# 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:** 5
**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, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/81 "2008-12-13T19:47:59Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > Not that I’m really bent out of shape at Bush about this, but if this had been about getting the Palin kids started in school on time with the least amount of hassle, don’t you think Bush would be making it happen? That’s about my only vague point; that Bush could’ve made it happen if he’d \*wanted \*to. I thought it was funny and “typical,” not outrageous or evil, or whatever. It would’ve been a nice gesture, a public opportunity for Bush to look, what, non-petty, or something. And the displaced guests could’ve been diplomatically compensated. It could’ve been a win-win situation, instead of a silly footnote. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/82 "2008-12-13T19:56:32Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > That’s about my only vague point; that Bush could’ve made it happen if he’d \*wanted \*to. I thought it was funny and “typical,” not outrageous or evil, or whatever. It would’ve been a nice gesture, a public opportunity for Bush to look, what, non-petty, or something. And the displaced guests could’ve been diplomatically compensated. It could’ve been a win-win situation, instead of a silly footnote. Right. Because Bush would’ve come out looking like such a nice guy. **Bush boots visiting foreign dignitary from Blair House to cater to Obama family whims** **Bush to world leader: Get out, our incoming Pres. is more important** **Breaking news: World revolves around Obama** **Foreign dignitary put up at Holiday Inn; says he enjoys the continental breakfast and wake up calls** I can see the headlines now. Certainly _not_ win-win. And Obama strikes me as the kind of guy who gets that. I highly doubt he’d even accept the offer, if it were “Sure! No problem! We’ll have to move this guy out first, but you can have it whenever you like!” ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/83 "2008-12-13T20:31:18Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Obama is a U.S. Senator. Where did he stay in D.C. when he was attending Senate business? He can stay there.. As **John Mace** said, the security probably wouldn’t be adequate there. Also, apparently it was such a dive that Michelle refused to stay there when she visited him (I heard her say that in their 60 Minutes interview). Apparently, Barack is a bit of a cheapskate about certain things. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/84 "2008-12-13T20:54:42Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > That’s about my only vague point; that Bush could’ve made it happen if he’d \*wanted \*to. I thought it was funny and “typical,” not outrageous or evil, or whatever. It would’ve been a nice gesture, a public opportunity for Bush to look, what, non-petty, or something. And the displaced guests could’ve been diplomatically compensated. It could’ve been a win-win situation, instead of a silly footnote. But why would the public care? I’d never heard of Blair House until this thread and I assumed the incoming prez was on his own for housing until the day of the inaugeration. Besides that, in the middle of all that’s happening in the world right now (economic downturn, Iraq War, Christmas, The Dark Knight on DVD), who will even remember this by next week, let alone January 15th? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/85 "2008-12-13T21:09:14Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > That’s about my only vague point; that Bush could’ve made it happen if he’d \*wanted \*to. I thought it was funny and “typical,” not outrageous or evil, or whatever. It would’ve been a nice gesture, a public opportunity for Bush to look, what, non-petty, or something. And the displaced guests could’ve been diplomatically compensated. It could’ve been a win-win situation, instead of a silly footnote. There is no way to “diplomatically compensate” someone in this instance. They would have been snubbed. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/86 "2008-12-13T21:19:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > There is no way to “diplomatically compensate” someone in this instance. They would have been snubbed. Period. And in all seriousness, Barack Obama doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would want or expect some distinguished guest to be displaced. The guests are not just guests of the Bush administration, they are the guests of the People of the United States of America. It would reflect badly on the Bushes, on the Obamas, and on the country to snub someone that way. Can’t imagine an incoming POTUS would want to be the cause of that. **lissener** , you say it would be an opportunity to make Bush look non-petty, but I think the actual effect would be to make Obama seem petty in the extreme. Not the reputation I would want to have if I were him. ---
**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, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/87 "2008-12-13T21:33:38Z")
I have no doubt that Bush could’ve ejected the tenants of the house had he wanted to. I fail to see why that course of action would be intelligent. It might make Bush look gracious and accommodating. At what cost, and to whom? ---
**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, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/88 "2008-12-13T21:46:32Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > And Obama strikes me as the kind of guy who gets that. I highly doubt he’d even accept the offer, if it were “Sure! No problem! We’ll have to move this guy out first, but you can have it whenever you like!” > [@Sarahfeena](#): > > **lissener** , you say it would be an opportunity to make Bush look non-petty, but I think the actual effect would be to make Obama seem petty in the extreme. Not the reputation I would want to have if I were him. You know, I actually hadn’t thought of it from this perspective. You’re right of course. So I still get to be cynical, imagining how it would be spun in Obama’s disfavor. I was wrong about the win-win; it would probably in all actuality be more of a lose-lose. Still, an amusing footnote. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/89 "2008-12-13T21:53:10Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Still, an amusing footnote. You keep saying that, but if this is amusing, what’s a boring night like at the lissener household? I can’t even imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/90 "2008-12-13T21:58:11Z")
> [@atomicbadgerrace](#): > > Seems pretty simple to me. “Can we have the house early?” “It’s booked for those dates, sorry, but it’ll be ready for you by the 15th as planned.” “Oh, ok, well thanks!” And from what I understand, this is pretty much what happened. It is the media and bloggers that are making this into an issue. Oh, and if it has not already been mention, the scheduling is handled by the office of the First Lady, not the President. It is part of her duties as offical U.S. hostess. IF you are going to pit a Bush, you have to pit Laura. ---
**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, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/91 "2008-12-13T22:54:41Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > IF you are going to pit a Bush, you have to pit Laura. Ooh, that sounds _dirty_. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/92 "2008-12-13T23:09:40Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You know, I actually hadn’t thought of it from this perspective. You’re right of course. So I still get to be cynical, imagining how it would be spun in Obama’s disfavor. I was wrong about the win-win; it would probably in all actuality be more of a lose-lose. > > Still, an amusing footnote. It’s not really amusing at all. It sounds pretty much like a normal event that no one involved actually thought twice about. If you can see how it might get spun in Obama’s disfavor, maybe then you will concede that YOU are the one who is trying to spin it in Bush’s disfavor. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/93 "2008-12-13T23:22:54Z")
Bush took a crap today. Clearly, he was motivated in part by a desire to soil the toilet that Obama will use once he is president. Maybe not that big a deal, but an amusing footnote. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/94 "2008-12-13T23:23:40Z")
It is not Bush’s problem. Obama will just have to make other arrangements. Not a big deal. ---
**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, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/95 "2008-12-13T23:37:46Z")
“Welcome to the White House, Mr. President. Here’s your official bathroom, but I wouldn’t go in there, you know what I’m saying? Light a match, whew!” ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/96 "2008-12-14T01:15:46Z")
If it helps, it seems nobody’s living there, it’s being used for receptions and various other meetings by the outgoing staff. Everyone’s trying to get everything done at once, looks like. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/97 "2008-12-14T06:56:58Z")
> [@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. 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. Exactly. I mean if it was McCain, and he got the Adminstration to throw someone out 10 days early, someone who had resevations and promises, imagine the furor that would cause here. “How dare he throw his weight around and trample on the rights of the average guy!!” Omama asked (and it was a reasonable request), The Admin demurred as it was already booked (which was correct thing to do) , and from what I see Obama is good with that and understands (which is what I’d expect of the gentleman). _This is a non-story._ But it did make the front page of the Mercury News, so evidently some dudes think it’s news. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/98 "2008-12-14T16:24:30Z")
Most public schools have residency requirements. If D.C. follows what Ohio does, hotels don’t count, nor do friend’s houses, nor do temporary quarters such as his Senatorial lodging unless he considers these his permanent residents. So until the Obamas physically move into the White House, and change their primary address for taxation and voting purposes, technically they’re still residents of Illinois and their children are ineligible to attend schools in the White House district. So perhaps it’s not as simple as the Obamas not having a place to stay for a few days, but that the public school district will not allow the children to begin classes on January 5th because the Obamas are not legally considered full-time residents yet. If he sends his kids to private schools, I’m out of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/99 "2008-12-14T16:47:05Z")
What do you mean “hotels don’t count”? You live where you live. Or are you saying that if ypu live in a hotel you have no valid address? That makes no sense. I have no doubt that your address is where you live, whether it be a private residence (owned by you or your uncle or your friend, it does not matter), a hotel, a nursing home or a cardboard box. Where ever you live and sleep, that is your residence. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-white-house-to-obamas-maybe-you-can-find-a-park-bench-to-sleep-on/476962/100 "2008-12-14T16:50:59Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > If he sends his kids to private schools, I’m out of ideas. He’s sending them to Sidwell Friends School, the same private school that Chelsea Clinton attended. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081122/ap\_on\_go\_pr\_wh/obama\_school\_12](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081122/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_school_12) [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=4) [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=6)