POTUS visit

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

So, I won't add fuel to the sour grapes fire regarding who won the debate Wednesday night.

Obama made his first post debate stop in my city, Paul Ryan's state. Transparent but not a big deal. There is a campaign to run here. What troubled me though was the elevation of security beyond anything I'd ever seen with a presidental visit. Hell, Obama was here a few years ago and it wasn't this crazy.

We, the taxpayers, funded this security, not his campaign. I guess I can see how that might be status quo. However, security provisions included, "if you are caught looking out a campus window (to get a glimpse), you will be contacted by police." Was this necessary? Schools were also closed down for the visit, among other things.

So, basically, we let our now slain ambassadors enter into dangerous situations (which, despite what the media initially reported was a clearly a terror based set up) with no security detail but a professor isn't allowed to look out her/his window to catch a glimpse of the hoopla in his own workplace setting?


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Comments

[shweetnettie13.livejournal.com]

Being in Ohio, we've had more visits from both candidates, their wives and running mates than I can count. I know that up until a few weeks ago, their visits were tallied up as costing something like $45,000. All taxpayer money. They're (not 100% sure who "they" are. Whoever would send such a bill, I imagine) going to be sending bills to the campaigns to see if they can get back any of that cost. I somehow doubt that'll happen, but I'm curious to see how it turns out.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

So, I won't add fuel to the sour grapes fire regarding who won the debate Wednesday night.

Oh no, of course you wont. And specifically, what sour grapes fire would that be again?


What troubled me though was the elevation of security beyond anything I'd ever seen with a presidental visit.

Yeah, those are old blues eh? Bush visited my city in 04. The SS lopped off the tops of all these trees to clear the view or something. The trees have still not recovered from the poor pruning. They never will.


the taxpayers, funded this security, not his campaign.

Yeah, fuck that, we should not waste money trying to avoid our president being killed! Defund the secret service!

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Wow, it took you three edits to come up with this emoting drivel?!! And, as per usual, you could't respond to the point of the post, angry man. I am starting to sincerely pity you.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Seriously, this post convinced me that the secret service has taken over the country in a dastardly and wasteful cabal. What do you think we should do about it if not shut down their wasteful spending?

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Yeah, fuck that, we should not waste money trying to avoid our president being killed! Defund the secret service!

Sounds good to me. The guy wanted the job, he can take care of himself. Use some of his large salary to buy bodyguards if he wants them.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Hinkley thanks you! I'm seriously confused why msmichelle was unaware I got her point.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I'm sure if the POTUS was a Republican you'd be saying the same thing.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

The President should just stay in a fortified bunker lest the common people be in somewhat close proximity to him.

[marina-herriott.livejournal.com]

Moscow is empty on the day of the Putin's Inauguration.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Gawd, you're obsessed.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Was it a Sunday? I know the downtown here is deserted on Sundays.

[marina-herriott.livejournal.com]

Film's comment:
"Russian Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin on Monday arrived at Moscow's Kremlin where he will be inaugurated as Russia's president, for a third term.
Putin was elected as president on March 4, 2012 in the first round, with 63.6 percent of the vote."

[dwer.livejournal.com]

What evidence do you have that the taxpayers funded the security? I mean, there's certain things that just are paid for by the security detail budget, but I don't know if it gets billed back to the campaign or not.

As far as faces looking out of windows, the Texas Book Depository would like a word.

I don't think that's a terribly evenhanded description of Benghazi.

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

It is a fact. And my point was they went overboard with the window thing and the premadonna-esque security, dated historical reference notwithstanding.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

The Pope says "Trust in the Lord" while he rides around in a bulletproof caboose.

Since when is Secret Service protection for the President a controversial issue?

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

When it goes beyond normal secret service and is funded by the locals.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I think the window thing might be a response to very real death threats and intelligence thereon, not some jack-booted assholery. That race hatred thing is still very much alive and well.

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

I think the race thing is an overstated scare tactic. But, I don't live in the deep south (no offense to those who do) where there is alleged to be more evidence to support it.
What I see up north is people race baiting in ad hominem attack manner. I think we have predominately, as a country, moved on from the ooh, first black president thing...and I think Condi Rice, Mia Love and Colin Powel would agree.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Spare me the crocodile tears over the Ambassador's life, please. By the way, the reason that they don't want anyone near a window is the same reason that people afraid of assassination should never sit with their back to a door: it's an obvious location for any would-be sniper to put a gun in and shoot at the President. This is pretty basic assassination protection.

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Trumped up and unnecessary to issue a citation to anyone who dares to look out their window at work, trumped up and irresponsible to close schoolsj. And the breech in security was a serious national security issue...no alligator tears here.

[hcastaigne.livejournal.com]

However, security provisions included, "if you are caught looking out a campus window (to get a glimpse), you will be contacted by police." Was this necessary?

If the Secret Service says it is necessary, then yes, it is necessary. They are in charge of security; they determine what protocols are issued.
Personally, I don't argue with the Secret Service.

we let our now slain ambassadors enter into dangerous situations (which, despite what the media initially reported was a clearly a terror based set up) with no security detail

Not the Secret Service's department. I direct you instead to the US Foreign Service. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Foreign_Service) This department has been cutting security personnel and funding yearly, since Congress has been slashing their budget like mad for the past two years. (http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2011/10/spending-bills-threaten-foreign-service-pay-and-hiring/35113/) Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Congress went cheap on Foreign Service and Ambassador Stevens was the result of that.

But hey, we saved a few billion. I assume that is more of a priority for Congress then paying the right amount for the right results. *shrugs*

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

But he just wanted to get a glimpse, so that he knows where to place his scope and everything... oh don't worry it's unloaded and everything, just need a scope to get a better view of the President. yeah that's it...

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

As for the fourth paragraph, the slain ambassador I'm aware of took place in another country that is still recovering from ousting their previous regime. And this is Ohio isn't it? It's far easier to muster security in a state then it is in another nation altogether.

And I'm pretty sure the security was a bit overboard, but we are talking about the first black president (or at least half-black, whatever, someone is going to argue this point...). The fact that there are people out there that are still violently racist towards people of color and joke about him not having anything in common with Kennedy "yet", means that threats against our current president's life can be very real.

But yeah, why is it so hard to kill the President, WTF?

[squidb0i.livejournal.com]

Don't like the extra security?

Tell your fellow conservatives to stop trying and threatening to kill him.

[msmichelle.livejournal.com]

Other than fiscally, I am not really conservative. Just tired of trumped up (racist) drama from the left about having a black president.