# So any idea on what Bush's note to Obama said? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321 "2009-01-21T17:21:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/21 "2009-01-22T22:25:59Z")
> [@Si Amigo](#): > > Strangly it appears that the note left for the girls from the Bush twins was not keep private: On the contrary, it was an [“open letter”](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123239885943895155.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular) that Barbara and Jenna published in the _Wall Street Journal_. Was there even an actual physical note “left for” Sasha and Malia at all? > [@Khadaji](#): > > That was very sweet and I think highly of the girls for writing it. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Just kidding-that was really sweet of them. Cynical ol’ me thinks: PR stunt. It was evidently written at least as much for the public eye as for a personal communication to the Obama girls. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/22 "2009-01-22T22:32:03Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Cynical ol’ me thinks: PR stunt. It was evidently written at least as much for the public eye as for a personal communication to the Obama girls. Well, of course it was. Had it really been for the Obama girls’ eyes, it would have been left in an envelope for them. When was the last time your wrote a personal letter to someone and had it published in a national newspaper? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/23 "2009-01-22T22:44:21Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or something like that. He knows what it’s like to come into a White House that has been trashed out of spite, so he isn’t going to do or say anything nasty. > > Not sure why this wasn’t moved to a different forum, or locked, since there is not going to be a factual answer. [Moderating] I haven’t noticed that you reported this thread. Complaining about non-factual remarks while at the same time making anti-factual remarks yourself is hardly the best way to express your disapproval. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/24 "2009-01-23T03:08:18Z")
Doper speculation is rampant… and funny: [W leaves Obama a note -- what's it say? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=502647) ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/25 "2009-01-23T04:07:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderating] > > I haven’t noticed that you reported this thread. Complaining about non-factual remarks while at the same time making anti-factual remarks yourself is hardly the best way to express your disapproval. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator With all due respect to **Colibri** , I believe that it is generally accepted that members of the Clinton staff did, in fact, spitefully vandalize several computers prior to their leaving the White House. **Shodan’s** comments were not “anti-factual.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/26 "2009-01-23T04:16:26Z")
> [@CC](#): > > With all due respect to **Colibri** , I believe that it is generally accepted that members of the Clinton staff did, in fact, spitefully vandalize several computers prior to their leaving the White House. **Shodan’s** comments were not “anti-factual.” Yes, some petty vandalism did occur, as documented in another active GQ thread. However, characterizing this as a “White House trashed out of spite” does not correspond to the facts of the matter and is an out of place political jab. In any case, this is not the place to debate the issue. Let’s drop the political commentary. If you wish to discuss this, take it to the other GQ thread on the matter. This goes for **Shodan** too. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/27 "2009-01-23T04:19:21Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Shodan’s comments were not “anti-factual.” I think the “anti-factual” reference was to **Shodan** ’s imagined draft of GWB’s note to Obama. Perfectly plausible, yes, but still entirely speculative. A mod might well wonder why **Shodan** is complaining that these unverifiable speculations are inappropriate in GQ while simultaneously contributing unverifiable speculations of his own. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/28 "2009-01-23T04:25:53Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > A mod might well wonder why **Shodan** is complaining that these unverifiable speculations are inappropriate in GQ while simultaneously contributing unverifiable speculations of his own. Exactly. But let’s drop the discussion of this side issue. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/29 "2009-01-23T10:34:17Z")
A more interesting development of this thread, to me, is sorta GQ: the one raised by \*\*Svejk \*\*in post #11. What IS the history here? Did Washington leave one for Adams? If not, when did this start? Surely there can’t be national security issues remaining from the early 19th century, or personal privacy issues, that prevent the older ones at least from being published. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/30 "2009-01-23T13:55:06Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > If not, when did this start? I heard on NPR that Reagan left a note for Bush. I cannot find a cite. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321/31 "2009-01-23T14:06:22Z")
“Begun With President Reagan, Outgoing Presidents Send Successor Message In Oval Office Desk.” [Link.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/20/national/inauguration09/main4737479.shtml) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-any-idea-on-what-bushs-note-to-obama-said/482321.md?page=1)