General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: Obama
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shabamon
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Posted: 10/16/2012 10:57 PM
Anyone here plan on seeing the President? I'm away from Athens, so unfortunately, I won't be able to attend. I have heard that secret service are already in Athens. Plus, buildings on college green are being cleared in the morning so secret service can sweep them. Windows in College Green buildings must also have closed curtains.
JSF
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Posted: 10/17/2012 12:10 AM
I imagine that'll be a new plaque on the West Portico.
The Optimist
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Posted: 10/17/2012 9:59 AM
The ticket opportunity I saw was Sunday at 12:00.  I would've considered seeing him (despite differing political views) but I was focused in on seeing where the Bobcats fell in the polls at that point.  They may have had some more tickets available since then, but I did not see anything.

The other day 6 army helicopters flew over my house to practice bringing him in.  My whole house was shaking like crazy.  I believe he is landing on the soccer fields on South Green.
athena
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Posted: 10/17/2012 4:45 PM
Uptown Athens is NUTS right now.

College Green is fenced off with a bunch of porta potties, trash cans and pallets of bottled water sitting around. The buildings bordering the green were all closed to the public and employees had to be out at 11:00 this morning so the Secret Service could come in and do sweeps and secure the buildings.

The lines to get onto the green began forming before 10:00 this morning. They started letting people in at 3:00 (you have to go through something like airport security to get on the green) and the lines are moving surprisingly fast. Took a walk outside a few minutes ago and saw vendors set up on W. Union selling everything from t-shirts to buttons to Obama action figures. (I kid you not.) A couple of enterprising students are selling hula hoops and are hula hooping in the street to advertise... lol. It's like a circus.
SBH
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Posted: 10/17/2012 5:56 PM
I assume Wayne Horsely is getting ready to put a Parking Services boot on the president's limousine.

The Optimist
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Posted: 10/17/2012 7:19 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
I assume Wayne Horsely is getting ready to put a Parking Services boot on the president's limousine.


I would assume the helicopters were also booted.
ts1227
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Posted: 10/17/2012 8:25 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Anyone here plan on seeing the President? I'm away from Athens, so unfortunately, I won't be able to attend. I have heard that secret service are already in Athens. Plus, buildings on college green are being cleared in the morning so secret service can sweep them. Windows in College Green buildings must also have closed curtains.


They had to do all of the same crap when John Edwards spoke in front of (Old) Baker in 2004 during my freshman year. I think it was also on a Wednesday, but it was at night in September.

I volunteered with that one. Had a couple of Secret Service agents giving us directions, actually
Last Edited: 10/17/2012 8:26:36 PM by ts1227
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 10/17/2012 8:26 PM
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
I assume Wayne Horsely is getting ready to put a Parking Services boot on the president's limousine.


I would assume the helicopters were also booted.


Funny stuff.  Now, tell me which pseudonym he'll be using at that time.  


mf279801
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Posted: 10/17/2012 10:12 PM
Arkley pointed out that Saturday's game outdrew POTUS by approximately 10-12,000 people. It truly is a new era at OHIO!
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 10/18/2012 9:42 AM
Any visit by a sitting President is a huge logistical nightmare for a lot of innocent people.  Having involuntarily experienced that inconvenience up close and personal I have mixed feelings about it.  I understand the need for security (I'm in that business), I just wonder how much security is enough vs. too much.

I lived within a stone's throw of Port Columbus over several national election cycles.  If I had a dollar for every minute I was forced to sit in my car stock still on some major Columbus artery while Air Force 1, 2 or 23 took off or landed on a campaign stop- not to mention the opponent du jour - I'd have enough money to move away from the airport, which I eventually did anyway.

Circus is a good word for it, but it's a kinder term than I would use.  Goat- ^%$# comes to mind. 
The Optimist
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Posted: 10/18/2012 7:55 PM
If they really wanted to maximize security for that number of people, the Convo was their best bet.
mf279801
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Posted: 10/18/2012 8:54 PM
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
If they really wanted to maximize security for that number of people, the Convo was their best bet.


Its not as good a visual as the West Portico. 
Back in '04 the Bush campaign rented out Nationwide Arena for a rally up there. There was talk of renting out The Convo for either the President or Vice President, but it (obviously) never came about.
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