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1. #1
   On February 4th, 2008 at 8:53 pm, ajmontana said:

   Jimmy Kimmel provided more security for Regis Philbin’s walk of fame star than the fools gaurding our National Monuments. What the heck is going on with enforcement of anything in this nation? Good Grief.

2. #2
   On February 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, zorro said:

   What the heck is wrong with DC? Are they ALL slackers like our legislators??? Fire them all, start from scratch.

3. #3
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:00 pm, twiggman said:

   wheres McCaint when you need him.

4. #4
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:03 pm, UberInfidel67 said:

   Now now people, this isn’t important! Remember, having a national identity and taking pride in our US monuments is BOUND to be oppressing someone somewhere. We should just demolish them all and pretend our great nation never existed. Remember, there is no US of A….just a “bloc”

   /sarc

5. #5
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:04 pm, Wade said:

   On February 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, zorro said:
   What the heck is wrong with DC? Are they ALL slackers like our legislators??? Fire them all, start from scratch.

   Yep, you want to kill a snake start at the head. All congress needs to be replaced, no exceptions, but that will never happen. Atlas Shrugged applies.

6. #6
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm, WarTip said:

   Naw, they were doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. There is no other possible exception. After all, giving someone a government job at whatever level makes them instant elitists more aware of our personal needs than we are.

   Instant experts inaction!

7. #7
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, John Ansell said:

   Hey, at least the lettuce is safe and not rotting in the fields.

8. #8
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:15 pm, mattymatt10 said:

   On February 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm, zorro said:
   What the heck is wrong with DC? Are they ALL slackers like our legislators??? Fire them all, start from scratch.

   The short answer is, yes, they are slackers. I live here in the DC area, and the poor performance of security guards is everywhere they are employed. From the National Gallery, to the National Archives, to the monuments, to the Library of Congress, and everywhere else, the vast majority of them stand around doing nothing, or talking on their cell phones. And if you have the audacity to interrupt their conversations to ask them perform their actual duties, the glare you receive will let you know that they don’t appreciate you asking them to earn their paycheck.

   But that’s how it is anywhere you go out here. Nobody is really interested in providing any sort of customer service. Eveyone acts as though their doing you a favor by doing their job.

   But it’s still the greatest place in the world in my view. A whole city which is in many respects a monument to human liberty (as long as you ignore what goes on in the Capitol). It’s a beautiful city.

9. #9
   On February 4th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, gayle said:

   Bet that invisible fence will be the newest national monument.

   It won’t be guarded.

10. #10
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, John Ansell said:

    LOL Gayle #9. Wait, there is so much truth in that post, starting to get water in the eyes like Hillary, fighting off the tears.

11. #11
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm, JHSII said:

    Did anyone else notice this:

    When officers did arrive in the chamber, they appeared to turn their backs on the protestors and put greater effort into forcing tourists out of the statue chamber.

    I guess when the terrorists attack again the officers will try to make their jobs easier by forcing away anyone who might try to stop them.

    How do you get the rolling eyes smiley on here?

12. #12
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, Leatherneck said:

    In DC they do not want a job, they want a position.

13. #13
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, John Ansell said:

    : then “roll” then : only now spaces or quotation marks.

14. #14
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, John Ansell said:

    no spaces.

15. #15
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pm, DesertLover said:

    JHSII

    place your mouse pointer over the smiley and it will show you what to type to get it … … … … … etc …

16. #16
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:50 pm, DesertLover said:

    here’s a couple more … … …

17. #17
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:51 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

    Agh. Stop that, please.

18. #18
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm, zorro said:

    Wade, sadly, you are correct. Besides conservative policies, my only other position is term limits.

19. #19
    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm, Blind_Mule said:

    mattymatt10
    But that’s how it is anywhere you go out here. Nobody is really interested in providing any sort of customer service. Eveyone acts as though their doing you a favor by doing their job.

    Wow, DC sounds alot like going to Home Depot, think they would help me load some granite up in my truck to make a new patio, oh I forgot it’s like Home Depot.

    Here is my solution YOUR ALL FIRED! freeloaders.

20. #20
    On February 4th, 2008 at 10:00 pm, coffee said:

    It is utter folly to think that these folks could stop anything anyway …whether paying attention or not.

21. #21
    On February 4th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, JHSII said:

    I imagine if they did try to stop something they would be criticized and punished for it.

    Far easier to let something happen and then blame Bush!

22. #22
    On February 4th, 2008 at 10:17 pm, Andy said:

    Here’s another take on the money quote:
    

    When officers did arrive in the chamber, they appeared to turn their backs on the protestors and put greater effort into forcing tourists out of the statue chamber.

    The video also indicated that contract security personnel, present in the monument’s chamber at the time of the incident, did not intervene and did not provide a visual deterrence. The security guards appeared confused and ill equipped to address the problem.

    Must be Federal SOP. Gotta stay on top of public relations, never mind that PR was already blown.

    Slightly O/T but related to bureaucratic arrogance at Homeland Insecurity, like post-Katrina when volunteers were pushed aside to make way for the “pros”.

    Disturbingly enough, I recently read a govt article outlining how 1st responders would have state-of-art Smart IDs to allow them into a DHS designated disaster area, and that any and all volunteers, like Red Cross etc would be barred from “getting in the way”. Even a bonafide rescuer would be barred access w/o that precious ID. Which begs the question, what if the network goes down leaving FEMA unable to verify IDs?

    Another example of agencies ensuring their raison d’etre by getting rid of non-profit, and I might add, superior organizations.

23. #23
    On February 4th, 2008 at 10:39 pm, md1964 said:

    What do we expect, with yet another Incompetent Bush Cronie and Cartoon Voice over man as Homeland Security Director. The same one blocking the border fence from being built, due to an Amendment slipped into the Fence bill giving the Homeland Security Director discression on when to enact/disperse funds….(Or if all).

24. #24
    On February 4th, 2008 at 11:22 pm, winemkr said:

    Who’s guarding our national landmarks?

    What the heck is wrong with you?

    Do you want a police state?

    We the people guard our national landmarks. We do it by being free and moving throughout our nation as free human beings.

    You may be to young and dumb to understand this but the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is NOT a Police state.

    We don’t need agents all over our country.

    And I for one would rather see some idiots have accesses to our monuments to hang a goofy message around the neck of Lincoln, than see them restricted from expressing themselves.

    The depth of my allegiance to my great country and it’s principles overrides my disgust for those who take advantage of the freedom of expression that certain elements of society take advantage of.

    I do not want to live in a police state.

    In particular, I do not want to go to my nation’s capital and look at SWAT teams roaming about while I ponder the the true depth of our freedoms.

    I know better. I’m older than you Michelle.

25. #25
    On February 4th, 2008 at 11:58 pm, Papa Louie said:

    winemkr said:
    …
    I do not want to live in a police state.

    In particular, I do not want to go to my nation’s capital and look at SWAT teams roaming about while I ponder the the true depth of our freedoms.

    I know better. I’m older than you Michelle.

    Hillary and John McCain are older too; so what? But at least they know how to read. Security guards are already assigned to guard the monuments from terrorists but they’re not doing their job. That is the problem Michelle is pointing out. We don’t need more security guards to read the paper or sleep on the job. We need the existing ones to do their job or stop drawing a pay check from the tax payer.

26. #26
    On February 5th, 2008 at 12:44 am, blues said:

    zorro_While I agree with your first statement”fire them all”,I don’t agree with term limits anymore.Term limits take power away from the electorate,by mandating how long a person can stay in office.I say fire them all,then fire the next batch after one term.I imagine everyone on this thread has at sometime felt anxious about keeping their job;let’s give the politicians a taste of that anxiety,then ,maybe they will begin to do their job.Two cycles,no incumbents.

27. #27
    On February 5th, 2008 at 2:28 am, in_awe said:

    The security guards appeared confused and ill equipped to address the problem. Security guards were pictured standing among onlookers, watching the incident unfold.

    Tell me, do you really think it is any different with the TSA at our airports? You want to see real security go to Frankfurt or London or Tel Aviv. Here, the guards would come running out of the lunch room after the shooting stops and start yelling at passengers.

    I feel so much safer now that we have a Department of Homeland Security.

28. #28
    On February 5th, 2008 at 6:43 am, MarcTheInfidel said:

    I was just in DC with the family over the MLK Weekend. We also visited the Lincoln Memorial, I just reviewed our photos, not a rent-a-cop in sight.

    The Vietnam Wall, same thing. The only person there was the nice park assistant who help to do name rubbings.

    What good is it of the DC area funnels a good portioin of the Homeland Security budget to protect such places and the jamokes that are supposed to be doing it prefer to sit in their vehicles where it is warm?

    Not to terrorists - hit when it’s cold!

    As an aside, was also in Philadelphia recently as well, there at Independence Hall there were no less than 6 guards standing posts outside and it was freezing cold that day! Inside, more of the same. At the Liberty Bell, 4 guards posted around just the bell and multiple guards on foot roaming the facility.

    Just my take, but in Philadelphia it seemed more of a City pride issue than, just a job.

    Hats off to those in the City of Brotherly Love!

29. #29
    On February 5th, 2008 at 7:07 am, SpeakEasy said:

    Yeah, winemkr, one naturally leads to the other; Basic security = SWAT teams.

    Idiot.

    I think a simple “excuse me gentlemen, you can not climb up on or post banners on President Lincoln” would do the job.

    Now wipe the froth from your gums and look for something else to rant about.

30. #30
    On February 5th, 2008 at 7:38 am, Barry F. said:

    Well, heck. At least they are a consistent lot in DC. The government employees are just as inept, in many cases, as the politicians. *sigh*

31. #31
    On February 5th, 2008 at 7:41 am, Barry F. said:

    On February 4th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, gayle said:

    Bet that invisible fence will be the newest national monument.

    It won’t be guarded.

    Gayle, I laughed so hard I almost cried at this, until the stark truth in your statement hit home.

32. #32
    On February 5th, 2008 at 7:46 am, Chief RZ said:

    “Just another union job”

33. #33
    On February 5th, 2008 at 8:08 am, TMoney said:

    Okay Marines!
    First General order:
    To take charge of my post and any government property within sight or hearing.
    Am I right - after 35 years away from boot camp? (and no notes)

    Obviously these federals did not get professionalized well enough.

    And folks who want this “free expression” are fine, but that does not include defamation of property that taxes have bought. If you want to express yourself by whizzing on your car, then do it. But don’t make your statements by applying grafitti to monuments paying homage to our forefathers’ sacrifices.

    Common courtesy is evidently becoming more and more uncommon.

34. #34
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:10 am, Boomer said:

    This BS makes my blood pressure go even higher after finding out the wife and I finally qualified for the 25% tax rate this year after doing our taxes last night. Woo hoo! She was so disgusted she actually thought about quiting her job. After all when we looked at the tax bill most of her income now goes to fund people that sleep on the job or are too lazy to work, or go to illegal invaders that get handouts from the government.

35. #35
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:18 am, LarryD said:

    Term limits take power away from the electorate,by mandating how long a person can stay in office.I say fire them all,then fire the next batch after one term.

    So, do you want to repeal the 22d Amendment?

    FDR, four terms. Check to see how long some Members of Congress (MoC) have been in office. Congress has passed so many incumbency protection acts that the turn over in the UK House of Lords is higher. At least the House of Lords isn’t full of professional politicians.

    The whole point of having a constitution is to put limits on government. And on the electorate, thru government.

    The reason for all the pork out of Congress is so they can buy votes, one way or another, and keep themselves in office. Terms Limits attacks the problem structurally, removing the incentive and flushing out the MoC before they get too pork happy.

36. #36
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:26 am, The Raging Republican said:

    Is everything in Washington a joke?

37. #37
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:27 am, Rusty said:

    Why are people blaming DC? The memorials aren’t DC property. The Metro Police Department is not responsible for making sure people don’t mess around with the Lincoln Memorial.

    The Park Service has been in trouble for years now.

    Here’s the most recent WaPo article regarding the story.

38. #38
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:43 am, procopy said:

    Thank you, Rusty, for pointing that out.

39. #39
    On February 5th, 2008 at 9:52 am, RedRepub said:

    I’ve heard that a lot of these guards are former prison inmates….seriously. I heard this during my Senate internship in DC.

40. #40
    On February 5th, 2008 at 10:09 am, jcflindsay said:

    Who’s guarding our national landmarks? What the heck is wrong with you? Do you want a police state? We the people guard our national landmarks. We do it by being free and moving throughout our nation as free human beings.

    Like the soldier says: Freedom isn’t free. And roaming “free human beings” won’t protect a thing. Laissez faire democracy is nothing more than anarchy. And when it plays itself out your “freedom” will eventually be in the hands of a turban or beret-clad oppressor. But, if you play the odds, you’ll probably be safe and die peacefully in your own bed. Leave it for your grandkids to figure out. In the meantime you can continue to entertain yourself with Pollyanna fantasies about the meaning of freedom and liberty. Think with your head not your heart, friend.

41. #41
    On February 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am, DBNinKY said:

    While I understand that the differences in domain purview and division of responsibility between the DC police and Park Service exist to provide each certain legal protections and standing, would it have hurt for DC’s police to have intervened in this situation as a matter of public safety?

    Supposing one of those protesters had fallen and seriously injured himself - could DC have withstood that kind of lawsuit?

42. #42
    On February 5th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, GaijinBob said:

    UberInfidel67 said:
    

    Now now people, this isn’t important! Remember, having a national identity and taking pride in our US monuments is BOUND to be oppressing someone somewhere. We should just demolish them all and pretend our great nation never existed…

    Easy there, Uber. This wasn’t some bunch of America-hating unwashed leftie hippie flag-burners. It was a pro-divorced fathers’ rights group trying to get attention for a worthy cause. Inconsiderate, rude, and unlawful maybe, but far from treasonous. Maybe the guards were sympathetic supporters of their message?

43. #43
    On February 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pm, countrybumpkin said:

    Let’s see, aren’t their a couple of Border Patrol guys in jail for trying to do their jobs?

    Maybe these guys just caught on to the way the system works.

44. #44
    On February 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pm, Alphonse said:

    The Security Guard song:

    Lucky, lucky, lucky me,
    I’m a lucky son of a gun.
    I sleep 8 hours,
    I sleep 8 hours,
    I leave 8 hours for fun.

    Most private security guards make between 30-50% of a living wage, so 3-4 hours of work in 8 is about right.

45. #45
    On February 5th, 2008 at 8:41 pm, blues said:

    LarryD:as I said in my previous comment’ Iwas in favor of term limits ,but no longer.You make goods arguments for term limits(the same ones I used to make).Would I repeal the 22nd Amendment?No,term limits for the office of POTUS I believe are reasonable and probably necessary.For the Senate and Congress,however,I think the people need to take the initiative and not keep electing career politicians.Everyone complains about bad gov’t.,but they keep electing the same people.I live in a congressional district that is represented by one of the most corrupt pork-hogs in Congress,but I don’t think it should be left up to gov’t to kick him out,it is up to the honest voters,the vast majority of whom get nothing,while his hometown cronies rake in millions.It is time for the voters to decide that they will not accept do-nothing representatives and pork-hogs,even if they lose some federal monies.More often than not ,the people get no benefit from the pork anyway.That is why the voters need to get informed,and start doing the right thing by voting them all out.
    If you limit congress to two or three terms(mandatorally),in their last term in office,the reps.are going to do less than they do now,except pick one of their cronies to take their place,and the beat goes on.No,I don’t believe anyone should be in office more than two terms,but it is up to the electorate to take responsibility for who we are putting in office and,for how long.
    Yes,I know I’m being idealistic,but I don’t believe it would take very long for the politicians to get the message,if they saw two cycles of no incumbents.The electorate must take back its power,because none of the bums we have in congress and the Senate will ever vote themselves out by passing term limits.
    Good dicussion though,Larry.And I’m sorry I went on so long,everyone,I’m not generally so verbose.