The biggest losers last night were both Obamas.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

I can't help but feel sorry for Malia and Sasha Obama. It must be fairly grim being the child of the president, and the White House is no place to spend one's formative years. Our gain is their loss.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. But they finally got their puppy!!!!

I think the Clinton's will be enourmously helpful here with advice, as Chelsea has grown into a wonderful young woman.

[trumad]

2. Snarf---

Amy and Chelsea are now crack ho's because of the experience.

Dumb thread.

[H2O Man]

5. Right.

I think we can all identify one bigger loser.

[JuniperLea]

6. Hahaha!

Yeah, and the Bush girls would have been far worse had they NOT been living in the White House! You can bet your last buck on that~!

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

17. Yeah, and those Kennedy kids--wasted lives all. nt

[Faygo Kid]

30. Totally agree.

They will be fine. They are loved by their parents, plus a new puppy and Grandma is moving in, too.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. The Kennedy children, by all accounts, grew up fine, as did Chelsea Clinton...

They'll be fine - they have GREAT parents.

[JuniperLea]

4. I trust their parents to do right by them

I think it would be exciting, actually, to be a child in the White House!

[NC_Nurse]

7. Everything depends on the parents. They'll be fine.

Michelle and Barack are obviously good parents and good mentors. They lead by example, that's how it's done.

Besides, they get a new puppy! :silly:

[wanpete]

8. disagree...

barack and michelle are committed to making sure these kids grow up loved, grounded, and very, very normal.

[ShenandoahAspen]

9. They will be fine.

Barack and Michelle are good parents, and have raised their girls well. It's going to be fun to have children in the White House.

[yourguide]

10. Sour grapes again Donald Ian?

[H2O Man]

11. "Concern" for the children!

[Zombie2]

12. Poooop

[CrispyQ]

13. They'll be fine!

The important thing is that their parents clearly have a loving relationship & the girls are a central part of their lives. It's not where you spend your childhood or what those who you spend it with do, it's the relationship you have with the people who are raising you & these girls are most fortunate!

It will be fun to watch them grow up & to see a functional family in the White House instead of a dysfunctional 'family values' family.

[Captain Hilts]

14. It stinks for kids.

In 1940 Eleanor Roosvelt wrote a friend that "if FDR is re-elected, I shall be happy for him and for the country, if he is not, I will be happy for the kids and for myself."

I can't help but contrast Obama to the guys I know who got out of the navy because they had kids that age and "didn't want to miss them growing up."

[elizm]

15. Boy, the message of hope was lost on you, wasn't it? nt

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. Entirely. "Hope" is a slogan, not a message, and certainly not a policy.

There are many good reasons to be pleased Obama won - I will be surprised if he's not at least the second-best president since '63, and unsurprised if he's the best since '45.

But "Hope" isn't one of them - it's an entirely empty slogan. That Obama was a skillful enough politician to make people buy it was a good reason to back him in the primaries, but that's as far as it goes.

What I'm hoping for from an Obama presidency (at least in the first term) is the situation in Iraq becoming merely awful rather than catastrophic, a serious long-term worldwide recession rather than something that makes the Great Depression look tame, global warming going on getting worse but less quickly than it is currently, and - on a more optimistic note - some genuine progress on social issues like abortion and gay rights, some decent Supreme Court Justices, the restoration of America's relations with the rest of the world, an end to the Bush regime's human rights abuses, and possibly progress towards and Israeli/Palestinian peace deal and some kind of universal health care (although I don't expect very much on those last two in the next four years).

The focus, at least at the start, will need to be on preventing and reversing change for the worse more than on bringing about change for the better.

Post election euphoria is all well and good. But when you sober up, all the problems will still be there.

Not that this has anything to do with my OP... But, yes, the "message of hope" was lost on me.

[Occam Bandage]

18. It seems to me that White House kids tend to turn out all right. nt

[Uzybone]

19. Biggest Losers? Really?

ridiculous comment. Being children to the president isn't a death sentence. If I recall Chelsea came out as an excellent young woman.

[yeswecanandwedid]

20. Look at how he was built. Maybe one of his daughters will run for Prez one day.

[jazzjunkysue]

21. They'll get the training to be future leaders, if we're all lucky.

If the paparazzi don't drive them nuts before they get into public office or other important positions.

They're either the continuity or the advisors of it, or at least the containers of our love and admiration.

They have a special path.

I think this worry is why Michelle is saying she'll leave the presidentin' to Barack and she'll tend to them. I think that's only fair.

Plus, with all the stress and strain and long hours, she'll need to be available 24/7 for the next several years, right at arm's length.

May not be as intellectually stimulating for her, personally or professionally, but, she'll make that sacrifice for us.

And that's what I call, a person without ego problems. That's selfless.

[treestar]

22. I doubt that - they have opportunities others never get

[bowens43]

23. You must be crazy.

It will be wonderful for them!!

[JI7]

24. they are a couple of the luckiest kids around and will turn out fine like Chelsea did

[DevonRex]

25. Huh? They are blessed, as are we.

[Hippo_Tron]

26. Sasha gets the best of both worlds, Malia I think it's unfortunate she'll be in high school...

While her father is still in the White House. But he'll be done before both of them are in college which is good for them.

[Honeycombe8]

27. Are you kidding? Those kids have it made in the shade. They'll never be....

They'll never be without a job, or without friends or support. They will always have somewhere to go New Year's Eve. They'll be invited everywhere.

They'll always have nice clothes and an inheritance. They will have a public platform even when they are adults, to help further any causes they may take up. (Remember that Eisenhower's granddaughter spoke at the Dem. Convention?)

They will have the best education that money can buy. They will have personal security guards ensuring that young men with raging hormones don't try to get them drunk. They will have the best healthcare that can be provided in the country.

Their children, and their children's children, will have these things, as well. Well, unless they spend all their money or take to the streets and bars like Paris Hilton.

Sure, there are downsides. But all in all, they have it much better than almost everyone else.

Reminds me of what Carol Burnett's response was to questions about her daughter's complaint that being the child of a famous person was hard. Burnett said she told her daughter, "Well, that's just too bad. I don't want to hear you complain about something like that, when there are people in the world with disabilities, serious illnesses, poverty, and other really serious problems to deal with. Being the child of a famous person isn't such a big deal, in comparison. Deal with it."

[qwlauren35]

36. That was the reminder I needed.

I also would HATE growing up in the White House and having my neuroses on spotlight. I feel sorry for Suri Cruise, and Shiloh J-P... until I see your words. And then I realize that everyone has to play with the hand that they are dealt, and being in the spotlight is not the hardest hand to play.

[politicasista]

28. They will be fine

Barack and Michelle are cool parents. And, Michelle has a helping hand with her mom and friends, who took care of the girls while they BAM were out on the campaign trail.

[eshfemme]

29. I envy them. Their parents are so kickass and I drool thinking of the White House kitchen

Can you imagine just being able to go down there with the midnight munchies and charming a late night cookie or sandwich from the chef? It'd be awesome.

Plus, the children aren't really harassed and the Obamas are really protective of their kids. Remember their reaction after the family interview? Completely freaked out by the publicity over their kids. So I'm pretty sure that Barack and Michelle will make sure their kids don't get harmed while Barack is serving his country.

[Kind of Blue]

33. "Can you imagine just being able to go down there with the midnight munchies..."

Yes, I can! Or calling up the night shift (if there is one) to send a small plate of deliciousness up to your room. Scratch that. I'd just leave it as a standing order.

[spanone]

31. grim? why? no place to spend formative years? how you know? i envy them.

[jzodda]

32. I disagree

They will have a wonderful time, a time they will never forget as they become young women right before our eyes. I would have loved to grow up living in the White House.

[TexasObserver]

34. Well, if they turn out like Chelsea, they'll be just fine.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

35. Are you kidding me?

WTF is wrong with you?

I mean really.