The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I kinda had a hunch earlier today that he wouldn't be in a motorcade. 1) The extent of road closures around the fairgrounds was one block in either direction, for only an hour before AF1 touched down. 2) I drove around the entire area at lunch. Other than 2 large sheriff's command buses in the fair parkinglot, there was absolutely no ground activity. Not a single cop car on the street. Not what I'd expect for prepping a major street for a motorcade.

I was in a meeting when the choppers came by. But on the off chance I was wrong, and the choppers were the diversion, I headed to the nearest overpass anyway. Hell, it was pretty unlikely that even if they were driving that they'd get off at the most obvious exit, but at least it was high ground, so I'd see it coming. But, as is now obvious, nowhere to be seen.

Kinda exciting anyway.

[Alex]

I don't know how much it has changed but I've seen two presidential motorcades (Clinton around 1994 and Reagain around 1985) and both times it was suprising how little official presence there was on the main roads until right before, during, and after he drove by.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

I don't know how much it has changed but I've seen two presidential motorcades (Clinton around 1994 and Reagain around 1985) and both times it was suprising how little official presence there was on the main roads until right before, during, and after he drove by.

Even at the destination point?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Even at the destination point?

Clinton wasn't at the destination point when I saw him but Reagan was.

No obvious security or interference more than a block away and we were all allowed to stand across the street.

[Not Afraid]

I was near the LB Airport right before 3, so I drove there, parked, and joined about 40 others on an embankment on Spring street, right at the tunnel where the runway crosses the street. I was not far from and on equal level with the runway.

Air Force One arrice just after 3 pm. I shot some really horrible video which I will upload (somewhere?) tonight. The plane was pretty darned closed to me.

Afterwards, I stayed put thinking that I might see the motorcade. I was chatting with some folks who, it turns out, have 2 dogs and live in my area and need a pet sitter (always marketing). As we were hanging out, 5 giant marine helicopters rose from the airport tarmac and took off in single file going South. The middle copter was quite a bit larger than the others, so I assumed Obama was in that one. (I took bad video of this as well.)

I carried on about my business and was at a client's house getting updated cayote information when three of the helecopters few back over Long Beach heading North. This was about 5:00 (or there abouts). (No video, but pictures were taken.) When i got home, I heard another rumbling and saw the 3 copters flying overhead going South, presumably back to the Long Beach Airport. (This was before 6:30 and I didn't have my camera).

As far as I know, Air Force One is still at the LB Airport. I wonder when he is leaving and if it will be from there? I can catch the action on the departure.

[Tom]

George Bush said that he plans to write a book about the toughest decisions he had to make while in office.

"I'm going to put people in my place, so when the history of this administration is written at least there's an authoritarian voice saying exactly what happened," Bush said.

I'm not making this up.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hey, I give him credit. "Authoritarian" is probably the more accurate word.

[Strangler Lewis]

And that voice would be Cheney's.

[bewitched]

[off topic] SL, your avatar is creepin' me out![/off topic]

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by bewitched

[off topic] SL, your avatar is creepin' me out![/off topic]

Says the girl with the avatar whose eyeballs float up slightly in the socket, a classic sign of mental illness.

My avatar was also funnier.