# Presidential Bus - why so ugly and depressing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949 "2011-08-16T20:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/41 "2011-08-17T16:28:48Z")
:shrug: I like it. It’s not supposed to be a party bus. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/42 "2011-08-17T16:42:59Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Solid black paint would show any damage better than paisley, but still. A little gold pinstriping would snazz it up nicely. … and spinners. A politician’s bus most definately needs spinners. Two things surprise me here. One, only 1.1 million bucks? I figured most music band busses probably cost that much. You’d think with all the beefing up and gadgetry it’d easily top that. Two, no press has been allowed inside yet? I thought on A.F One that there were frequent chats with the press to qualify positions, promote policy, etc. I find the omission somewhat surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/43 "2011-08-17T16:44:01Z")
I hope it plays Darth Vader’s Theme out the windows. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/44 "2011-08-17T16:48:15Z")
Or _Flight of the Valkyries_ although, on second thought, “Valkyries” probably isn’t a word the Secret Service has fond connotations of. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/45 "2011-08-17T17:41:59Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > … and spinners. A politician’s bus most definately needs spinners. …and truck nuts. > [@](#): > > Two things surprise me here. One, only 1.1 million bucks? I figured most music band busses probably cost that much. You’d think with all the beefing up and gadgetry it’d easily top that. Well, the heavy weapons are in the SUVs in the other parts of the motorcade. I am surprised it is that little myself, especially with the communication equipment that is needed. > [@](#): > > Two, no press has been allowed inside yet? I thought on A.F One that there were frequent chats with the press to qualify positions, promote policy, etc. I find the omission somewhat surprising. I’m sure we will see it at some point, but on this tour he’s made it a point to have interviews in real workplaces. The Secret Service has done an amazing job keeping the President secure, and making any place he visits secure, so it’s not as if they need a bulletproof place to hold an interview. I’m sure all the major news organizations will have “ride-alongs” during the actual campaign. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/46 "2011-08-17T17:43:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black. “Looks like a fish.” “Moves like a fish!” “Steers like a cow…” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/47 "2011-08-17T18:03:25Z")
I assume that they can stick a vehicle skin on them for the candidates come election season if such a thing is desired. Easier than a paint job probably. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/48 "2011-08-17T18:06:24Z")
It will look cool going into a tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/49 "2011-08-17T18:06:53Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Colored paint? We’re a gazillion trillion dollars in the hole and you think this country can afford _colored paint_? With all due respect, you are _out_ of your _mind_. This is the funniest post of the week so far. ---
**Author:** ![smee\_goan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@smee\_goan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smee_goan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/50 "2011-08-17T21:32:51Z")
Sorry 'bout the fried chicken on the bus post. Gov. Rick Perry of TX going to throw him under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/51 "2011-08-17T21:46:30Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > It will look cool going into a tunnel. Like a giant black dildo. Who cares about the outside I want to see the inside. I wonder if it’s anything like Ashton Kutchers bus. > **[Check Out Ashton Kutcher's Gigantic Two and a Half Men Trailer](https://www.eonline.com/news/258248/check_out_ashton_kutchers_gigantic_two)** > > Actor will be living under one extravagant roof while shooting the TV show ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/52 "2011-08-17T21:53:54Z")
> [@smee\_goan](#): > > Sorry 'bout the fried chicken on the bus post. > Gov. Rick Perry of TX going to throw him under the bus. Maybe physically if he’s crazy enough to try it. The Secret Service would wrestle his ass to the ground. Definitely not electorally. By the way, Dylan Ratigan claimed the bus was built in Canada. It’s a Prevost bus, sold by [Hemphill Brothers](http://www.hemphillbrothers.com/) of Tennessee. Prevost is Canadian, but I can’t think of a US company that makes a bus built for this purpose. By the way, [why](http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1256/arnybus.jpg) does [this](http://img803.imageshack.us/803/fredbus.jpg) rule [only](http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7599/johnbus.jpg) apply to [Democrats](http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9182/georgebus.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/53 "2011-08-17T21:55:53Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Like a giant black dildo. > > Who cares about the outside I want to see the inside. I wonder if it’s anything like Ashton Kutchers bus. > > [Check Out Ashton Kutcher's Gigantic Two and a Half Men Trailer](http://www.eonline.com/news/check_out_ashton_kutchers_gigantic_two/258248) DAMN! I have seen plenty of slides, but never a whole second floor! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/54 "2011-08-17T22:04:38Z")
I’m with the (few) folks who think the bus looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/55 "2011-08-17T22:27:06Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Imagine they actually ordered 11 other identical buses. > Deployed in convoys of 3 or 4. > That would make an assassination much harder. This. Thank your lucky stars it wasn’t painted battleship gray. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/56 "2011-08-18T01:04:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I’m with the (few) folks who think the bus looks cool. The bus is, in a word, presidential. Maureen Dowd described it - in her words - [I’m with the (few) folks who think the bus looks cool. [/QUOTE] "]“Matrix bus”]([QUOTE=Asimovian;14150549) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/57 "2011-08-18T02:55:13Z")
> [@TXCowboy](#): > > Since it is owed by the government and is an offical vehicle, I can see them not painting it up with campaign slogans but I think a nice paint scheme like Air Force One or Marine One would be better that all black. He’s obviously campaigning on our dime, so pretending he isn’t is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/58 "2011-08-18T04:28:33Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > He’s obviously campaigning on our dime, so pretending he isn’t is just silly. Aren’t most of them campaigning on our dimes? I think the president’s very short, ground-based trip was a fairly responsible use of time and money. ---
**Author:** ![Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acorns.but_not_Bacon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/59 "2011-08-18T04:44:50Z")
I don’t know, I think it looks sexy. Cover it in translucent slime, paint some teeth on it and you’ve got yourself an alien. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/60 "2011-08-18T16:29:16Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > Aren’t most of them campaigning on our dimes? I think the president’s very short, ground-based trip was a fairly responsible use of time and money. No, they aren’t. Obama’s re-election campaigning is supposed to be on his dime, not the taxpayers’. Methinks we need to tighten the rules on what constitutes official presidential business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949.md?page=4)