It's Insane

you've got my vote!

LOL .. yeah it is insane. When you think about it though when the president and his kids want to go out anywhere they have to have a whole crew or secret service and body gaurds. It is probably a lot cheaper just to have those things on hand at their home. Make sense? Those things have been there for many many years .. seems safer to have their own chef's then trying to go anywhere!

I had no idea either!

I still can't get over the fact that the Obamas will get $100,000 to fix up the living quarters of the White House to suit them. What I could do to our place for that!!!!!!

I am sure it's easier (and safer) that way, rather than load up the Secret Service and everything else if they want to go out to dinner.

Well... The bowling alley and movie theater make sense. Can you imagine the cost to taxpayers if the First Family had to go to a real movie theater? How many Secret Service people would that take? Would you want to wait in line until they checked you out to see if you could be in the same movie theater at the same time? Probably not. And I'm sure that it's less costly and safer to keep 6 executive chefs on staff than to try to get temporary ones for state dinners.

That is funny I was thinking the same thing when I saw it.

It would be a nice gesture if they DON'T take that 100K Vic mentions.

Personally, I'm more upset at the cost of the inauguration. Yes, Obama raised over 40 million. But the rest was paid by taxpayers...and no one even mentioned how much was the cost to Virginia and Maryland for extra security there.

The President is required to entertain for the nation. There is a large staff who help the President do his job whose offices are in the White House. The White House is still mostly what Bush and the other previous Presidents have made it.

Besides, one time when the President went out to a theater there was an unfortunate incident. Perhaps its better if the President and the staff used the facilities in the White House.

It's an amazing waste of money

I agree with others, that is actually better than spending a lot of money if they would want to go to the movie theater on their own.

"Besides, one time when the President went out to a theater there was an unfortunate incident."

ROFLMBO, Larry!!

What's REALLY "insane" is the BILLION DOLLARS we're spending EVERY DAY in Iraq and Afghanistan... THAT'S the REAL "insanity"...

Laura Bush spent $490,000 on new dishes, so $100000 for a remodel doesn't seem unreasonable.

I think it's just the way things have to be done nowdays. I would be glad to have a private chef for just TWO hrs a day!

I was interested in the short time frame that the moving and decorating people had yesterday to get the last of the Bush personal belongings out and get the Obama family moved in, clothes put away, the girls' bedrooms arranged, etc.

I saw a news piece shortly after Obama was elected that suggested "updates" that Obamas were considering for the children's private garden, basketball court, etc. All of that is above and beyond the $100K for "decorating".

Here's an April 2008 (yep, you read the date right!) quote from Obama (found at LA Times)

"I have sworn that we're taking out the bowling alley in the White House and we're putting in a basketball court."

In his defense.... that IS change!

God Bless the United States of America

It would be nice to live in the white house, but at the same time I wouldn't want to run the country

THAT IS JUST AMAZING TO HAVE THAT MANY THINGS AT YOUR FEET.I AM SURE MOST OF IT IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE PRESIDENT SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO HURT YOU,YOU REALLY CAN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE MUCH AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THERE ALL THE TIME...NANCY

I was thinking the same thing!

Now that Obama is in the WH, it looks like he's making cuts

Is he really going to waste tax payers money taking out a bowling alley and putting in a basketball court?

Pretty crazy.

That is crazy! 8 chefs? That is a little extreme. I'll vote for you!

I don't see an issue with this....maybe the number of chefs...but the other stuff personally I think is fine. They give up so much anyways (yes I know it's their choice) - but again....to try to go anywhere would be worse....

Yes the Obama's have a nice budget to redecorate but don't forget how much Laura Bush spent on china before she left!

You've got my vote, Sarah!

Six chefs? A bit of an overkill, isn't it? You know what they say about too many chefs...

never knew that either

Six chefs might be an overkill, but when you think about it, I can understand a bowling ally and a movie theatre. It's not like the president can take his kids out to any bowling ally on Saturday night.

im not real sure i think george washington is buried in basement or maybe another real close to the white house. and his wife martha.

A lot goes on in the White House all the time. It's an amazing place I guess.

LOL. Yeah... it's a dilemma. On one end I think everyone should be thrifty, but on the other end, they still need to show their status.

ugh....

I agree, let them get thier own sodas

lol I could use a soda about now!

What I think is more insane is 5 chefs for Air Force One. Maybe at least one could be paid the same and work at a homeless shelter.

i guess its the least we taxpayers can do!! lol, might as well laff as cry about it

insanity at it's best

Let the President keep all that stuff. And while he's at it, he can keep his thankless job. There is not enough you can give me or pay me to take on such a burden as the position of President of the United States. You have a love/hate relationship with the rest of the world.

You are no longer a private citizen. You give up all privacy you ever had. The world knows what you eat and drink, what you watch on TV, the clothes you wear, all about your sex life...nothing is sacred any more. Hell, you can't even fart without the newspapers talking about it.

You have no family life anymore. You and your family are constantly followed around by The Secret Service because some maniac may decide to make you and your family the next day's front page victims. Your children will grow up wondering whether their dad will be safe at the next public speech he has to give. Or will some whacko get his jollies by putting a bullet in your dad's head?

Is that life worth it? I think not. I am glad that there are some people who want this job, but not me!!! Your life will never be the same. So, keep the bowling alley, the swimming pool, the chefs at your beck and call.

I'll take my poor little ole life of obscurity any old day.

I am going through my backlog of articles created by you, my friends. I am so sorry that I do not have the time to spend on reading each of your articles in detail, but do know that I was here to leave a comment. God Bless and Have a wonderful week!

It is insane, but they can't exactly live normal lives out in the public, so they have to bring their entertainment to themselves. As far as the chefs go, you have to stop and remember that it's not only them they feed, but the secret service that is on duty. There are a lot of staff to feed as well as the first family. That said, things could be sized down a bit.

BTW....We are not in a recession......Yet.

Thanks for sharing!