# Am I the only one whose sphyncters tighten watching Obama 'Work the Crowd'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785 "2008-11-02T23:55:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/21 "2008-11-03T20:07:36Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > SS can and does do the terrain and sniper perch analysis for a static position appearance ahead of the event, but it gets monsterously more complex for a parade route or other lineal movement operation. I guess that’s when the Secret Service advises the campaign that certain locations and actions are inadvisable. It’s difficult for me to imagine the trained security force doesn’t have some input as to what the candidate’s next photo op is and where his next speech is given. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/22 "2008-11-03T20:23:49Z")
Correcting a math error, 265 feet is only 88 yards, not 122. When I was leaving the service in 1992 I was looking into the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of State as a career option. I spoke at length with the Diplomatic Security guy at the embassy in Bahrain, and while Security did voice their opinions strongly, things at least in the early 90’s State Dept tended to go more toward the Diplomat’s side of things, and less to the Security side of things. I know it is much more intense at the Secret Service level (well, I assume it is) and they probably win more arguments than they do at State, but as I recall Clinton was notorious for going places where the Secret Service hadn’t checked out (and I don’t mean anything nefarious or sexual by that), and if the President is a free-wheeler like he was, they’ll certainly do the best they can, and they are very good, but chinks appear when they don’t have time to prepare. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/23 "2008-11-03T22:17:20Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Having just watched the excellent _Day of the Jackal_, about a cleverly-planned but doable assassination attempt on Charles Degaulle, I get a bit nervous, too. Its OK. The SS has seen that movie, too. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/24 "2008-11-03T22:22:03Z")
I’m just worried because I’m down to my last sphincter. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/25 "2008-11-03T22:32:41Z")
Terrified, but maintaining perspective. Assassins have gotten through security before in other places, places with much more control over their populace. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/26 "2008-11-03T23:54:04Z")
As I stated before, the SS folks are _highly_ trained in protection, and were the worst to happen, they **know** that the names and photos of the agents assigned to protect Obama will become public knowledge (The investigation would be _very_ detailed and _very_ public, becaue they’re going to want to damp down on conspiracy theories as much as they can.) and at which point, the SS agents can expect to have a _very_ short lifespan. Knowing that not only is the President’s butt on the line, but yours, and quite possibly your entire family’s as well does wonderful things for focusing the mind. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/27 "2008-11-05T15:29:25Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > …Why are Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan and Flavor Flav still alive? Because none of them are President-elect, after a hard-fought election campaign in which they were called a secret Muslim, a pal of terrorists, a foe of gun rights, and a threat to the Republic in a hundred different ways. Yes, I have to admit I’m very concerned. As I’ve said in earlier threads, our country is awash in guns. Those who really hate Obama are probably more likely to have guns, and the motivation to do something with them. An assassin only has to be lucky once; the USSS - and I have no doubts as to their professionalism or skill - has to be lucky all the time. I have prayed for Obama’s safety, and I will continue to do so. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/28 "2008-11-05T16:24:09Z")
I was enjoying the acceptance speech last night until he was done speaking and then I remembered this thread and started to get very nervous and had to turn it off. Glad to see everything is OK so far. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/29 "2008-11-05T20:42:43Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > Its OK. The SS has seen that movie, too. Obama has Nazi bodyguards? Hardcore. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/30 "2008-11-05T22:25:13Z")
You guys watch too many political thrillers. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/31 "2008-11-06T03:57:50Z")
Many of you may not have noticed, but when they showed Obama from behind, during the speech, you could see the bulletproof glass curtain in front of him… the panels look to be about 10 feet tall or so… [http://buzzfeed.com/peggy/obamas-bulletproof-glass](http://buzzfeed.com/peggy/obamas-bulletproof-glass) The ones in this pic don’t look like what I remember seing on TV S^G ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785/32 "2008-11-06T23:51:17Z")
[Obama’s getting a new set of wheels, it seems.](http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2008/11/06/cadillac_testing_new_obama_limo/) > [@](#): > > After President Obama takes the oath of office in January, he may have a new black limousine to go along with his not-so-new White House. General Motors is believed to be putting the final touches on a new First Car. > [@](#): > > For example, television clips showing George W. Bush entering and exiting the rear doors of his limos indicate that the windows are at least 5 inches thick, nearly twice the depth of what was used on presidential limousines in the 1980s and '90s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-whose-sphyncters-tighten-watching-obama-work-the-crowd/470785.md?page=1)