UPDATED AT BOTTOM OF POST
What the hell is going on here? The Secret Service, apparently, gave the order to shut down metal detectors an hour before the opening of an Obama rally? And, in Dallas, of all places?
Have they ever given such an order before with any other major candidate?
DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.
The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.
Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.
"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."
The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.
Someone from the Secret Service had better get on the horn right quick. They've got some major explaining to do.
UPDATE
THE SECRET SERVICE RESPONDS:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service Friday denied reports that security measures at a recent Barack Obama rally in Texas were relaxed or deviated from established plans.
Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said there was no order from the Secret Service to stop screening people going to the Obama rally Wednesday at Dallas' Reunion Arena. He said that the event's security plans didn't involve having each participant pass through a magnetometer, as may be the case at other events.
The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported that some police at the event expressed concern about people not passing through metal detectors."
Any allegations to the fact that we had suspended screening or deviated from the original security plan would be entirely inaccurate," Zahren said.
Obama, D-Ill., spoke before some 17,000 supporters at the rally ahead of the March 4 primary election in Texas. There were no security-related incidents.
While stressing that security preparations are different for each venue and event, Zahren said officials were happy with the security plan for the rally at Reunion Arena and the way it was implemented.
Limited use of metal detectors "in no way constituted a security lapse at this venue," Zahren said, adding that the security measures were developed with Dallas-area law enforcement personnel.
Honestly, I don't buy that. The excuse may be the truth. Mr. Zahren may be telling the truth. However, consider this:
Can you imagine what would happen to this country's trust in the good faith of its government were Barack Obama to be assassinated?
They ought to be guarding that man with their life. Certainly, that is their job.
19 comments:
This is too weird.
Yeah, I don't like this at all.
This election appears to be choreographed to a dirge.
By oliver stone
Anonymous,
???
What do you think, Epa? Does this bother you? Is it normal behavior on the part of the Secret Service? And, even if it is, does it seem adequate to you?
Don't know what Epa thinks, but what is bothering me more as each day goes by is the extent to which the most crucial features of the Obama campaign -- his ties to Islam, his membership in a black nationalist church, his wife's anti-American statements, his scheme for a "Muslim summit", the pseudomessianic tone of his candidacy, the way the whole arc of his campaign fits with Phares' warnings about Islamist infiltration into the American political structure at its highest levels -- are being shoved under the rug in favor of analysis of the color of his ties, his speaking manner, women fainting at his rallies, and his everlasting yammering about "hope" and "change". Within the space of a few weeks it has gotten to the point where we have to worry about violent upheavals should this yahoo get himself shot at (and no, not at the gas station, Michelle). Frankly, if I were Obama I'd be more worried about my Nation of Islam and other Muslim friends ruminating over whether I'd be more useful as a live president or a dead one.
I do not consider Barack Hussein Obama to be a legitimate candidate. I believe him to be the result of decades of Muslim political infiltration, multiculturalist hysteria, white liberal racial guilt, collective denial of the reality of jihadism, and the disabling of our educational systems's ability to teach the younger generations of voters to think clearly instead of embracing Obamania as if he were the latest entertainment heartthrob. As conservative commentators are pointing out with increasing alarm, nothing negative sticks to this guy. Legitimate criticism about inexperience, hyperliberalism, lackluster voting record, plagiarism, socialist policies, unsavory mentors, and dangerous propositions for summits with jihadists who intend our destruction just roll off like water on a duck's back. Obama is the perfect candidate for the end product of PC multiculturalist anti-rational educational policies and social infantalization. Some general over in Iraq complained today that Americans know more about the lives of nitwitted promiscuous drugged-out movie stars than they do about the enemy trying to destroy them. He hit it right on the money.
There is, btw, a rumor being floated about Obama's behavior about 8-9 years ago that puts in the shade anything the NYT could come up with on McCain. I have no idea if it's true, but anayone want to make a bet it never sees the light of day? And ask yourselves, if John McCain was a regular attendee of services at some Aryan Nations "church", might that not raise some questions about his integrity? Yet Rev. Wright's Trinity United CoC and the racist rhetoric spouted therein are getting a free pass. That would kill any credibility McCain held for me right there, and I apply the same standard to Obama. I refuse to be sucked into treating him as a "legitimate" candidate and debating the merits of his "foreign policy" proposals. Until he convinces me otherwise, his foreign policy consists of aiding and abetting the enemy.
And as if it couldn't get any scarier or stranger, now we are faced with the "A-word" and the catastrophe an Obama assassination would trigger. Or a successful play by the Clintons to "steal" the nomination from Obama at the convention. Or hell, his failure to win the election. He has become a seemingly unstoppable phenom, a movement unto himself, a symbol of "hope" for millions of voters who don't want to have to think.
That's what a lot of the Germans loved about Hitler, you know: he freed them from the burden of rational thinking. Because he was Germanic he did it by yelling speeches in a uniform and a silly mustache. Because Obama is at least nominally American, he does it by spouting hypnotic inanities in a blue tie and a pop-star persona.
God help us, what is happening?
Pastorius, of course what is implied is that the Secret Service, under orders from the Rovian secret society of what, skull and bones and Rgenery publishing, plans to eliminate the hope of the left and somewhere in the crowd is.....
I don't buy it.
Obama, btw, is perfectly legitimate. He represents all that Darius and Xerxes loathed about democracy. The mob gradually exerts its feeling regardless of correctness. Be cool. Carter begat Reagan if it comes to it. There's a long way to go.
This election is going to be determined by EVENTS. If the economy tanks, forget it, Al Sharpton could win as a dem. If we are attacked, or if Iran tests a nuke, or Israel is attacked, it probably goes to a repub.
This is why I have been arguing that ground level GOLDWATER like conservatism has to be reinvigorated, and preached to the young. The people to do that are NOT Pat Robertson and James Dobson. They are the PROBLEM.
I am primarily concerned with foreign affairs. I have given up that there is anyone like Truman or Roosevelt on the left. There was ONE, but he had to become an independent.
Epa,
It's easy to believe that there is no conspiracy to kill Obama. I did not say there was in my post.
What I suggested in my post is the Secret Service is grossly negligent in their handling of Obama, considering considering who he is and what he represents in the scope of our history. He ought to be guarded with their lives. Do you disagree? Do you disagree that an assassination of Obama would have more effect on this country than the assassination of another politician, say McCain for instance?
Secret Service claims they never ordered a stoppage of screening at this point but that they had 'other' measures in place (whatever the hell that means)
Assassination is one means of truly destabilizing a nation. Given the REALLY crazy theories (9/11) that hold a third of this nation in thrall right now, I would FAR MORE rather see Obama elected than anything happen to him.
Can you imagine if one nut killed him?
Who would believe it wasn't some conspiracy, somewhere, somehow?
That's my point. "Other measures"?!?!
C'mon.
Maybe they are doing MRI Cavity Searches, right?
We're supposed to just trust that they are the Jetsons.
Like I said, I'm not buying it.
It looks to me like they just aren't doing their job. Their job is to make sure that important assets of our nation do not get assassinated. The guy who runs the Secret Service ought to realize that Obama, for better or worse, is one of the most important assets in our nations history.
He's right up there with people who actually have been President.
Obamarama has missed scoring a point here. Maybe a BIG ONE. I'd be going apeshit on all cable news all day 24x7 if I was his campaign director
"Does the Bush admin want me dead?"
"Aren't we all tired of the incompetence of this admin?"
"These are the same people who ran Katrina"
et cetera....
I agree.
I'm surprised Michelle hasn't chimed in with another of her "he could get shot at a gas station" hyperboles. But seriously, it is true that his safety should be of paramount concern because it has reached the point where Obama losing the nomination could be a destabilizing factor, let alone Obama getting whacked. At the gas station or anywhere else. Referring to a story posted above, it could get even more interesting if Iran launches its Apostates Worldwide Are Fair Game statute. Will any would-be shaheeds decide to question the age of Obama's apostasy?
Btw, was that the rally where Obama blew his nose right in front of the microphone and strong women swooned?
Bizawh. Wikkid bizawh.
That was me just then. Second time I've hit the "Anonymous" key by accident. But it's been 3 days of new computer installation hell, so it's no wonder I hardly know what I'm doing by now.
RRA,
Wicked bizarre?!?
Obviously, you work with young people.
I love the way you and Najistani instantly tied this story to the Iran apostasy story. Good point. Obama as the new Salman Rusdhie.
RRA,
Wicked bizarre?!?
Obviously, you work with young people.
I love the way you and Najistani instantly tied this story to the Iran apostasy story. Good point. Obama as the new Salman Rusdhie.
Nope, "wikkid bizarre" is traditional Boston-speak! "Wikkid" anything, actually.
I'm still slogging through set up on this new computer or I'd post this, but it pertains to this thread anyway. Northeast Intelligence Network at http:www.homelandsecurityus.com/Dallas022308 has comments from security people about that stand-down of Obama's security. (Plus some of the spookiest JFK Dallas footage I've ever seen, and I'm not into JFK assassination conspiracy theory.) It does seem something very strange was going on there.
My head's swimming. Who would be the first suspects in an Obama assassination? If he got whacked by a Muslim for being "apostate" wouldn't that inflame opinion against Islamists, which would seem to be against the interests of the millions of Muslims worldwide who are just thrilled with this guy? Some racist ahole is always a possibility, but where are we seeing any significant racist opposition to his candidacy?
Thanks for the link, RRA.
I put up a post on it.
It doesn't matter much who the first suspect is. What would matter is who did it and why? And, in this case, why would the Secret Service stand down?
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