Run In With Mr. Edwards

After living in Iowa for the last 7 years, it seemed that we were the only
ones left who had NOT been to the "Great Iowa State Fair." This year is
the 150th anniversary of this grand old tradition, so last weekend we
decided to check it out.

After the brief, 0.7 hour flight to Des Moines, Mary taxied up to Des Moines
Flying Service (A.K.A.: "Signature") to park. As we trundled toward the
ramp we noticed an inordinate number of vehicles parked on the airport side
of the fence. As the prop stopped, I noticed that they were all law
enforcement vehicles, of every type and kind, from marked squads to black
Suburbans.

Jokingly I commented on the criminal nature of that last landing (which
netted me a swat to the head :-), but wondered aloud just what the heck
could justify the expense of 30 - 40 vehicles and crew...

....and then we remembered the season, and where we were. It HAD to be a
presidential election-related visit of some sort -- but who?

Mary had quite specifically grilled Flight Service about TFRs, and had been
told there were none. DSM approach mentioned nothing, either, so we were
fairly certain that it couldn't be the President. The fact that the cops
were eying us warily, but otherwise ignoring us, seemed to reinforce this
notion.

This left the Kerry/Edwards campaign as the primary suspects, and we were
not to be disappointed.

As soon as we were inside the FBO, the Kerry/Edwards "Real Deal" Boeing 727
plane rolled in. John Edwards was making an appearance in Des Moines, and
we were lucky to get in when we did -- cuz the ramp was slammed shut, tight
as a drum, as soon as he arrived.

Walking to our rental car with my kids, I pushed up closer to the fence to
take a picture. Immediately a uniformed DSM police officer asked if he
could "help me" -- and ordered me to stay behind a painted line in the
parking lot (that he had chosen entirely at random, at that instant) in no
uncertain terms. So, I took my pictures and left, marveling at the
stupidity of it all.

After spending a marvelous day at the fair we returned to the airport -- and
were dumb-founded to see all those police officers rolling up to the ramp
once again! With incredibly bad timing, we had arrived precisely at the
same moment as the advance security detail, meaning that Edwards couldn't be
far behind.

Now hurriedly paying for gas and the car, hoping against hope to get off the
ground before the V.P.-wannabee returned to his plane, we grabbed our stuff
and made a bee-line toward the plane -- only to have a secret service agent
step between me and the door, asking that I please wait for Mr. Edwards to
depart.

Now you must realize that my plane was MAYBE 40 feet from the door he was
blocking, while Mr. Liability-Attorney's 727 was several hundred yards
farther out. I pointed this fact out to him, and also pointed to my
children, stating that all we wanted to do was get off the ground before
dark, since neither of us were legal to fly at night.

This carried no weight with him, and he quietly told me that we'd just have
to wait.

So, I resignedly told my family to find comfy chairs, and that it would be
while. For the next ten minutes or so, we observed at least 50 officers and
agents, all on the tax-dole, making sure that the ramp area was "sterile"
for Mr. Perfect-Hair. Some were just standing around staring into space,
while others were actively scanning the fence line and building tops.

Aggravatingly, two characters -- obviously pilots -- kept freely going in
and out of the same door that the jar-head secret agent had blocked. This
continued for 15 minutes, until I could no longer stand it. I approached
the door guard and asked him what THEY had that we did NOT have -- to which
he replied succinctly: "Clearance." Apparently they worked for Signature,
and had been pre-screened to be on the ramp.

By now thoroughly aggravated, I raised my hands over my head and said "Well,
screen me. Escort me. Tow me. Do whatever you've got to do to make sure
I'm not a threat -- but we've got to get off the ground soon, or we'll be
stuck here overnight!"

Unsmilingly, he simply said "You're not going anywhere until that plane
departs." -- and that was that.

Finally Mr. Ketchup's side-kick taxied out to the active runway -- and held
for departure. We all immediately grabbed our stuff and started heading
for the door -- which our favorite S.S. officer was STILL blocking!
Dumbfounded, I asked what the problem was -- and he said that Edwards had to
be OFF THE GROUND before he could clear us onto the ramp!

Now thoroughly ****ed, I just stared at the guy incredulously. He got the
message, and promised that he would try to "get us clearance onto the
ramp" -- and started talking into his lapel. He then walked out onto the
ramp, where he was animatedly talking with someone when Edwards' plane
finally got clearance to depart, and blasted into the evening sky.

Within minutes, the Signature ramp was empty, with no vestige of the
incredible security presence that had been there only moments before. They
all headed to the donut shoppe, and we were able to depart normally, as if
nothing at all had just happened.

Harry Truman once famously said that the "position of vice-president ain't
worth a bucket of warm spit." Worse, Edwards isn't even THERE yet -- he's
just a wannabee! He is nothing, absolutely NOTHING -- yet we are treating
him like royalty, and my family was treated like criminals when we were
anywhere near him. If this is what we have to look forward to under a
Kerry/Edwards presidency, I fear the worst is yet to come.

As we climbed out I laughingly told my kids that this was "your tax-dollars
at work." I then closed my eyes and wished fervently that 9/11 had never
happened...

(BTW: If you've never seen the Iowa State Fair, it's worth the trip. It's
the biggest fair in America, apparently, and it is so chock-full of
traditional Americana that I felt like a kid again. And my kids were
absolutely in awe of the place, with the rides, live entertainment, food,
and animals. Ever seen a 3000 pound bull? Me neither -- but they have one.
It's as big as a car!)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news91Wc.21556$9d6.17529@attbi_s54...

If this is what we have to look forward to under a
Kerry/Edwards presidency, I fear the worst is yet to come.


I disagree completely with your logic.

Edwards, Kerry, Bush and Cheney have relatively little to do with these low
level security details. All this stuff has long ago been delegated well
away from them. If anything, Kerry's campaign has requested that security
of this sort be less rather than more. It is also quite arguable that the
opposition party candidate have reasonable protection.

In short, there is absolutely nothing you can conclude about the
"Kerry/Edwards presidency" from your hitting up against the boundaries of
their Secret Service protection.

Jay, I agree with your sentiments, but the "bucket of warm spit" quote is
attributed to John Nance Garner, one of FDR's veeps.

Welcome to the 21st century! Robert Heinline predicted this and much
more in the settings of his novels.

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:25:41 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote in
p91Wc.21556$9d6.17529@attbi_s54::

If this is what we have to look forward to under a
Kerry/Edwards presidency, I fear the worst is yet to come.

I believe it is what occurred during Dubuah's reign.

But I share your confidence that the Kerry presidency is assured.

Jay, I agree with your sentiments, but the "bucket of warm spit" quote is
attributed to John Nance Garner, one of FDR's veeps.

Hey, one of FDR's veeps is as good as another...

Maybe Truman just referred to the quote?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Edwards, Kerry, Bush and Cheney have relatively little to do with these
low
level security details. All this stuff has long ago been delegated well
away from them. If anything, Kerry's campaign has requested that security
of this sort be less rather than more.

I'd say my experience serves as evidence to the contrary.

The Democrats claim to be the "party of the people" -- yet they treat
potential constituents like this? Heck, my family couldn't even approach
THE FENCE with a camera, let alone get close to Edwards himself.

Now, mind you, if Edwards was a "somebody" (I.E.: The Vice-President. The
President . The King. The Pope) I might understand this kind of
fascist-brand of security -- but he is NOBODY.

He is a vice-presidential CANDIDATE, which ranks him just ahead of Orca the
Whale in national importance.

The whole situation is absurd.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news91Wc.21556$9d6.17529@attbi_s54...
After living in Iowa for the last 7 years, it seemed that we were the only
ones left who had NOT been to the "Great Iowa State Fair." This year is
the 150th anniversary of this grand old tradition, so last weekend we
decided to check it out.

Welcome to Iowa...

Every 4 years Iowa gets pounded by political candidates starting the
fall/winter before the election up until the Caucuses, then it's back to
'normal' for a few months then gets pounded again until the first Monday of
November. Then, 3 years of silence! (Iowa? Where's that?)

The local enforcement following the candidates are inconsistent on the
security depending on where they're at. I've seen various candidates running
around Iowa at the State Fair and the Hawkeye football games on election
years with little or no security (pre-911).

The Des Moines and Polk county patrol, SS, etc., were probably at the GA
ramp mostly for looks. I find it helpful to watch the local news and the
paper to see when someone is suppose to be around and try to avoid it if
possible. If you had known Mr. Edwards was going to be in Des Moines from
4-6 (or whatever), you could have planned to be in or out before or after
the 'security'.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Edwards, Kerry, Bush and Cheney have relatively little to do with
these low level security details.

I'd say my experience serves as evidence to the contrary.

The Democrats claim to be the "party of the people" -- yet they treat
potential constituents like this? Heck, my family couldn't even approach
THE FENCE with a camera, let alone get close to Edwards himself.

And you think that Edwards personally drew that line in the sand?

Sorry, I agree with the previous poster. The security details are set
up by the SS, and the candidate has little to say about how they are
executed.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message

Jay, I think the only thing that happened is that you encountered a security
detail. This is less and less unusual in our society. It is always
somewhat demeaning to be presented with a public demonstration of the fact
that someone else's priority and security is more important than your own,
but that is the reality we live with. No one had the objective of
disrupting your weekend.


... marveling at the stupidity of it all....while Mr. Liability-Attorney's
727....officers
and agents, all on the tax-dole... Mr. Perfect-Hair....Mr. Ketchup's
side-kick....
... our favorite S.S. officer...

You write a good story, Jay, but my sense is you're trying a little too hard
to be clever and witty. Just my opinion.


...Edwards isn't even THERE yet -- he's just a wannabee! He is nothing,
absolutely
NOTHING -- yet we are treating him like royalty,

Well, not quite. He *is* a sitting US Senator, and *is* a designated
Vice-Presidential candidate, and is being treated as such, according to
law -- no more, no less.

and my family was treated like criminals when we were
anywhere near him.

Bit of a stretch, don't you think?

Mind you, I am not a Kerry/Edwards supporter. Quite the antithesis. Just
my opinions.

BTW.... this appears to be the second chapter of the "Run-in Series". More
to come?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
newsV3Wc.68220$TI1.10381@attbi_s52...
Edwards, Kerry, Bush and Cheney have relatively little to do with these
low
level security details. All this stuff has long ago been delegated well
away from them. If anything, Kerry's campaign has requested that
security
of this sort be less rather than more.

I'd say my experience serves as evidence to the contrary.

With all respect, Jay, your experience is meaningless in that regard.

The Democrats claim to be the "party of the people" -- yet they treat
potential constituents like this? Heck, my family couldn't even approach
THE FENCE with a camera, let alone get close to Edwards himself.

The "Democrats" have absolutely nothing to do with this. This is the
security apparatus operating; nothing more, nothing less.

Now, mind you, if Edwards was a "somebody" (I.E.: The Vice-President. The
President . The King. The Pope) I might understand this kind of
fascist-brand of security -- but he is NOBODY.

Again, with all due respect, you have not thought this out.

He is a vice-presidential CANDIDATE, which ranks him just ahead of Orca
the
Whale in national importance.

I completely disagree. What do you think would happen if he were to be
attacked? Do you think that would be a good thing for this country? For
the world?
There are many things big and small that Washington does which I do not
agree with but due diligence security procedures are not one of those.
Sorry for your minor inconvenience. Weren't you saying GA in your neck of
the woods wasn't affected much by these security issues? In other parts of
the country we deal with stuff like this, AND MUCH WORSE, all the time yet
we deal with it and life goes on. Maybe you now have some small inkling
what a lot of the rest of us go through.

The whole situation is absurd.

The whole world is absurd. The inmates are running the asylum.