Obama's (dog) Bo's grandma at DOT: The Swamp

Posted April 15, 2009 7:30 AM

by Mark Siva

They say Washington is a small town, a company town.

Here's a measure of how small it is:

You know that Portuguese water dog that has moved into the White House -"Bo,'' first pup of the Obamas, a gift frrom Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has a PWD of his own from the same litter?

Well, Bo's grandmother lives at the Department of Transportation - not quite at DOT, maybe, but in the home of the chief financial officer for the secretary of the nation's transportation agency.

Ray LaHood, secretary of transportation, who hails from another small town, Peoria, Ill., takes note of the relationship in his own personal blog at DOT - "Fast Lane.''

Obama's Bo, or "Amigo's New Hope'' in the registry of the American Kennel Club, was born of Penny, who lives at the Texas farm of Martha and Art Stern, owners of the Amigo Portuguese Water Dog breeding business.

Penny was born of Pooka, shown at show here, also bred by the Sterns.

Pooka belongs to Janet Forsgren, CFO for LaHood at DOT.

"Pooka,'' reports LaHood, a former congressman and Republican who joined the Obama Cabinet after retiring from his safe seat in the House, is nine now, and "a loyal dog and great companion with the waggingest tail east of the Mississippi."

When "word first hit the streets that President Obama was looking for a hypo-allergenic family dog,'' Pooka's owner suggested calling the Sterns and having them call Kennedy to recommend a PWD from their farm, LaHood reports.

"She hesitated,'' LaHood reports, "but the Kennedys were already out in front of the idea. Bo is indeed a gift from the senator.''

Still, LaHood concludes, "no matter whose idea, we at DOT welcome Bo to the administration and wish the Obamas all the pleasure and warmth a dog can bring to a home.'' (And if you thought you'd read the last story of the new first dog, exactly what were you thinking? He has a whole family here whose tails need telling.)

Comments

Do Portuguese Water Dogs eat linguiça?

See

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/bo-obama-first-dog/

Posted by: Mike Licht | April 15, 2009 8:26 AM

And as a citizen I should care about this ...why ????

Posted by: Bob in Chicago | April 15, 2009 9:02 AM

Oh, yeah - this puff piece makes me want to buy a paper!!

Posted by: Fairly Certain | April 15, 2009 9:16 AM

Bo;

Good luck dude. Just remember not to pee on the rug in the boss' office and if you wanna come up here and hang out that's cool too. Just lose the leash and the S.S. detail and we can go for a walk/run/romp in the woods.

Whenever we want.

Your friend,

Spike

p.s. - there's a river not far from here and when it slows down (the snow is still melting) it's GREAT for swimming. And if anyone gives you a hard time - my dad adopted me from a shelter

Posted by: Terry from Maine | April 15, 2009 9:32 AM

Oh, Mark, you betray your total ignorance of dogdom. there aren't enough porties in the US to have a business based on them. Amigo is their kennel name.
That does not mean that all their dogs are in a kennel, just that they are shown and registered under that name.

Posted by: PAX | April 15, 2009 10:11 AM

Bob in Chicago, we don't care if you care; you're welcome to waste time throwing around some teabags--maybe you can get your face on FoxNews.

Posted by: mort | April 15, 2009 10:33 AM

With all the shelter dogs needing homes, it is disgraceful that the Obama's didn't rescue one. What a great example they COULD have shown. They may have come from meager backgrounds, but they are sure elitist now!

Posted by: Susan | April 15, 2009 10:40 AM

Gee whiz...Now I can sleep better at night knowing this goofy tidbit about "Bo". Can Bo recover my 401-K? Can Bo insure my job? Can Bo ask the banks why they are cutting my credit card limits when I have a very high credit score? Gee whiz, Bo in the White House, has me doing friggin back flips for joy!!!

Posted by: Troy | April 15, 2009 11:16 AM

Terry from Maine, PLEASE take your meds or get a job. You need something better to do with your time than speaking in your dog's voice.

So, is this the kind of reporting I should expect from the Trib now and forever? A story about the Obama dog's grandmother? Now the press is slobbering over the DOG too? Give me a small break. On tax day, where our government steals even more of our hard-earned money, this is the story from Washington? Obviously, the press things we have ALL been moronified. Next thing you know, the libs will be handing out liquid cocaine to keep all their zombie followers even more 'happy'.

Posted by: Mark | April 15, 2009 11:31 AM

Thank you... mort

Spoken like a true nose picking liberal !!!!

Have fun keeping up on the latest news about the dog's preference for sweaky toys and it's favorite dog treats !!!

Posted by: Bob in Chicago | April 15, 2009 12:41 PM

Yes Mark, we will be hearing about Bo now and forever.

Posted by: Elena | April 15, 2009 12:49 PM

"Spoken like a true nose picking liberal !!!!" Posted by: Bob in Chicago

You're improving, Bobby. You're half right.

Posted by: mort | April 15, 2009 2:44 PM

I wish the first family could have shared Bo in privacy;however, I have taped the first family. I enjoyed watching "Bo" walk kinda pull
the president and first lady around.
We need some humor and they are such a lovely family.
God bless the first family.

Posted by: cynthia martin | April 15, 2009 2:46 PM

He's cute !!!

Posted by: Cindy Anderson | April 15, 2009 2:54 PM

He lied to all who care about animal suffering. He gets a designer dog and forgets the million that are killed each year in shelters. Go back to Chicago.

Posted by: cindy | April 15, 2009 3:05 PM

Great reporting, maybe Bo should go and meet his Ganny. What a great story, great research and love the writing...

Keep on doing you, no matter what some have to say here, people always well disagree since they have no sense of high esteem and positivity.

Posted by: Love Bo | April 15, 2009 4:31 PM