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Comments

1. #662828
   On March 29th, 2009 at 9:15 pm, Mookie said:

   Obama’s Travel entourage of 500+
   The high cost of travel
   The lower part of the story highlights:
   The entourage
   The Beast
   Marine One
   Air Force One
   Secret Service

   You might want to save your outrage. It’s been like that for years and rightly so.

   700

2. #662830
   On March 29th, 2009 at 9:20 pm, Laree said:

   Maryland had an anniversary last week 25th of March they celebrated the Founding of Maryland.

   http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/03/calvert-news-maryland-celebrated.html

3. #662833
   On March 29th, 2009 at 9:24 pm, WaterBoyz said:

   #199

   You might want to save your outrage. It’s been like that for years and rightly so.

   700

   OK, I’ll give you that one.

   But I didn’t see TOTUS on the list.

4. #662849
   On March 29th, 2009 at 10:48 pm, By Choice said:

   All the people in Fla that want to participate in a Tea Party can stand on the city sidewalks–not in the park–with their signs. The sidewalks are not governed by ANY permit requirements to use them nor does anyone need insurance to walk on them. Then it won’t matter how many show up.

   Imagine the streets of a city being lined by peacefully outraged patriots. That may have a bigger effect than if they had gathered in the park.

   Course it doesn’t give the “speakers” a place that all can hear them but maybe they can start at one end and pass along, person to person, the text or message of the “speaker”. That could be reall interesting–especially at the end of the line!!

5. #662850
   On March 29th, 2009 at 10:56 pm, Wellsy said:

   Well, looks like the Obama administration has asked GM CEO Rick Wagoner to step down as part of an impending bailout deal. Yes, there is recent precedent, but only if you’re comfortable saying you’re just doing what Paulson did. And it still leaves me uncomfortable that government is willing and able to shuffle in “their guy” in a private sector corporation.

6. #662862
   On March 29th, 2009 at 11:53 pm, tonyr951 said:

   ^ it’s nothing Hugo Chavez wouldn’t approve of

7. #662865
   On March 30th, 2009 at 12:05 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

   Private sector corporation? Private lives as with private property are not good for the collective.

   The government deciding which corporations succeed
   Mandatory National Service
   National Health Service
   Nationalizing savings and pensions funds
   Nationalizing the banks and insurance companies

   It is all there, Obama did tell you, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstien, Henry Waxman have been telling you for years. Feeling uncomfortable? I should say so.

   With McCain-Feingold deciding what speech is allowed at election time, the Federal Election Commission deciding who can run for what and how, ACORN “helping” with the census, the Justice Department gerrymandering districts and add the FBI-Justice-BATF&E-Treasury, DEA-Justice, IRS-Treasury–yes, feel uncomfortable.

   Didn’t break any laws? Irritate them enough and they will find an illegal gun, drugs, unpaid taxes what ever it takes. At the moment the Obama, Reid, Pelosi machine is unstoppable-hopefully we have one election left.

   Uncomfortable is good.

8. #662873
   On March 30th, 2009 at 12:24 am, love2rumba said:

   I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Are you saying that it’s right to celebrate a plane crash because the father of the children on board owns family planning clinics?

   Not at all. What I am irritated with is that their private status was revealed…was it necesaary to indicate that they were “ultra rich”?.

   But since Mookie seemed perturbed that once such personal/religious/political info was leaked out (which frankly should not have been) that we feel equally remorseful in all cases. My response is that in a nutshell showing more honor to one person, groups of people over other people and grouops happens ALL THE TIME whether one wishes to admit that or not.

   Do we not feel more remorse for a fallen police officer or a gang-banger with a record of violence as long as your arm, for example? I used to say that the sympathy would without question should go to the fallen police officer (once all facts are known)…from what has happened in Oakland, CA. recently, that isn’t neceassarily true anymore.

   I “celebrate” no one’s death. However, I do not believe that people necesarily are equally worthy of respect when they do die. I can’t communicate that any better.

9. #662875
   On March 30th, 2009 at 12:26 am, Bogtrotter said:

   By Choice said: “The sidewalks are not governed by ANY permit requirements to use them nor does anyone need insurance to walk on them.”

   I find it VERY hard to imagine they could not cite someone for willfully impeding the flow of foot traffic. Just giving you a heads up.

10. #662877
    On March 30th, 2009 at 12:30 am, love2rumba said:

    May the reader please replace the phrase in the next to last paragraph comment post #206 of “or a gang-banger” with “than a gang-banger”.

11. #662881
    On March 30th, 2009 at 12:52 am, airbrush101 said:

    This past weekend I was told by a friend
    who is a grade school teacher that her paycheck this week included her “Obama Stimulus Raise”.

    When I asked, “how much”, she said it was $12 plus change.

    I then asked her if she got paid weekly or every two weeks and she looked at the floor and said, “two weeks”.

12. #662882
    On March 30th, 2009 at 12:54 am, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On March 29th, 2009 at 2:21 pm, madmonkphotog said:

    Oh, yeah.

    On our way home, I noticed an ad on a billboard:

    http://www.prayforgaza.org/

    Guess which president is on the page of this site?

    From the link: “…no serious rocket fire…”

    Thanks, Jimmy. I guess it was just that joking rocket fire, right?

    Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!!

    ECS

13. #662887
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:04 am, twookie said:

    We turned on every light, fan, and electronic component in our house, plus turned on the self cleaning oven. Then we left and went shopping. based on the amount consumed ( 3 1/3 kwh) and our electricity rate, we used about 40 cents of electricity. If we had turned off what we usually have on during that time. we would have saved between 1-2 cents. What a bunch of hippie baloney.

14. #662891
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:11 am, RetFireman said:

    If Obama demanding that the head of a corporation step down doesn’t scare the crap out of you, then I just don’t know what will.

    I don’t care what the reasons are, whether it was a condition of the bailout or whatever, the fact is, this reeks of a President drunk on power, over-stepping his boundaries.

    This cannot last four years. Someone has to step in and stop the Obama and Democrat usurpation of America. There has to be at least one person in Washington with the guts and the brains to see what they are not just attempting to do, but accomplishing without so much as a question about what their real intentions are

    If people cannot see the parallels between what they are doing and Berlin 1933, then none of them have any business being in office.

    When the President of the United States begins to tell private industry who they can have as their bosses, then something is seriously wrong and the Republic is nothing, not even a shadow of what it once was.

    And all in less than 3 months.

15. #662893
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:16 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    Any news regarding the Bob Basso White House summons?

16. #662895
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:18 am, Mookie said:

    But since Mookie seemed perturbed that once such personal/religious/political info was leaked out (which frankly should not have been) that we feel equally remorseful in all cases. My response is that in a nutshell showing more honor to one person, groups of people over other people and grouops happens ALL THE TIME whether one wishes to admit that or not.

    That’s not what I’m saying. You’re completely missing the point. When Michelle posted the original story about the crash and the AP, she and the vast majority of posters defended the family, saying they shouldn’t be punished for being rich since they worked hard to become successful. A couple of days later, it was revealed where that money came from. Had that been known at the same time the AP piece came out, I sincerely doubt everyone here would be condemning the AP for calling them “ultrarich”. In fact, I don’t think the story would have been posted here at all.

    Michelle and the other posters here were outraged at the politicization of the story. Two days later, once it was revealed where this family’s money came from, pro-lifers began using it as some sort of karmic retribution story. Both should be appalling but we’ve only heard about one half so far.

17. #662900
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:31 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    Jesus, Mook. Still angling for a gotcha?

18. #662901
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:35 am, Mookie said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:31 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    Jesus, Mook. Still angling for a gotcha?

    I’m not looking for a gotcha but to be honest, this one really irks me in light of all the hypocrisy talk in these parts as of late.

19. #662902
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:36 am, swmbo said:

    If Obama demanding that the head of a corporation step down doesn’t scare the crap out of you, then I just don’t know what will.

    RetiredFireman, I am sooooo scared I can’t sleep anymore. Everything is spiraling out of control so fast I can’t take it all in. I just want to scream – STOP THE MADNESS -

20. #662903
    On March 30th, 2009 at 1:38 am, Mookie said:

    Jill Stanek on abortion chain owner.

21. #662914
    On March 30th, 2009 at 2:18 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    My point is: After a day, and how many responses? Your point will be acknowledged or not.

    I agree that any hypocrisy on the subject is indefensible. It’s just a matter of diminishing returns at this point.

22. #662915
    On March 30th, 2009 at 2:19 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    So, no one heard about or from Bob Basso since he went to the White House to discuss what discuss what it was that disturbed Obama about his Thomas Paine videos?

23. #662918
    On March 30th, 2009 at 2:39 am, love2rumba said:

    …Two days later, once it was revealed where this family’s money came from, pro-lifers began using it as some sort of karmic retribution story. Both should be appalling but we’ve only heard about one half so far

    Mookie,

    I do not think it should be used as a
    karmic retribution story either…one would have to presume that they specifically know what is in the mind of God himself. Both the good and the bad die without warning or reason.

    The whole thing should have been left as a tragic plane crash without the unneeded qualifiers.

24. #662920
    On March 30th, 2009 at 2:42 am, love2rumba said:

    However, Mookie, if the plane really did go down near such a monument that would be ironic, would it not?

25. #662942
    On March 30th, 2009 at 7:28 am, DagneyT said:

    Note to all: The next time you are tempted to bait lgm or chap, remember this story!

26. #662949
    On March 30th, 2009 at 8:05 am, MarcoPolo said:

    You’re completely missing the point. When Michelle posted the original story about the crash and the AP, she and the vast majority of posters defended the family, saying they shouldn’t be punished for being rich since they worked hard to become successful. A couple of days later, it was revealed where that money came from. Had that been known at the same time the AP piece came out, I sincerely doubt everyone here would be condemning the AP for calling them “ultrarich”. In fact, I don’t think the story would have been posted here at all.

    I am indeed missing a point. The people that died were not even abortion providers. They were adult professionals.

27. #662950
    On March 30th, 2009 at 8:06 am, MarcoPolo said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 2:19 am, RogerCfromSD said:

    So, no one heard about or from Bob Basso since he went to the White House to discuss what discuss what it was that disturbed Obama about his Thomas Paine videos?

    I wonder if Obama served up some Kool Aid.

28. #662972
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am, Old Country Boy said:

    I’m probably of a little different opinion of the GM “firing”. I loathe Obama, but he is correct here. When GM has been run into the ground by a guy who has been CEO since 2000, either by his direct policies or failure to properly bargain with the UAW, then he should go before Obama gives him more of our money to waste. I guarantee you that the board of any financial organization would make this guy’s termination part and parcel of any financing. You guys talk about waste of public money, and when your complaints are faintly heeded, and a proper correction is put in place, you turn paranoid about it. Let it be/ DLTDHHITA on the way out!

29. #662973
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:10 am, Mainah said:

    http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/102682.html

    The proposal — sponsored by lawmakers representing cities with large immigrant communities — Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, and Rep. Brian Bolduc, D-Auburn — would let communities choose whether to allow non-U.S. citizens to vote in municipal elections.

    There’s a variety of legal Maine residents who are not U.S. citizens, including doctors, refugees, students, hockey players and more, said Alfond.

    “I want to look at this,” Alfond told the Portland Press Herald. “Is there a way to give people in our communities a bigger way to be involved?”

    Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said he doesn’t think Alfond’s proposal does any harm. Noncitizens couldn’t be included in the electronic, federally funded voter rolls, so a separate paper list of voters would have to be kept, he said.

    “Whenever you get more people to participate, you add legitimacy to that process,” Dunlap said. “The voice of the public, I think, is extraordinarily important.”

    Already, immigrants who are not citizens are allowed to vote in a number of communities across the U.S., said Ron Hayduk, professor of political science at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and author of the book “Democracy for All.”

30. #662978
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:19 am, long_haired_conservative said:

    I am now half way through “Atlas Shrugged.”

    Oh.
    My.
    Gosh.

31. #662980
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:27 am, chapoutier said:

    I am now half way through “Atlas Shrugged.”

    Oh.
    My.
    Gosh.

    No kidding. Have you yet decided it would be less painful to literally bash yourself in the head rather than endure another 500 pages of the figurative head bashing?

32. #662982
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am, John Deaux said:

    Well Chappy, I have to say that you’re right on the whole Cape Coral park permit issue.

    The question is whether the city would have just paid for the extra insurance themselves if it were for a moonbat cause.

    Hey, at least someone is acknowledging that people are showing up for these events.

33. #662984
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:31 am, jangar said:

    Old Country Boy said:
    GM has been run into the ground by a guy who has been CEO since 2000

    Keep in mind what happened with the AIG bonuses and the fuel the MSM caused over the company using 1/10th of 1% of the bailout.

    UAW contracts has slowly sucked the life out of not only GM, but also Chrysler and Ford (who is making an attempt to stay near the black line). We also had many months worth of gas prices that really slowed things down, making a whole lot of people rethink auto purchases. Finally we have the whole green-thing and big government’s continuing policies they place on auto manufacturers. Put it all together, and there is no plan for success in the auto making field.

34. #662988
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:34 am, Hannibal said:

    Drudge is reporting from the UK Observer that Obama will go to the G20 with over 500 staff members. Who the hell has to travel like this? This is a travesty and a pure example of the self-indulgence that this rock star president thinks is what he is entitled to at the expense of the American taxpayer. This guy has spent his entire life spending other people’s money and now he is in the big time where his every desire will be met by the little people who will never again be allowed to rise from their knees. Maybe we have really enthroned the anti-Christ.

    The entourage

    Apart from the 200 secret service personnel who will follow Obama on his European tour, the president’s entourage will also include representatives of the White House Military Office, the White House Transportation Agency, the White House Medical Unit, the Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron, the State Department Presidential Travel Support Service, the US Information Agency, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service and the Customs Service.

    In addition, there will be staff from the White House kitchen ready to turn out a quick burger should the president suddenly feel peckish.

    Michelle Obama will have eight of her own staff, including a secretary, a press officer and bodyguards. And Obama’s personal aide Reggie Love – called by the president “the kid brother I never had” – will be at hand to provide pens, Nicorette gum, throat lozenges, tea or even aspirins.

35. #662992
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:45 am, happyscrapper said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:08 am, Old Country Boy said:
    I’m probably of a little different opinion of the GM “firing”. I loathe Obama, but he is correct here. When GM has been run into the ground by a guy who has been CEO since 2000, either by his direct policies or failure to properly bargain with the UAW, then he should go before Obama gives him more of our money to waste. I guarantee you that the board of any financial organization would make this guy’s termination part and parcel of any financing. You guys talk about waste of public money, and when your complaints are faintly heeded, and a proper correction is put in place, you turn paranoid about it. Let it be/ DLTDHHITA on the way out!

    The firing of GM’s CEO should be a warning to any other company that is tempted to take a government bailout. Don’t do it!! Maybe this is a good thing that will get a lot of publicity. Don’t take government/taxpayer money for your private company. Use the Chapter 11 option and you can possibly save your company without government interference. Maybe now the country will GET IT!! If so, we might have a chance to save capitalism.

36. #662993
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:46 am, chapoutier said:

    Hannibal,

    Check Mookie’s link on post #199.

    Also, check this link out.

    The commander-in-chief and a 700-strong entourage worthy of a traveling medieval monarch flew into London Heathrow. Once Bush stepped off Air Force One, Marine One flew the Bushes to the Palace where they enjoyed the pomp and circumstance of the Queen’s hospitality.

    Obama’s 500 seems downright frugal in comparison, no?

37. #662994
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am, jangar said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:34 am, Hannibal said:
    Drudge is reporting from the UK Observer that Obama will go to the G20 with over 500 staff members.

    Teleprompter technicians and other various media support staff.

38. #663001
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:52 am, happyscrapper said:

    Also, GM and the other auto companies MUST get concessions from the unions or they are done. Paying lavish pensions and health benefits to their retirees, which number in the hundreds of thousands, will never work. That is a big part of what is bleeding them dry. They MUST cut back on the retirement plan. With millions of employees in the auto industry, how long before another 100,000 are being paid after they are retired? It just can’t work! The unions are the biggest reason for the collapse. They also have Obama in their hip pocket. Obama is the most dangerous man in this country right now.

39. #663002
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:54 am, happyscrapper said:

    Obama’s 500 seems downright frugal in comparison, no?

    O.K. Chap. Bush did it. So that makes it o.k. for Obama to do it during the “biggest economic crisis since the great depression”. Yeah, Bush did it…so Obama can too. I love that liberal talking point, but it is getting very very tiresome!

40. #663005
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am, happyscrapper said:

    By the way, Obama could be setting some kind of example here. But he chooses not to. He has had a lot of opportunities to show the American people that he is different from Bush…you know, like he promised in his campaign? But he has failed to do so every time he has had an opportunity. Earmarks, hiring lobbiests, spending tons of money in travels, lavish parties. He is a hypocrite of the worst kind. And he totally doesn’t care because…HE WON.

41. #663006
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am, long_haired_conservative said:

    Obama’s 500 seems downright frugal in comparison, no?

    Why is it so easy for liberals to miss the point? That being NOT that the entourage of either president was so large — but that when it’s a Democrat president that’s doing it, nobody really cares.

    Liberals are the masters of hypocrisy and double standards.

42. #663008
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:59 am, DBNinKY said:

    Yeah, Bush did it…so Obama can too. I love that liberal talking point, but it is getting very very tiresome!

    And unaffordable -

43. #663009
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am, corona said:

    Gomer Pyle strikes again.

    Commandante Zero fires the CEO of GM and the market responds.

44. #663011
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:01 am, DBNinKY said:

    The firing of GM’s CEO should be a warning to any other company that is tempted to take a government bailout. Don’t do it!!

    Well said, Happy!

45. #663013
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:03 am, chapoutier said:

    O.K. Chap. Bush did it. So that makes it o.k. for Obama to do it during the “biggest economic crisis since the great depression”. Yeah, Bush did it…so Obama can too. I love that liberal talking point, but it is getting very very tiresome!

    Can I at least expect your retroactive indignation on behalf of Bush? Or maybe, just maybe the leader of the free world needs a hell of a lot of people around him advising and protecting him.

    By the way, Obama could be setting some kind of example here. But he chooses not to. He has had a lot of opportunities to show the American people that he is different from Bush…

    So Obama cutting the traveling entourage by 30% isn’t change? You think 30% is insignificant?

    but that when it’s a Democrat president that’s doing it, nobody really cares.

    Uhhh…did you see where I pulled that info from, wasn’t exactly screaming NYT or WaPo headlines, was it? Nor was it Kos or HuffPo.

46. #663015
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:04 am, jangar said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:58 am, happyscrapper said:
    He has had a lot of opportunities to show the American people that he is different from Bush…

    He has, and he will continue to do so, by repealing all laws concerning abortion restraint, repeal Mexico City policy, DADT, DOMA, tax cut expirations, healthcare, etc…………

47. #663021
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:08 am, chapoutier said:

    And in any case my point was not to excuse or condemn either president. It was to deflate hannibal’s histrionics about Obama considering himself some rockstar or antichrist or whatever he was spewing on about, like Obama just suddenly swooped in and proclaimed himself king because he travels with 500.

48. #663022
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:08 am, jangar said:

    Hapscrap……..just wait till the first SCOTUS position opens up…then we’ll see some real change from Bush policy/ideology.

49. #663032
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:14 am, happyscrapper said:

    Can I at least expect your retroactive indignation on behalf of Bush? Or maybe, just maybe the leader of the free world needs a hell of a lot of people around him advising and protecting him.

    No Chap…the point is that Obama basically ran his campaign on CHANGE…remember? Change we can believe in! Remember? He ran his campaign AGAINST THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. Now he is just doing more of the same. And when ever he does, the liberal response is…Well, Bush did it. Dumb dumb dumb!! Why can’t liberals see how stupid that argument is? Bush is gone. Obama is president. He has the power to do things differently. But instead, he changes very little and everyone says that’s o.k. because after all, Bush did it. My head just exploded. Splat.

50. #663037
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:18 am, happyscrapper said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:08 am, jangar said:
    Hapscrap……..just wait till the first SCOTUS position opens up…then we’ll see some real change from Bush policy/ideology.

    I am praying very very hard that the republicans take over the majority in Congress in 2010, and that there are no openings in the Supreme Court until after that happens. AND, that the republicans elected will not all be RINOS. I know, a tall order, but God can do anything, right? Pray hard.

51. #663045
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:19 am, chapoutier said:

    happy,

    Bush travelled with people. The only option for “change” under your logic is apparently to travel with no people. We don’t think that is realistic now do we?

52. #663048
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:21 am, jangar said:

    My head just exploded. Splat.

    Get it together. Need all the fighters we can muster in 2010.

53. #663051
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:22 am, chapoutier said:

    And lets not get too silly with the whole “change” thing here.

    “Obama gets daily ecurity briefings.”

    “OMG! Bush got daily security briefings too! WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE, OBAMA?”

54. #663063
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am, happyscrapper said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:19 am, chapoutier said:
    happy,

    Bush travelled with people. The only option for “change” under your logic is apparently to travel with no people. We don’t think that is realistic now do we?

    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:22 am, chapoutier said:
    And lets not get too silly with the whole “change” thing here.

    “Obama gets daily ecurity briefings.”

    “OMG! Bush got daily security briefings too! WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE, OBAMA?”

    You are kidding…right? I expected better from you, Chap. That is really lame. You have ignored the fact that you are missing the point…the point being that Obama ran against the Bush administration and policies…BIG TIME. That was his mantra, and the mantra of all his lackies out on the MSM circuit. And PLEASE, don’t tell me you think Obama needs 500 people with him on that trip. 500??? Yes, Bush did it…but that’s NOT THE POINT. I didn’t think you were that dense.

55. #663067
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am, happyscrapper said:

    Let’s see…security…we won’t skimp on that…Maybe 100 or so. And Michelle’s hairdresser, nannys for the children…O.K. Teleprompter repairpeople, O.K. Who else needs to go? I’m serious.

56. #663086
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:50 am, chapoutier said:

    Let’s see…security…we won’t skimp on that…Maybe 100 or so. And Michelle’s hairdresser, nannys for the children…O.K. Teleprompter repairpeople, O.K. Who else needs to go? I’m serious.

    I have no idea, nor do you. You throw out 100 secret service people. Bush travelled with 250, Obama has 200. That leads me to believe it is probably a safe bet that the Secret Service feels they need 200. But armchair quarterbacks here say 100 without any basis of information. Or say that x number of advisors or staff is unnecessary, again without having any clue what goes on in these places or what these people actually do when over there.

    But in any case, please get off this whole “change” issue. Obama did not say he was going to change every detail of every thing just for the sake of it, which is what you seem to want to do. And even when there is evidence of change (A 30% reduction in staffing? Again, how is that not very significant?) you dismiss it as apparently not being change-y enough for your no doubt unbiased tastes.

    The whole point with pointing out Bush’s numbers is that it maybe, just maybe, is evidence that a president needs a crapload of people to ensure his safety and provide him with everything he needs to do his job? The whole point is that its not like Obama just came up with 500 out of the blue when all the previous presidents travelled with 2 guards and a steno.

57. #663105
    On March 30th, 2009 at 11:10 am, happyscrapper said:

    But in any case, please get off this whole “change” issue. Obama did not say he was going to change every detail of every thing just for the sake of it, which is what you seem to want to do.

    Chap…I will concede the point that we just don’t know how many people it takes for the trip. You are right. I do think it would be very interesting to find out exactly what purposes they all serve.

    Now about this whole “change thing”. Again, you are correct. Obama didn’t mean he would change these kinds of things. But the American people thought that’s what he meant. What he actually meant was he was going to change America into a socialist country with the government running our private lives and watch out if you oppose him because big brother is watching you. We saw a glimpse of that with Joe the Plumber…but Obama’s sheeple just ignored the warning signs and got him elected. Now we are seeing the true change he was talking about. Not change with deficit spending. Or change with lobbyists. Or change with earmarks. Or change with partisan politics. He just wants to change us into Zimbabwe. I get it.

58. #663109
    On March 30th, 2009 at 11:16 am, John Deaux said:

    I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I find myself agreeing with chap twice on the same day. Obama might be a lot of things, but the last thing I want to see is him or his staff come to harm. If it take 200 Secret Service agents, then so be it. Besdies, he is still the only thing keeping us from having to suffer President Biden.

    Bush was travelling in a post 9/11 world and was a much bigger target due to his significantly larger cajones.

    As far as Obama’s “personal assistant”, I think Michelle could get him an aspirin or dial his phone. Besides, wasn’t Reggie Love the character Eddie Murphy played in The Nutty Professor?

59. #663112
    On March 30th, 2009 at 11:18 am, chapoutier said:

    As far as Obama’s “personal assistant”, I think Michelle could get him an aspirin or dial his phone. Besides, wasn’t Reggie Love the character Eddie Murphy played in The Nutty Professor?

    I think it was Susan Sarandon’s character in “The Client.”

60. #663156
    On March 30th, 2009 at 11:38 am, John Deaux said:

    I think it was Susan Sarandon’s character in “The Client.”

    Yes, Eddie Murphy was Buddy Love.

    At least he’s not a doctor.

61. #663602
    On March 30th, 2009 at 3:52 pm, Avi Green said:

    Check out this post on my comics blog about a Muslim convert named G. Willow Wilson who’s been doing some comics writing for DC Comics/Vertigo, and may be putting out a propaganda story called “Air”. She also wrote another graphic novel called “Cairo” that got quite an audience in the Muslim community.

62. #663630
    On March 30th, 2009 at 4:10 pm, Laree said:

    Relaxing

    http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/03/simple-life-enjoy-share.html

63. #663669
    On March 30th, 2009 at 4:38 pm, Avi Green said:

    Here’s another one from my politics blog about the Turkish massacre of the Armenians.

64. #663671
    On March 30th, 2009 at 4:40 pm, Avi Green said:

    And check out this one from my game blog that’s got a video of Super Puzzle Fighter! See how Capcom made a great puzzle game based on their since legendary one-on-one fighting game!

65. #663985
    On March 31st, 2009 at 12:13 am, plymouthacclaim said:

    Here’s an idea I haven’t heard yet:

    What about tea party Flash Mobs