Bush motorcade pointing guns at protesters? Any truth to this?

[QuettaKid]

Read it over at DailyKos. You would think there would be photos....who DOESN'T take a camera with them to a protest nowadays.

"We stood with about 50 others on rte 674 and when the motorcade came by there was assault rifle OUT the window pointing at ALL of us and the cars all looked like I remember seeing in the Hitler motorcades in the movies when I was a child, all boxy and black and one had the Pres seal and American flag on the sides. It was absolutely chilling!"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/12/8012/38216

[Mandate My Ass]

1. My ex saw Cheney's motorcade a few year's ago

and he said there were automatic weapons pointed out of several limo windows in the motorcade. This was during the fist Bush administration and waaaaaaaaaaayyy before crashcart's approval rating was 18%. :shrug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1186829

[marmar]

3. Yup. It's been verified by several protesters who were there....

When you're that hated, I guess you're a little bit paranoid.

[argyl]

4. It happened in Dallas, Nov. 2002. Bush was at SMU the night before the

midterm elections. There were a number of us there protesting the impending war in Iraq. The presidential motorcade went by us and there was a Secret Service agent leaning out of an open window of a limousine with a submachine gun in his hands.

[C_U_L8R]

5. These are the most hated men in the universe

Without the barrel of a gun to stand down their opponents
they would be torn to pieces by the hordes of freedom and justice.

[stop the bleeding]

6. I heard the lady that this happened to on NPR

she was pretty fired up about it, I would be as well

[MadHound]

7. Oh please, this has been going on for over twenty years

I remember the Reagan motorcade passing by in Springfield Mo. I was standing out by I44, waiting for Reagan to pass by so that I could flip him off. Was a bit unnerved when the motorcade started passing, a dozen or so Chrysler station wagons. Each had four SS agents in the passenger compartment, along with two SS agents kneeling on the open tailgate, full auto weapons at the ready, not pointing up or down, but pointing dead level. I was a bit unnerved about this, but persevered and achieved my goal. I have also seen this same occurence with motorcades of both Bush I and Clinton.

This is SOP with a presedential motorcade, to appear in force in order to discourage anybody from doing anything foolish. Yes, it is unnerving, yes it would be nice if it doesn't happen, but it is SOP, and has been so for a long while.

[Virginia Dare]

8. SOP

the motorcade carrying the Pres and VP have s.s. agents pointing automatic weapons out the windows, "protestors" or not.

[Toots]

9. I dare you to find one picture of that happening during Clinton's term.

It is something the war lords of Somalia do not the USA.

[Virginia Dare]

10. I don't have a picture....

but as I recall, they did do it during Clinton's term, and Poppy Bush too, I don't remember before that. Come to my part of D.C. where you see on average 1 motorcade a week. It may be shocking, but it is indeed reality.

[Bandit]

12. I agree it is SOP for SS Agents to carry submachineguns, I don't

think it is now nor has ever been SOP for them to have them pointed at people from the motorcade. They do carry them and have for a number of years but they have been very careful to keep them under wraps. That appears to no longer be the case. Now they travel around like War Lords from third world countries with guns pointing out from their vehicles at the local crowds. That is not SOP and has not been so before this group of thugs took office.

[Tesha]

15. You would be wrong.

You would be wrong to claim it's always done.

During Bush I's failed re-election campaign, the Bush
motorcade drove down the street directly in front of
my house; there were *NO* automatic weapons in evidence
although I'm sure they were carried in the motorcade.

I watched all this from a nice safe perch about 5 feet
above the road and ten feet back, holding up a big
Clinton-Gore sign.

Perhaps they decided that automatic weapons aimed at
mostly-Republican, certainly white voters would be a
turn-off? But clearly they didn't aim weapons from
every motorcade.

Tesha

[Virginia Dare]

16. It's always done in D.C....

I can't speak for other places, I've never seen a motorcade anywhere else, maybe it depends on how secure they can make the area ahead of time?

They also frequently use "decoys", so you never really know if it's the real POTUS or not.

[MadHound]

11. It is SOP, and yes, it was done during Clinton's term

Believe me or not, but I saw the same sort of heavy handed tactics in a Clinton motorcade, first hand.

[Virginia Dare]

13. Yes, I have worked in Washington in the vicinity of

the White House for nearly 20 years, I don't remember precisely when it started, but I think it was at least back to Ronny, the s.s. points their semi-automatics out the window when they are accompanying the President. That is how you know it is either POTUS or VPOTUS coming through.

At any rate, we are not to be believed apparently.

[anarch]

14. yeah, I'm pretty sure they've been doing this for a while

It sort of psychologically reinforces what the presidency is really all about.

[deaniac21]

17. This seems to be a common occurance. Someone please

post a few pictures. It all seems so chilling.

[ecstatic]

18. isn't it MORE dangerous to have bullet proof windows rolled down?! nt

[chrisbur]

19. They must only do it sometimes.

I've had the Presidential motorcade pass by me several times while protesting and I have never seen an SS agent with an exposed weapon. Cops yes, military yes, but never pointed at anyone. Now I have seen them point their pepper spray and hose everybody down.

[rinsd]

20. Weird thing that stuck to me for some reason.....

The writer talks about the Hitler motorcades as a child and how similar they were to Bush's.

The only footage I have ever seen of Hitler in a car has been in a convertible with the top down. Something a US president hasn't done since Kennedy.

But other than that who knows if its true?

[AzDar]

21. Sonofabitch! Just when you think nothing will shock you....

I don't care if other (Dem) Presidents did this; it's terrible and disturbing.