Family

No doubt the past three days have brought an assault on the new president-elect to fulfill promises made during his campaign.

Tackle health care reform.

Fix this economy.

Find a way to bring the country together.

The days immediately before and after an election are when all the folks who helped get a candidate over the top come a-callin' to see just where they fit in the new operation.

And to collect on promises.

Forget that heavy policy stuff.

Any parent with young children knows that it's likely the most focused lobbying is firing from inside Chez Obama. Multiple times during the campaign, Daddy O promised his daughters that after things settled down post-election, it would finally be right for the family to welcome a puppy into their fold.

In his victory speech, he reiterated his pledge to his girls, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, that a puppy would go with them to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

This isn't just a daddy offering salve to daughters who've no doubt missed him the past two years while he's been interviewing for the most important office in the world. There's a whole section of American culture — the Presidential Pet Museum — dedicated to cataloging the White House pets. And, since Sasha Obama will be the youngest person to call the White House home since the Kennedy days, it only goes without saying that the First Family must have a First Dog.

Yeah, there've been some cats — Socks for the Clintons, India for the current Bushes — and Calvin and Grace Coolidge practically ran a zoo from 1923-29. However, nothing warms up the White House image better than a dawg.

Nominations to the Obama cabinet are second only to the suggestions the public is offering about what breed of dog should get the nod.

Or, would that be wag?

A few "safe" picks come to mind, kind of the canine equivalent of picking Joe Biden for veep: Golden Retriever, Labrador. Good, solid dogs.

By all means, they should stay away from a designer or trendy dog. Their girls are going to want someone to play with, so a smaller, nervous breed wouldn't do, either. Somehow, watching Michelle Obama trot around Washington with a dog in purse just doesn't scream First Family, circa 2009.

It's a decision that needs to be carefully considered. White House pets can make news. Just this week, Barney the Scottish terrier rightfully took a nip at the finger of a reporter who just wouldn't take no for an answer to an interview.

In keeping with the spirit of a new, multi-cultural American political landscape, perhaps the right breed is no specific breed at all? Maybe the bloodline for the right White House dog runs right through a shelter or, given our economy, a rescue operation?

A country formed by the elements of almost every nationality on earth would surely be suited by a First Dog of equally diverse lineage.