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December 7, 2008
A Big Block of Cheese
"Jackson's Great Cheese Levee" by Benjamin Perley Poore, 1886
Fellow superfans of The West Wing will recognize the headline as Leo McGarry's ongoing pet project to follow in the tradition of Andrew Jackson by making the White House "the people's house." President Jackson once placed a 1,400 pound wheel of cheese in the White House entrance hall and invited citizens who were hungry to come to the White House and dig in.
The President-elect today on Meet the Press:
PRES.-ELECT OBAMA: Oh, well, you know, we have thought about this because part of what we want to do is to open up the White House and, and remind people this is, this is the people's house. There is an incredible bully pulpit to be used when it comes to, for example, education. Yes, we're going to have an education policy. Yes, we're going to be putting more money into school construction.But, ultimately, we want to talk about parents reading to their kids. We want to invite kids from local schools into the White House.
When it comes to science, elevating science once again, and having lectures in the White House where people are talking about traveling to the stars or breaking down atoms, inspiring our youth to get a sense of what discovery is all about.
Thinking about the diversity of our culture and, and inviting jazz musicians and classical musicians and poetry readings in the White House so that, once again, we appreciate this incredible tapestry that's America. I--you know, that, I think, is, is going to be incredibly important, particularly because we're going through hard times. And, historically, what has always brought us through hard times is that national character, that sense of optimism, that willingness to look forward, that, that sense that better days are ahead.
I think that our art and our culture, our science, you know, that's the essence of what makes America special, and, and we want to project that as much as possible in the White House.
Instead of a big block of cheese, this president will give us science, education and the arts in that great building. And when it comes to the White House, these are things for which we're surely hungry.
Filed under: Barack Obama || Education || MSNBC || Science || The West Wing || White House History
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Posted By Bob Cesca | December 7, 2008 2:25 PM
Comments
Well I just had a liberal groupthink moment. I was reading that article and thinking the same thing. Also, I'm watching the West Wing right now. Either way... we have a president-elect who cares about art and science and stuff.
Posted by: EL Mystico at December 7, 2008 2:41 PM
All of us West Wing groupies must all be thinking along the same lines. I have been watching all the reruns and thinking about how similar the Bartlet White House will be to the Obama White House. It seems that all the planets and stars are in alignment now.
Posted by: willpen at December 7, 2008 5:13 PM
George W. Bush couldn't find his own dick with two hands and a map.
We want our America back and it looks like we may indeed get it!
Posted by: fef at December 8, 2008 2:50 AM
Although I AM a bit perplexed over certain State and national security appointments (Gates, Jones, H Clinton) specifically, Obama's humanity and constitutional law background reasures me he will ultimately do the right thing.
As for that RODEO BUFFOON and the damage he has imposed over the last eight years, how about 20 years to life in a high security Texas prison?!
Posted by: Gary Tull at December 8, 2008 12:35 PM
Can you imagine Dubya sitting through a concerto? He'd be squirming and sighing and making loud farts.
A big block of cheese at least feeds people. All we got from the B*sh White House is a steaming pile of sh*t.
Posted by: jasperjava ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.bobcesca.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 8, 2008 11:08 PM
