President-elect Barack Obama

White House Madness

The Politico is reporting that the White House will be reverting back to late nights and all-nighters:

"It's a throwback to Bill Clinton's cramming-for-an-exam style, a shift from George W. Bush's early-bird routine. Aides expect the workload to be so intense, at least for the early months, that they're trying to formalize ways to help staffers stay in touch with spouses and kids -- with ideas under consideration that include inviting family members into the White House for casual after-hours meals."

There aren't many people who could survive this as a matter of routine. So a poll...

Could you handle the sleepless pace of the White House, or do you need an eight-hour-a-night routine?
( polls)

Adding... I always had serious gripes about President Bush going to bed earlier than me. One of things I remember most from studying the presidency in college was this concept that no matter what we're doing, we like to know that the president is awake in the Oval Office worrying about the country and working to fix things. It's an abstract concept, yes, but it makes perfect sense. Even after September 11, President Bush never once even pretended to do this. Instead, he would gripe about "hard work" while sacking out at 10 every night.