My Republican mother just told me Obama took 600 people over to England

[Maraya1969]

with him to meet the Queen. I have been looking and I can't find any information about this. Apparently it was in the Star Ledger in NJ today, (or yesterday....not sure)

Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks.

[maryellen99]

1. This is the first time I've heard of it

That trip was months ago.

[Maraya1969]

27. Obama took 500 including 200 Security and Bush took 700. Just found it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13508572

Obama's entourage was believed to consist of about 500 people - including 200 secret service agents. The Obamas, whose US security codenames are Renegade and Renaissance, were also reportedly joined by a team of medics, chefs and White House staff.


The Bushes, whose alternate US identities were Trailblazer and Tempo, were thought to have had an entourage of about 700. As well as secret service agents, national security advisers and government officials, there were also 15 sniffer dogs and five cooks on hand.

[CBGLuthier]

2. Who Cares? He's the Fucking President.

I doubt that figure but it does not matter. he is the president. Tell her to STFU and quit being a lousy american.

[HipChick]

3. I heard it was...

1M....who the fuck cares?

He can take as many people as he needs..he's the President, and with all the stupid nuts running around, I want him to be safe..

[maryellen99]

5. I really believe

That when repukes complain about Obama taking 600 people on a trip, they are complaining about him having security period.

[madokie]

9. Mostly just complaining is what I hear

Obama is black and a lot of people don't like that our President is a black man so they will never ever accept him. It sucks but thats how I see it.
Personally I hope that by electing someone other than a white male it will lead to us electing a woman President soon. I'm male but what we need is a woman President and we need one real fast like. A woman won't put up with the shit that a male will.

[bluedave]

26. naw

just jealous-it's their inherent greed

[HughBeaumont]

28. Maybe she should wonder why Bewsh, in his 2005 Coronation .. ...

. . . had state troopers from . . . well, just about EVERY damned state . . . five deep and a mile long down both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue, mounted police, more sharpshooters than you could blind with a well-placed mirror, street police with riot gear and three-foot batons, etc. I mean, it was like I was witnessing a junta, for chrissakes. Don't tell me all of THAT didn't cost tax bank.

Compare that to Barack Obama's Inauguration, which had an officer once every 20 feet. Couple snipers. No riot gear or 3-foot batons. Army did very very VERY poorly planned checkpoint security (only four passages for thousands upon thousands of people).

[polmaven]

4. Sounds a little like

that trip he took that was costing something like $40,000,000 a day. Complete fabrication.

[mwb970]

8. They said his trip to India cost $200M per day!

That's more than the war in Afghanistan costs! republicans sure suck at math, don't they?

[polmaven]

19. Yeah, yeah...that's it!

My coffee hasn't quite kicked in yet this morning! Thank you!

[trumad]

6. Tell your Repuke Mom she's an idiot.

[Maraya1969]

29. hey it's my mother. Be nice.

[JoePhilly]

7. Ask her how many people went on trips with Bush.

When she says she doesn't know, ask her why she doesn't know.

Let her know that she clearly didn't care then, so it seems odd that she suddenly cares now.

btw ... the reason you can't find the source is probably because there isn't one.

Of course you could ask your mother to produce her source, which she won't be able to do either.

[BeyondGeography]

10. And they each went on their own boats with a full Navy escort

[alc]

11. this link just says "hundreds"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7973274.stm

There's security, helicopter + pilots, limo + drivers, medical staff, chefs, staff, etc. 600 is not unbelievable.

[Papagoose]

12. I have a coworker who brings this up almost daily...

600 people to England, 250 million per day in costs, etc...

He even complains about President Obama having the NERVE to use Air Force One. I'm unable to get him to explain why it is wrong for this particular President.

[ck4829]

13. Wow, really? Not considering that there's no news about this, let's debunk this with logic

There's no plane that can safely fit 600 people in it. So, there would have to be a convoy of planes for this.

[NightWatcher]

14. is this all they have left?

I picture a crying baby with a snot bubble gasping while complaining about what the big, mean Obama did.

Nevermind what the reps they voted for are doing in Congress yesterday, today, and tomorrow

[Pholus]

15. Does your Republican mother remember W's London visit? Did Obama require the palace be rebuilt?

No time to research the links perfectly, but a 2003 rant from Airliners.net gives the main points. BTW, it seems the almighty W had 200 secret service agents as well.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/non_aviation/read.main/453008/

- That Buckingham Palace be practically rebuilt to withstand a possible terrorist attack. The Queen has said "no".
- That a Black Hawk helicopter be continually airborne over said palace, again to guard against attack. The Queen has said "no, it'll be too noisy." Good for her.
- That large sections of London be closed to the general public, including the City of London (which Bush isn't going to visit!). Vetoed.
- That the airspace above central London be closed during Bush's visit (think of the impact on Heathrow). Again, vetoed.
- That the Tube (underground railway) be suspended in areas where Bush is visiting. Again, vetoed.
- That the United States Secret Service (USSS) agents be immune from prosecution if they kill protestors. This has been vetoed by our Home Secretary. Good for him.
- That the USSS be allowed to deploy a "mini-gun" to protect Bush. Vetoed.
- That the USSS have operational control over the 5000 Metropolitan Police officers, including the world's most highly trained marksmen, SO19, as apparently we're too incompetent to look after ourselves. This again has been vetoed by the Home Secretary.

[Ian David]

18. Didn't Bush hit a cop with his bicycle and ruin the guy's career while he was there? n/t

[Ian David]

20. It's also safe to assume that there are American VIPs already in England who will join the entourage

... and don't need to be flown over.

[LuvNewcastle]

16. Sounds like that rumor my mom told me

the other day about some study on turtles that was costing hundreds of millions of dollars. I told her Fox probably made it up. She said, "No I heard it somewhere else." I said, "okay, Rush Limbaugh or John Stossel made it up then."

[GoCubsGo]

23. It always cracks me up to hear stories like that one.

All these stories of research on a single species that run into the "hundreds of millions" are always good for a laugh. Most scientists are luck to get $100K for a such a study. People are so fucking clueless. These "hundreds of millions" are probably more than they spend on all such research for turtles and every other creature combined these days.

[WinkyDink]

17. Tell it was really 2,000 and he's sending her the bill.

[baldguy]

21. I'd be surprised if it was that few.

There's the lead team from the WH staff & SS that goes ahead to coordinate the visit with the embassy staff & the UK govt - that's about 100 right there. Then there's Air Force One: the primary 747, the backup, then a C-5 or C-7 auxiliary transport for each, then there's one or two passenger jets for the press corps that isn't flying with the President.

I'd be surprised if it was less than 1000. It was the same under Reagan, and Bush I, and Clinton, and Bush II. Like CBGLuthier said above, he's the fucking President.

[OwnedByFerrets]

22. I would remind her about the 879 vacation days that Monkeyboy

took while a sitting president. And that he allowed the worst attack on American soil ever. And that we have spent 3 TRILLION dollars on wars that he started. Just for a start.

[TheCowsCameHome]

24. As long as each floated on top of a conservative, I'm good with that

[LeftinOH]

25. Somebody somewhere said something about something.. and it's totally true!

Facts, schmacts.

[inna]

30. unrec'd for the glaring lack of importance, considering current emergency issues