Hat tip to This Week With Barack Obama blog for posting this.

Appears some people find it extremely difficult just . . . to go out for a hot dog . . .

DC's Mayor Fenty took the President-Elect to Ben's Chili Bowl today because, well, he loves chili!

Per Yahoo News . . .

After Obama's motorcade wandered through the U street district, passing the African-American Civil War Memorial and a flee market selling shirts that bear his face, he and Fenty surprised the restaurant around lunchtime. Patrons shrieked with delight and surprise as they saw his face. A mother blushed as Obama held her baby in his arms. The president-elect and the mayor moved slowly through the restaurant's crowded rooms, shaking hands and getting pictures taken with patrons.

Still, they came there to eat. "Where the food at?" he finally asked the counter staff, drawing laughs from them and nearby patrons.

He and Fenty ordered a house specialty, a Chili Half-Smoke — a quarter-pound half pork and beef smoked sausage on a steamed bun with mustard, onions and chili sauce — along with a big helping of some cheese fries.

They found a small table. They had the popular food. They even chatted it up with nearby customers at their tables. But something was still missing: the shredded cheese. Obama yelled for some — "not the Velveeta" kind, he said — and it was quickly delivered.

 

I normally get annoyed when the most mundane events in the lives of the great and powerful become front-page news because there are certainly grave and more important issues that deserve attention.  The national obsession regarding the Obama's obtaining a puppy, for example, is a bit much.

But I post this for two main reasons.

One, you and I (everyone reading this) can hop down to a Ben's Chili Bowl any time we want and enjoy our meal in relative peace.  Try, for a moment, envisioning NOT having that freedom!!  This, to the Obamas, will be something of a luxury for at least the next eight years.

And two, they ordered a hot dog.  How American and ordinary is that?  And what did he say when he wanted more cheese? 

"Obama yelled for some — "not the Velveeta" kind, he said — and it was quickly delivered."

Not to disparage Velveeta, I'm sure.  This type of cheese is better for dips and sauces, not necessarily shredded over a hot dogs.  Cheddar would be my choice as well.  Any ordinary person reading this should realize something fundamentally important about this.  He knew the difference!  He's obviously had Velveeta!

As the new administration comes together, with mere days remaining till the Inauguration, I've read some folks are beginning to feel there's a kind of "business as usual" atmosphere, some talk of being sold out, some afraid we've all been lied to, that nothing's ever going to change.

If the man will, first of all, pop in to a Ben's Chili Bowl for a good, true-blue American hot dog, and also knows his cheese . . . this is highly suggestive that . . . he's an "average" American with the knowledge and experience of most "average" Americans.

President-Elect Obama likes chili dogs . . . without Velveeta.  Hope for a brighter future just went up a couple notches.

Here's some more photos from This Week . . .

There's a brand-new feature on the Change.gov web site called Citizen's Briefing Book.

From the main page:

"Share your ideas on any issue facing the new administration, then rate or comment on other ideas. The best rated ideas will rise to the top -- and be gathered into a Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama after he is sworn in."

So, go to Citizen's Briefing Book, log in, and let the administration know if you have an idea to share, and vote on the ideas of others.

Isn't change wonderful?