# Attempt to assassinate Obama foiled. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 27, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846 "2008-10-27T21:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/21 "2008-10-27T22:39:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Y’know, the racists have an ideology of Racial Holy War. They think that at some point, there will be a war between the violent black people and the violent white people. > > It seems that if they were serious about instigating RaHoWa, they’d go find themselves some violent black people to attack. Black Iraq War veterans, say, or black members of organized crime syndicates. Fight the enemy’s soldiers, so to speak. > > Going after black six year olds? Dude, that’s weak. > > Daniel > > [sub]NOT advocating killing black veterans[/sub] For most of these guys, all their talk about “race war” is just what they use to get themselves worked up for a wankfest. 99.9999% don’t have the balls to do anything, and were the shit to _really_ get started, they’d be running for the hills of Canada. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/22 "2008-10-27T22:41:13Z")
I would expect that Mrs. Palin is going to make this front and center at her rallies, in a rogue-y, off-script-y, maverick-y type of fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/23 "2008-10-27T23:12:35Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I seriously doubt that Obama will be in greater danger in the US than Bush was in Iraq (where he’s been a couple of times). I’d be surprised if the SS guys weren’t being trained in the same kind of things that the soldiers going off to Iraq are being trained in. To get him, the nutters are either going to have to get _very_ lucky, or come up with something that nobody’s seen yet. Given that your typical bigot tends not to be the sharpest crayon in the box, I wouldn’t be betting on Obama not living to see the end of his first term. Bush wasn’t spending nearly every day in Iraq. Nor IIRC were his trips there publicized much in advance, if at all. I’d like to see an actuarial table on his chances if were he spending a year there. It’s not the typical bigots in the middle of the bell curve that are going to be the threat but rather the atypical ones from one end or the other. Either the ones from the OP who are completely clueless and come up with something so absurd that no one else would conceive it or, more likely, someone from the right side of the curve who will lay in a plan and wait for the opportunity to effect it. If it happens, it will be a lone person or a group of up to 6 people who have known each other all their lives and therefore the SS had no opportunity to infiltrate. Obama will figure predominately in many death pools in the coming years. Let’s also not forget the zealots who will consider it their patriotic and/or God given duty to rid us of Obama and throw themselves into the fray with no intention of surviving it. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/24 "2008-10-27T23:34:54Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I seriously doubt that Obama will be in greater danger in the US than Bush was in Iraq (where he’s been a couple of times). That’d be the same Bush that would sneak into and our out of the country unannounced, right? I wonder how that will work for Obama. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/25 "2008-10-27T23:39:29Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > For most of these guys, all their talk about “race war” is just what they use to get themselves worked up for a wankfest. 99.9999% don’t have the balls to do anything, and were the shit to _really_ get started, they’d be running for the hills of Canada. No way, man! We don’t want their kind in these parts!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/26 "2008-10-27T23:47:31Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > I suspect that Hitler himself would have thought these guys were retards. [And cowards.](http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/27/obama.plot/index.html) > [@](#): > > Though they told investigators they would be willing to die in their mission, the men backed out of their October 21 attempt to rob the gun dealer after spotting two cars and a dog at the home, the affidavit states. The men also shot out the window of a church on their way back to Cowart’s grandfather’s home, where they were arrested the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/27 "2008-10-27T23:48:01Z")
I’m terrified for this guy. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/28 "2008-10-27T23:59:52Z")
There have been at least two episodes where the same nutcase got within a few feet of Bush. Once at a dinner where he might have grabbed a knife if he had hostile intention, and another time that I can’t recell the details – maybe a greeting line getting on or off Air Force One. Then there was the attempt with the dud grenade. I have heard conflicting stories of how likely it was for Bush to have survived had it not been a dud. I guess it would have boiled down to how many bodies would be between him and it when it went off. So I am none too confident of the SS’s ability to keep Obama alive, though I certainly hope they do. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/29 "2008-10-28T00:02:33Z")
And the plan was foiled by the ATF. Yet another reason why they are the coolest of all federal agencies. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/30 "2008-10-28T00:07:08Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > And the plan was foiled by the ATF. Yet another reason why they are the coolest of all federal agencies. I love the idea of a whiskey flask in a hip pocket, a gun in a shoulder holster, and a pack of Luckies in the shirt packet. Throw on a pair of Ray Bans and an ATF jacket-- oh man, the chicks go wild. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/31 "2008-10-28T00:08:07Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > There was never any doubt of that part. And unfortunately there are some conspirators who are intelligent and resourceful enough that they’ll be a viable threat. I’m afraid that we’ll be having a state funeral before the end of his term. If the Secret Service could keep W alive the past eight years, I don’t think Obama has anything to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/32 "2008-10-28T00:13:54Z")
Two weeks ago the tv news reported that SS protection of the candidates had cost $100 million already. Well spent. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/33 "2008-10-28T00:15:59Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Enlightenment is relative. It wasn’t all that long ago that we wouldn’t bother arresting folks who did this sort of thing. This sort of behavior has always been grounds for arrest. Hell, the files are full of wackos who’ve been busted for writing threatening letters to public officials, much less being gun-totin’ neo-Nazis with dim-witted plans for offing half the countryside. We should actually be thankful that they came up with the idea to wear white tuxedos and top hats during their rampage. Word has it that the pair was nabbed after neighbors noticed them rehearsing a bizarre version of “Puttin’ On The Ritz” in their backyard. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/34 "2008-10-28T00:21:11Z")
I’m having trouble with referring to the Secret Service as “SS” in this thread. It’s fucking up my head. Quit it! I can’t really add to the sentiments of how terrible it is to hear that some backwoods nutjobs tried to put this together. I’m glad that they didn’t succeed, obviously. I guess the only thing to do now is to make fun of the dumbshits and degrade them in the manner in which they deserve. Does it look to anyone else like this douchebag is wearing makeup?! [http://http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Daniel-Democratic-presidential-candidate-MySpace-court-records/photo//081027/480/ca22899002de46eba48c72e1f0724755//s:/ap/20081027/ap\_on\_el\_pr/skinhead\_plot;\_ylt=Aq2M7iJH6LIxAih8648QBYBh24cA](http://http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Daniel-Democratic-presidential-candidate-MySpace-court-records/photo//081027/480/ca22899002de46eba48c72e1f0724755//s:/ap/20081027/ap_on_el_pr/skinhead_plot;_ylt=Aq2M7iJH6LIxAih8648QBYBh24cA) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/35 "2008-10-28T00:22:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So I am none too confident of the SS’s ability to keep Obama alive, though I certainly hope they do. That is a scary thought. Especially for the period between Nov. 4th. and Jan. 20th. I’m sure the SS is pretty confident and aware of the situation. I just hope some nutcase doesn’t find a hole in the coverage. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/36 "2008-10-28T00:36:29Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > And the plan was foiled by the ATF. Yet another reason why they are the coolest of all federal agencies. [Or at least that of last resort.](http://galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=535) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/37 "2008-10-28T00:44:09Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Bush wasn’t spending nearly every day in Iraq. Nor IIRC were his trips there publicized much in advance, if at all. I’d like to see an actuarial table on his chances if were he spending a year there. I’d be willing to bet that the SS uses similar tactics with Obama here in the US. Its not like the man’s got to drive to the Oval Office every day. > [@](#): > > It’s not the typical bigots in the middle of the bell curve that are going to be the threat but rather the atypical ones from one end or the other. Either the ones from the OP who are completely clueless and come up with something so absurd that no one else would conceive it or, more likely, someone from the right side of the curve who will lay in a plan and wait for the opportunity to effect it. Do you have _any_ idea of how difficult that will be? I was at a Reagan photo op around '83 or '84 (so this is _post_-Hinckley). The entire area for blocks around, was cordoned off hours before he arrived. Everyone went through metal detectors and had their bags searched, there were _heavily_ armed military types patroling the area on foot, and in vehicles, as well as plain clothed members of the SS and the local police (who were also there in uniform). We were _not_ told when Reagan would be arriving, only that it would be some time around a given hour, nor were we told which way he would be coming from. The buildings in the area had also been searched (some evacuted) and there were snipers on rooftops. Those of us with cameras were told where we could point them (and photographing the rooftop snipers was _verboten_). The SS has now, no doubt, intensified their security measures. I know at one point in time they were working on “deployable ballastic screens” which would pop up when a gunshot was detected and block the bullet. No idea if those are in use, but I’ve seen objects at some of Bush’s speeches which look like they might be them (long, black, rectangular boxes in front of the podium, clearly _not_ speakers). > [@](#): > > If it happens, it will be a lone person or a group of up to 6 people who have known each other all their lives and therefore the SS had no opportunity to infiltrate. Six people? The ideal number for these things is _three_. Any more than that, and its difficult to keep things quiet. (“Three can keep a secret if two are dead.” Ben Franklin.) > [@](#): > > Obama will figure predominately in many death pools in the coming years. Fidel Castro’s been on a bunch for a number of years now, and he ain’t cacked it yet. > [@](#): > > Let’s also not forget the zealots who will consider it their patriotic and/or God given duty to rid us of Obama and throw themselves into the fray with no intention of surviving it. Sort of like that guy during the Clinton Administration who crashed his plane into the White House? Or were you thinking about that guy who shot up the side of it with the AK? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/38 "2008-10-28T01:15:53Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I know at one point in time they were working on “deployable ballastic screens” which would pop up when a gunshot was detected and block the bullet. I believe high powered rifle bullets travel faster than sound; it would be rather difficult to detect a bullet. > [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Sort of like that guy during the Clinton Administration who crashed his plane into the White House? Or were you thinking about that guy who shot up the side of it with the AK? I thought he landed on the White House lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/39 "2008-10-28T01:25:29Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > There was never any doubt of that part. And unfortunately there are some conspirators who are intelligent and resourceful enough that they’ll be a viable threat. I’m afraid that we’ll be having a state funeral before the end of his term. My dad feels this way also. I think the Secret Service is prepared. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846/40 "2008-10-28T01:26:49Z")
I think we need to come up with new names. Racist? Or loony nut-job? One sits on the couch and says “damn minorities are stealing our jobs!” The other plots mass murder. They definitely need different names, or we risk Godwinizing drunk uncle Ned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempt-to-assassinate-obama-foiled/469846.md?page=3)