You lost? Obama pays a quick visit to the press cabin (ap photo)
The president of America is gone for the holiday weekend — he dropped the family in Chicago and tomorrow heads off to check out the oil-befouled Louisiana coastline.
Reporters traveling to Chicago on Air Force One tonight got a surprise visit from Obama (presidents almost never wander to the back of the plane, and when they do they tend to retreat almost instantly) and bonus: Bo, the dog, also took a lap. Anne Kornblut of the Washington Post (woot!) pictured at left, filed the pool report:
President Obama watched and smiled as Bo ran down the aisle past a throng
of cooing reporters. Obama cracked the old joke about needing a dog in
Washington – since there’s no such thing as a real friend.
Someone told him that Bo had been spotted at the airport interacting with
his bomb-sniffing relatives. “I didn’t want him getting into it with the
Secret Service. I’ve seen them training,” Obama said.
Coat jacket off, Obama seemed happy and relaxed during his brief foray to
the back of the plane. (Credit to deputy press secretary Bill Burton for
orchestrating the rare visit on a moment’s notice).
Like owner, like pet. Bo tired quickly of the media, and headed back to the
front of the aircraft. Obama followed suit, but not before assuring us that
the dog was just going to see someone who feeds him regularly. Neither one
took questions.
Bo made another spin through the press cabin a few minutes later, solo.
Uneventful trip otherwise. Wheels down 7:02 PM CST.
Burton! That looks like Burton on the right, in the stripey blue tie. But what is that on Burton’s face? Is it…a smile? Burton? Stop freaking us out!
Obama on Friday flies to New Orleans then heads to the US Coast Guard station at Grand Isle, for a briefing with Admiral Thad Allen. Then it’s back to Chicago for the weekend.
It’s cool. (reuters photo)
