Seen elsewhere: A nasty taste of the future, in Chicago

[King 5.45]

-- Human rights are already being trampled --

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/p...,7968303.story

Intense security a force Loop reckons with


By Robert Mitchum | Tribune reporter
November 18, 2008

The president-elect's security force was an unavoidable presence in the Loop on Monday morning as Barack Obama met with John McCain in Chicago's Kluczynski Federal Building.

Thirty-eight floors below, dozens of officers from Federal Protective Services patrolled the building's lobby and periphery. Armed agents checked the photo IDs of everyone who entered a metal barricade enclosing the majority of the plaza the building shares with a large post office and an Alexander Calder sculpture.

Several Chicago police officers kept watch over traffic in surrounding blocks, redirecting trucks away from streets around the building.

Most people who work in the area said the massive security effort presented only minor inconveniences: a longer wait at the metal detector to enter the Kluczynski Building or a change of location for cigarette breaks.

"This is the president of the United States, of course he should have this much security," said Mark Frazier, a passport/visa expediter. "It's a necessary evil."

But for some businesses near the transition team's headquarters, the constant presence of Secret Service agents has meant more than the occasional hassle.

Brien Cron, the manager of the UPS store across from the entrance to the Kluczynski Building's underground garage, said business is down 50 percent within the last week.

Customers either don't realize the store remains open or are kept from the sidewalk in front of the store when Obama's motorcade is on the move, Cron said. Employees find themselves under scrutiny, and delivery truck drivers must walk their cargo from a parking spot two blocks away. When Cron's cell phone was seized and erased by an agent when he attempted to videotape the motorcade, Cron thought it was "way over the top."

Bucha and Bong Shin, owners of Downtown Cleaners on Quincy Street, were even more concerned about their business. Because their front door is on the street where postal trucks line up for inspection before entering the underground garage, foot traffic has virtually disappeared over the last two weeks.

"We're very worried," Bucha Shin said. "The winter is always very slow, and the economy is slow, so this just compounds everything. I don't know how we'll survive it."

The Shins and Cron said they had not been contacted by any law-enforcement agencies before the security effort was launched.

"We can't wait until he leaves," Cron said.

rmitchum@tribune.com

[gold cup abuser]

"We can't wait until he leaves," Cron said.


I couldn't have said it better myself.....

Lets hope that this doesn't turn into the Jimmy Carter misery index years, but I'm not gonna bet on that.

[Morel42]

Oh give me a break.

It's Secret Service protection, they call the shots not the person who's being protected. They're paranoid (even more so) because of obvious reasons..

[King 5.45]

Oh give me a break.

It's Secret Service protection, they call the shots not the person who's being protected. They're paranoid (even more so) because of obvious reasons..

True. Obama can decree that everyone involved with his detail and his retinue go to Shin's for dry cleaning and tailoring services for the nonce. Consider it good faith practice for his share-the-wealth initiative. I'm sure that the UPS store can receive some sort of set-aside or PIK arrangement until the movable feast settles down upon DC.

[Morel42]

True. Obama can decree that everyone involved with his detail and his retinue go to Shin's for dry cleaning and tailoring services for the nonce. Consider it good faith practice for his share-the-wealth initiative. I'm sure that the UPS store can receive some sort of set-aside or PIK arrangement until the movable feast settles down upon DC.

Actually he can't.. The Secret service is one of the few agency's and individuals (under gov't payroll) who can refuse a direct order from the President.

For example, if the President is under threat in the White House, they'll throw his ass in the tunnel and carry him out even if he's screaming and threatening. He has no choice and he has no option but to comply.

But I do agree, they should be more aware of the impact on the surrounding area when it comes to his protection. Your example is a good one, if a diner has to close down for an afternoon, just have everyone on his detail and staff order food from there for the day..

[adymond]

Oh give me a break.

It's Secret Service protection, they call the shots not the person who's being protected. They're paranoid (even more so) because of obvious reasons..

What's that quote about those who would give up freedom for security deserving neither? Or the one about rathering too much freedom than security? I think those who presume to lead this nation should heed the words of our Framers. Not dispariage their efforts as being fundamentally flawed and allowing over zealous security.

[BSH]

I've always felt we (the people) waste far too much money protecting the President. He does not need two limos, three Suburbans, two vans, a helicopter, and all available units of local PD just to get from one part of town to another. The President, like all other human beings in every other position on earth, is REPLACEABLE. It's time to start weighing the public cost/benefit into the security considerations for the President.

[King 5.45]

What's that quote about those who would give up freedom for security deserving neither? Or the one about rathering too much freedom than security? I think those who presume to lead this nation should heed the words of our Framers. Not dispariage their efforts as being fundamentally flawed and allowing over zealous security.

Benjamin Franklin:

* They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
    * Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
          o The first variant was written by Franklin, with quotation marks but almost certainly his original thought, sometime shortly before February 17, 1775 as part of his notes for a proposition at the Pennsylvania Assembly. See Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin. [1]
          o The second variant was used as a motto on the title page of An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania. (1759) This book was published by Franklin; its author was Richard Jackson, but Franklin did claim responsibility for some small excerpts.[2]
          o A variant by Franklin: "Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power." (Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738)
          o This saying has appeared in many paraphrases:
                + "They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
                  "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
                  "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."
                  "He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security."
                  "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."
                  "People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both."
                  "If we restrict liberty to attain security we will lose them both."
                  "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
                  "He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither."
                  "Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither."
                  "Those who give up their liberty for more security neither deserve liberty nor security."

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

[Morel42]

I've always felt we (the people) waste far too much money protecting the President. He does not need two limos, three Suburbans, two vans, a helicopter, and all available units of local PD just to get from one part of town to another. The President, like all other human beings in every other position on earth, is REPLACEABLE. It's time to start weighing the public cost/benefit into the security considerations for the President.

And we'd have about 15 dead presidents instead of 2..

[sluggie24]

And we'd have about 15 dead presidents instead of 2..

Maybe they all would have had it comming?

Just playing devils advocate here.......