Slog - Comments on "Mr. Obama, You Can't Say That Dallas Doesn't Love You" http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l There's good Kennedy mystique, and then there's bad Kennedy mystique... Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday [in Dallas] stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena. The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security. Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order--apparently made by the... Copyright 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:35:55 -0800 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:17:45 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by unPC maybe GWB put Brownie in charge of the secret service, too. With advice from Mushareff.

Serously this is terrible.

]]> unPC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944993 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944993 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:44:55 -0800 Comment by Fifty-Two-Eighty That is some seriously freaky shit. Especially in Dallas, of all places.

]]> Fifty-Two-Eighty http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944996 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944996 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:46:50 -0800 Comment by Mike of Renton Um, it's Texas, did you really expect everyone to leave their guns at home?

]]> Mike of Renton http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944997 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c944997 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:47:23 -0800 Comment by Chris I attended the rally in Madison and there were only cursory patdowns done by a private security company.

Apparently there was more security in order to get on the floor but they didn't seem that concerned with everybody else.

]]> Chris http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945002 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945002 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:53:12 -0800 Comment by marigold seriously WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope Obama at least is asking some questions. sheeesh...

]]> marigold http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945010 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945010 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:58:25 -0800 Comment by K No searching for weapons? In *Texas*?

Goddammit, they're already trying to assassinate him and he's not even president yet.

In Dallas, too. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Pun not intended, but fitting.

]]> K http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945014 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945014 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:59:59 -0800 Comment by lorax J

F

K

M

L

K

R

F

K

maybe some things don't change like that dark unkown underfaction that lashes out at....change.

]]> lorax http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945016 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945016 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:02:02 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe In Texas, problems are solved with guns. You don't shoot people, but you do that Sheriff shit where you raise your voice and start shooting your gun in the air. Imagine that at an Obama rally. Congress.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945017 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945017 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:02:34 -0800 Comment by lostboy Remember kids, the problem with shooting guns in the air is that what goes up must come down.

</psa>

]]> lostboy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945018 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945018 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:06:39 -0800 Comment by Ronan I went to the rally at the Key Arena a few weeks ago and didn't get screened. In fact, I only saw screening going on for people who'd stand in the huddled mass in front of the stage. Consequently, I'm betting the SS forgoes screening a lot more often than this story indicates.

]]> Ronan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945022 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945022 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:08:48 -0800 Comment by mikeblanco I look at this the other way. I would say that that the Dallas police were dragging their feet to prevent people from hearing Obama speak. The Secret Service, who expect to be reporting to Obama a year from know, put a stop to it.

]]> mikeblanco http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945030 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945030 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:28:10 -0800 Comment by max solomon everybody like barack, so there's no need to worry!

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945031 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945031 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:29:09 -0800 Comment by Levislade @11 - that's completely absurd.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945032 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945032 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:30:09 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Your headline is wrong -- the quote is "DOESN'T love you". It doesn't make sense otherwise.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945036 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:35:50 -0800 Comment by Dan Savage Thanks, Fnarf. I tossed it up, walked away. The minute I saw it I realized I fucked it up. Sigh.

]]> Dan Savage http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945041 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945041 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:45:33 -0800 Comment by Sam M. The real issue here is that Obama's appearance crowds keep growing and growing. People were lining up outside of Reunion Arena at 6:30 a.m. and the place pretty much filled up; this is as much an issue with Secret Service as it is with local event promoters finding themselves unprepared to deal with the masses. The bottleneck on that Dallas line was ridiculous, and I'm sure Obama's camp had at least something to do with just opening the floodgates and getting the rally on its way so that people with jobs could leave in time. Could've turned out awfully, but, shit, Dallas crowds aren't as bad as Slog commenters think. Who'da thunk. Still, other cities should take heed and prep for Obama's appeal appropriately.

]]> Sam M. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945043 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945043 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:46:30 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 Screening only the people who are very close makes sense. It's not like someone is gonna be able to sneak a sniper rifle into the bleacher seats, even without a metal detector.

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945048 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945048 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:51:01 -0800 Comment by crk on bellevue ave Have we ever had a politician draw this many people? Is there an equivalent in the celebrity/music world that would also require a lot of security?

How the hell can you screen 18,000 people in a timely fashion?

Once elected, will he do rallies like this?

The mind wonders...

]]> crk on bellevue ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945051 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945051 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:52:26 -0800 Comment by max solomon once he's elected, he's going to be so busy climbing us out of the shithole chimpy threw us into that there won't be another rally till 2012.

if there's even an amurka by then.

seriously.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945068 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945068 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:12:06 -0800 Comment by stinkbug this is a non-story. the SS has reasons for doing things certain ways. I was probably in the last 1000 or so of people who got into Key Arena. We were rushing the doors like it was a cincinnati Who concert. There was no (visible) screening and we weren't really entering the main doors single file. Of course the only seats left at that point were in the nose bleed sections. The SS job entails risk management. In some ways they may be creepy, but I trust them more than local police departments.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945074 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945074 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:15:36 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Now if you could just Photoshop Obama's head into some stills from the Zapruder film. Tastefully, of course. I wouldn't use the one with the big chunk of head laying on the trunk of the car with Jackie diving after it. No, wait -- yes, I would.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945095 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945095 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:27:37 -0800 Comment by stinkbug btw, one advantage to being in the nose bleed section at Key is that one could watch the police in the catwalk section. most people there probably didn't see them.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945104 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:36:30 -0800 Comment by Andy Niable Interestingly--when I went to see Obama at Key Arena, before I even got to the front doors, a LOCAL security screener from the Center claimed I couldn't enter the area because I was carrying an SLR camera (removable lens). I protested and stayed in line anyway. When I got to the doorway, a couple in front of me WITH A STROLLER was being patted down, and then I was allowed in without anyone blinking.

At least our local security people here are vigilant. But if this story pans out--that the Secret Service was being lax--this needs to be corrected, pronto.

]]> Andy Niable http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945124 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945124 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:50:36 -0800 Comment by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me Sooo... Hillary does have a "plan B" to get the nomination, and her moles in Obamas security detail are putting it into play...

]]> You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945146 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945146 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:05:14 -0800 Comment by some dude i have it on good authority that obama can dodge bullets.

]]> some dude http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945152 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945152 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:13:10 -0800 Comment by Bison A better option for the headline would have been: "Dumbshit who has no understanding of security protocol brings the other dumbshits out of the woodwork to comment."

]]> Bison http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945193 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945193 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:32:13 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I think they hired Brownie to supervise.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945195 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945195 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:33:00 -0800 Comment by lostboy some dude @25, Obama doesn't have to dodge bullets; they bounce harmlessly off his Kryptonian skin just before being transformed in flower petals by the radiance of his divine soul.

]]> lostboy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945240 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945240 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:07:28 -0800 Comment by Greg Lesson from this: fuck Dallas.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945300 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945300 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:40:58 -0800 Comment by elenchos I dislike this topic immensely.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945356 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/mr_obama_you_cant_say_that_dallas_does_l#c945356 2008 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:17:45 -0800