Michelle Obama's White House designer

I think the idea of Congress giving any incoming president $100,000 (trib story today) to redecorate is disgraceful. Surely it can be done for much less, and that money saved.

Add to this over-the-top expenditure to the news from huffington post that the Great One's coronation will cost an estimated $150 million, and I'm literally sick to my stomach.

What an egomaniac.

Oh, Beth, you do look sick. Petty whining doesn't become you, at all. How about the story above about George W Bush getting a chief of staff for his retirement. Now there's a waste of our money.

Beth, I thought the same at first until I did a little reading and came to understand that both parties and others foot the bill for the balls etc. Plus, planning something like this is akin to a wedding which brides start a year out. How many jobs would be lost if the whole thing was scrapped?

$100,000 is not much when you think about how much we spend (lose) in Iraq a day keeping Saddam's palaces running.

That cowboy has been living there for 8 years, Beth; it needs some cleaning up. Give it a rest.

"Beth, I thought the same at first until I did a little reading and came to understand that both parties and others foot the bill for the balls etc..."
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 14, 2009 4:49 PM
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For the balls, food and such, yes. However, the states of Virginia, Maryland and the D of C are picking up the tab for the beefed-up security (overtime for local law enforcement) and the price tag is very high. It is expected that they will be reimbursed by the federal gov't later... which means OUR tax dollars.
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You're right, lochness, anyway it's too late to do anything about it now, but the inaugural should/could have been much smaller. Indeed, something more modest would have been a brilliant PR coup for Obama, IMO.
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I still say inauguration celebrations (all of them) are out of hand; they're grotesque displays of opulence that are not in the spirit of a democracy.

I watched the special program on C-Span over the holidays about the White House and the living quarters is lovely with many beautiful antiques - certainly not very practical when you have to energetic children and their friends who are going to occupy that space on a daily basis. I'd rather they put the historical antiques away for safe keeping. It is my understanding that just because they're given an allowance doesn't mean they will spend it all, plus the furnishings become the property of the White House, just as all art is the property of the White House. If they want to take anything with them after their time them they have to pay for it themselves.

After that Cspan tour of the WH, people are going to be wondering:
What's not to like?

Truman caught flak for adding the balcony.

Nixon was ridiculed for making guards wear uniforms that made them look like extras in a Victor Herbert operetta.

Jackie K. very wisely knew how to handle changing the decor:

Antique French wallpaper in the breakfast nook.

Special committee to locate American antiques and donate them to the WH.

Anything beyond that could rile the very numerous amateur historians, Civil War reenactors, Sons of American Revolution, etc.

A Hollywood designer? that could prove to be a land mine.

You thought the Greek columns were controversial?

Get ready for the purple leather couches with gold piping.

Paulo

Yes, we should all champion the decency in using private money for needless exorbitance like Laura Bush spending $493,000 last week on a new set of gold plated White House china. With only two weeks to go, the robber barons who were appointed the throne on a platform of restoring dignity to the White House, came with little and are leaving with none.

Good riddance.

Next Tuesday has been a long time coming.

Okay obama i wanna see change thats why i voted for you! you dont need to redecorate i sure furniture and fixtures that are there is fine. save money show us you know how to save money

I think a party fit for a prince is deserving. After all he is our very first black president that actually admits he is black. This is a monumental moment in our countries history. He is a Muslim- Christian King, who is now the most powerful man in the world. Again, a first in american history! Celebrate AMERICA. The messiah has COME HOME!!!! Bow to the KING.

Paulo your comment was intended to stereotype, but obviously you have not seen the Obama's decor in their Chicago home which is very neutral, you also obviously have not been in any homes of AA because of your comment--you definitely have not been in my home or any of my friends--you have it twisted not all AA like loud overstated colors.....

IT IS CERTAINLY SAD THAT
SOME PEOPLE GIVE OPIONS ABOUT ANOTHER WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. IT IS SAD WHEN ONE RACE ASSUMES HOW ANOTHER LIVES WITHOUT EVER KNOWING MORE ABOUT THEM. MICHELE OBAMA IS AN INTELLIGENT AND VERY EDUCATED WOMAN WHO HAS THE CHARACTER THAT IS WITHOUT QUESTION AS WELL AS OUR PRESIDENT.;
WHAT MAKES CHARACTER IS HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT. WHAT DOES ONE GET OUT OF A NEGATIVE COMMENT ABOUT ANYONE. IT ONLY MAKES THE PERSON WHO GIVES THE COMMENT LOOK IGNORANT TO INTELLIGENT PEOPLE.

What's with the crappy logic?

I love how liberals are so quick to defend Obama with "Bush did it" logic. PLEASE. Two wrongs make a right? You hate Bush and what he did, but Obama can do what he does.

Obama is supposed to be for CHANGE (which, jokes on you America, he never said what type of change...actually he kept flip flopping on what kind of change, but I digress).

$150 million for inaugaration? That's more than any other president in history adjusted for inflation. Ya, ya, ya it was historical, BUT we are in the middle of a financial crisis. BUT MAYBE his inaugaration counts as "stimulus" spending. He's "cool," he can do whatever he wants.

-rolls eyes- How about you SAVE money and decorate yourself, Michelle? Or pay for it yourself? You can afford a vacation home....

One more thought for you fools to chew on: Obama is supposed to understand the common people in America. If only less than 10% of the U.S. population makes less than $250k (some sources say only 2% of Americans make more than that others say 5%) how many people do you think can afford imported beef and all the other things this joker buys? Do you REALLY believe is a common person? He may have grown up poor, but he is living high now. He is ELITE. He's a hypocrite, and he doesn't care.

O(ne) B(ig) A(**) M(istake) A(merica)

Regret.

Look at the way other leaders spend money on themselves and you'll realize that $100K for redecorating is trivial. Previous commentators are right: it is a small fraction of daily expenditure in Iraq (not saying I agree with that spending, but you see the point). He's not getting a new palace. In fact, the president can't even allocate the money himself, it was congress's decision.
Plus, its just like the expensive inauguration and coronation--if the head of our country looks poor, what is everyone going to think? As a leading country it is important to show off a bit as to not look like we're falling behind.
How would you like to spend the $100K, give everyone in the country a fraction of a cent deduction on taxes?

First, they are paying for the redecoration themselves, they refused the $100K. Second, did you complain about Bush's inagurations? If not, hush. Third, it was pretty historic him being the first non-white president and all. Fourth, he received more death threats than any other candidate or President-elect (see previous point) so the security was warranted.
Fifth, it should have been a huge deal no matter who won, if only to celebrate Bush's departure.

The comment by Reality is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. They are paying for the redecoration themselves.