Have any of you ever witnessed the Bush Royal Family roll into town?

[Elwood P Dowd]

Living in Alabama, I watched some of the news today about the chimp's visit. It reminded me of when he visited a town near me in 2002. For hours before the Supreme Court's selected leader arrived, there were helicopters constantly flying above. There must have been over a thousand local police officers, sheriff deputies, highway patrolmen, secret service agents, and who knows what others everywhere.

Approximately 30 minutes before the King was due to arrive, three giant choppers flew over my house. Thought I was back in the Army again. A few minutes later three more fly over. A few minutes later the King and his chopper flies over. I've never seen such a military display for a 20-minute speech.

So I'm watching all the TV stations broadcast this speech. You will not believe the number of helicopters and troops that were surrounding the football practice field where Bush landed. Then the little brat gets into an SUV, one of about 20, and they make the long drive of 300 yards to the baseball stadium for his speech. He mumbles, stumbles, says a few "you knows" and "duh well uh" about invading Iraq and 9-11. Then he starts praising the repuke candidate for governor and the idiot running for congress in our district. After 20 minutes, he jumps into one of the SUVs, rides 300 yards to where US Army's Air Calvary Division is stationed, and flies away.

On the way back to Montgomery they take a different route. They came in over my house. On the way back, they really fool the al Qaeda terrorists that might be lurking in the Alabama woods. They take a path one mile to the north. My dog and cat were sure happy about that.

I wonder how much that little 20-minute speech cost us taxpayers? I imagine you could rebuild the high school in Enterprise, Alabama for the money wasted that day. I imagine you could do even more with the money wasted today.

[Straight Shooter]

1. I would welcome bush in my town about like I would the Headless Horseman.

Kind of the same thing, really.

But but but .... Pelosi's plane! ;)

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Here's the sign my friend made when bush came here

[Cabcere]

38. LOL, that's perfect!

:rofl: :applause:

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. The cops tore it up

Good thing I got this picture.

[Cabcere]

43. Of course they did; couldn't allow anything that might hurt Chimpy's fragile ego.

:eyes: I'm glad you got the picture, though - definitely made me smile! :hi:

[Straight Shooter]

48. And it's his favorite light blue color, too ;)

Well done!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. I assume he's fundraising for Republican candidates on these trips

while we the taxpayers pay for this fundraising to take place, including the tab for the jets, helicopters, limos, SUVs, hotel rooms, breakfasts-lunches-dinners for a cast of thousands, laundry bills, police escorts, stadium rental, ad nauseum.

[Syncronaut Seven]

3. Ridiculous little monkey

Dance Monkey! Dance!

[Catherine Vincent]

4. They do that kind of stuff for all presidents. Not just Bush.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Indeed, and it messes with traffic for hours...

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. I don't think so.

We're talking probably a thousand troops and police officers in a small southern town here. I personally saw probably 15 helicopters, and I'm out in the boonies a few miles away. I might understand if this was Baghdad, but a small town in red Alabama?

My parents still have a picture they took when FDR visited Auburn in the 1930s. He came in with one car in front and one behind. That was it. Oh, they did send in a couple of guys the day before to check out the place. They figured it was safe since everybody in town voted for him. It was also only about 40 miles from his little retreat in Georgia.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. That was the 1930s

Things have changed dramatically since then. They really do this for all presidents now. Clinton was here and it was just as big a deal as when dubya came.

[blogslut]

13. But perhaps the

...security measures are more bloated with this President?

[salin]

15. As I read the post, I tried to remember what it was like

when I went to a Pres. Clinton event in 1996 in San Jose. We had tickets to the event - but that just meant we could get in, not that we had specific seatts, so we went early enough not to be in the back or standing. When we arrived to park (several block away) I don't recall any problems per security (blocking or slowing down traffic). The info per the event had been held back by the media until an hour or so before the event. Even those with "tickets" only got them at a late date/hour. (I had tickets through a school district with which I worked and in which the event was being held - did work for the superintendent so I was able to "score"; called to invite a lawyer friend in the city (SF) who used to work with a DC firm, and a former colleague was taking a leave of absense to work on the Clinton advance team - so she called him and got an even better 'grade' of ticket to the event).

I do not recall numerous fly-overs (before getting to the event; nor during the time that we were at the venue (an outdoor area of a school) while we were waiting for the president arrive.

There was security to get in (show the ticket - and, iirc some ID) - but it wasn't heavy. Could be a foggy memory. It has been a lot of years, and at the time I wasn't focusing in on the details per the amount of security/fly-overs, etc. - so it is *possible* that all did occur but since I didn't mentally note it at the time, I don't remember it now - eleven years later.

There was NO such security at a major event in Ann Arbor in 1992 when candidate Clinton addressed 15,000+ people after the debate with GHWB in Lansing. There were still "tickets" to get into the area that was closer to the speakers - but no tickets that I am aware of to get to the general crowd area. There was a concerted effort, however, to take away home-made signs and replace them with campaign signs (photo issues - guess it was more powerful to show the afterspeech event with folks all holding up and waving the same signs.)

As I drove home that night (across town) - I crossed the path of the Clinton-Gore buses (they did a bus across America thing) - and there were police escourts (one in front of the bus and one behind the bus - or maybe there were two buses with an escourt in front and behind... foggy memory). But the excessive security described was not present at either event (the 92 during the first campaign, nor the 96 event during the second campaign.)

This is not simply an example of "all presidents" being the same in this regard. It might very well be true that this will be the norm for all presidents after 911 - but we won't know that until we have a different president - as we only have a "sample size" of one (president after 911) to date.

[knitter4democracy]

26. I remember seeing the bus tour on I-94, too.

Just a cop car in front and behind--nothing else.

In 2004, we saw Cheney's bus, and had fun screaming obscenities at his bus as it flashed by on the other side of the freeway.

[Retrograde]

52. Chelsea's stay at Stanford was pretty low-key

I live about a mile from the Stanford campus, and it was pretty much a non-event. I'm sure Bill and Hillary visited at times, but I don't recall any inconveniences, or maybe I just didn't notice them.

[salin]

54. except for that first fall - but that didn't have anything to do with "pomp

and circumstance" - the first fall just prior to the "Big Game" the Cal student paper printed where Chelsea lived (which dorm) and was antagonistic (not towards her, per se - but per the whole Stanford Cal rivalry which was pretty ugly at the time). There was a huge bruhaha that erupted from both a security safety perspective, a taste perspective and - ironically - an uncomfortable perspective as the first lady Clinton was to give a talk at Cal within days of the publication (iirc, she handled the episode with class).

In terms of the local resources now used up whenever the pres or vicepres shows up - the Clintons at Stanford reportedly tried to keep their visits low-key and nondisruptive (for their daughter's sake and for the communities sake.)

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. Nope. I've seen public appearances by Pres. Carter in Savannah...

Pres. Clinton in Atlanta and a small town in Virginia, Pres. Bush (I) in Massachusetts and Shrub in Florida. The discrepancy between the preparations were what convinced me that Shrub has a paranoid component in his personality disorder and the grandiosity is symptomatic of his narcissism.

[liberal N proud]

31. They have always done extensive protection but it is much worse with bu$h

They practically lock down areas when this SOB shows up much more than with previous Presidents. Much Much MORE!

[leftchick]

40. not true

I lived in St. Petersburg FL when Bill Clinton made a visit back in the early nineties. I watched him go by in a limo with a few secret service vehicles. Not a helicopter in sight. There were a few dozen State Troopers stopping and redirecting traffic and ZERO military personnel. The chimperor has raised the bar on taxpayer expenses for photo-ops.

[Erika]

5. Not one Bush extended family member is in Iraq

But, they, so care.

[badgerpup]

7. Must be really something to be so hated that you need that much security...

I read that bit in the DUzys this week, about how the security arrangements neccesary in England trashed the Queen's garden, as well as doing structural damage to the palace where they were parking their asses...
this shamed me as an American, that our alleged leader is such a thoughtless, self-centered buffoon that leaves a trail of destruction wherever he goes...
and as a gardener.

Some of those rose bushes were over a century old.
Brits take their gardening very, very seriously all over the country.

[blogslut]

8. Yes. As an observer.

I blogged once about when the Republicans came to Dallas for their 1984 convention. To summarize, it is a tale of how a dog almost lost his life so a VIP (GHWB?) could have lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

http://blogslut.com/dallas.html

[SoCalDem]

9. I remember reading about some town that actually asked the WH for reimbursement

for the additional costs in overtime, etc. the WH refused of course.:grr:
As president, he can go where he wants and I wouldn;t put it past the slimy bastard to deliberately run up costs for "blue" towns when he plans his private fund raising soirees. He probably has a laugh about how he's costing towns who would never vote for him, money while he raises private money

[AshevilleGuy]

10. They don't come here to Asheville very often.

Gee, I wonder why??? :evilgrin:

[Clark2008]

44. Last time Bush tried to come to Knoxville, TN, storm clouds

rose from no where - literally - and a dense rain with thunder shower boomed thick overhead. It rained for about an hour and the decision was made by Air Force One that it was too dangerous to land.

Just as they flew on, the clouds parted to a bright sunny day. It was beautiful the rest of the day.

That should tell us...

... something.

:evilgrin:

[LibDemAlways]

11. Back in 92 about a week after Clinton was elected

but before he was sworn in, he was riding in a limo between LA and Santa Barbara. His motorcade passed through my area. The secret service closed down all of the freeway on and off ramps at least 15 minutes before he passed through. I happened to be stopped at the top of an onramp and watched a large contingent of police on motorcycles, followed by police cars, followed by several limos, then more police cars. The freeway was shut down in the opposite direction as well. Traffic was not allowed back on the road for several more minutes after the motorcade passed.

If a President-elect can shut down a Los Angeles Freeway, I can only imagine the royal treatment afforded any current WH resident - even an ass like the chimp.

[Generic Brad]

14. I experienced Bush 41 first hand and liked it

I was working at LAX and left work just ahead of George Bush Sr who got on the same road as I after Air Force 2 had landed on the military airfield across the street from where I worked. They were going the same direction I was going and I accidentally became the lead car on the motorcade all the way from LAX to Beverly Hills. The LAPD kept waving me to go forward at every exit. I was too scared to pull over and get out of the way so I just kept going ahead at 70 mph.

The only positive thing the Bush's have ever done for me was getting me home early one day in the late 1980's.

[MADem]

19. That is HYSTERICAL!!! It's like a modern day LIFE OF BRIAN moment! nt

[boston bean]

23. Too funny! lol

:rofl: :rofl:

[Jeanette in FL]

25. That is too funny

I can't stop laughing. Too funny.

[onecent]

33. You made my day with this story. I detest this man....he is a

pompous arrogant miserable piece of shit.

[cmd]

46. Teary eyed from laughing

Good for you!

[barb162]

16. I saw this last summer. The helicopters, which were HUGE....

flew over the area as he was making a short speech. There is an enormous amount of security whereever he goes. But then again I am not against this having lived through too many presidential assassinations or attempts. I did think of all the money and fuel being used just to listen to him do his crap BS.

[DaveJ]

17. K&R

That is one of the best posts I've seen in a long time. Not only could a high school be built, but a life could be saved (paying medical costs) with the cost of any one of these shows.

[MADem]

18. Every time he moves, it's 88 grand just for starters

He ruined a visit to Maine I made once.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. These are the trappings of an enperor

pure and simple.

US Presidents (before empire) did not travel with this much fanfare....

And until the empire is put to bed, they will continue to travel with this fanfare

[JohnyCanuck]

24. Approximately 30 minutes before the King was due to arrive...........

When he arrived did you notice, was he wearing any clothes?

[GreenZoneLT]

27. That's the security assholes, not Bush

They did that for Clinton, too. I've seen Clinton three times, and Bush 41 as an ex-pres, and if I never seen another president again, I'll be thrilled. All that oppressive bodyguard shit sucks.

Jimmy Carter's pretty cool, though. I saw him and Rosalyn walk through Manuel's, a Democratic bar near the Carter Center, in '96 and their security entourage consisted of one retired state trooper.

[Pacifist Patriot]

30. Our experiences are very different.

I posted above in the thread, but I noticed a huge discrepancy between the security details and all of the appearances I noted were during their respective administrations. I think Bush 41's security is greater now than it was when he was pres.

[jarnocan]

29. In WESTFIELD, NJ and GReensboro,NC Lots of SWAT and lots of $$$ wasted!

SWAT, secret service State and local cops subdue terror suspect holding sick peace banner
this girl actually was right by motorcade when it came by in Greenboro, because she came to protest late:)

The money they spent on his coming there could have rebuilt the school most likely.

[Sedona]

34. I met Clinton AND Gore at the Grand Canyon in 1996

in a crowd of about 500-1000 people and there were no such security measures. Not even one helicopter! Just a little look over of my purse and the stroller I had my 9 month old daughter in.
Bill asked her name, and took her hand and told her how beautiful she was.
Then he shook my hand and looked me in the eye when we spoke.
I asked him to please do something about the genocide in Bosnia and he was gone.
Then I spoke with Gore, just a quick "how'do ya do" and a hand shake, still got the great eye contact. Its funny, Robert Redford was there too and it was Clinton who made me weak in the knees. :blush:

[lectrobyte]

32. He was here in Raleigh a few years ago holding a fundraiser. Quite the production

as you describe, iirc for a 3 hour visit.

[Pierzin]

35. Nice prose for style you have there

thanks for the story.

[Mend]

36. we had the black helicopter swarm for cheney's visit....

it is really weird to live this long in America and one day look up in the sky and see all that.

[unblock]

37. his motorcade was insane back when he was just GOVEROR of texas!

all i could think was, this is a man who is PLANNING to piss people off enough to become an assassin's target.

[dkofos]

39. My guess is that it costs the taxpayers over a million dollars

every time *ush leaves the WH.

Not that I think he is worth it.

Just imagine what it will cost to protect him for the rest of his miserable life.

[populistdriven]

50. hopefully no more than 10 bucks

;)

[UTUSN]

42. K&R # 10 for excellent title and post n/t

[cmd]

45. Two times

My first close encounter was in Richfield, Ohio on Labor Day '03. The SUV motorcade roared through the town square to unexpected jeers of about 450 protestors. The streets were patrolled by several dozen town cops, a few secret service men and at least one huge police dog. I didn't think to look for snipers on the rooftops.

The second encounter was in my hometown sometime in July of '04. This time it was a bus procession during the lead up to the election. There were about 50 of us protestors amid hundreds of awe struck gawkers. The bus stopped down the street. The Goofus dismounted and bought a little bag of candy at a local shop. The secret service had cased the place the week before and were expecting the stop.

Both visits were wastes of money. However, I did have the opportunity to show Goofus that I existed and that I wasn't happy.

[BushOut06]

47. I saw Emperor Cheney's motorcade once

A couple of years ago, I had to make a delivery to a job site in the Orlando area. I was driving along, and all of a sudden these cops rolled in and shut down the intersection I was sitting at. A few minutes later, this long motorcade rolls through. Later, I learned that it was Emperor Cheney himself. I'd rather not say what thoughts filled my mind.

[jarnocan]

51. Oh I saw him early on Jan. 29th coming to the Whitehouse I forgot

I still was holding my signs from the march, on my way to lobby.

[mb7588a]

49. Don't move to D.C.

At least here it's done almost entirely by helicopter. I live near the Capitol now, so it's not as big of a problem as it used to be when I lived a mile north of the White House. It seemed like every day there would be a copter. BTW, flying in groups of 3 was standard for Clinton as well.

There are the occasional DC speeches and fundraisers that he can't copter to, but everyone is used to the motorcades. The worst ones are Cheney, his motorcades can shut down a pretty big chunk of NW DC when they roll around.

I was in a Senate office building last week and was escorted (not physically, but asked to get out) off an elevator by a Capitol policeman. Some foreign head of state got into that elevator. Not sure who she was. My point is that this is a fact of life in DC, gotta get used to it.

[argyl]

53. I saw Nixon in 1970 in Dallas at Market Hall. He was campaigning

for midterm candidates.VietNam and the Cambodian bombings had the country's mood in a fever pitch. I was a longhaired kid wearing raggedy bellbottoms and I walked right on in,no security check or anything. Inside the place there were a lot of longhaired kids who started yelling "F**k you" and like sentiments as soon as he hit the stage. Lots of demostrators outside as well.

I was only maybe fifty feet from him and I could easily see the shock registering on his face,but he went into his bit anyway.Could see the little beads of sweat on his uper lip and that perennial five o clock shadow of his.

He was an SOB but he had a damn sight more guts than Smirk does.