For Obama to drive from D.C. to Williamsburg, they would have had to close the interstate.

[arcadian]

They were going to maybe shut down the interstate on the short segment from Newport News to Kingsmill. And to those who think that he should have just taken Marine One, he did, actually they brought several helicopters. Air Force One is more than just transpoortation, it's a command post. Logistically, it was the only way to go.



http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_obama_0205feb05,0,55125.story

NEWPORT NEWS - You may feel the impact of President Barack Obama's visit today after all — while traveling home from work.

The president, who will speak at the House Democratic Caucus' issues conference at the Kingsmill Resort near Williamsburg, could travel to the retreat by motorcade on Interstate 64, according to state police.

Obama is scheduled to arrive at Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport around 5:30 p.m.

If there is a motorcade, Interstate 64 westbound will be shut down for a period of about 15 minutes at some point between 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. from the Jefferson Avenue exit to the Williamsburg exit at Rt. 199, according to state police Capt. Danny Plott.

~more @ link~

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. on the pre-inauguration train ride through Maryland it costs millions

so who is complaining?

[Thothmes]

2. Was it paid for by congressionally appropriated funds?

[treestar]

3. did the right wing media get this excited when Chimpy flew

to Texas repeatedly for his vacations?

[arcadian]

11. Get this. Bush's last flight on Air Force 1

They landed at Norfolk Naval Air Station and THEN boarded Marine 1 to fly to the deck of the USS GHW Bush, just so they could land on it and have a grand entrance. The distance from where they landed to the carrier? Probably about a quarter mile.

[Squatch]

4. When did the POTUS become so afraid of the people he serves?

I think it should be a requirement that the POTUS utilizes the same infrastructre that the people he serves uses. I understand: dangerous people and all that, but the dude drives around in a tank. How cool would it be to have the President's convoy drive down I-64 (without closing down the whole stretch beforehand) and get stuck in beach traffic for 3 hours or have to pull over to help some stranded motorist.

[Zech Marquis The 2nd]

5. do you really want the President riding down i95 AND I64???

I don't think the people who cried,"President Obama should have driven down/flown in his helicopter" understand..I-95 from DC to the Hampton Roads area becomes a giant parking lot, even on weekend! and I-64 leading to Newport News is just as bad. It'd be "better" to have our President stuck in a traffic jam for hours (and not to mention being a potentially easier target for some idiot), than for him to simply fly down in Air Force 1--which is THE most secure mode of transportation for him, go check out the specials on History Channel and NGC--and cause the least amount of disturbance???


And god help us f something had happened, these same people would be saying,"oh why didn't he take AF1????" :eyes:

[malletgirl02]

7. I think most of the people

complaining don't live in that area, so they don't care how the insane traffic would effect the people living there.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Has Anyone Ever Seen A Presidential Motorcade?

I sure have. When Bill Clinton would come into town, they would shut down the very busy Kennedy Expressway...almost the whole thing, stacking up traffic for hours on end. Then you had all the Service perched atop every overpass and rooftop...the expense in just police overtime probably paid for the cost of flying AF1.

One day I was "fortunate" to see the motorcade go past...at least 50 huge SUVs and limos surrounded by a squadron of cop cars...not to mention the press bus. At the time it made me wonder why Clinton would want to go anywhere...all that fuss. Forutnately we didn't have that problem during the past 8 years....boooshie knew well enough not to visit Chicago too often.

[MiniMe]

9. I see them all the time, I work in DC

When he was at the Washington Post when he was PE, They shut down the entire block to traffic while he was there. I used to see * heading out to Andrews, They would shut down New York Ave with a rolling road block when he went by. Those who think it would be acceptable to shut down I95 and I64 are out of their minds, that would be a great way to lose Virginia forever. Not to mention that he has to take the press gaggle with him.

[Missy Vixen]

8. The last time Bush came to Seattle

The PTB shut down 405, one of the major freeways in the Seattle area, for an hour. In rush-hour traffic. I can't even imagine how many hundreds of thousands were inconvenienced as a result.

I wrote to the paper and suggested legislation that George W. Bush not be allowed in the Seattle area during rush hour on any day.

[MountainLaurel]

10. Closing I-95?

Yeah, that's a good idea. :wtf: