Where do you think Obama's Presidential Library should be?

[MoonRiver]

These are the places he is considering:

25 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Chicago
	13 (52%)
	Honolulu
	11 (44%)
	New York
	1 (4%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[shraby]

1. I think it should be well outside any city, for ease of access.

Popular places don't need to be situated in a city. If put in a more rural area, it would benefit the smaller towns in that area and would also have space for adequate parking. People wouldn't have to fight the traffic just to visit either.

[MoonRiver]

2. That sounds like a good idea. eom

[Jim Lane]

43. By "ease of access" you mean that people must drive their individual autos to get there?

Given Obama's expressed concern about climate change, this would be precisely wrong. It should be convenient to mass transit, which rules out almost all rural locations.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Wherever he wants it.

[MoonRiver]

4. He's trying to choose between the 3 listed.

Just curious what others think. I'm leaning towards Honolulu. That would be a very exotic location for a PL.

[TreasonousBastard]

50. Well, what I meant was...

I don't care where it goes.

Honolulu is kind of out of the way, though, if people without the money to get there have a need to do research at the library. But, I'm not really all that sure how much such a library is a research location as opposed to a tourist spot or presidential ego trip.

[bigwillq]

5. Kenya

(this is a joke)

[MoonRiver]

8. Good one!

[treestar]

20. lol

There should be a branch there, just for the birthers!

[Brigid]

45. And we have our thread winner.

[ancianita]

6. IF it's a world class city, the first black president's library should be on Chicago's lakefront.

There's plenty of room and easy Lake Shore Drive access along the south shore of Lake Michigan. Rahm Emanuel just finished building a new sailing harbor there, for heaven's sake. The nearer the presidential library is to Hyde Park, the better.

[CTyankee]

40. I agree. I voted for it in this poll.

[PeteSelman]

7. Hawaii.

Aren't the Presidential Libraries generally in the native states?

I'm not well versed on the subject

[oberliner]

27. George W was born in Connecticut - his library is in Dallas

George HW Bush was born in Massachusetts - his library is also in Texas.

Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois - his library is in California.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. WTF? Where is Kenya? This poll is bullshit.

[Gormy Cuss]

35. +1

[66 dmhlt]

10. Chicago. On or adjacent to the U of C campus, where he taught

[Gemini Cat]

11. Chicago.

[riderinthestorm]

12. I love the symbolism of Lincoln and Obama's libraries being in the same state

Within an easy drive of each other.

The first black president and the president who abolished slavery.

Chicago.

[MoonRiver]

13. Good points!

[treestar]

22. +1

[99Forever]

14. It would much more accessable to many more people in Chicago.

Many of us will never be able to afford to go to Hawaii.

[MANative]

15. I agree. That was my reason for choosing Chicago. n/t

[oberliner]

28. It would be great for the people of Hawaii

It is expensive for them to go any presidential library - along with countless other similarly significant places in the continental US.

[mahina]

51. And visa versa

Lots of us won't go there.

[99Forever]

53. There's a huge difference between...

... can't and won't.

[mahina]

54. Both.

[bluedigger]

16. Nobody goes to Hawaii for the libraries.

Chicago is also much more accessible for the average citizen.

[applegrove]

17. Hawaii is too expensive to get to. I want as many little kids

to see his legacy as possible. Hawaii is prohibitively expensive.

[oberliner]

29. If you live on the West Coast that isn't really true

Flights are about the same - in some cases Hawaii would be cheaper.

[applegrove]

49. Did not know that. Still, you cannot drive to it.

[undeterred]

18. No Kenya option?

[treestar]

21. Chicago

I'd have a better chance of seeing it!

[MH1]

23. Chicago, with a branch in Hawaii

Chicago because it is more accessible to most Americans.

But I don't know why they can't create a new tradition with a branch in another state.

[MoonRiver]

24. I was thinking the same thing myself!

Can't remember what exactly, but I remember hearing there are some major issues with Chicago. Maybe they can work them out.

[mfcorey1]

26. I like this idea!!

[Hangingon]

39. I don't think this is a good idea.

Libraries consist of Archival repositories for Presidential Records and papers and museums. The two elements are complimentary. The educational programs, speaker programs and administration would be hard pressed to support both. In addition, the cost of building separate facilities would be very high. PLs have to provide an endowment to cover building operations and maintenance. The law limits the size to 70,000 sq/ft. With an endowment of the 20% for this size an a much higher rate for each sq/ft over 70k. Lots of money.

Better plan is to have the Park Service acquire the Boyhood Home in Hawaii and establish a museum in support.

[mfcorey1]

25. Even though he grew in Hawaii, placing the Presidential Library there will

give limited access to the majority of Americans. Just my selfish view.

[FSogol]

30. Will they sell copies of the long form birth certificate in the gift shop?

I can't wait to get the t-shirt.

[oberliner]

31. How about a presidential museum in Hawaii and library in Chicago?

Ford has a museum and a library in two different locations.

[MoonRiver]

33. Great idea!

[Kelvin Mace]

32. It should be online

in keeping with the 21st century.

[oberliner]

34. I disagree

I had the opportunity to visit the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and one of my favorite parts of the experience was spending time in the Japanese Garden on the premises.

[Kelvin Mace]

36. That's great

but now we know that expending vast amounts of resources dumps massive amounts of carbon into our overheating planet. It is highly irresponsible to undertake needless construction for the sake of people's ego when far more environmentally friendly alternatives exist.

[oberliner]

37. Hopefully it can be done in an environmentally friendly way

Perhaps it can even involve repurposing a currently existing series of buildings that can be made to be more environmentally friendly in the process.

[Kelvin Mace]

41. Well, we'll see if ego or altruism wins out

After eight years in Washington, my money's on ego.

[brucefan]

38. New York City

I can be there in an hour.

[Major Hogwash]

44. Chicago is where he started his political career from, so I think that would be the natural choice.

I don't see any good reason for him to build it anywhere else.

[Brigid]

46. I'll go with Chicago.

But I really think it should go where he wants it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. chicago

[AngryAmish]

48. Wherever Mike Madigan decides it should be?

(runs, hides...)

[TexasTowelie]

52. The teabagger vote is for Indonesia

where he was enrolled at an Islamic school and became a Muslim for life.