Slog - Comments on Tumbler and Tempo, Meet Renegade and Renaissance

Comment by Julie in Chicago

Julie in Chicago — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:59:26 -0800

Love the Obama ones. Couldn't be more perfect.

I get Celtic and Tumbler, but I don't know the stories behind Capri and Tempo...

Comment by ian

ian — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:47 -0800

this is old news!

Comment by superyeadon

superyeadon — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:04:47 -0800

tumber? is that true? not whiskeyface, or echochamber?

Comment by el

el — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:04:57 -0800

Why do you have a code name if we all know what it is?

Comment by Anthony Hecht

Anthony Hecht — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:13:05 -0800

The code names are just a tradition now, they're not important for security anymore. Before their communications were encrypted, it was important, and the names were actually secret.

Comment by John

John — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:21:42 -0800

If I were Obama I would have asked for 'Maverick' instead.

Comment by A

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:22:03 -0800

Also, they work well as unique identifiers to avoid confusion, and also for clarity when communicating over walkie talkies, or cell phones or whatever.

Comment by opticsdoug

opticsdoug — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:22:56 -0800

Huh. I always figured it was like the NATO Phonetic Alphabet - terms picked to be easily discerned in a noisy environment.

Unfortunately, these just look like someone was being cute and alliterative.

Comment by violet_dagrinder

violet_dagrinder — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:25:38 -0800

The Obama ones are really charming. :)

Comment by Mmalicious

Mmalicious — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:46:34 -0800

Doesn't Renegade= Maverick?

That must really piss McCain off. HA!

Comment by Original Monique

Original Monique — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:47:43 -0800

@Violet:

Please click the URL and help us out...

it's going to be fun, fun, fun!

Comment by Mahtli69

Mahtli69 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:31:37 -0800

JFK was called "Lancer", which seems appropriate.

Comment by Clint

Clint — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:33:46 -0800

I especially appreciated the last three mentioned in the article ;)

Comment by Rain Monkey

Rain Monkey — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:35:14 -0800

Why do they use code names if the code is not kept secret?

All these people already have public names.

Is this just the way Secret Service agents amuse themselves when nobody is trying to pass the motorcade in traffic.

Comment by yucca flowr

yucca flowr — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:08:32 -0800

Chelsea Clinton was "Energy", Amy Carter was "Dynamo".

@#14, Rain Monkey,

Because its cool...and Obama's should be Mr. Fantastic or maybe 007.

http://www.nndb.com/lists/050/000140627/

Comment by josh

josh — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:10:33 -0800

this has been Obama's codename since the primaries.

the long list is pretty entertaining:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_codenames#Presidents_of_the_United_States_and_their_families

(as is the fact that there will be a Rosebud in the White House)

Comment by Steagle

Steagle — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:18:02 -0800

Was Tumbler named after the pretzel incident?

Comment by JAltum

JAltum — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:10:09 -0800

Not only is W Tumbler, but his brother Jeb is Tripper, from the days when they were part of Timberwolf (GHW Bush)'s First Family.

The Bush Kids: They fell down a lot.

The best, however, are the Palins: Denali and Driller. Stay classy, Secret Service!

Comment by Smarm

Smarm — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:39:38 -0800

Will the Secret Service agents be pronouncing "Celtic" with a hard initial C like "Capri" or with a soft initial C like the Boston NBA team?

Comment by RainMan

RainMan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:15:10 -0800

I can think of a lot more appropriate names for Bush.

Comment by rsg

rsg — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:34:06 -0800

If I was Obama I would use Moron.

Comment by sarah

sarah — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:48:44 -0800

I will be really pissed off if the Secret Service calls Biden "Seltic" instead of "Celtic." Really. Pissed. Off.