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Chicago drivers unclear on the new reality

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Obama

* From Thursday’s press pool report…

Obama left his house at 11:27 am, and heading to a security briefing at the FBI building (Chicago division). The motorcade drove along Lakeshore Drive, and past Grant Park…

Some of the drivers here in Chicago do not seem to understand that a) the Chicago police car at the end of the president-elect’s motorcade is serious about having traffic pull over when the officers flash their lights and hit their sirens, and b) it’s not a great idea to jump ahead of traffic by trying to cut around the black SUV filled with five heavily-armed secret service CAT members.

When the motorcade pulled onto Van Buren, an African-American couple driving a tan sedan tried to drive around the motorcade. The SUV cut the car off immediately, and the security team aimed their weapons at the car. The driver and passenger in the sedan stopped, and looked stunned — until the male driver appeared to understand what was happening (your pool reporter could see him mouth “Obama”). The motorcade continued on. The sedan remained stopped, near the side of the road.

Please, let’s be careful out there.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:21 pm

Comments

I thought that this story always ended with the little girl saying “Mayor Daley”, not “Obama”.

Comment by Canseco Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:32 pm
There’s just too much material today.

“A note of clarification for the previous pool note: The president-elect left the gym wearing … a black Sox (go Sox!) baseball cap.”

I now a president can pardon people, but can he get Buck Weaver reinstated?

Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:36 pm
Having worked with the USS presidential detail in past years, it would be a HUGE public benefit for Chicago newsies to run a few stories about how they should deal with motorcades. These guys don’t just notice the kitties, they shoot them.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:39 pm
==…an African-American couple driving a tan sedan tried to drive around the motorcade.===

Does it really matter what race the drivers were? Silly.

Comment by LN Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:39 pm
LN, I thought the same thing; The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Comment by HV in HP Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:44 pm
I assume they were “wide eyed” - Fear has big eyes.

Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:47 pm
Dan Quayle’s motorcade once ran the taxi I was in off the road in Washington DC. No guns were drawn.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:51 pm
They sevice is probably a little more on point as there have already been some wacko’s that have plotted to kill the President-Elect. Lets hope know one (citizens) get hurt while the transition takes place. Chicago is very energized with the hometown boy and just need to learn he is now off limits to the general public. Unfortunate but that is the way life is for the Obama family.

Comment by Lake Co. Voter Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:58 pm
The epic battle between Chicago taxi drivers and the US Secret Service is still too close to call.

Comment by Scooby Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:12 pm
AA thinks Commonsense has a good idea. I had a small bit of experience with these folks a long time ago. I know just enough to guess that a properly done TV piece could make the POTUS-elect, his protectors, and the general public safer without compromising any of the tactical elements of how the USSS moves protectees around.

Folks who live in or spend much time in DC will tell you that the Presidential detail likes to run hot and run fast. Seeing any vehicle roll at the posted limit or above on most busy Chitown streets, let alone a good-sized motorcade, may get drivers’ attention, but not necessarily in a good way. Post-inauguration, or maybe even before, expect different, and safer (but inconvenient) arrangements.

Another huge security issue a whole bunch of Federal agencies are likely wrestling over right now is the airspace over the Obama home. Usually, flight over and around the POTUS/VPOTUS’ personal residences is restricted below the flight levels when they are in residence. In fact, there were temporary restrictions on Election Day and Night. (Note: these flight restrictions are public information (FAA) and this post is not intended to compromise security in any way or it wouldn’t be posted.)

Since 9/11, the FAA has only had to restrict flight over Camp David (a moderate pain in the rear for aircraft flying east/west into DC, but they give plenty of warning and it’s clearly marked) and a couple of ranches out in the sticks.

Having a “Western White House” in the middle of a large city, not far from a major airport, and with a heliport just blocks away, presents what could be an unprecedented challenge for the USSS.(Yes, just like Washington, DC. in some respects but siginficantly different in others.)

Those brave men and women deserve our good wishes and prayers in the days and months to come.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:21 pm
I had occasion to participate in the security arrangements for a VPOTUS event motorcade a few years back. Them USSS types are scary serious.

Comment by Ken in Aurora Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:27 pm
LN, that jumped out at me, too. No idea why the race of the driver should be part of the story. Pool reports are supposed to have lots of stuff in them, but I doubt they’d get a call from a reporter asking the driver’s skin color.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:33 pm
Sounds like it would all go a lot more smoothly if Obama just sold his house and moved to DC.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:35 pm
Blago advised him to simply have the WhiteHouse moved to his expanded lot and stay in Chicago.

Comment by A Citizen Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:43 pm
AA is really not trying to be snarky, here, but..to those who might take umbrage at the pool reporter’s description of the folks driving the car:

a) He also noted the color and body style of the vehicle. Maybe he was just trying to be thorough.

b) If this was a plain old traffic stop, and not “interference with a motorcade that went East to go West and now we’re turning back West” the CPD officers would be required by law to note the race of the driver. The sponsor of that law: Barack Obama.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:54 pm
LOL. Point taken.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:58 pm
Wow, I blame Obama for this! lol

Comment by Levois Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 6:17 pm
Probably should have protocol in driver training programs for showing proper adoration toward our pollies-it’s done in Great Britain so why not here?

Comment by red dog Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 7:30 pm
I covered a trip by Reagan to the Quad-Cities when he was in his last-year victory lap. He wanted to visit Palmer College of Chiro where he got his start fabricating Cubs games at WOC.

The logistics that went into getting him from Air Force One at the Moline airport across Big Muddy via the twin bridges to Palmer in Davenport took weeks of planning by the Secret Service and the local coppers. But the sight of that long motorcade crossing the Mississippi and rolling down River Drive all alone was something to see.

On a lighter note, I once inadvertently surprised one of V.P. Bush’s Secret Service dudes sneaking a smoke behind a hog barn outside Muscatine. His embarrassment at a clod like me getting the drop on him was heartbreaking.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 7:54 pm
The cool thing is that when the Obama SUV encounters the Blago SUV, Blago has to pull over.

Comment by Ahem Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 8:19 pm
===I covered a trip by Reagan to the Quad-Cities when he was in his last-year victory lap. He wanted to visit Palmer College of Chiro where he got his start fabricating Cubs games at WOC.

I love that place–I saw both Jane’s Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins in the gym. Jane’s was the best pit I’ve ever been in.

Comment by archpundit Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 8:33 pm
Enough already. This is a President not an Emperor. The psychology of ’security’ feeds upon itself until we have Secret Service agents a law unto themselves pointing high powered automatic rifles and most think it’s OK. We are a democracy not a thugocracy, and it would probably be good for a few irreverent Chicago drivers to thumb their noses at such pretension. Hey, it’s Chicago…we don’t do the wave at Bears games either.

Comment by walter sobchak Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 9:49 pm
Walter…

I think we are going to just assume that was a complete troll…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 10:28 pm
walter, you just go try that little trick out yourself, ok? look forward to seeing you on TV.

This has absolutely nothing to do with an imperial presidency and everything to do with Federal law enforcement officers carrying out among the most important assignments in their field. Their actions are both clearly authorized by law and the use of force procedures set forth by their Agency. You have no idea as to the number and type of active threats-as well as the unknown-of which they have to be prepared to respond to every time the protectee leves a secure building to start the motorcade.

Keep in mind that a fair amount of what the uninformed may find “excessive” has been implemented based on actual or attempted security breaches of US or international
protectees.

word, I was around a couple Reagan events as well. The first ramp-up of his security occurred following his shooting in 1981, to an extent driven by the First Lady. When he came to SPI in ‘84 just before the election to speak at the Lincoln statue, security was incredibly tight by the standards of the day. Can’t say how, because it’s still being done, but an environment was created wherein he literally appeared out of nowhere after the motorcade arrived at the Capitol.

Also remember GHWB and Barbara stopping at the end of their Fairgrounds visit in ‘92 to shake hands, hug, and say thanks to each and every worker on the visit that day, followed by a worker with a huge cooler of water and cold drinks. Love or hate their politics, they are classy people.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 10:28 pm
While much has been made of Obama’s race, overlooked is that he’s the first Big City President in 100 years, even though 60% of Americans live in urban areas of 200,000 or more. The last “Big City” President was William H. Taft of Cincinnati, OH (350,000), who predated flight plans by a few years.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 10:54 pm
“This is a President not an Emperor. The psychology of ’security’ feeds upon itself until we have Secret Service agents a law unto themselves pointing high powered automatic rifles and most think it’s OK.”

It is OK. It’s more than OK. This President, more than any other in recent history, represents more than just ‘the Executive branch’ to a large group of our citizenry. Obama needs to survive the duration of his term(s) in office, the country can’t afford the divisions and loss of hope that would ensue if he didn’t. If that means that a few Chicago drivers are inconvenienced, or given pause for aggressive, road-rage inducing driving, then that’s a pretty small price to pay.

Comment by Frank Sobotka Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 2:22 am
CAT = Counter Assault Team. They seem to be tasked with shooting at attackers so other agents can focus on evacuating the protectee.

As for the reporter’s use of jargon, a pool reporter is writing for other reporters, not the “peasantry.” Not being for public consumption, pool reports are often not ready for prime time.

Comment by The Professor Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 3:31 am
For an eye-opener, take a ride with CPD or ISP or a paramedic crew to see what happens when you HAVE to get from point A to point B fast with lights & siren blaring. NO ONE pays attention to any emergency vehicle. When you take your ride, remember that any mis-step will make the newspapers and Cap Fax right column. Be sure your life & health insurance are topped-off 1st.

Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 7:58 am
I do feel sorry for the people who live within a few blocks of the Obamas and have to show ID to get to and from their own homes, as has been reported. I’m sure it’s fun for a few days but by now, I’d be getting annoyed. On the other hand, if they own their own homes, their property values have probably zoomed up (followed shortly by a property tax increase, I’m sure).

Speaking of property taxes, I was not happy to read that my property taxes here in lovely, tax-happy Oak Park are higher than those of Rahm Emmanuel, a very well off Chicago city dweller in a very nice neighborhood. Apparently, the city tax situation isn’t quite as bad as Chicagoans would have us believe.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 8:14 am
Cassandra, it’s not just Oak Park. I remember a while back the Tribune comparing houses at the metro-wide average price and while taxes were pretty consistent across the metro area on a square foot basis, they were brutal in the suburbs on an ad valorem basis. Regularly I’ve also seen stuff that compares Chicago to other major cities. The bottom line is that Chicago property taxes are quite reasonable. Suburban property taxes are high, bordering on scary in some locations.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 8:30 am
This isn’t Viet Nam, Walter. There are rules.

Comment by Ahem Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 8:39 am
If you think the Secret Service is tough, anyone visited Capitol Hill lately?

I was there last summer after about a 10-year absence and was stunned at the heightened level of security. It’s an armed camp for blocks around with unsmiling Cap police toting automatic weapons and shotguns. Access to the entire complex is severely restricted, so if you’re planning on a tour, I’d recommend getting passes from your rep. or senator weeks ahead of time. For the White House or Pentagon, I hear it’s months.

By contrast, a spur-of-the moment visit to the out-of-session Supreme Court just across the street featured a smiling, solitary security guard who helpfully volunteered directions to the restroom and snack bar.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 8:49 am
YDD, although their primary homes were Hyde Park (NY) and Hyannis Port, I’d consider both FDR and JFK urban presidents — NYC and Boston, respectively. JFKs congressional district was urban.

Truman was from Independence, but that’s really a close-in suburb of Kansas City, and he certainly came out of an that urban machine.

And I believe Nixon was the first true suburban president, while pre-presidential Reagan lived for the most part in suburban Pacific Palisades just outside LA.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 8:58 am
====Obama needs to survive his term(s)…====

-He better give up his sneaky little ciggy habit.

-Wordslinger, did you happen to visit Library of Congress? Wow, most impressive bldg. in DC, & I’ve been in the White House (including West Wing,) Capitol, Octagon House, etc etc etc. I laugh when people talk about how impressive the ALPLM is.

Comment by anon24 Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 12:06 pm
in dc in 2005, i went with a friend to pay a visit to obama’s office. we waltzed through the metal detector at the dirksen building (right?) without anyone asking us our reason for visiting. then, we proceeded to wander through the entire basement of the building looking for barack, only to find out from some random food man that barack had recently been granted a real office on an actual floor. security in dc for senate and congressional office buildings back then was a joke, so the info about the state capitol being so heavily secured is ironic to me.

Comment by just ducky Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 3:03 pm
wordslinger & just ducky: I was a US Senate Page from January-June of 2005. (For Sen. Durbin, btw.) Trust me: the Capitol is VERY secure. We had to evacuate once because of an airplane scare and the pages were split up. The next day, I’m in an elevator with a random Capitol Police officer. The first thing he says to me? “So, I hear you guys got split up yesterday.” The office buildings are a bit more lenient, seeing as how street access to the entrances is easier and more of the general public enters them. On Tuesdays when the Senate has the party caucus lunches, the Dems & Repubs meet in rooms adjacent to the Senate floor. Since these rooms have windows, there are ARMED guards on the balconies. I became quite nervous one afternoon when I looked out the window only to see a CP officer in full SWAT gear with what appeared to be a rifle in his hands. As far as the Capitol itself is concerned, don’t even think about getting in there without a staff ID. (Or unless you’re on a tour, which isn’t the part you really want to see anyway. )

Comment by LN Friday, Nov 7, 08 @ 3:23 pm