Now you are about to join another rarified club

January 13, 2017 4:03 AM

Malia and Sasha, eight years ago on a cold November day, we greeted you on the steps of the White House. We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home. We left our jobs in Baltimore and New York early and traveled to Washington to show you around. To show you the Lincoln Bedroom, and the bedrooms that were once ours, to introduce you to all the people—the florists, the grounds-keepers and the butlers—who dedicate themselves to making this historic house a home.

George W. Bush's daughters Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush-Hager write an open letter to the Obama sisters.
posted by hippybear (32 comments total)

That was nice of them! (Can't wait to see what Malia and Sasha write to the Trump lot.)
posted by chavenet at 4:38 AM on January 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

That is a lovely letter. "Remember to make mistakes- you are allowed to." I really like that.
posted by freethefeet at 4:42 AM on January 13, 2017 [7 favorites]

We stay in touch with our Secret Service. They were part of growing up for us: there for first dates, first days and even an engagement and a honeymoon. We know it wasn’t always easy—the two of you and the two of us were teenagers trailed by men in backpacks—but they put their lives on hold for us.

whoa they have guys who fit in backpacks
posted by XMLicious at 4:44 AM on January 13, 2017 [63 favorites]

[writing hard, making good words]

"You and we are members of a very select club. There are only about 15, 20 of us still around -- kids who grew up in the White House, sons and daughters of Presidents. Nobody else knows anything about our lives. They cannot relate to us and they will not understand the unique circumstances of our shared upbringing. This letter then is for you and you only, to help you in the coming years."

[Hmmm... wow these words are very good. Let's publish it for everyone in the world to see and read.]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:15 AM on January 13, 2017 [4 favorites]

The content is for them. We get to appreciate how well they said it.
posted by h00py at 5:24 AM on January 13, 2017 [3 favorites]

Did we have to watch them read it out loud for three minutes on the Today Show this morning? I think it's weird.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:33 AM on January 13, 2017 [5 favorites]

Ah well, give them their 3 minutes. It's not like it's taking up precious time from actual news.
posted by h00py at 5:47 AM on January 13, 2017 [14 favorites]

It's a nice gesture...and yes, I absolutely do like seeing this taking up some space in the news cycle that won't be devoted to the cheeto.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 5:51 AM on January 13, 2017 [20 favorites]

Did we have to watch them read it out loud for three minutes on the Today Show this morning?

No, you didn't. But you chose to, apparently.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:54 AM on January 13, 2017 [37 favorites]

Nice, PR of course.
posted by Miko at 6:04 AM on January 13, 2017

Gotta get my daily dose of Roke.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 6:09 AM on January 13, 2017

Of course it's PR. At least it's PR where nobody is being a hateful asshole.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:16 AM on January 13, 2017 [53 favorites]

I thought the letter was good. Honestly, at this point, I will take anything that focuses on our similarities and our shared humanity instead of our political divides. This letter was respectful and heartfelt and I wish people wouldn't take the cheap shots every. single. time. 2017: Be the change you wish to see in the world!
posted by widdershins at 6:32 AM on January 13, 2017 [55 favorites]

I don't begrudge them wanting to wash away their reputations as First Party Girls from their dad's administration. This was a fine and gracious letter.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:33 AM on January 13, 2017 [5 favorites]

"Cherish your own Nancy." OK. Wait, do what now?
posted by Bob Regular at 6:42 AM on January 13, 2017

I saw the Today montage - thought it was surprisingly well done. It was accompanied by photos of the Bush girls giving the Obama girls a tour of the White House before the Obama inauguration which I think represented a transition of a different sort, and really humanized them a bit for me. It's one of those things that didn't have to be done, but they did. I'd like to think that as much of an [EXPLETIVE DELETED] I think Trump is, maybe S&M are at least sending a note to Barron. This @#*storm isn't his fault, and maybe it will help him grow up to be a different individual than he might otherwise.
posted by scolbath at 6:58 AM on January 13, 2017 [6 favorites]

I think it's easy to try to find something to hate about this because well, Bush family, but actually it's a really sweet letter and it's one in which the Bush daughters praise the value of compassion. By publishing it publicly they are urging compassion among all people, which puts them in stark contrast to the political rhetoric most Republicans are currently pushing.
posted by capricorn at 7:52 AM on January 13, 2017 [36 favorites]

I have no love lost for the Bush dynasty and I like a mudfight as much (more) than anyone, but I see nothing here except a genuine gesture to two young people in a uniquely difficult situation from two women who understand perfectly well what it is to be in that situation. I have to imagine it's harder to be a first daughter than a first son, and I can't imagine many of us would have fared better than the Bushes had our youthful idiocy been in the full spotlight.

I'd like to think that as much of an [EXPLETIVE DELETED] I think Trump is, maybe S&M are at least sending a note to Barron.

"We hid all the plungers. Good luck, or whatever"
posted by superfluousm at 9:11 AM on January 13, 2017 [10 favorites]

S&M
Are we not doing phrasing?
posted by emelenjr at 9:29 AM on January 13, 2017 [5 favorites]

IIRC Barron is going to stay in New York City with his mother, and Allerleirauh Ivanka is going to be the one in the White House, although I do not know that she will be technically resident there. Whatever else I may feel about the Trump family, I do think it is best for a young child not to grow up in the inner workings of this administration.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:04 AM on January 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

I see nothing here except a genuine gesture to two young people in a uniquely difficult situation from two women who understand perfectly well what it is to be in that situation.

That is what it would be had the letter been private.
posted by Miko at 10:13 AM on January 13, 2017 [1 favorite]

It can be both PR and genuine.
posted by superfluousm at 10:20 AM on January 13, 2017 [6 favorites]

I'm sure Barron will still get the tour - even if they don't officially move in, I can't believe the perk of having pajama parties at the White House is something his parents are thinking of giving up. And I would love to think that Sasha and Malia will offer do the same for him as the Bush girls did for them.

But I am also 99% positive that Trump will not only say "no thanks," but is already planning to fire and replace all the Nancys so he can have his hand-picked sycophantic NDA-signing people everywhere.

This is the swamp he's talking about. It's not lobbyists. It's not even Obama-appointed Democrats. It's civil servants who are good at their jobs and serve under any political administration because they believe in government. It's traditions and "that's the way things work here" and any sort of continuity for its own sake. I hope I'm wrong, but after the inaugural announcer got the sack, I just don't think so.
posted by Mchelly at 10:39 AM on January 13, 2017 [14 favorites]

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush seem to be perfectly fine people. They wrote a nice letter, and, whatever. It annoys me that Hager is on NBC as a news person; she's not particularly apt, but, especially in the morning, it's increasingly NBC "News".
posted by theora55 at 11:11 AM on January 13, 2017

It can be both PR and genuine.

Sure, and it is. You don't get this kind of spread or TV appearances and such without a publicity campaign.
posted by Miko at 11:15 AM on January 13, 2017

I don't begrudge them wanting to wash away their reputations as First Party Girls from their dad's administration.

By "First Party Girls" you mean normal college kids?
posted by LizBoBiz at 11:34 AM on January 13, 2017 [8 favorites]

Dear Barron:

Run! Run for your life!

Fondly, Sasha & Malia
posted by gottabefunky at 11:50 AM on January 13, 2017 [8 favorites]

"Nancy" was the WH florist that the Bush girls became close to, so they're urging Malia and Sasha to keep up relationships with whomever they've become close to on the staff.

Meanwhile, I generally don't think much, or well, of the Bush daughters because of their parents, but I thought this line showed remarkably good humor and made me like them a bit: Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did.
posted by TwoStride at 11:56 AM on January 13, 2017 [7 favorites]

This just in: Children of people you don't like may actually be someone you do sorta like.

Now back to #goldenshowers.
posted by tommasz at 12:24 PM on January 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

Are we doing a #goldenshowers thread? I looked, but couldn't find anything on the dossier.
posted by domo at 1:03 PM on January 13, 2017

It was accompanied by photos of the Bush girls giving the Obama girls a tour of the White House before the Obama inauguration which I think represented a transition of a different sort, and really humanized them a bit for me.

A few of those photos here.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:08 PM on January 13, 2017 [3 favorites]

Wow, those pictures really bring home the fact that it's been eight years. Look at those little girls!
posted by epj at 4:09 PM on January 13, 2017 [1 favorite]