Ex-US Presidents (and their spouses) to be indefinitely exempted from TSA screening
Jan 11, 2013, 9:34 am
#31
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Pissy doesn't. In fact, for most unknown bureaucrats to have a security detail, the very detail that is designed to protect them actually brings unwanted attention and causes a greater security threat to the protectee.
Most people probably wouldn't recognize the King of Zamunda visiting a McDowell's in Queens, but add the DSS or USSS and suddenly they're now a target in the US.
Most people probably wouldn't recognize the King of Zamunda visiting a McDowell's in Queens, but add the DSS or USSS and suddenly they're now a target in the US.
Jan 11, 2013, 9:53 am
#32
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Pissy doesn't. In fact, for most unknown bureaucrats to have a security detail, the very detail that is designed to protect them actually brings unwanted attention and causes a greater security threat to the protectee.
Most people probably wouldn't recognize the King of Zamunda visiting a McDowell's in Queens, but add the DSS or USSS and suddenly they're now a target in the US.
Most people probably wouldn't recognize the King of Zamunda visiting a McDowell's in Queens, but add the DSS or USSS and suddenly they're now a target in the US.
Jan 11, 2013, 10:26 am
#33
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]The former CP of Brunei was out in the hallway of one hotel where I was staying and it was the escort that made it obvious to me that he was a public person of interest and worth trying to identify if for no reason than idle curiosity.
Escorts attract attention and the risk that it may bring. I have had LE escorts or security motorcades on the way to some visits and it invited more attention/inquiries and risk in the locality than taking private trips without those escorts when going to the same destination as before. I have no doubt that terrorist and other militant groups use escort detection to identify targets they want to eliminate for one reason or another. This isn't to say who should or should not have some security escorts, as that is not the point of this thread.
Security escorts can even be an attention-grabber that grabs the attention of thieves, whether at hotels or at the TSA screening checkpoint. Getting exempted at a TSA screening checkpoint may help with protection from thieves at airports. At hotels, it is a bit different. Ex-POTUS and their spouses have an indefinite exemption from thieves at TSA screening checkpoints, by way or this recently passed law.
[Side-note: I do think the previous and current POTUS and VPOTUS do require lifetime Secret Service protection if they are to be protected from extrajudicial punishment such as assault or worse that wouldn't be an issue for them if not for their government employment history.]
Last edited by GUWonder; Jan 11, 2013 at 10:38 am
Jan 11, 2013, 10:34 am
#34
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I think it makes some of them feel 'important' - kind of like a rap star with his entourage.
They also do a lot, depending on the nature of the 'protected' - drive the car, open doors, hand you water bottles on your run...IIRC, when Bush went out chopping trees on his ranch or riding his mountain bike, they weren't just silent observers, they helped with the trees, bikes were a bit of 'fun'. On one occasion, I think he'd just come back from a ride, met by press (?) - Bush told the SS guys to hand out bottles of water to everyone.
(Not singling out Bush, I think many with SS protection treat their protection like body guard/personal servant/driver).
They also do a lot, depending on the nature of the 'protected' - drive the car, open doors, hand you water bottles on your run...IIRC, when Bush went out chopping trees on his ranch or riding his mountain bike, they weren't just silent observers, they helped with the trees, bikes were a bit of 'fun'. On one occasion, I think he'd just come back from a ride, met by press (?) - Bush told the SS guys to hand out bottles of water to everyone.
(Not singling out Bush, I think many with SS protection treat their protection like body guard/personal servant/driver).
Jan 11, 2013, 10:47 am
#35
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Also, (speaking of sloppy journalism), your second cite references protection for the VP and his family. I have not seen a reference to protection extended to members of the VP families, even Cheney's (which would potentially require as many details as there are family members) anywhere else. Seems unlikely, since the protection for the ex-President and family IS spelled out (depends on age of children, for example - except when 'exceptions' are made). Since it's clearly a 'perk' supplied at the whim of Congress and/or the President, it appears there are no actual limits on what can be offered and for how long.
Perhaps the poster sensed that you seemed to have taken offense that I referred to Bush mountain biking and Laura hanging with her lady friends as a situation that would call for two separate SS details (greater cost). I recalled a lady's magazine interview when Bush was deciding to run - she mentioned that she was quite happy doing (IIRC) aerobics classes and having lunch with her female friends. I could only infer from your response about her hiking that you felt I had someone cast a slur on her (which I hadn't). It still didn't change the meaning of my OP (which I will be happy to amend to 'when George is mountain biking in one place and Laura is hiking in another, geographically separated location' if it will make my lack of intend to insult clearer to you).
Jan 11, 2013, 11:15 am
#36
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King Mohammed of Morocco visited one of my neighborhoods and I wouldn't have known about it if not for seeing the armed escorts. Only later did it get some press coverage. Same goes for Tony Blair when he was PM and stopped outside my door in a different neighborhood. [I recognize both but not ordinarily from behind. ]
The former CP of Brunei was out in the hallway of one hotel where I was staying and it was the escort that made it obvious to me that he was a public person of interest and worth trying to identify if for no reason than idle curiosity.
Escorts attract attention and the risk that it may bring. I have had LE escorts or security motorcades on the way to some visits and it invited more attention/inquiries and risk in the locality than taking private trips without those escorts when going to the same destination as before. I have no doubt that terrorist and other militant groups use escort detection to identify targets they want to eliminate for one reason or another. This isn't to say who should or should not have some security escorts, as that is not the point of this thread.
Security escorts can even be an attention-grabber that grabs the attention of thieves, whether at hotels or at the TSA screening checkpoint. Getting exempted at a TSA screening checkpoint may help with protection from thieves at airports. At hotels, it is a bit different. Ex-POTUS and their spouses have an indefinite exemption from thieves at TSA screening checkpoints, by way or this recently passed law.
[Side-note: I do think the previous and current POTUS and VPOTUS do require lifetime Secret Service protection if they are to be protected from extrajudicial punishment such as assault or worse that wouldn't be an issue for them if not for their government employment history.]
]The former CP of Brunei was out in the hallway of one hotel where I was staying and it was the escort that made it obvious to me that he was a public person of interest and worth trying to identify if for no reason than idle curiosity.
Escorts attract attention and the risk that it may bring. I have had LE escorts or security motorcades on the way to some visits and it invited more attention/inquiries and risk in the locality than taking private trips without those escorts when going to the same destination as before. I have no doubt that terrorist and other militant groups use escort detection to identify targets they want to eliminate for one reason or another. This isn't to say who should or should not have some security escorts, as that is not the point of this thread.
Security escorts can even be an attention-grabber that grabs the attention of thieves, whether at hotels or at the TSA screening checkpoint. Getting exempted at a TSA screening checkpoint may help with protection from thieves at airports. At hotels, it is a bit different. Ex-POTUS and their spouses have an indefinite exemption from thieves at TSA screening checkpoints, by way or this recently passed law.
[Side-note: I do think the previous and current POTUS and VPOTUS do require lifetime Secret Service protection if they are to be protected from extrajudicial punishment such as assault or worse that wouldn't be an issue for them if not for their government employment history.]
Jan 11, 2013, 12:03 pm
#37
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YMMV. I pointed out and I'm not going to continue to spend time on it, that the 'longstanding tradition' is sloppy journalism. There's no evidence that it was ever a law, and I've found no evidence that it was consistently offered or accepted. Certainly zero evidence that it was ever extended (as it was for Cheney).
Would you take a quote in the Washington Post from Mark Sullivan, the director of the Secret Service at the time, in his testimony to Congress?
"Over the last 40 years, the departing vice president has been afforded protection by our agency," Sullivan told lawmakers. "Going back, the last two vice presidents," -- Al Gore and Dan Quayle -- "we have provided protection going into July of that year that they have departed, for 180 days."
Such measures are not uncommon. Since Hubert Humphrey in 1969, several former vice presidents have been granted protection extensions of varying lengths, even in times less ominous than these, Secret Service officials said.
I am not sure, however, that you will ever admit that your statements "IOW, Cheney is the first (and to date the only) VP to receive SS protection after leaving office. He was the first to be granted 6 months . . ." or "(Obama signed off on making Cheney the first VP in history to get SS protection, $1 million monthly)" are incorrect. Even the dollar amount you stated as fact appears to be overstated by 50%. Would you now agree that more likely than not, Secret Service protection for the Bush children ended years ago?
Jan 11, 2013, 12:29 pm
#38
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OMG. Wait, is this person real, or is it some kind of TV show? I'm out of touch with 'culture'...and possibly with 'important' world affairs?
Jan 11, 2013, 12:35 pm
#39
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Jan 11, 2013, 2:49 pm
#41
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He doesn't most of the time. In fact, I don't think he is high enough to even get AF travel most of the time. Usually, armed escorts are reserved for those in line for the Presidency (I sat next to the late, great Daniel Inouye's escort once when the Senator was flying on the same plane as I was) and those who have had threats made.
This whole thread is about nothing and is the product of the insidious practice of not clearly referring to the entirety of a statute (or rule). It's no different than the slug, "judge requires paraplegic to stand" because the general rule in that judge's court was that the public stands up when the judge enters the courtroom.
Jan 11, 2013, 4:03 pm
#44
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When people in power are exempted for life, even when out of power, from experiencing broken bureaucracy and the hassle/harassment faced by subjects of the bureaucracy, the chances of the problems getting focused upon and fixed drops. This change that comes with indefinite exemption from TSA screening ought to lower expectations that all Americans will be treated equally by those with a government agency relationship and that the TSA screening process will be fixed anytime soon to provide equitable treatment to all.
Threats against him as a lawyer, as an FBI employee, as head of TSA, or some combination of the above?
Threats against him as a lawyer, as an FBI employee, as head of TSA, or some combination of the above?
Jan 11, 2013, 4:15 pm
#45
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It is one of Eddie Murphy's best movies - funny, goofy, and heartwarming, and one of his more family friendly movies as well. I highly recommend it.
Being a hard-core movie buff, when I saw Ysitincoach's obscure movie reference, I had to respond. I had to, don't you understand? I HAD TO!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094898/