White House Culture Shock

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012104249.html?sid=ST2009012104276&s_pos=

After two years of running the most techno-savvy campaign in the history of politics, the Obama staff showed up for work today to find a nightmare of disconnected phone lines, computers with 6-year old outdated software, computer terminals with no idea of what they were for, inability to access e-mail, and more tech issues. As one Obama staffer put it, it's like going from an XBox to an atari.

Having been on the receiving end of this sort of stuff, I can sympathize with them. Folks that work with computers and technology all day know exactly how frustrating these sort of problems can be, particularly when you are accustomed to having tools that actually work!

Comments: 10

Paul M. Jan 22, 2009, 10:45am EST

Really that's just embarrassing when you're supposed to be this advanced superpower and are still using vacuum-tube computers from the '60s. But the guys in IT are going to make a killing on overtime now!

reply to this comment

Jennifer R. Jan 22, 2009, 11:15am EST

I'm sure they will work it out.

reply to this comment

David K. Jan 22, 2009, 11:17am EST

The government isn't the fastest to take on new technology, especially when the people at the top tend to be from pre-tech generations. This should be fun.

reply to this comment

sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, Jan 22, 2009, 11:24am EST

Yeah - they took everything that wasn't tied down. Smooth transition my butt.

reply to this comment

Jack E. Jan 22, 2009, 11:29am EST

Every time a new president is sworn in this kind of thing happens but with Bush it may have been done to cover some of his crimes and also because he spent so much money murdering people he could not afford to keep up.

reply to this comment

Julie Ann Dawson Jan 22, 2009, 12:22pm EST

Sharon,

Nobody was saying anything was actually missing. This is the equipment and conditions the previous staff worked with! No wonder the left hand didn't know what the right was doing!

reply to this comment

Elizabeth S. Jan 22, 2009, 4:17pm EST

It's hard to get a running start when you have to start all over again and again.

reply to this comment

Roy Shastid Jan 23, 2009, 7:03am EST

For myself I think they should be writing on mud tablets in cuneiform. Using scribes sitting on tall chairs. Might cut down on the verbiage and think of it a tax code written on 3 slabs of hardened mud and enforced by taxcollectors armed with swords. Could be fun

reply to this comment

Julie Ann Dawson Jan 23, 2009, 9:27am EST

Might cut down on the verbiage and think of it a tax code written on 3 slabs of hardened mud and enforced by taxcollectors armed with swords. Could be fun

Do the tax collectors look like the Spartans in 300?

If that is the case, I want an audit...NOW!

reply to this comment

Roy Shastid Jan 23, 2009, 12:46pm EST

Dear Julie They will all look like Brad Pitt except with bifocals. Please have mercy as many have been kidnapped and write pleas for rescue from cruise ships and honeymoon resorts.Not sure what the problem is ,but they have mentioned handcuffs and blindfolds.

reply to this comment

White House Culture Shock

Comments: 10

Join the Conversation

You might also like

More by Julie Ann Dawson