# Bush White House to Obamas: Maybe you can find a park bench to sleep on? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962 "2008-12-13T00:04:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/1 "2008-12-13T00:04:40Z")
I would guess that it’s more of an oversight than malice, but still: [Sorry, We’re Booked, White House Tells Obamas](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/sorry-were-booked-white-house-tells-obamas/?hp) ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/2 "2008-12-13T00:06:04Z")
My understanding is that it’s traditionally available for the President-elect’s family starting 5 days before the inauguration. And it is. It just isn’t available _sooner_. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/3 "2008-12-13T00:09:12Z")
True. I looked for something in that news item to be outraged about since Obama is my mainest man but, unfortunately, Bush & Co. don’t appear to have done anything wrong in this case. If the Obama’s do end up sleeping on a park bench at any point they are the first ones I would suspect as being the cause though. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/4 "2008-12-13T00:11:54Z")
Total non-story. Every cite notes that it is normal to move there on Jan 15. It’s not an oversight or malice, it is treatment like every other president elect receives. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/5 "2008-12-13T00:22:10Z")
Yea, sorry, I can’t get outraged about this, either, and I fucking hate Bush. I’m sure it’d be nice if the Obamas can find some suitable short term digs, to stay the, what, 8 -10 days between? I agree w/them that it’d be nice to have their daughters start school at the beginning of the term, surely they’ll be able to manage it. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/6 "2008-12-13T00:23:24Z")
> [@wring](#): > > Yea, sorry, I can’t get outraged about this, either, and I fucking hate Bush. I’m sure it’d be nice if the Obamas can find some suitable short term digs, to stay the, what, 8 -10 days between? I agree w/them that it’d be nice to have their daughters start school at the beginning of the term, surely they’ll be able to manage it. I know! How about . . . a hotel! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/7 "2008-12-13T00:23:59Z")
A. Who the fuck said “outrage”? Not the OP. B. Riiiight, no one in Washington ever calls in a favor or bends a rule to help someone out in a tight spot. The fact that they act like it would be totally impossible–even for the President of the United Fucking States–to “make it happen,” is ridiculous, not outrageous. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/8 "2008-12-13T00:26:08Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I would guess that it’s more of an oversight than malice, but still: > > [Sorry, We’re Booked, White House Tells Obamas](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/sorry-were-booked-white-house-tells-obamas/?hp) How could it possible be an oversight, given that these events were booked long before Obama ever requested to push up the date? And how to do you remember to breathe? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/9 "2008-12-13T00:28:26Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > B. Riiiight, no one in Washington ever calls in a favor or bends a rule to help someone out in a tight spot. Well, the Obamas weren’t going to give Bush anything but appreciation… ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/10 "2008-12-13T00:29:08Z")
And how is it an ‘oversight’ in the first place? Who the fuck is supposed to **expect** to not use their (essentially) rental property through their lease? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/11 "2008-12-13T00:31:15Z")
**GWBush:** _The Obamas need the place early. I don’t care how you do it, just make it happen._ \*\*GWBush’s underling: \*\*_No._ Sorry, can’t picture it. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/12 "2008-12-13T00:31:25Z")
Doesn’t anyone here, who lives in DC, have enough space for them to shack up for a while? I’m sure they’ll pull their own weight. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/13 "2008-12-13T00:37:31Z")
The Obama’s aren’t in a tight spot. They have the resources to live in a hotel for ten days(school starts on the 5th, Blair House will be available on the 15th). They’ll have to move one more time than if they’d been able to get into Blair House on the 5th(once to the hotel, once to Blair House, then to the WH) but it’s their choice to move along the kid’s school timeline instead of Barak’s inauguration schedule. The rest of the world should not revolve around them, that sets a dangerous precedent. There are plenty of hotels in D.C. the Secret Service has experience with and that Barak may well have used during his time in the Senate. Given the amount of traveling they’ve been doing during the campaign one more ten-day stop just really isn’t that big a deal. I’m glad people aren’t displacing other, pre-arranged, guests to accommodate the Obamas. They’re not Kings and Queens who require servility. They can be on a waiting list just like the people on Main Street. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/14 "2008-12-13T00:40:56Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > B. Riiiight, no one in Washington ever calls in a favor or bends a rule to help someone out in a tight spot. The fact that they act like it would be totally impossible–even for the President of the United Fucking States–to “make it happen,” is ridiculous, not outrageous. Fuck that. Political capital is for… Health Care Reform Bringing the War in Iraq to a close Balancing the budget Dealing with a dangerously erratic economy For everything else there’s MasterCard. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/15 "2008-12-13T00:44:17Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Sorry, can’t picture it. Can you picture it this way? Obama: We need the house. Bush: The ambassador from Spain is staying there at the moment. To kick him out would cause grave offense. Obama: Never mind, it’s okay. Or: Obama: Is the house available? Bush: It’s being painted. Or Obama: Can we move into the Blair House? Bush: As soon as we clear out the rats in the cellar. We’re thinking that some 1st-level D&D adventurers could do it. Or Obama: Is the house ready for us? Bush: _Braaaaaaiiins._ Obama: Guess not. Or Bush: We need that house available. Cheney: No, we don’t. Bush: Wait, I changed my mind. We don’t need the house available. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/16 "2008-12-13T00:50:29Z")
I vote that last one as the most likely. As for your other speculations, RTFA. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/17 "2008-12-13T00:52:09Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > The Obama’s aren’t in a tight spot. They have the resources to live in a hotel for ten days(school starts on the 5th, Blair House will be available on the 15th). They’ll have to move one more time than if they’d been able to get into Blair House on the 5th(once to the hotel, once to Blair House, then to the WH) but it’s their choice to move along the kid’s school timeline instead of Barak’s inauguration schedule. The rest of the world should not revolve around them, that sets a dangerous precedent. There are plenty of hotels in D.C. the Secret Service has experience with and that Barak may well have used during his time in the Senate. Given the amount of traveling they’ve been doing during the campaign one more ten-day stop just really isn’t that big a deal. > > I’m glad people aren’t displacing other, pre-arranged, guests to accommodate the Obamas. They’re not Kings and Queens who require servility. They can be on a waiting list just like the people on Main Street. > > Enjoy, > Steven Barack. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/18 "2008-12-13T00:52:34Z")
Anybody remember Nancy Regan trying to rush the Carters out? It seems to be just like any housing. The incoming want the current ones out early. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/19 "2008-12-13T00:53:00Z")
I already read this news article elsewhere and I can’t see why it upsets you so. Surely there are explanations that would satisfy you other than “Bush is incompetent and evil.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/20 "2008-12-13T00:55:32Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I already read this news article elsewhere and I can’t see why it upsets you so. Surely there are explanations that would satisfy you other than “Bush is incompetent and evil.” Uh, you may have read the article elsewhere, but you clearly haven’t read the thread. FTR: I find it amusing, and maybe transparently petty. Outrageous? Evil? Sorry, wrong thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962.md?page=2)