# Shrub's landing on the aircraft carrier, WTF was the Secret Service thinking???? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567 "2003-05-02T04:56:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/121 "2003-05-04T03:06:12Z")
…and therefore, Bush should have given up any advantages, such as wealth, and hacked out an existence as a poor soul, so that future generation could respect him. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/122 "2003-05-04T03:12:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Payton’s Servant \* > \*\*You of course have a cite for this, right? One that doesn’t involve Rush Limbaugh, right? > > No, you don’t because it isn’t true. > > Air Force One never blocked a runway at LAX. > > At least not while Clinton was President and onboard. > > Shmuck. \*\* As a matter of fact, dickhead, I do. In this interview with CNN reporter Carl Rochelle (can we agree that Carl Rochelle is not Rush Limbaugh?) he says he was on AF1 during the haircut. Interview here: [Carl Rochelle](http://www.cnn.com/COMMUNITY/transcripts/2000/5/23/rochelle/) "A better anecdote from Bill Clinton: I happened to be on Air Force One for the infamous “haircut flight,” where President Clinton **held up traffic at LAX** while he was getting a haircut. I was very pleased to be on Air Force One that day, because **it usually meant you were going to get home early**. But **then I noticed the press plane pulled by us, take off, and head home.** **We all thought that there must be some major world event to keep Air Force One on the ground so Mr. Clinton could have secure communications with whomever he needed to talk to.** Dee Dee Myers later came back and when we asked her why the flight was delayed, **she said, “The President was getting a hair cut.”** By the time we got home, it was big news. " So you can call me a shmuck, defend your boy Clinton, make up revisionist history to paint his worthless ass in whatever light you please, it does not matter to me. As a matter of fact, being called a shmuck by you is actually quite a compliment, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/123 "2003-05-04T03:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*What specifically did Shrub do to get anybody out of power. Other people wrote (mostly dishonst) speeches for him and he read them off a teleprompter. That is the sum of his personal involvement with this or any other war. > > Bill Clinton grew up dirt poor and earned his way into ivy league schools with genuine academic achievements. No one ever gave Clinton anything. His entire career was built with his own efforts and personal talent. Everything Junior has gotten was paid for by his daddy. \*\* So what? A similar comparison could be made between JFK and Nixon. Do you think Nixon was a better President than Kennedy? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/124 "2003-05-04T03:59:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skillet38 \* > \*\*damn, he’s on to my special “effete sarcasm” trick…love and kisses > :wally \*\* Better! Much better! A dash of ginger, a bit of _snap!_ B-minus. Extra points awarded for newbie insolence. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/125 "2003-05-04T04:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*So what? A similar comparison could be made between JFK and Nixon. Do you think Nixon was a better President than Kennedy? :eek: \*\* Kennedy fought in WWII. He went there and served. He was right in the shit. Ever heard of the PT109 incident? He was no coward. Having said that, I actually give Nixon credit for working his way up out of nothing to the White House, and I think he had the _potential_ at least to be a better POTUS than JFK. I think he had a little more gravitas, and who knows how Jack would have been viewed if he had actually served a few more years. Nixon was just hamstrung by his own paranoia. I happen to think that JFK is probably overrated as a president and maybe Nixon is a little bit underrated, if Nixon wasn’t so evil he probably could have been a _great_ president. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/126 "2003-05-04T04:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Not even our favorite SDMB Usual Suspects are even _trying_ to defend this steaming cup of crappucino any more. \*\* It’s not the subject matter, Buds. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/127 "2003-05-04T05:15:07Z")
At least Dubya could fly the aircraft. Slick Willie would be groping stewardesses. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/128 "2003-05-04T07:10:13Z")
You’re right. That is the least. ---
**Author:** ![Daffodil5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Daffodil5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffodil5)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/129 "2003-05-04T16:15:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*Somebody wanna cite me where the Secret Service gets to approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of the United States? \*\* I don’t have an exact cite, but I remember that on 9/11, Bush went scurrying around the country like a coward, rather than going back to DC and leading our nation. Anyone who commented on that was told how very much Bush wanted to go back to DC, but that the Secret Service wouldn’t let him. BTW, I’m delighted that our military likes him so much. That’s just what I wanted, a president who’s very popular with the military, and couldn’t care less about unemployment and other domestic issues. That always works out so well. I do hope he takes to wearing a uniform all the time, and that we can start celebrating his birthday as a national holiday soon. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/130 "2003-05-04T16:24:03Z")
Hi, **Daff** , thanks for checking in. If you don’t mind my asking, when did they replace flouride with Prozac in the middle school water supply? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/131 "2003-05-04T16:26:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > **What specifically did Shrub do to get anybody out of power. Other people wrote (mostly dishonst) speeches for him and he read them off a teleprompter. That is the sum of his personal involvement with this or any other war.** I beg to differ, in that President Bush is the Commander in Chief of the greatest military force on the planet, probably the greatest of all time. That did have something to do with toppling both regimes. You know, Al-Queda and Saddam were problems long before 1/20/01. How effectively did Mr. Clinton address those problems during his eight years in office? Not very effectively, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/132 "2003-05-04T16:30:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*…newbie insolence. \*\* Thank you oh great one, I know it is written that my opinions don’t count until I have at least 1000 posts, and my unworthy self apologizes for voicing said opinion.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Daffodil5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Daffodil5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffodil5)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/133 "2003-05-04T16:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linty Fresh \* > \*\*Hi, **Daff** , thanks for checking in. If you don’t mind my asking, when did they replace flouride with Prozac in the middle school water supply? \*\* I don’t mind getting flamed, but that made no sense. Please try again. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/134 "2003-05-04T16:47:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by milroyj \* > \*\*I beg to differ, in that President Bush is the Commander in Chief of the greatest military force on the planet, probably the greatest of all time. That did have something to do with toppling both regimes. You know, Al-Queda and Saddam were problems long before 1/20/01. How effectively did Mr. Clinton address those problems during his eight years in office? Not very effectively, IMHO. \*\* I’d say that since we never heard a peep out of either Saddam or al-Qaeda while BC was prez that he must have done a pretty good job with them. What did Junior do about either of them _before_ 9/11? Holding the title of CiC is basically menaingless. Bush has nothing to do with any real planning or strategy (not qualified) . Karl Rove and Dick Cheney make all the decisions. all Junior does is listen to advisors and go “yup,” as he tries to pretend that he understand what’s going on. They write his little propoganda speeches and he reads them (badly) off a teleprompter. Pee Wee Herman would get us exactly the same results. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/135 "2003-05-04T16:51:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Daffodil5 \* > **I don’t have an exact cite, but I remember that on 9/11, Bush went scurrying around the country like a coward, rather than going back to DC and leading our nation. Anyone who commented on that was told how very much Bush wanted to go back to DC, but that the Secret Service wouldn’t let him.** For those of you who weren’t paying attention, Washington was under attack. The Pentagon had been hit, and the 2nd plane that crashed in PA was likely headed for either the Capitol or the White House. President Bush stayed away for only as long as it took to assess the situation and ensure his safety, as was warranted. He wouldn’t have been able to lead the nation if he were killed in a homicide bombing. He was back in Washington within a matter of hours. Sir or Madam, the President is no coward. ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/136 "2003-05-04T16:56:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Fair enough. He is mendacious, pampered, over-privileged, self-righteous, pugnacious and wildly egotistical. > > But not lazy. > > Really, its just a matter of emphasis. \*\* In all honesty, has there ever been a modern President that didnt have most if not all of these features? In fact, some of those attributes must almost be requirements for the job. You HAVE to have a certian degree of self-righteousness to make decisions as pres. To even consider running for most powerful man on the planet,almost by definition, makes you wildly egotistical.Over privileged? Is there a single Senator, Rep, or member of higher elective office that almost again by definition isnt currently over-privileged ? And for that matter who gets to measure over privilege…YOU? And certianally never had a President that wasnt pampered, and given Libraries and Secret Service, book deals and on and on and on… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/137 "2003-05-04T16:57:57Z")
He cowered in a bunker like a scared little bitch. When it was obvious that the attack was over he came out from under the table he was turtling under and went out to exploit the attack for political advantage. He’s a gutless little prick AFAIAC. Let’s not forget his draft-dodging and his desertion during Nam ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/138 "2003-05-04T17:00:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > **I’d say that since we never heard a peep out of either Saddam or al-Qaeda while BC was prez that he must have done a pretty good job with them. What did Junior do about either of them _before_ 9/11?** Now you’re just talking out of your ass. Never heard a peep from Al-Queda while BC was prez? How about the first WTC attack, the East African embassy bombings, or the bombing of the USS Cole? Saddam’s regular violations of the no-fly zones, targeting coalition forces, in violation of the cease-fire? Nice selective memory there. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/139 "2003-05-04T17:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jonpluc \* > \*\*In all honesty, has there ever been a modern President that didnt have most if not all of these features? In fact, some of those attributes must almost be requirements for the job. You HAVE to have a certian degree of self-righteousness to make decisions as pres. To even consider running for most powerful man on the planet,almost by definition, makes you wildly egotistical.Over privileged? Is there a single Senator, Rep, or member of higher elective office that almost again by definition isnt currently over-privileged ? And for that matter who gets to measure over privilege…YOU? > And certianally never had a President that wasnt pampered, and given Libraries and Secret Service, book deals and on and on and on… \*\* Bill Clinton was never over-priveged. His salary as POTUS was the most money had ever made up to that point. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567/140 "2003-05-04T17:03:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Let’s not forget his draft-dodging and his desertion during Nam \*\* So which was it? Did he dodge the draft, or did he serve and then desert? Hard to imagine how anyone could do both, the two seemingly mutually exclusive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrubs-landing-on-the-aircraft-carrier-wtf-was-the-secret-service-thinking/172567.md?page=8)