# 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:** 3
**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, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/41 "2008-12-13T02:38:59Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > This thread cracks me the fuck up. You are ALL saying that if the President of the United States wanted to make it happen, there’s a bunch of scenarios where he couldn’t. That’s total bullshit. If Bush wanted to make it happen, he could make it happen. That’s what’s amusingly petty here. You reached a false conclusion somewhere. Nobody with any knowledge of the situation claimed Bush “wanted to make it happen” at all, precisely because it would have upset the existing schedule. Further, nobody claimed that Obama wanted Bush to want to make it happen. So WTF was your point? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/42 "2008-12-13T02:39:10Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > It’s not the White House at issue, it’s Blair House, the official guest house for the POTUS. > > [Blair House - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blair_House) Ah, my mistake. Still not a big deal, though. ---
**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, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/43 "2008-12-13T02:41:00Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Still not a big deal, though. Agreed. ---
**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, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/44 "2008-12-13T02:42:11Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You reached a false conclusion somewhere. Nobody with any knowledge of the situation claimed Bush “wanted to make it happen” at all, precisely because it would have upset the existing schedule. > > Further, nobody claimed that Obama wanted Bush to want to make it happen. > > So WTF was your point? Follow the logic here please. It didn’t happen. Therefore Bush didn’t say “Make it happen,” because if POTUS had said make it happen, it would’ve happened. Pretty much all there is to it. ---
**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, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/45 "2008-12-13T02:43:50Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > Agreed. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/46 "2008-12-13T02:44:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > …Bush didn’t say “Make it happen,” because if POTUS had said make it happen, it would’ve happened. So, where’s bin Laden’s body? ---
**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, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/47 "2008-12-13T02:49:42Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > So, where’s bin Laden’s body? Awesome. Another point for me. Isn’t this the new godwin? Comparing guest house accommodations with Al Qaeda? Bookmarked, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/48 "2008-12-13T02:53:27Z")
It’s a security thing - if Obama moves into Blair house early, Puerto Rican nationalists might get him. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/49 "2008-12-13T03:00:36Z")
OK. THey can stay with us. Have Barry PM me. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/50 "2008-12-13T03:06:10Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Follow the logic here please. It didn’t happen. Therefore Bush didn’t say “Make it happen,” because if POTUS had said make it happen, it would’ve happened. Pretty much all there is to it. Yeah, but you haven’t made any case as to why Bush should discomfit one of his guests in lieu of the Obamas. It’s not like the man is breaching common courtesy: he’s cleared the Blair House schedule 5 days in advance of the inaguration. Is there any particular reason why the Obamas should get the Blair House instead of finding a hotel room, rather than whoever already lined up to be there? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/51 "2008-12-13T03:07:25Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Agreed. You started this thread to complain about something you agree is not a big deal? Are you trying to fill the void left by Reeder’s absence? ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/52 "2008-12-13T03:07:29Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Follow the logic here please. It didn’t happen. Therefore Bush didn’t say “Make it happen,” because if POTUS had said make it happen, it would’ve happened. Pretty much all there is to it. I get it. It’s a politicized version of the elephant repellent joke. “Well, do you SEE any Obamas around here?” “Nope.” “See, it works!” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/53 "2008-12-13T03:19:32Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Follow the logic here please. It didn’t happen. Therefore Bush didn’t say “Make it happen,” because if POTUS had said make it happen, it would’ve happened. Pretty much all there is to it. The point you’re missing, here, is not that anyone thinks Bush _couldn’t_ make it happen. It’s that we’re all in pretty much unanimous agreement that Bush _shouldn’t_ make it happen. The house in question has been promised to someone else for the duration in question. Throwing them out in the street in favor of a more important guest would be incredibly rude. Even when that more important guest is the president (or, in this case, president-elect) of the country. Hence, the incredibly odd spectacle of George Bush doing the right and decent thing. ---
**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, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/54 "2008-12-13T03:33:06Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > The point you’re missing, here, is not that anyone thinks Bush _couldn’t_ make it happen. It’s that we’re all in pretty much unanimous agreement that Bush _shouldn’t_ make it happen. A valid opinion, but you’re the first person to express it. > [@Miller](#): > > The house in question has been promised to someone else for the duration in question. Throwing them out in the street in favor of a more important guest would be incredibly rude. First of all, “street”? I even suggested a fruit basket. > [@Miller](#): > > Even when that more important guest is the president (or, in this case, president-elect) of the country. Hence, the incredibly odd spectacle of George Bush doing the right and decent thing. See, this is why it’s funny: incredibly odd spectacle? Check. Suggesting . . . that “good and decent” is more likely a convenient excuse than an actual motive. Call me cynical. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/55 "2008-12-13T03:59:39Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Call me cynical. **Cynical** , You shouldn’t kick people out of a place that has already been promised to them simply because someone you deem more important wants it at the last minute. That seems completely contradictory to your online persona. Obama and family can take care of themselves and find a new place to crash for a few days. If they can’t manage that, he should not even be President. It is all about simple respect and we do not have a monarchy here the last time I checked. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/56 "2008-12-13T04:09:29Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > A valid opinion, but you’re the first person to express it. [Wrong](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10565617&postcount=13). ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/57 "2008-12-13T04:40:52Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > If Bush wanted to make it happen, he could make it happen. That’s what’s amusingly petty here. He could. He chooses not to. Not petty. Not an issue. At all. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/58 "2008-12-13T04:57:25Z")
Folks, stop getting your knickers in a knot. This is just one of those countless **Lissener** posts that was meant as a joke that most people on the SDMB are too stupid to get. Keep walking. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/59 "2008-12-13T05:06:20Z")
\ > [@Junior\_Spaceman](#): > > Keep walking. But, I brought my lawnchair and everything! grumble, grumble, keep walking, Rhubarb. Nothing to see here, Rhubarb. grumble. damn kids. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/60 "2008-12-13T05:26:51Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > 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. By far the brightest spot in a worthless thread. [Previous 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) [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=4)