# The Presidential Helicopter and the I-35 Bridge **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 4, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465 "2007-08-04T23:54:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/81 "2007-08-07T11:37:27Z")
The question no one has answered is why he was there at all? What does he bring to the table? As I said earlier, he has no skills or training that are relevant in the operation. As far as I can determine, he was there as a tourist. If his safety is so important why was his precious life risked for a dog and pony show? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/82 "2007-08-07T12:44:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bill Door] If his safety is so important why was his precious life risked for a dog and pony show? [/QUOTE] Because, for better or worse, being the face of the federal government requires him to be there. It’s true for governors and mayors when something happens in their state or city, and something of this magnitude requires it of the president. This is one of the things Presidents are required to do. You can make the case against this, but until the public accepts that shift it is going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/83 "2007-08-07T13:48:02Z")
[QUOTE=Muad’Dib] I belive that his unstated message is that this is not a conversation worth adding to. [/QUOTE] Obviously not, since the message _was_ stated. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/84 "2007-08-07T17:24:07Z")
An emaciated child clutches his mother’s corpse. The desert sun has parched his mouth. Struggling to breathe, he drags his dried tongue over the sores on his face for their moisture. His vision blurs. His exhausted heart finally stops. A scorpion crawls into his ear. The sand whirls into a calamitous rage, leaving nothing to be seen. Overhead, the greatest technology on earth has roared by, as the most powerful person in the world basks in every comfort and convenience. Our most vain shame is that we believe replacing him with some other person will change anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/85 "2007-08-07T17:47:47Z")
If we replaced him with _you_, I have every confidence that much would be altered. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465/86 "2007-08-07T20:01:22Z")
Was that for the Bulwar-Lytton thing? I thought **boyo jim** already won that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidential-helicopter-and-the-i-35-bridge/414465.md?page=4)