Obama security 2 different articles

Chicago Tribune:

Obama security strains Loop
60 officers assigned to transition center

By Jeff Coen and Angela Rozas | Tribune reporters
November 16, 2008

The dramatic increase in security around Barack Obama since the election has made a sizable impact in the Loop, where the president-elect is running his transition office at the Kluczynski Federal Building, straining an already-stretched Chicago police force and city budget.

The Chicago Police Department's Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents police officers, has been told that in addition to the dozens of officers detailed to the perimeter near Obama's home, about 60 officers are being temporarily assigned to protect the transition headquarters.

The police coverage is around-the-clock, with about 25 officers, essentially one from each district, assigned on two watches, and 10 officers and a sergeant assigned to a third watch, said FOP President Mark Donahue. The union has been told the detail is temporary, only until the incoming administration heads to Washington on Jan. 20.

Some involved in the complex security efforts said they understand city leaders have grown concerned about the potential cost of the extra manpower. Daley has proposed laying off almost 1,000 city workers and raising taxes and fees to close a $469 million budget shortfall, which he has described as the worse fiscal situation in his 19 years in office. Now the city will have to foot the security bill, at least upfront, and hope it will be reimbursed.

... more at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-obama-police16nov16,0,552031.story


Then there is this article:

Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect
news-general-20081115-Obama.Threats

President-elect Obama talks on his cell phone after boarding his plane at Wa...


WASHINGTON — Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

more at http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20081115/Obama.Threats/



The whole thing makes me sick.

It's gotten relatively quiet, except for Obama picking his staff and cabinet. In fact, they've been pretty much out of the news and how else are they going to sell papers and air time if they don't pull something that will shock and amaze us? The only thing they can say about Obama is that he's a brilliant man, black, a caring family man, the next president, and picking his cabinet and staff. That's kinda dull. I guess they had to pull something out of their @$$.

Every president on the planet (happened to Clinton as well) has had security issues. But now the media are (as they always do) presenting this as if it were extraordinary.

Did I mention that the media make me sick to my tummy? Thank God for the Internet where I can check, double-check, triple-check, etc. and find out sooner (and sometimes later) if the story was true or sensationalistic bullshit for the purpose of getting themselves noticed by readers and listeners.

I guess it's not easy to transition to Wash. D.C.

The reason is that the whackos are Republican.

No reason to believe it won't carry him 8 years and beyond.