[Houghton M.]

Does not make sense. The original bust was returned after restoration, presumably before Bush’s term ended. The loaner went back when Bush left office. Presumably Bush left the original in the Oval Office.

Zero then moved it out, to the Residence.

Now, I don’t know which version of all this is most accurate. But there’s so much distortion, including some from our side, out there, that I don’t know whom to believe.

If the upthread comments are correct, then there can’t be anything to the claim that the British Government offered it to Zero for four more years.

Unless: the restoration was not completed before Bush left, Zero sent the loaner back with all the other loaned art from Bush’s terms, which is normal. So for a time, Zero had no Churchhill bust at all, then the restored original arrived and he put it in the Residence???

All I can say is that there are so many conflicting versions of what happened that I think we need to wait for some kind of clarity.

Unless the upthread comment is also distorted?

[dsrtsage]

You are right, it is difficult to know exactly what happened, but I do remember this story being a controversy back in 2009, and I do remember the Brit’s being none to happy about it.

[faucetman]

The Churchill bust in the residence has NOTHING to do with the fact that Obama refused the offer by the Brits to keep the loaner bust. One has nothing to do with the other. The one given as a GIFT (not loan) during the Johnson administration was never at issue. The Bush administration bust was not loaned because of repairs to the other bust. it was not a replacement for the other bust, temporary or otherwise. This is just SMOKE from the Obozo administration trying to cover up Obozo’s hatred for the Brits, since they were caught.