I think an assassination of Obama would have brought the wrath of the state down on the anti-Obama side very quickly. I expect almost none of the self-declared white supremacists wanted a piece of that.
Now, W Bush, he was supposed to be assassinated, in accordance with tradition. We, the American people, got careless there.
And when he does, he’ll have the gratitude of a grateful nation.
Hey, putting this stuff off 'til the last hour is a great way to end up doing a sloppy job. What’s he going to do, finally remember it on the way to Trump’s swearing-in? I can see it now, Barry desperately trying to strangle the Donald with a necktie as they ride together in the Presidential armored auto in the parade.
43, 38, 88%.
Boy, I sure can. Where’s your imagination?
I think the internet helps. Between venues to ‘let off steam’…or places to out yourself.
Assassins tend to be leftists so I felt he’d be pretty safe.
I don’t think the typical assassin, let alone the typical white supremacist, is rational enough to think that far ahead.
^This
I think all presidents are a target for assassination but the chances are low. I didn’t believe things would be different with Obama.
Exactly what I was thinking. Bush and Clinton had plenty of nut-jobs after them. But like you said, the Secret Service is just phenomenal. Read about their countersnipers sometime, with their bespoke guns built for each individual shooter. Living in DC, I’ve had a couple of run-ins with Secret Service (not adversarial, just precautionary), and they are scary professional.
Not particularly. The number of crazed (or not so crazed racists) running around was and still is being trumped up for tactical purposes.
Related question…eight years ago did you think that Obama might make a greater effort to improve race relations?
Possibly worthy of another thread.
Short answer – 8 years back I thought he would make a greater effort on a lot of fronts. Which is why he didn’t get my vote 4 years ago.
Nice essay on exactly this topic - basic theme, the black community has been holding its breath for eight years - in today’s NYT.
I thought someone might try, but they would be thwarted.
Now, about Trump. I’d dance on his grave if he should die of natural causes. I utterly despise the man. But once he’s sworn in I’ll be seriously pissed if ANYBODY assasinated him, whatever their ideology. He will be POTUS, and any attack on him is an attack on the country as a whole.
Yes, I did. And I’m worried about after his presidency, too. I’m glad they restored lifetime protection for ex-presidents.
Honestly, writing anything about this topic gives me the creeps. There are tons of news stories out there of people posting dumb comments on social media and then being unpleasantly surprised when the Secret Service shows up at their door. I prefer not to go anywhere near it.
Oh my, I was worried.
I didn’t think Obama was PARTICULARLY likely to be assassinated. That is, I never thought (as many black Americans did) “America is so full of violent racists that a black President is in grave danger.”
But hey, four US Presidents HAVE been murdered, Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt were shot, Truman and Ford were nearly killed… it’s a dangerous job. Trump faces exactly the same dangers Obama did.
But Trump is safe, because: President Pence.
I’m quite worried about Trump. There’s so much anger from the Left. I could easily see several crazy people doing something. Much like Ford had several nutcases try to get him.
I was worried about Obama for his first year. But it became apparent the racists didn’t seem to care that he was elected.