The President in the house!

[JeffL]

So - for about a week, my little microelectronics company here in the Chicago suburbs has been a crazy place. Out of the blue, in an executive staff meeting this week, our CEO said "The president of the United States will be visiting here Friday." We thought he was pulling our leg - but it's true.

So after a week of secret service people all over the building, helicopters landing and taking off in the field by the pond outside my window, interviews with White House staff members and secret service people, papers being taped over certain windows that apparently have better views from outside the building than the ss wants, he shows up today. The security measures and guidelines are pretty amazing, a couple of meeting rooms are filled with satellite phones, etc. I did have to tell a couple of my people that, no, it probably would not be a good idea to stand on the 3rd floor walkway that looks down on where he'll be speaking and put a red dot on his back with a laser pointer. (Hmm - although I DO have one guy for whom that might solve some of the problems I have with him... ;) )

Anyway, don't know if the footage of his speech on the science initiative that he'll be giving will show up on CNN, etc. but if so, I'll be the guy in the background with the beard and blue shirt and Van Gogh Starry Night tie.

[Midnight Son]

Your jobs are going to India. Just wanted to let you know.

[Balasarius]

Al Gore came to my workplace several years back when he was VP. On the one hand, it's pretty awe-inspiring to see the SS work and prep the site for the visit. On the other hand, you can't help but think - God DAMN this is a huge waste of tax-payer's money!

[JeffL]

Your jobs are going to India. Just wanted to let you know.

Heh, not our jobs. This little company that I joined a couple of years ago has grown from about 50 people to about 650 in a few years. I did just hire 3 people in Taiwan and we're building some capability to be closer to our customers there, as well as in Japan and Singapore. The key is that we developed technology that's enabling to the guys who make computer chips and what we sell is technology. (Of course, competition is cranking up, that's how markets work.) And we try to use external sources for non-core needs, rather than bloat up.

[JeffL]

Al Gore came to my workplace several years back when he was VP. On the one hand, it's pretty awe-inspiring to see the SS work and prep the site for the visit. On the other hand, you can't help but think - God DAMN this is a huge waste of tax-payer's money!

We all had the same thought. For a very short visit, we've had days of SS all over us, military helicopters flying in and out, staff people all over the place, etc. And this is just one of 3 or 4 visits he's making today. I don't see how they do it.

[Midnight Son]

Heh, not our jobs. This little company that I joined a couple of years ago has grown from about 50 people to about 650 in a few years. I did just hire 3 people in Taiwan and we're building some capability to be closer to our customers there, as well as in Japan and Singapore. The key is that we developed technology that's enabling to the guys who make computer chips and what we sell is technology. (Of course, competition is cranking up, that's how markets work.) And we try to use external sources for non-core needs, rather than bloat up.

I hope you're right. We need to keep something in the US.

[jeffd]

Bush came to Redmond a few years ago while my folks were in town. He was staying in the hotel across the street from them (the new Marriot that got put up in Redmond Town Center, for those of you in the area). Security was mind bogglingly insane. They had cops in from all over the county - literally a few hundred off duty cops. What's more apparently the city had to absorb that cost. :\

[SlyFrog]

Bush came to Redmond a few years ago while my folks were in town. He was staying in the hotel across the street from them (the new Marriot that got put up in Redmond Town Center, for those of you in the area). Security was mind bogglingly insane. They had cops in from all over the county - literally a few hundred off duty cops. What's more apparently the city had to absorb that cost. :\

It's the same deal for presidential campaign visits for both parties (to my understanding). I read an article with regard to the last election that said several cities actually asked that the candidates not visit, because it is so incredibly costly.

I don't know how to resolve that issue. On the one hand, I understand that candidates need protection. On the other hand, it somehow chafes me that I'm basically paying someone to try to get my vote.

[DennyA]

What's really fun is when these appearances are tied around campaign fundraisers. So he flies off to stump for some candidate, they raise $250,000 at a black-tie dinner, and he stops at a military base along the way to give a short speech to justify the trip. Total taxpayer cost: way more than the money raised for the candidate.

(As much as I despise Bush, this is something all the presidents have done, so it's a slam on policy, not on the shrub.)

[Midnight Son]

Bush came to Redmond a few years ago while my folks were in town. He was staying in the hotel across the street from them (the new Marriot that got put up in Redmond Town Center, for those of you in the area). Security was mind bogglingly insane. They had cops in from all over the county - literally a few hundred off duty cops. What's more apparently the city had to absorb that cost. :\

He's just So Loved by everyone!

[jeffd]

Yeah. It was pretty zany - they cleared out the hotel he was staying in - the whole thing, not just a few floors - and transferred everyone to the one across the street (they were both Marriots, the newer one was nicer).

The security was intimidating too - guys with submachine guns at the entrance to the parking lot (we could get in because my folks were staying there); snipers on rooftops, even helicopters flying overhead constantly.

[John Many Jars]

Those choppers are flying around in front of my building too, buzzing the trees and buildings! Apparently he's visiting the Museum of Science and Industry today.

[Flowers]

How many rooftop snipers would Jesus have?

[Flowers]

Those choppers are flying around in front of my building too, buzzing the trees and buildings! Apparently he's visiting the Museum of Science and Industry today.
Ahaha. That's like if I went to a church.

[JeffL]

We had to completely evacuate our building this morning and then we re-enter through a single door, with metal detectors, SS, etc. People are only allowed to be in certain specified places during the visit. Every file drawer, etc. has to be unlocked so that they search every inch of the place before he gets here.

I wonder how much they looked at all our backgrounds? I wonder if they know about the interview I had with the FBI about Hungarian espionage by someone I worked with in grad school?

Work is just completely shut down for the day, from a practical point of view, although of course we have selected people working in the clean room and labs, etc.

[JeffL]

Those choppers are flying around in front of my building too, buzzing the trees and buildings! Apparently he's visiting the Museum of Science and Industry today.


Cool - where do you work? He just gave a press conference at the Museum, at 10 this morning.

[Flowers]

Those choppers are flying around in front of my building too, buzzing the trees and buildings! Apparently he's visiting the Museum of Science and Industry today.
Ahaha. That's like if I went to a church.

More on the security; in my experience at bars, if you need a group of more than two friends to prevent someone trying to beat your ass, you talk too much shit. If you need helichopters and ninjas, I don't know what you said but you better apologize to somebody.

[Flowers]

We had to completely evacuate our building this morning and then we re-enter through a single door, with metal detectors, SS, etc. People are only allowed to be in certain specified places during the visit. Every file drawer, etc. has to be unlocked so that they search every inch of the place before he gets here.

I wonder how much they looked at all our backgrounds? I wonder if they know about the interview I had with the FBI about Hungarian espionage by someone I worked with in grad school?

Work is just completely shut down for the day, from a practical point of view, although of course we have selected people working in the clean room and labs, etc.

And sadly, despite all the security measures taken, the man probably hasn't eaten a bite of food without an enterprising waiter or chef's semen in six years.

[Jason McCullough]

Apparently until the 1960s you could waltz throughout the entire Pentagon with no escort or anything, and pop in to see the secretary of defense.

Is this level of security actually necessary?

[JeffL]

Apparently until the 1960s you could waltz throughout the entire Pentagon with no escort or anything, and pop in to see the secretary of defense.

Is this level of security actually necessary?

Where did you hear that? I know that in the late 50s/early 60s the Pentagon was like any miltary installation, but more so.

Is this neccessary? Yeah, it probably is. We've had several presidents shot at and shot in my lifetime, and those were before we had terrorists dedicated to killing us.

[John Many Jars]

Cool - where do you work? He just gave a press conference at the Museum, at 10 this morning.

Lagoon

[Phil_Stein]

When I went to the University of Virgina ('87-'91), it was a popular presidential destination - only about 120 miles from D.C. (i.e. a short helicopter flight) with a scenic backdrop for high-fallutin' speeches. I think Reagan came once as prez, once as ex, and Bush Sr. once as prez.

The security for these visits was substantial. They spoke from the steps of the Rotunda, looking out over the 'Lawn' (i.e. a grassy area ~300 feet wide and ~1500 feet deep). There were of course metal detectors at every entrance to this area and massive police and SS presence. Snipers were clearly visible on the rooftops bordering the Lawn area.

[Jason McCullough]

Jeff, I may have the dates wrong (early 1950s? Dunno), but I think it was in one of James Carroll's books.

[Flowers]

Is this neccessary? Yeah, it probably is. We've had several presidents shot at and shot in my lifetime, and those were before we had terrorists dedicated to killing us.

What's this "we," shit? And why the fuck would Al Qaeda kill the President? I would venture a guess to say that, in recruiting terms, no one person, bin Laden included, has brought as many people into the fold of Al Qaeda as George W. Bush. Honestly, George W. Bush is the greatest thing to happen to terrorists since the binary nerve agent. He's like their fucking posterboy! A reverse Uncle Sam, if you will. I wouldn't be suprised if Osama bin Laden had agents following George Bush every single day across the country, just to make sure nothing happens to him. I mean, if I had some accident prone cunt fumbling around pissing people off so bad that they came from all over to hand me money and guns, at even half the rate that George Bush manages, I'd make damn sure to keep his microphone batteries fresh and mints on all his pillows.

[Uncle Larry]

What's this "we," shit? And why the fuck would Al Qaeda kill the President? I would venture a guess to say that, in recruiting terms, no one person, bin Laden included, has brought as many people into the fold of Al Qaeda as George W. Bush. Honestly, George W. Bush is the greatest thing to happen to terrorists since the binary nerve agent. He's like their fucking posterboy! A reverse Uncle Sam, if you will. I wouldn't be suprised if Osama bin Laden had agents following George Bush every single day across the country, just to make sure nothing happens to him. I mean, if I had some accident prone cunt fumbling around pissing people off so bad that they came from all over to hand me money and guns, at even half the rate that George Bush manages, I'd make damn sure to keep his microphone batteries fresh and mints on all his pillows.

Bush is Al-Qaeda's poster boy for recruitment for an extra-agency security detachment for Bush? You just kicked my logic in the logic nuts.

[SlyFrog]

I think the point is that, much like Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission, where the Dirty Dozen have a chance to kill Hitler but Lee Marvin prevents it, because he knows that Hitler alive is the greatest thing the Allies have going (because Hitler is ineptly running the war), Osama Bin Laden has prevented Al Qaeda from killing Bush, because even Bush is a truly evil man, his inept handling of the War on Terror is a major boon to Al-Qaeda's efforts.

So, under Flower's analogy, Osama Bin Laden = Lee Marvin, George Bush = Adolph Hitler, and Zarqawi = Telly Salvalas.

[Moore]

Congrats on being that close to him without throwing up constantly until you died from dehydration.

[Uncle Larry]

I think the point is that[..]

OHHHHHHHHHH ok. I thought the point was that Flowers doesn't particularly like Bush. Nice stealth-Godwin, BTW.

[SlyFrog]

OHHHHHHHHHH ok. I thought the point was that Flowers doesn't particularly like Bush. Nice stealth-Godwin, BTW.

I do what I can.

[Linoleum]

You want to be a big powerful country that throws its influence around and an ever increasing amount of federal government power? That's the security it takes. You'll never be able to have a picnic on the White House lawn again, but there are people still alive today who could have, once upon a time.

The other problem, of course, is the march of technology. For all the security and lockdown attempts, there are a bunch of things that would keep me up at night as a security head because I'm just not sure what an effective counter would be...

[JeffL]

I think the issue is that it is just really, really hard to keep someone from getting to the president, no matter what you do. Regardless of who the president is. Hell, Lee Harvey Oswald was a twit and he got several shots off and (some would debate) killed JFK. Today, we'd have that building swept and no window with a site on the president would be unwatched (I sure saw that today.) Reagan was hit and could easily have been killed by a nut with a pistol. Gerald Ford could easily have been take out by Squeeky. RFK was killed by a single guy with a pistol. You learn with each attempt, and you know the SS has studied every attempt (including I'm sure we will never know about.) Trying to kill the president is nothing new, and has been remarkably easy to at least attempt.

[Kyle Wilson]

How many rooftop snipers would Jesus have?

If Jesus had rooftop snipers, he'd be alive today.

[Hanzii]

Fun part about being part of the Coalition of Bush Suckups is that the guy visits.
Now when Clinton came he took a leisurely stroll down Copenhagens busiest pedestrian street and to the Secret Services chagrin popped in for a coffee at a local Starbucks-alike. When Bush came about a year ago, they closed down one of the capitols most important freeways resulting in thousands of locals being late to work and they pulled almost every off duty police officer from the rest of the country to do protection duty - something we're still paying for. They're not getting overtime but additional time off, so regular crime fighting just have to wait...

Of course times have changed. I used to run into our former PM going to work - we were both walking alone. The current don't go anywhere without a security detail - as the first in history. Some say it's because with troops in Iraq he has too, he's a target. Other say that just like the short but expensive Bush visit he's playing up his own importance as a ploy used in domestic politics.
But it's all good - yesterday while cutting the hedges around his summer residence he was attacked by bees. Without the security detail giving first aid and the ambulance on call, he would have been dead... or severly swollen in the face.

[Andrew Mayer]

If Jesus had rooftop snipers, he'd be alive today.

But the Man with No Name can't shoot you off the cross like he can with a noose.

[Flowers]

You are thinking that the our High Plains Drifter wouldn't bother to set up at a right angle from the front of our Lord and Savior's burden. He could shoot out the nails on one hand and the feet if he were on an even plane. But remember, Jesus was crucified on a hill, so he could easily adjust several feet and hit the nails from the side and under.

I don't think shooting from the back would be feasible, as it seems that the nails were not hammered all the way through to the backside of the cross.