If, and I have NO data on this at all one way or another, but IF he did make the call, that man just won Texas. All he has to do is come out today and say "Yes, I ordered no weapons checks. I am not afraid of the American People."
Kaboom, landslide, and Hillary's done. We Texans tend to fall for that kind of thing.
That would totally make my day. Then all I'd have to worry about is finding a nice democrat to replace her in the US Senate since she's done a crap job representing my state. At least the Repugnican candidate called himself one.
For the record, Obama has pretty direct control over what the Secret Service does in his name.
This fact has been called out before--there is a lot of evidence that suggests that when Reagan was shot, it was due to procedures that he had directly instituted. However, the Secret Service will not, ever, discuss their security choices or why they made them. Not even to defend themselves of charges of blatant incompetence.
They're not imcompetent. And, as much as it might look like it to the casual observer, it's not generally appropriate to compare them to the SS. The Secret Service is one of the very few branches of the US Government that very few people have ever had legitimate reason to criticize. Kinda like the Coast Guard.
. . . And, yeah, I'm with you... If we do manage to elect him, we're going to lynch him.
> However, the Secret Service will not, ever, discuss their security > choices or why they made them. Not even to defend themselves of > charges of blatant incompetence.
For Fun Facts and Trivia Night some time, you can Google to find out for whom the Secret Service actually works, and what their *other* job (besides protecting the President) is. It will amuse you.
It's possible they stopped the searching at Obama's order, so that people could actually get in without impacting the schedule as much.
But the "other job" the Secret Service do is track counterfeiters. They are, literally, the Department of the Treasury's own private law enforcement branch. And they also do bodyguard work.
Kind of a joke to have such a high profile agency preventing counterfeiting when the current president they are sworn to protect can't seem to stop inflating the dollar.
Isn't it the Treasury Department? ISTR that without Googling.
(Ah. Having Googled, I discover that the answer is apparently "not anymore". Now it's part of Homeland, which is not nearly as cool or surprising an association, to my mind.)
He was elected, by the only body that Constitutionally matters--the electoral college. There's no actual Constitutional requirement for a popular vote.
The individual members of the electoral college aren't even required to vote for the person who won the popular vote in their state. There's a history of them not doing so. Google "faithless electors" for more information.
The Florida electoral college is legally required to go with the popular vote. Republican party members staged a *fake riot* to stop the recount that would have given Florida to Gore, and the Supreme Court ruled that they didn't have to count the votes at all if they didn't want to.
There may be a Florida state law requiring their electors to vote with the popular vote. About half our states have them, the others don't.
But there's no FEDERAL law requiring it. Electors can show up, unanimously vote in flemco as President and Jon Stewart as Vice President, and the deed would be done.
Some of the electors might go back to their home states and face prison terms, but Constitutional requirements would be met. (How they'd persuade those two to take the oath of office, I have no idea, but they'd be legally elected.)
I think Hillary would have a much higher chance of being taken out before swearing in then he does.
Woman as President aspect of it completely aside... people hate her, Hillary Clinton, as a person.
Obama's fanatic following may freak some people out, but most people don't have much of an opinion beyond that. Other then being of African descent and a potential presidential candidate there's not much to go after him for, but her... there's history there. As a New Yorker from a Republican family (and area, you couldn't get a job as a lifeguard where I grew up without being registered as a Republican) her very name makes people see red.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:22 pm (UTC)I got a different take on it entirely.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:25 pm (UTC)I figure they're pointedly making sure that people with weapons can get close to him.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:55 pm (UTC)Kaboom, landslide, and Hillary's done. We Texans tend to fall for that kind of thing.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 04:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:25 pm (UTC)(I was being stunned at thisa for a while, but not coherently. The above comment stands.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:26 pm (UTC)This fact has been called out before--there is a lot of evidence that suggests that when Reagan was shot, it was due to procedures that he had directly instituted. However, the Secret Service will not, ever, discuss their security choices or why they made them. Not even to defend themselves of charges of blatant incompetence.
They're not imcompetent. And, as much as it might look like it to the casual observer, it's not generally appropriate to compare them to the SS. The Secret Service is one of the very few branches of the US Government that very few people have ever had legitimate reason to criticize. Kinda like the Coast Guard.
. . . And, yeah, I'm with you... If we do manage to elect him, we're going to lynch him.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 02:41 pm (UTC)> choices or why they made them. Not even to defend themselves of
> charges of blatant incompetence.
Good to know. Thanks.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 03:20 pm (UTC)For Fun Facts and Trivia Night some time, you can Google to find out for whom the Secret Service actually works, and what their *other* job (besides protecting the President) is. It will amuse you.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 03:21 pm (UTC)(Our equivalent is the RCMP. But the RCMP are also the FBI, too.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 05:54 pm (UTC)From what it seems...they're just making steps to ensure the first Black Presidential Candidate is directly in harm's way.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 06:16 pm (UTC)But the "other job" the Secret Service do is track counterfeiters. They are, literally, the Department of the Treasury's own private law enforcement branch. And they also do bodyguard work.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-24 07:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 08:34 pm (UTC)(Ah. Having Googled, I discover that the answer is apparently "not anymore". Now it's part of Homeland, which is not nearly as cool or surprising an association, to my mind.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 09:49 pm (UTC)On the other hand, I'm delighted to know that the most despised president in my lifetime doesn't get lifetime protection.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 09:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:01 pm (UTC)*ahem* Not that I plan on doing anything about it, Mr. FBI Man reading this note.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:08 pm (UTC)He was elected, by the only body that Constitutionally matters--the electoral college. There's no actual Constitutional requirement for a popular vote.
The individual members of the electoral college aren't even required to vote for the person who won the popular vote in their state. There's a history of them not doing so. Google "faithless electors" for more information.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:12 pm (UTC)Then, in 2004, the fraud got REALLY blatant.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:21 pm (UTC)But there's no FEDERAL law requiring it. Electors can show up, unanimously vote in
Some of the electors might go back to their home states and face prison terms, but Constitutional requirements would be met. (How they'd persuade those two to take the oath of office, I have no idea, but they'd be legally elected.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-23 12:57 am (UTC)mmmmmm yes!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 06:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-24 08:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-22 10:53 pm (UTC)Woman as President aspect of it completely aside... people hate her, Hillary Clinton, as a person.
Obama's fanatic following may freak some people out, but most people don't have much of an opinion beyond that. Other then being of African descent and a potential presidential candidate there's not much to go after him for, but her... there's history there. As a New Yorker from a Republican family (and area, you couldn't get a job as a lifeguard where I grew up without being registered as a Republican) her very name makes people see red.