Bush Wants His Abramoff Visits Kept "Secret"

Remember how the President was able and willing to provide records of who entered the White House in order to show how many times Jack Abramoff came to visit? He said that "without redactions or claims of exemption," those records would be given over to the court. The public pressure at the time forced George and his lawyers to concede that evidence but now, his lawyers are singing a different tune, one we have heard many times before.

From RawStory:

The Justice Department, citing a Cold War-era court ruling, declared that the contents of the "Sensitive Security Records" cannot be publicly revealed even though they could show whether Abramoff made more visits to the White House than those already acknowledged.

"The simple act of doing so ... would reveal sensitive information about the methods used by the Secret Service to carry out its protective function," the Justice Department argued.

"This is an extraordinary development and it raises the specter that there were additional contacts with President Bush or other high White House officials that have yet to be disclosed," said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group that filed the suit. "We've alleged that the government has committed misconduct in this litigation and frankly this is more fuel for that fire."

Sensitive security records? So if the public was shown how many times Abramoff visited the White House would allow the terrorists to win? No one on the left is buying that load of manure and even some conservatives smell a lot of smoke here as well. Judicial Watch is a leading conservative watchdog group that has gone after Democrats in the past, but now it seems that all of their attention has to be focused on their side of the fence.

If anyone is an expert at ignoring the laws of the United States, you know it is the Bush Administration. They will do and say anything to avoid legal scrutiny of their disastrous behavior. We'll see how far JW gets in their suit against the President, but with the way Congress cowers and the benches of the judiciary are increasingly filled with Bush sycophants, this "secret" might just go to their collective graves.

George Bush: A Target Now And Forever

Our President has done and said many things over the last 6 1/2 years that will make him a prime target for many different groups around the world. His policies and actions have been horrific, plaguing nations and entire regions (including our own) for years and even generations to come. Naturally there will be many that will hold an ever-lasting grudge. So for safety's sake he should be protected just like any other former President starting in January of 2009. But does it take a force of over 100 men and women to do it?

From RawStory:

CNN reported Thursday that the Secret Service expects President Bush to be "a high value terrorist target after he leaves office." They then showed the Secret Service practicing to deal with everything from James Bond-style stealth weapons to roadside IED's in order to meet that challenge.

Retired agent Terry Samway told CNN, "We have the mandate to make sure that whatever they did during their presidency, they are still safe from any of those lingering issues after their presidency."

Even before 9/11, the cost of protection for former presidents was estimated as $24 million a year, and Bush will be guarded by an unprecedented 103 full-time agents starting in January 2009. However, a 1997 law limits the duration of Secret Service protection for former presidents to just 10 years.

When those ten years are up Bush will only be in his early 70s. As long as alcoholism or any other self-destructive behavior does not take him out in that time, he will still need a lot of protection to live out a long, happy life. Keeping a private army for himself will be quite expensive, but I'm sure the money will be there to keep him safe from all of the threats he has helped to create for himself. Personally, I think he should foot the bill for his secret service protection, but we are talking about George Bush, and takers will remain takers.

Obama Gets The Secret Service

Rockstar Democratic nominee Barack Obama became the earliest Presidential candidate to receive the top notch security detail care of the federal government. Of course Hillary already has the protection because she is a former First Lady, but this is different. Most candidates get the detail sometime during the election year, like John Kerry and John Edwards in February of 2004. However fellow Illinois Senator Dick Durbin brought the matter to Harry Reid's attention and they agreed Barack needed the additional protection.

From The Chicago Tribune:

Reid brought the concerns to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service and a special congressional committee that reviews the need for special protection.

A congressional aide said that the request for Obama's Secret Service protection was unanimously backed by Republican and Democratic congressional leaders. The aide said Reid made a vigorous argument for the detail when the advisory group met.

"Reid was very adamant," said the aide.

On Thursday, at least four Secret Service agents stood out front of Obama's home, with one of their SUVs blocking entrance to the driveway. Obama attended a private fundraiser in New York.

Guns Ablazin At The White House Today

With Virginia Tech's tragedy in the news coupled with the new push by the right for easing restrictions on guns, there's an interesting twist that developed inside the White House gate today. A Secret Service officer's gun went off accidentally on the grounds and injured two fellow members. Thankfully this firearm incident was non-life threatening to both of them, one being hit in the leg and the other receiving shrapnel to the face.

I'm not advocating that the guardians of the President lay down their weapons and fight potential assassins with sticks and stones. Yet the incident shows that guns are indeed dangerous weapons, even if not meant to intentionally harm someone. Many Republicans are in favor of lighter gun laws and they think that by somehow arming everyone that wants to shoot, the horrible event down at Virginia Tech could have been avoided.

These gun nuts really are clueless when it comes to firearms. People such as those in the military, the police force and other weapons experts are well trained to deal with intense situations such as a shoot out. Regular citizens that like to go shooting down at the range on nights and weekends have no experience and no idea what to expect in such an adrenaline-packed situation. Wearing ear muffs and controlling a paper target on a string is one thing, real life is another. Memo to gun nuts, stop trying to live up to Rambo, this isn't a movie.