# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/61 "2011-08-18T19:03:24Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > 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. Or switch it up with [Fatheads](http://www.fathead.com/home-decor-graphics/polka-dots/purple-polka-dots/) . ---
**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, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/62 "2011-08-18T20:01:40Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > 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. So when he goes out campaigning, which I assume he is allowed to do, how exactly is he supposed to get somewhere to do it? Isn’t he **required** to trundle about in official presidential vehicles with official presidential bodyguards and secure communication and that guy with the football? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/63 "2011-08-18T20:11:41Z")
First black president and they’re making him ride the bus to work? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/64 "2011-08-18T20:12:55Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > 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. Whether he’s campaigning or not, he needs protective services and protective vehicles. This is part of that. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/65 "2011-08-18T20:14:50Z")
The Secret Service will be providing security for him for the rest of his life - regardless of his activites. Just as they followed The Bush twins to college, they will follow him on the campaign trail and anywhere else he goes. The budget and level of service provided is much higher while he is the sitting president. He does not have the right to just hop on his own bus or into his station wagon and go on the road. That would be enormously selfish and pose a great threat to the folks who are sworn to jump in between him and any bullets that come his way. To make it slightly more fair, the Republican candidate is also provided protection. You may recall when Ross Perot was a viable third party candidate there was quite a falderol over whether he should be provded protection as well. This actually lead to his eventual decision to drop out of the race. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/66 "2011-08-18T20:22:29Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > The Secret Service will be providing security for him for the rest of his life - regardless of his activites. Just as they followed The Bush twins to college, they will follow him on the campaign trail and anywhere else he goes. The budget and level of service provided is much higher while he is the sitting president. Actually I think he’s the second president (GWB being the first) who will only get tax-funded SecServ protection for 10 years after he leaves office. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/67 "2011-08-18T20:58:41Z")
I got to see both busses in action last Monday when Obama was driving through Minnesota. One is black, the other looked maroon. They were surprisingly boxy and non-descript, except for the flashing red/blue police-style lights on the top front and sides. And they seemed to be moving pretty fast. I’m wondering how they get the busses from place to place - you certainly can’t load them into a plane! ---
**Author:** ![CCYMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@CCYMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCYMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/68 "2011-08-18T21:08:20Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I’m wondering how they get the busses from place to place - you certainly can’t load them into a plane! My understanding is that they’ve got the engines rigged to the wheels so they can actually roll it from place to place under its own power! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/69 "2011-08-18T21:17:56Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I’m wondering how they get the busses from place to place - you certainly can’t load them into a plane! Why not? It should fit in a [C-17](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III#Design). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/70 "2011-08-18T23:00:59Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Actually I think he’s the second president (GWB being the first) who will only get tax-funded SecServ protection for 10 years after he leaves office. Seems reasonable enough given there is little “reason” for someone to assassinate an ex-President. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949/71 "2011-08-19T15:08:33Z")
Or a [C-5](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EkpSXI71qcI/TdoNX85SBoI/AAAAAAAAAec/rYl1aXOmrIY/s1600/3.1.jpg) . I’m very surprised that the two buses don’t match. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-bus-why-so-ugly-and-depressing/592949.md?page=3)