Obama's ***** patio furniture

SFGate ^ | July 31 2009 | Peter Hartlaub

[TaxPayer2000]

There are few subjects on the planet that I would like to touch less than this Professor Henry Gates/Sgt. Joseph Crowley mess. I'm guessing that whatever position I take, the comments would be even harsher than the time I admitting to liking Oakland. But as an American, there is one element of President Barack Obama's sit-down beer-drinking dialogue with Gates and Crowley that deserves further comment:

I can't believe the president doesn't have better patio furniture.

In reality, the Rose Garden patio furniture is probably quite expensive -- made of the best wrought iron, with wicker that was weaved at the hands of master artisans. I wouldn't be surprised if Obama specifically requested Lincoln's old patio furniture for this event.

But perception is everything is cases like this. And from a distance, it looks like Obama owns the type of furniture you would expect to encounter when eating a meal with Randy Quaid in a "Vacation" movie. (More Helper, Obama?) My first thought upon seeing the images on television yesterday was "Is that plastic?" I briefly lived next to some frat guys in college, and I think I saw Joe Biden's chair floating in the pool after every one of their parties.

This isn't a complaint. Man-of-the-people moves like this help explain why so many Americans voted for Obama. There's a small part of me that worries that the terrorists will be emboldened by the sight of this seemingly cheap set of table and chairs. But I'm even more excited that the president is taking this economic crisis as seriously as everyone else's family is. I especially like the little touches, such as the lack of an umbrella stand. You can buy one of those at Ace Hardware for $19. But hey, we're all cutting back.

[TaxPayer2000]

[ExiledChicagoan]

...”with wicker that was weaved at the hands of master artisans.

You mean Chinese, don’t you?

[bgill]

Remember, the other Hussein had a cheap plastic chair in his spider hole.

[autumnraine]

I think it’s funny that Obama looks like an overgrown boy in a toy chair. Looking real Presidential there.

[Textide]

I feel dumber for having read that article. What a pantywaist the author must be.

[Semper911]

The table has only two legs. They must be cemented into the patio. The set must have been there for a long time.

[bigbob]

My only surprise was that the waiter didn’t just bring out a jug of water so The Messiah could turn it into beer.

[McGruff]

BEER SUMMIT

= EPIC FAILURE!

[gargoyle]

...Nah that ******* $19.00 set probably cost the tax payers about $100,000...

[AmericanInTokyo]

If it is taxpayer-supported patio furniture, I WILL SUPPORT IT BEING AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE!!

[Aria]

I see Gates pontificating, Biden more interested in eating, Obama leaning in signifying interest and agreement, Sgt. Crowley looking skeptical.

What a joke on the good Sgt.

[Jeffrey_D.]

1000 WORDS !!!!

[presently no screen name]

What a dumb a$$ piece of propaganda! .

But I'm even more excited that the president is taking this economic crisis as seriously as everyone else's family is.

The furniture ISN'T his but Michelle's $500+ sneakers are, and his joy ride around ground zero is on OUR tab and his weekend tryst to Manhattan for dinner and a play is on OUR tab, and having the Cambridge crew flown in to wipe egg off of his face is on OUR tab, and the $$ Paris vacation for his family and friends is on OUR back. Now what is that about BO taking this economic crisis seriously?

BO created this economic crisis - a deliberate act! And where are the jobs? He's too busy firing white people from their jobs because they dare to do their job and uphold the Constitution.

[AmusedBystander]

The table has only two legs. They must be cemented into the patio. The set must have been there for a long time.

I can see four legs. Mrs. O probably got it at KMart in Chicago.

[Cheetahcat]

Cheap tasteless crap he is too stupid to ask someone for advice.

[ThreePuttinDude]

I see 4 legs

1 between Biden and the Whiney AA
1 under 0bamis hand
1 under Crowley
1 in plain site

[ArmstedFragg]

Not visible is Gates’ daughter running home to trash Crowley’s daughter’s choice of makeup on her blog. Real quality people, there.

[Zeppo]

The Hardy Boys and the Case of the Potemkin Patio Furniture...

[Semper911]

I can see four legs.

Seriously, there are only two legs, with some bracing underneath for support.

Look at some other angles, and you'll see what I mean. Here is one:

[LA Woman3]

Not visible is Gates’ daughter running home to trash Crowley’s daughter’s choice of makeup on her blog. Real quality people, there.

Really?