By request, a repost from GD: Just another Friday afternoon at the White House

[DFW]

Well, OK, maybe not. A rather diverse group of people, from government workers, overseas volunteers in crisis areas and supporters from all over the place are invited every year to holiday receptions at the White House. This year, I was one of them. We were all invited to bring a guest. I asked my wife, but she said it would be crazy to run all the way over to America for 2 or 3 days, especially ten days before we'd be turning right around and going all the way back to America again. As I stay with my brother in Virginia when I'm in DC, I asked if he wanted to go, and he said sure. So I/we went.

There was a very informative session in the morning across the street at the EEOB with some White House strategy heads, and we were not only invited, but encouraged to take their emails and offer suggestions, as they realized that they were in a Washington bubble, and needed input from outside to get a better picture. ACA was the main topic, but there others as well. Then, in the early afternoon, we went through a battery of security checks, and were then let into the White House's east wing.

The pics are of miserable quality because we were asked in an email not to bring cameras. My brother took these with his phone. Idiots that we were, EVERYONE BUT the two of us brought cameras:

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Indian Treaty Room (fro the morning session):
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A piece of a White House carpet:
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The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi and a tiny portion of the incredible buffet
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A portrait of Ben Franklin:
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The White House gingerbread house:
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JFK portrait:
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Bill Clinton portrait:
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Hillary portrait:
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My brother and me under the portrait of George Washington:
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Our very gracious hosts:
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I chatted for a while with a pretty woman I didn't know, but everyone else DID seem to know and wanted their picture taken with her. It turns out she is an actress of some fame (how the hell was I supposed to know?). Her name is Jurnee Smollett-Bell and no, I did not get my picture taken with her!

PBO said we were welcome to take examples of the paper napkins, but to please not take any of the silverware or china, as he didn't own the house, and it was "only a rental."

[mountain grammy]

1. Cool, thanks. Would love to meet Aasiv Mandvi, and, of course, the President.

[DFW]

9. Aasif Mandvi was a surprise

I looked up a clip or two of him, and was surprised that there was such a difference: in person, he is sort of a shy, modest guy you would never suspect of being one of Jon Stewart's gang of funny men.

[sheshe2]

2. Awesome, DFW!

I love that the White House strategy heads asked for everyone's input. A sharing of ideas. Kudos to you for getting such a grand invitation. You met The President and First Lady too.

Love the pictures too~

[DFW]

3. I had met Michelle briefly at the Denver convention in 2008

She wasn't yet First lady yet, but it was obvious to everyone that she would be.

Actually this was just a brief encounter with the President.

The REAL encounter came last year: http://www.democraticunderground.com/125170848

[sheshe2]

4. Great link DFW~

You posted that a few months before I joined DU.

Thank you, love that you were there both times.

I hope you and your wife had a great time in Ptown. I am from MA and spent all my summers in Truro. My grandparents lived in Ptown most of there life, they moved there in the early 1900's.

[DFW]

5. We love the Cape

It's a long way for us, about 4000 miles, but we do it because there is nowhere else we'd rather spend our summer vacation.

[freshwest]

6. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of part of our history being made here. n/t

[Cha]

7. Brilliant photo essay of your afernoon at the White House, DFW!

Lucky you, your brother, and all those who were invited to join in the holiday receptions at our White House!

Love the pics you took while you were visiting the East Wing. It's so gratifying that this Admin enourages input from people all over the country!

Thank you so much for sharing it in the BOG.. I would have missed this!

[ucrdem]

8. Nice pics . . . for a phone

Kidding!

DFW you're a lucky guy and these pics are awesome! Hope to hear more . . .

[freshwest]

10. He knows a LOT about D.C. And is always generous with the pictures. n/t

[DFW]

13. I practically grew up on Capitol Hill

My dad always used to take with him up to the Capitol and hang out with guys named Javits, Dirksen, Church, Humphrey etc. etc. I couldn't figure out why my friends were named Bill and Jimmy and the guys my dad knew were named "Senator." He had a hard time in 1975 making the transition from "Gerry" to "Mr. President" because he had known Ford for decades.

He was a print journalist, a one man Washington correspondent bureau for a one-horse town newspaper in the sticks. But he was there for 50 years, and knew EVERYBODY. The good (Bobby Kennedy, Helen Thomas), the bad (Bob Novak, Jim Buckley), and the ugly (Richard Nixon and Newt Gingrich come to mind). Thus, I knew them too (except for Nixon, which is just as well).

[freshwest]

11. DFW, since you were there, tell us! Did the gingerbread house smell like gingerbread? Only you know.

[DFW]

12. Uh-oh. I do NOT know!

First of all, my olfactory sense is partially diminished to a heavy sinus operation some 25 years ago. And then there was the issue of leaning over the thing and being seen sniffing it close up. THAT is one picture I think I am better off NOT having make the rounds!

[freshwest]

14. I see your reasoning. Might be a gift, being spared fragrance in large crowds. It's midday Xmas, so:

The Feline Overlords Have Decreed A Merry Christmas:



Who am I to deny that trifecta of fur?

They look very masterful in that pic.

Hope your holiday is a pleasure.