Business Casual

Photographs of President Obama and his staff at work in the Oval Office without their suit jackets on are creating a buzz among Washington insiders. Most see this as a blunt departure from President Bush's all suit, all tie, all the time mandate. Though according to this report, Obama's loosened dress code has more to do with him keeping the White House thermostat at a higher temperature setting. As Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod put it: "He's from Hawaii, OK?". Fair enough, but the President's blunt disregard to practice temperature setbacks may undermine his self-touted energy conservation credentials.