Sasha and Malia Now Able To Get Away From the Washington Crowds

As POTUS announces a national initiative to save up to 4 million American homeowners from mortgage default, the First Family launched yet another initiative to comfort the national psyche.

In a country hungry for symbols of institutional security, the newly-installed First Swingset is more than a swanky, bucolic escape for Sasha and Malia. The First Swingset is an visual anchor in troubled times.

via Huffington PostThe 100 percent cedar and North American Redwood structure by Rainbow Play Systems of Brookings, S.D. has four swings, including a tire swing, a slide, a fort, a climbing wall, climbing ropes, and a picnic table.

The most important national symbols will be the photos of Sasha and Malia, and company, frolicking on the White House lawn, swings taking-off in mid-air.

Always sensitive to the smallest gestures, the Obamas remind us that this is the "people's swingset", etching the names of all 44 presidents into the brass plates that make it ours.

Caroline Kennedy via Google/CorbisIf you look at this photo of Caroline Kennedy in her White House swingset, we see just how far America has come in creating getaways for kids. With reports of POTUS's rapidly greying hair, he just might want to arrange a sleepaway or two himself.

Hmmm . . . I can see it now . . . . a warm July night and a full moon. The First Dog is happilly racing across the White House lawn as the First Family sneaks out at midnight -- all four of them -- for a cosy camp out under the stars.

POTUS is in command, as usual. "Shhhh," she says, "Be quiet or you'll wake the press core." And we'll wake up to photos of the Fabulous Five, transmitted from London to Singapore, getting back to basics in the embrace of Mother Nature.

Sweet. Anne

via Huffington Post: Sasha and Malia's Swing Set: Obama Surprises Daughters With Gift