I'm pretty disgusted at how lavish the latter ones were getting. An office is a place to conduct business. Lately everyone, even the RNC, is conducting business in strip joints or "coffee house" style areas. As some have stated, this is NOT their office, nor their property. They are tenants. Servants, even. Since when are public servant quarters supposed to be better then the lowest of the public they serve.

Balance a budget, pay the bills, then go home.

The Oval Office? The most powerful, most intimidating room in the world? You think it might be too lavish? Hmmm.



For one, I expect the President of the United States to have a better office than I do. And, to not think that is really weird.

Secondly, the Oval Office is not where the President does most of his work. There is also a "President's Office". The Oval Office is more ceremonial.

If they did the above I wouldn't care if the Oval Office was gold plated.

The most powerful, the most intimidating rooms in the world are the rooms where 'We The People' sit when we choose who occupies that oval room. To think otherwise, imho, is 'weird'.

The lavishings of the room where two equal people meet matter not as much as the decisions or agreements those people make.

Two rooms! How many rooms does a servant need?

The last President to do that got impeached for what he did in the Oval Office.

In his private study, adjacent to the Oval Office. Much to 5th chagrin, a third Presidential work area.

Unfortunately untrue. He was impeached for LYING about what he did.

He should have been impeached for who he did.

Monica Lewinsky is a high crime and misdemeanor?

Interesting. I think David Gergen said it best:

"I believe it belongs in the category of ‘Give the guy a break!’ Barack Obama has followed the precedent of several recent presidents by refurnishing the office to fit his own style, and he’s done it without using any taxpayer money. Personally, I prefer a more regal office to the muted earth tones of the family den. But so what? I think this is something the president deserves. He deserves to have the surroundings that make him feel comfortable and in which he works best. I don’t care so much how he lives; I care how he leads."

Bad PR, perhaps, but he's trying to R with a P with jerky knees. It's a no-win, so... what the hell, might as well get a new rug.