s the idiot reporters around you trying to seem interested.

So now we have a first lady that thinks showing off her arms by wearing cocktail dresses to the SOTU and other important functions is cool…
Does anyone really know if she was wearing shoes last night?

I sure wish I had the money for a blackberry or two.
Posted by: jennifert7 | Feb 25, 2009 10:00:19 AM
‘Nother vacation scheduled, eh? I sure wish I had money to take a vacation.
Posted by: jennifert7 | Feb 25, 2009 9:57:17 AM
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Well…you could always consider going back to school and getting a better education so that you can get a better job that will allow you to save and pay for those blackberries. Thats how most people do it.
Don’t forget both of the Obamas worked their way through college and had to pay student loans off for the thousands they couldn’t earn after they were done. It takes a ton of money to become a lawyer and they are lawyers times 2 attending very prestigious colleges.
Heck, I went to a middle of the road college for my nursing degree and it cost me $25,000 in loans because although I was working full-time while I was studying, that only paid for my living expenses (rent,food,car etc).
I’m sure they were no different because they didn’t come from a oil rich family like our former president.

He was not President in December when he went on vacation, and a trip to his real home on a Friday returning on Monday doesn’t fall in line with vacation. Give me a break people!

Does it really matter what type of dog they get?? Really?? Do I really care if they get a shelter dog or from a breeder? Good for the dog – I am sure it will get alot of attention. And as far as at what Mrs. Obama wears do we really care about that either? This country has alot more to worry about than how she dresses, what dog they will get and how many vacations they go on! I think the Obama haters are out in force and they have nothing better to do than bash them for stupid things like this. After this campaign this family deserves a vacation and with the mess he inherited he may need a vaction to regroup. He is responsible for an entire nation and by the looks of these posts alot of people would rather see him fail than achieve. Shame on you fellow Americans!! Let’s worry about the real issues!!!

You may be right, I could always do that, but the thing is, I’d really rather not have to do all that hard, honest work to get through school. How about you just let me have a copy of your diploma so I can get a better paying job right now? You understand, right? It’s only fair and you strike me as a pretty fair minded, compassionate person.
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Cute! But my degree won’t get you a better job unless you can also pass the State exams to get your license to practice as a Registered Nurse. Sorry…there are no shortcuts. Oh and by the way, my degree to took 6 years to get because I was working full-time to support myself and my two boys while I went back to school after my husband abandoned us. So there are also no free rides sweetie!

Why is it that when someone is elected president, there has to be a white house dog? They didn’t have a dog before, so why is it?

VOTE LABRADOODLE!
Changing your mind is every woman’s perogative. There’s always HOPE!

Doesn’t look like a Wheaton :O(

Stop trying to impeach the first family. Give it a rest and get a life. I’m sure they don’t read this boring negative board.

@TGood
Student loan interest is not itemized. It’s a for AGI deduction, meaning that regardless of whether of not you itemize, you can still deduct the student loan interest.

I got a rescue dog…Heinz 57, 10th generation! His name is Junior…he thought his name was, “Stop, Down, Back, No, Don’t Bite Me, Get Down, Don’t Jump, Stay, Get Your Toy! Ha…after 8 months I am proud to report, he knows his name…Dogs are wonderful…this first family and those beloved little girls are just gonna love their doggie, he’ll be their best friend forever…can’t wait to hear what dog they choose, where it came from, how old it is, what color it is, if it’s a boy or a girl, and finally it’s NAME…Can’t WAIT!!!

Some of you are sooooo……….stupid.
Whatever blackberry they have, or how many, or vacations they take from the White House, the Obamas have worked for it. Better than been born with a “silver foot” oops “silver spoon” in your mouth! It sure wasn’t given to them, not their money and certainly not his election.

Tom Brokaw was right. President Obama and his staff (females included) and all visitors to the Oval Office should always wear a professional suit to show respect for the Office. It’s time for Obama to exit campaign mode and enter Presidential mode. There is a difference. He does not yet appear to understand that. His lack of experience is showing, he’s never really done any real governing, he’s been in perpetual campaign mode for years, hopping from one office to another. The media continues to carry the water for this man they put into office.

My interest is really simple – if they make a promise to their own child and they take forever to honor that promise — what are they going to do and how long will it take for them to honor / deliver the promises they keep making to my child — the pursuit of happiness reaches all levels. If the girls have stopped asking about their puppy then maybe, just maybe they know their own parents better that we do. Don’t look for it untill you actually see it.

TGood:
What “big question” are you referring to? Student loan interest is a deduction for AGI (see page 1, line 33 of the 1040), not an “itemized deduction” (see page 2, Line 40 of the 1040) as you misstated. Further, the student loan interest deduction is phased out as your income increases. If the Obama’s joint income exceeded $145,000, they would not be able to claim any student interest deduction on their return. Considering the First Lady was working as a lawyer straight out of school, their joint income likely exceeded this threshold.
Sorry, try another conspiracy theory.
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To set the record straight, there is a big question about the “student loans we struggled to pay off”. The loan interest wasn’t ever listed on their itemized tax deductions . There’s no documentation available to validate the Obamas actually paid the student loans off themselves.

They’re taking more time to decide on the dog than Obama is on our economy….that’s scary….yes he’s initially working hard, who doesn’t when their new on the job? Time will tell, I’m just sad getting a dog takes more discresion than his “people”…..

No wonder Obama can’t cloud his head with any details regarding the bailout and the dreadful ecomony. He still hasn’t been able to make this simple decision. You got what you asked for people. Now we’re paying for it.

Chill out, everyone. The Obama girls have understood since Election Day that the dog would come after the family was reasonably settled into the White House. Around springtime of 2009. These girls know the meaning of the word “spring.”

Yeah—that’s a lot of hate about a mom and two little girls choosing the family dog. These same conservatives would still be angry if Michelle was doing anything more controversial than this. This woman is just doing First Lady stuff.

For those who seem to take offense to this type of story, the First Family does have children, and not every story is going to be political in nature. As for the time spent selecting the best dog, I think that is wise. First, it ws necessary to find a dog that was as hyperalergenic as was possible, and secondly, given the ages of the children, the size of the dog was also important. You just don’t go out and pick out a dog. Responsible ownership dictates that you do your research. I wish more people did that–maybe we would have fewer dogs either running around as strays or living in shelters if people wanting that “perfect” pet did a better job of researching which dog is best suited for their lifestyle. And while I am on that topic, it would not also hurt for folks to be more responsible owners once they get their dogs. I hope that the First Family takes the time to teach the dog good behaviors. A well-behaved dog is appreciated by others who come into contact with it. AS a guide dog users, I can’t count how many times my guide dog has been interfered with by uncontrolled pets. So, let us not only hope that the First Family selects teh best dog possible, but that they also demonstrate good pet ownership.
Vanessa and Griffin, Seeing Eye dog (R)

I now know why the stimulus bill was passed. The note left on Mr. Obamas desk had to have read (President Obama DO NOT SIGN THIS BILL) But the dog is potty training and must have crapped on the word NOT and he read (DO SIGN THIS BILL). Make the world to me??!!
Posted by: Jim Rod
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Gee Jim, Are you doing this during work? People
are looking for jobs like yours these days. Better
do something productive today, like picking up that
dish and soaking it!
Regards
Your Boss

Did I not read sometime ago when the Obama’s first considered looking for a dog that they would look to animal shelters for their dog? Did they not find the perfect ‘fit’ at the many animal shelters and have to spend tax dollars on a full breed?

Labradoodle! They are so beautiful! The Portuguese Water Dog is too wild!
But as long as it’s not a “little yappy dog” – the Pres will be happy!
And I’m sure the girls would love it!

BlofeldBuildings, so how many vacations has President Obama taken since he was sworn in as President. I know of only one, but in this same time period after Bush was sworn in, he had been to his dads place in Maine and back to his ranch for two weeks. I do not count weekends at Camp David as vacations for any President, that is part of the White House to me. I can’t believe some of you, I really can’t, this poor guy has only been in office a little over 30 days and he has done more for the average American the Dubya did in eight years. It kind of reminds me “Damn if you do and Damn if you don’t” mentality in many of you. Even if McCain has won, I would have at least given him a chance before I started critizing him and remember The First Lady was not elected to this office, so why criitize her, I think she is doing a fantastic job, at least the first thing her and the President did was reopen the White House to the public again for tours. It had been closed since 9/11 unless you were invited. (at least that is what I heard)

How many of you did not see the word “rescue” before Portuguese Water Dog??? That means a shelter pup, folks. They are NOT intending to buy a pedigreed dog. Not to mention, you can find pure-breds at shelters. Mickey Rourke has dogs that look like pure breds, and they all came from shelters. And Caligirl– if you think that the Obamas are anything less than ultra articulate, that I’m not sure you understand the definition of the word. They are extraordinarily articulate.

typo…infinitely

wow – that is really surprising. I was all about the Labradoodle – guess I just lost $20. I had to do a little more research on why they picked the PWD, and found an OK description of it: It seems like a good choice the more I think about it, wish I had my $20 back though.

It amazes me, that most of you crazed people sit and read about the Obama’s then write your nasty, stupid comments. If you don’t want to know, or you don’t like, then don’t read. Don’t you have jobs or a life, or is it that you don’t want anyone else to have a life. Is life so miserable that you sit and think up reasons to complain or is it the fact that an African-american family now resides in the White house. Everyone of you except the American Indian are Immigrants. You don’t have a priority on being citizens. The fact that the president’s ancestors were brought to this country in CHAINS, and against their will seems to escape your understanding. One would think that the white bigots of America had some injustice done to them or that they have reason to complain. I say bigots because, millions of marvelous white Americans support our president. The rest of you should find out where you came from and go back and let the rest of us Americans who support one another have some peace without your nonsense.

Some of the questions that will be raised about the First Dog are serious. The ways in which the Obamas deal with the following issues are sure to send important messages about responsible care to those homes that already contain America’s 60 million dogs.
* Considering the pet food debacle, what will the First Dog eat? Organic pet food? Wheat and corn-free? Vegetarian? What brands?
* Will the snow and ice-melting products used on the White House sidewalks be pet-safe?
* Does everybody know not to use cocoa mulch on the Rose Garden?
* Who is in charge of patrolling the premises so plants and foods that are toxic to dogs – grapes, raisons, chocolate, onions, artificially sweetened products — aren’t at drooling-mouth level?
* Where will the Obama dog sleep at night? In the bedroom with the children or in a crate somewhere else? Will it be the right size crate?
* Are the Obamas using biodegradable poop bags? It might sound like a funny question but savvy environmentalists will want to know.
Then, there will be fodder for comedians and national news segments:
* Who will train the most famous dog in the world not to bite reporters or will that lesson be discreetly skipped?
* Will the dog have a Secret Service code name? What should it be?
* Will the dog sport a diamond-studded collar and sleep on a $500 dollar doggie bed as befits its celebrity status?
* When the Obama children have sleepovers, will friends bring their canines for doggie night out?
* What famous person or figure from history will the dog dress as for Halloween?
* Who will be the official White House doggie photographer?
* Which dog toys will grace the gleaming and carpeted floors and new playground?
* Does the dog’s name have ethnic or historical origins? Does it more creatively top previous First Dog names such as Spot, Buddy, Millie, Lucky, Grits, Liberty, Checkers, Him and Her, Feller, Heidi, Duke, Pushinka, and King Tut?