Obama and The Beast
Wow. On inauguration day, Obama will be riding around in The Beast, parading up Pennsylvania Ave. The Beast can withstand chemical and rocket attacks.
Get a look at The Beast!
There will be a three mile security perimeter and The Beast will be the only vehicle allowed to operate in it. Two million visitors are expected and everyone has to be in place three hours before the swearing in ceremony. The Beast appears to be a representation of the very real cocooning that the Obamas are going to experience in the next 4 years.
I hope that while living in The Great White Jail/The Beast, our president-elect will not become a distant figure, an arid, bloodless, cardboard template of a real person as so many before him have done. Almost as if The Beast of DC swallowed them and all we got left with was the cut-out shell to see and talk to. That's what is so sad about many of the people who preceded him into that office. Their loss of touch with real people affected many of the past residents of The Great White Jail - as if The Beast ate them and then we the people got all these policies and agreements they signed and wars they waged. And yes, I am thinking specifically of the last 9 years.
In interviews Obama has asserted that he wants to remain real and engaged. In an interview he said --
I hope he will break the mold. I really do. So far he has done exactly that and I hope he continues to do so. I hope he will serve the country and hear our voices. In the mean time, I wish him safety, and real life in The Beast.
Get a look at The Beast!
There will be a three mile security perimeter and The Beast will be the only vehicle allowed to operate in it. Two million visitors are expected and everyone has to be in place three hours before the swearing in ceremony. The Beast appears to be a representation of the very real cocooning that the Obamas are going to experience in the next 4 years.
I hope that while living in The Great White Jail/The Beast, our president-elect will not become a distant figure, an arid, bloodless, cardboard template of a real person as so many before him have done. Almost as if The Beast of DC swallowed them and all we got left with was the cut-out shell to see and talk to. That's what is so sad about many of the people who preceded him into that office. Their loss of touch with real people affected many of the past residents of The Great White Jail - as if The Beast ate them and then we the people got all these policies and agreements they signed and wars they waged. And yes, I am thinking specifically of the last 9 years.
In interviews Obama has asserted that he wants to remain real and engaged. In an interview he said --
And I've got to look for every opportunity to do that - ways that aren't scripted, ways that aren't controlled, ways where.. people aren't just complimenting you or standing up when you enter into a room, ways of staying grounded.
'And if I can manage that over the next four years, I think that will help me serve the American people better because I'm going to be hearing their voices.
I hope he will break the mold. I really do. So far he has done exactly that and I hope he continues to do so. I hope he will serve the country and hear our voices. In the mean time, I wish him safety, and real life in The Beast.
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I am also hoping he doesn't forget us the way Bush did. At Open for Questions I submitted a question about this asking if he will take the time out to visit parts of the country and not just around re-election. I am not looking for moving speeches, but just visit a local event, say hi, make a joke, eat some BBQ and be real about it.
January 10, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a really good suggestion, that he travel out of the bubble which is D.C. and go somewhere else. Although, I think he's kinda going be real busy for a while.
January 11, 2009 12:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Presidential limousine have always had the latest in armor and gadgetry. They are routinely upgraded every so often. (This goes for any president, not just Obama.)
Remember, you can't guarantee protection of the president who is traveling in a known route, over miles, on city streets, with a multitude of building, unless you put him in some sort of armored vehicle.
It's a small price to pay for preventing assassination.
Rec'ed because of the nice graphic you included.
January 10, 2009 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I totally agree, CT, that it is a small price to pay for his safety. ;)
January 11, 2009 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
THAT is not a ride we can believe in.
Oh, and THANKS, Secret Service, for tagging it "The Beast." That's gonna help cool out those End Times dudes. To be extra-helpful, why not call Biden the "Dragon" and Hillary the "Whore of Babylon" while you're at it?
Wha? You already do? Nice.
Oh. And GM? You can go home now. Never saw a car with mange before. American Design, R.I.P.
Dude needs a RIDE. Cos right now, Pope's ALL over him. ALL. Check Mate.
Look. If Obama wants to stay close, meet & greet? This baby does barbeques.
January 10, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quinnesque, I love the tonicfab people. LOL. Thanks. ;)
January 11, 2009 12:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
So many people wish my hero ill. So many wish my hero dead.
So many evil people out there with means. Means to sneak in. Means to shoot. Means to bomb.
Let us hope.
January 10, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hope.
January 11, 2009 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also. Somebutt's sure to come on all whining about "Security," and "Threat Level Orange" and "Defcon 5" and all, but.
Popes are many things, unaware is not one. Nor is chaste. Or meek. Or Italian even. But let's look on the bright side. Popes, as a profession, are Older. Wiser. Wise enough to employ Tailgunners.
But most important America, what happened to CLASS? Basic Black.
I believe this is the 3rd sign of the Apocalypse. Rev. 17:11. Or so.
"And yea, another Trumpet shall sound, and the skies shall rain fish, and the fish shall play bagpipes, and hearing the call, a Canuck shall come, bearing style-advice to his sad-ass brethren to the South."
How the mighty have fallen.
January 10, 2009 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Quinn. Your Tailgunners entry is a rather heavy-handed evil twin of the glass church in Oscar and Lucinda. Both on scary voyages. Glass house versus Gothic claustrophobic Gothic pile. Sigh for Obama and wish him well and godspeed.
January 10, 2009 7:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure he'll be fine at the Inauguration. It was just the look of that Caddy kinda creeped me out. I'm ok with bulletproof, but I'd prefer stained glass.
As for staying in touch, I think he's going to find this very hard. I can't think of a President who's going to face the kinds of threats & personal security challenges he will.
Which will place even greater weight on those around him, ensuring that he gets to meet, have meals & relax with people outside the bubble. Donno if that's Rahm's schtick though. Perhaps Michelle & the family will help in this regard. Bring artists, activists, everyday people into the White House.
Here's hoping.
January 10, 2009 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL, I love all your entries, Quinnesque. I would only add this and this.
January 11, 2009 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
And lets not leave out this along with this!
Love the tailgunner car. A real find. ;)
January 11, 2009 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
No fair. Mine were all LEGIT Pope-mobiles!
(Well, except the tailgunner one. Which I thought had potential.)
Though that one with the guy in red & black strategically placed under the hood might help bring recalcitrant Republicans around to seeing things Obama's way. ;-)
January 11, 2009 1:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I'm glad I did not give you this lot then --
http://www.mitchell.derbycounty.co.uk/weirdcars.html
January 11, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Y'see? Now THAT'S cool. Seeing Obama rolling by in that Stilletto car would be awesome!
But instead of all these "defensive" measures, I'm a proponent of the "best defense is a good offense" school. So let's arm the sucker, and let Obama loose at night to hunt down ne'erdowells.
Get a bit of the ole Batman vibe in play.
January 11, 2009 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Yeah. The Dark Avenger. He'd be good at it too.
Well, Ciao, I've got to go back to what I was doing. ;)
January 11, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
would he ride this?
Gosh, I sure hope so.
January 11, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was thinking of the same movie there.
January 11, 2009 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Quinn, where do you FIND these things? If it weren't so much fun I'd say you have too much time on your hands. FYI, with your love of the visuals, I know you would love the movie, "The Fall." I saw it months ago and the images keep coming back to me. Enjoy!
January 11, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama went to Ben's Chili Bowl today, near 14th and U. Had lunch with Mayor Fenty. I think this President is going to wander outside the gates of the White House into his new hometown. I look forward to it. I don't think Bush ever left the White House to go into DC unless he was meeting with 4-year-olds. It's going to be tough for the Secret Service, but they're up to it. So is DC.
January 10, 2009 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ben's Chili Bowl! One of my faves!
January 10, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, and apparently he paid for his half smoke and cheese fries, as well as the mayor's.
January 10, 2009 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
They forgot the cheese!
January 11, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
For his sake and our, I hope he will wander out. I also hope he will be safe.
January 11, 2009 12:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great post Yva. But seriously, no bubbles machine? No hair dryer to keep Michelle properly coiffed during drives? And where's the Pimp My Ride IMAX screen for Malia and Sasha? And I hope the Secret Service has learned their lesson and installed the flying shoe defense system.
January 11, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I thought they did, a 1 foot tall portrait of bush with a target (to aid accuracy) will be attached to a 600 foot long trailer hitch, and dragged along a respectful distance behind the Prezmobile.
January 11, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
you might like this one
http://stephenschleicher.com/podcast/image/2007/01/shoecar_red.jpg
January 11, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dija, I did almost say something about IMAX and a bubble machine - given that DC is a big bubble machine itself, of course second only to Wall Street.
Actually, the whole thing made me think of writing a post, you know, a history of the future (a future fict., if you will) of what it would be like when Obama has an affair. You note, I said when not if.
Kennedy had Marilyn and many others. Carter lusted in his heart. Bill was nearly killed off by the hypocritical House purportedly because of his peccadilloes, but really because they were so damn envious of him. Truman had Bess, oh well, and LBJ, well, who knows what LBJ had and I'm not sure he was above sidelining Lady Bird. Just look at John Edwards. He was getting quite the start on his run for the Great White Jail.
Through my strange prism, I see that Republican Prez's wage wars and/or expand them, drive the country into economic dives; they go to bed early and live overtly hum drum lives with nary an expressed lust, in (or out) of their heads or hearts (as far as we know...), while their long suffering but supposedly adoring wives sigh in the night. Democrats, heh. Yeah. I was thinking of a post in that direction. Probably won't write it though. I've got too much coming up to go there right now.
January 11, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
oops, forgot to cut off the italics there. oh well.
January 11, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
And they GOTTA have music. Personally, I think "Crying Blood" would be a perfect theme song as we all watch the taillights of Bush/Cheney recede in the distance. VV Brown.
Can't you see the Obama girls dancing - 60's style - to this, under the car's bubble? That'd mess with a few GOP brains.
January 11, 2009 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh no you didn't! You raised that dreaded C name!
Well, Bush and Cheney should be made to drive out of town on this one and Cheney should be the hood ornament.
January 11, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you've got a great idea for a Departure Parade here. Vehicles designed & decorated to show Bush/Ch*ney what we think of them.
Shoe-throwing games on sale at the booth for just 50 cents. BYOS. (Or hob-nailed boots.)
January 11, 2009 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was a little unsettled by the way they were publishing specs on the Prezmobile's defenseive systems 'til I looked it over and realized they were basically advertising that it would take a tactical nuke to put a dent in the damn thing.
January 11, 2009 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loved these alternatives to the Beast, Yva. Thanks for the laughs. More of same, please.
January 11, 2009 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quinnesque - as an avenger, he should ride this one
http://www.autounleashed.com/images/phantoms_car.jpg
January 11, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink