Concerns mounting about Barack Obama's safety

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...12?hub=Politics

Death threats are part of the job for any American president, but Barack Obama has reportedly had more levelled against him than any commander-in-chief in history.

Concerns about his safety are mounting in the midst of a tense summer that has seen mobs of angry demonstrators showing up to protest Obama's health-care reform plans -- including a man openly carrying a pistol on Tuesday in New Hampshire, where the president held a town hall meeting on health care.

It's legal to carry holstered weapons in the state, so long as they're not concealed. The man was also waving a sign that read "It Is Time To Water The Tree of Liberty," a reference to the Thomas Jefferson quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Certainly the emotional level is at a fever pitch. There is a danger that someone might decide to act rather than just threaten.

[Sir Bandelot]

Certainly the emotional level is at a fever pitch. There is a danger that someone might decide to act rather than just threaten.

Yes it is, and the problem is exacerbated by inflammatory statements from GOP politicians-

Jillson says top Republicans are stoking some of the anger by making statements about Obama's health-care reform plans that are "demonstrably untrue." He pointed to Sarah Palin's recent Facebook message that alleged White House "death squads" would endanger the life of her disabled infant son.

"Any time you whip up people's emotions in a political setting, the result of that is uncertain and uncontrollable," he said. "The Republican party is on a knife's edge here."

American politics is mentally ill. The people are borderline psychotics... they are all on drugs and force fed by hyper- sensationalist media. Now add to the mixture a financial meltdown, huge losses of jobs and life savings, and a black president who wants to "level the playing field", and you have a bomb waiting to go off.

[bush_cheney2004]

.....American politics is mentally ill. The people are borderline psychotics... they are all on drugs and force fed by hyper- sensationalist media. Now add to the mixture a financial meltdown, huge losses of jobs and life savings, and a black president who wants to "level the playing field", and you have a bomb waiting to go off.

Nonsense....."people are psychotics" ???? "they are ALL on drugs" ???

Guess where Michael Ignatieff lived for a long time?

Edited August 12, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

[jdobbin]

Yes it is, and the problem is exacerbated by inflammatory statements from GOP politicians-

I would hate to see that identifed as a reason if the worst should happen.

[Shady]

Hmm, I don't remember the same concern over the number of death threats President Bush received, especially during his second term in office. Interesting how that works.

And of course the blame must lie with Republicans. It couldn't be that because Obama's moving at record speed, trying to shove everything under the sun down the throats of Americans, to the point where Congress doesn't even read the legislation it's voting on. No, that couldn't a part of the protests and hostility. It's all the Republican's fault. Even though polls show the Obama is upside down on most of his agenda items by double-digits.

And the link provided is loaded with half-truths and falsehoods (no suprise coming from Dobbin)

Concerns about his safety are mounting in the midst of a tense summer that has seen mobs of angry demonstrators showing up to protest Obama's health-care reform plans

God forbid angry protestors disagree with Dear Leader on legislation.

including a man openly carrying a pistol on Tuesday in New Hampshire, where the president held a town hall meeting on health care.

Yes, he OPENLY carried a pistol. He wasn't trying to hide anything. And he was across the street from where the town hall meeting was held, and left before the event even took place.

It's legal to carry holstered weapons in the state

Thank you press, for covering the goings-on of legal activites. In a related story, somebody stopped at a redlight, and another person turned left on an advanced green.

[dub]

this is no surprise.

majority of these angry and violent cuckoos are easily influenced by extremist media figures like the limbaugh's, hannity's and beck's.

the bad thing is that, even though it's a small percentage of americans, it's still a percentage of 300 million people.

i'm sure there are many more jim adkissons out there, sitting there in front of foxnews, clinching their fists and being told and believing that the sky is falling.

the GOP's main fan base are these semi-literate bottom feeders who will believe that their shortcomings are the fault of everyone else but themselves.

[Shady]

the GOP's main fan base are these semi-literate bottom feeders who will believe that their shortcomings are the fault of everyone else but themselves.

Actually, the semi-literate bottom feeders who believe their shortcoming are the fault of everyone else are the base constituent of the Democrat party. Usually they want Government to "fix" their problems, usually for "free."

[Sir Bandelot]

Hmm, I don't remember the same concern over the number of death threats President Bush received, especially during his second term in office. Interesting how that works.

Obama receives as many as 30 death threats a day, 400 per cent more than those made against his predecessor, George W. Bush.

As the article states. Why cans't Johnny read?

Yes, he OPENLY carried a pistol. He wasn't trying to hide anything.

The man was also waving a sign that read "It Is Time To Water The Tree of Liberty," a reference to the Thomas Jefferson quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Sounds like a death threat, Johnny

[August1991]

This thread draws a phoney parallel between people who oppose Obama's health care proposals and physical threats to Obama. The implication is that if people oppose Obama, they must be psychotic, violent nutcases. Nonsense.

I'm reminded of Walter Cronkite comments immediately after Kennedy's assassination that Kennedy had strayed into dangerous, conservative Texas territory - and that this had something to do with the assassination.

[Topaz]

It's very hard to understand why people would threaten a life of a man, who wants to correct the bad feeelings in the world towards the US, done by Bush and other presidents. He's trying to make the US better for people but he isn't getting any help from his own people. It doesn't matter if they are Republican or Democrats, they should be Americans first, and try to help this president. The Con radio host are paid big bucks to put fear in people because they (The host) will probably lose money in their investments too, like the senators and congress. Rush is golfing buddies with Cheney so we know why he's saying what he saying.

[M.Dancer]

It doesn't matter if they are Republican or Democrats, they should be Americans first, and try to help this president.

Did you feel that way about Bush?

[bush_cheney2004]

It's very hard to understand why people would threaten a life of a man, who wants to correct the bad feeelings in the world towards the US, done by Bush and other presidents. ..

It's not personal...he is the current US President.....you are projecting a Canadian value and "excuse me" gene on the USA. Seek true love elsewhere, because down here, we have been known to pop a cap into presidents and presidential candidates, regardless of what "the world" thinks.

Edited August 12, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

[jdobbin]

Hmm, I don't remember the same concern over the number of death threats President Bush received, especially during his second term in office. Interesting how that works.

Was he getting more death threats than now?

And of course the blame must lie with Republicans. It couldn't be that because Obama's moving at record speed, trying to shove everything under the sun down the throats of Americans, to the point where Congress doesn't even read the legislation it's voting on. No, that couldn't a part of the protests and hostility. It's all the Republican's fault. Even though polls show the Obama is upside down on most of his agenda items by double-digits.

And the link provided is loaded with half-truths and falsehoods (no suprise coming from Dobbin)

No surprise coming about personal attacks from yourself.

There have always been people looking to assassinate Presidents. However, the fever pitch right now is in part Republican. You are suggesting they have nothing to do with it?

Edited August 12, 2009 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

This thread draws a phoney parallel between people who oppose Obama's health care proposals and physical threats to Obama. The implication is that if people oppose Obama, they must be psychotic, violent nutcases. Nonsense.

They are if their death threats are linked to opposition.

[Shady]

Was he getting more death threats than now?

I know the threats spiked, particularly during his last couple of years in office. I'd bet they're comparable.

It's also rich to see members of the leftwing complain about the Nazi references to Obama and his plans. This from a group who used the Bush is Hitler theme constantly through his entire 8 years in office. I didn't hear much from the media about that either. It's only now that they seem to have a problem with it. Gee, I wonder why.

[jdobbin]

I know the threats spiked, particularly during his last couple of years in office. I'd bet they're comparable.

It's possible. I haven't seen the numbers. I can only go by this and some other stories on this where it said that Obama is seeing a lot.

It's also rich to see members of the leftwing complain about the Nazi references to Obama and his plans. This from a group who used the Bush is Hitler theme constantly through his entire 8 years in office. I didn't hear much from the media about that either. It's only now that they seem to have a problem with it. Gee, I wonder why.

I think the media often reported the references in the protests that greeted Bush in many of the places he went to nationally and internationally.

It seems the one consistent thing to expect in criticism for any president.

[Topaz]

Did you feel that way about Bush?

What did Bush do to help America? Bush always had a problem with spending other people's money, even when he was Gov. of Texas and he and Cheney are responsible for what condition of the US financial mess and for the bitterness some countries feel abnout the US.

[bush_cheney2004]

What did Bush do to help America? Bush always had a problem with spending other people's money, even when he was Gov. of Texas and he and Cheney are responsible for what condition of the US financial mess and for the bitterness some countries feel abnout the US.

So he deserves to be shot...right? They are not responsible for the US "mess", unless they issued mortgage backed securities on the side.

[August1991]

It's very hard to understand why people would threaten a life of a man, who wants to correct the bad feeelings in the world towards the US, done by Bush and other presidents.

Topaz, are you suggesting that Bush/Cheney provoked those idiots to fly the planes into buildings in 2001?

You make it sound as if Bush started all these problems. Maybe Topaz, you are just becoming old and forgetful.

[M.Dancer]

What did Bush do to help America? Bush always had a problem with spending other people's money, even when he was Gov. of Texas and he and Cheney are responsible for what condition of the US financial mess and for the bitterness some countries feel abnout the US.

That doesn't matter though in regards to ..you know....

It doesn't matter if they are Republican or Democrats, they should be Americans first, and try to help this president.

You agree then , when Bush was in the WH, democrats or Republican should of been Americans first and helped the President?

[Moonlight Graham]

Nonsense....."people are psychotics" ???? "they are ALL on drugs" ???

Guess where Michael Ignatieff lived for a long time?

Canada?? Wait no thats not right...

[Topaz]

So he deserves to be shot...right? They are not responsible for the US "mess", unless they issued mortgage backed securities on the side.

NO....well how about a paint gun? How about selling tickets for a pie throwing contest at Cheney and Bush. Could make a trillion dollars there! Cheney being the President the first fours years and Bush was acting like the President. Wait til Cheney`s and Bush`s books come out and how they will change history.

[bush_cheney2004]

NO....well how about a paint gun? How about selling tickets for a pie throwing contest at Cheney and Bush. Could make a trillion dollars there! Cheney being the President the first fours years and Bush was acting like the President. Wait til Cheney`s and Bush`s books come out and how they will change history.

So you do like violence.....that's good! President Bush and Vice President Cheney are already in the US books, and we will keep on rolling. All that really matters is that you keep watching the show, 'cause that means we are center ring in the big top.

[Oleg Bach]

Concerns about presidential security? Is that a new phenomena? Come on now - all presidents are in harms way from the time they run to the time the finish.. It's the American way - and Bush was safe? ha ha - Obama will be just fine - and if not - then lock up Biden now.