i love it when presidents come to town – as long as i don’t have to travel anywhere, of course. the city closes off all the streets, moves all the trash cans from every corner, stations 6 cops on every single corner and set up blockades all along the route – the pomp & circumstance is fabulous. first the test cars come through – usually a couple of black escalades, then a few nypd cars, a couple of motorcycle cops and maybe even some kind of completely non-descript taurus or something. that’s when you know he’ll be arriving within 20 minutes or so.
motorcycle cops lead the motorcade. lots of them – followed by a slew of escalades with security men peering out of every window, then the presidential limos – 2 of them. apparently that’s to fool possible assassins – seems a bit silly to me but luckily i’m not in charge. after a bunch more escalades, cop cars, ambulances and some more cops on motorcycles – and then it’s over. obama was escorted all the way to daniels for dinner. here he is driving right past my apartment last night.
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obama did wave to the crowd which left me wondering about the 2 limo fool -the- people strategy. i hope he ordered the crab cakes.
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“Life is a brief, small, and transitory phenomenon in an obscure corner, not at all the sort of thing that one would make a fuss about if one were not personally concerned”
Bertrand Russell