Obama traveling Midwest on new $1.1 million bus

[liberal N proud]

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is traveling the Midwest on a new $1.1 million bus purchased by the Secret Service, an impenetrable-looking conveyance the size of a cross-country Greyhound, painted all in black, with dark tinted windows and flashing red and blue lights.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan emphasized that the bus wasn't purchased solely for the president and would be used for other dignitaries in the future. He said the agency has not previously had buses in its fleet and was overdue to get some since it's had to protect politicians traveling by bus for decades.

In the past, the service has had to lease buses and retrofit them for that purpose.

Donovan said two buses were purchased and one is being used by Obama as he travels through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Both will be used by other officeholders and candidates


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110815/us-obama-bus/

[SpiralHawk]

1. You are either on the bus or off the bus

Furthur

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Or maybe under the bus...

:P

[Beacool]

19. Took the words out of my mouth.

:D

[Webster Green]

9. Perfect quote!

:hippie: :rofl:

[kas125]

13. I'm definitely on the Furthur bus and have passed the acid test

with flying colors. And I wish the people on that black bus had half the compassion and wisdom of the bozos!

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. All things condsidered, I'm not surprised at the price..

...it's easy to spend that much.

[monmouth]

4. I love it! Good for the SS...n/t

[Turbineguy]

5. The wingnuts

will have a field day with this.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Yep. It will be said that it costs too much to have the President

doing a bus tour. He should be chained to his Oval Office desk instead,
and the people can just come to him.

[liberal N proud]

10. They have been criticizing him for the trip already

Saying he should be in Washington working for the people.

But where is Congress?

[underpants]

16. Yeah but it is from the same company whose bus W used on HIS bus tour

But no mention was made by Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus or Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady that a re-election seeking President George W. Bush used a bus from the same manufacturer, Quebec-based Prevost, for a spring 2004 “Yes, America Can” campaign tour through the Midwest.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-gop-attacks-obama-bus-but-bush-did-same-20110817,0,6993533.story

[Beacool]

20. Yeah, but buses used by previous presidents were leased.

The taxpayers didn't get stuck with a $2.2M tab for two buses.

:shrug:

[ClarkUSA]

6. Considering the record number of death threats Pres. Obama has received, I'm happy at the investment

It's dumb to lease, then retrofit, then return the vehicle. Better to buy and maintain for future use.

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. And I'll bet the folks who built it are pretty happy too. It puts govt money back into the economy.

:thumbsup:

[GSLevel9]

14. you mean the CANADIANS who built it? nt

[Ikonoklast]

21. Or the U.S. company that converted it? Those jobs don't count?

Or since there ISN'T an AMERICAN company that can build a motorcoach like that anymore? You cannot buy a domestically manufactured product if there isn't a manufacturer of that product in this country.



You get an "A" for effort getting another right-wing talking point out there, with only one part of the actual truth of the matter.

Kudos to you.


Radar, flying under.

Watch out for low bridges.

[demosincebirth]

8. Big deal, I've seem RV's that almost cost that much.

[Tx4obama]

12. More info and photos on the link below

Excerpt:

The Secret Service won't reveal specifics on the high-tech monster buses but said that they have similar features to "the Beast," a tricked-out limo and the president's regular ride. That official Cadillac comes with thick, reinforced doors and reportedly is equipped with bulletproof glass that can withstand a rocket-propelled grenade or a chemical attack.

SNIP

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1747692

p.s. Photos in the comments on the link above.

[Phx_Dem]

15. The SS bought them for Obama and the other candidate (as reported on the TV news)

They have to protect them and they used money in their budget. All of you Firebaggers are now bitching about this?! So not surprising.

"Donovan said two buses were purchased and one is being used by Obama as he travels through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Both will be used by other officeholders and candidates"

[ItNerd4life]

17. And it was made in Canada from what I read. That helps American jobs, not. nt

[Beacool]

18. More room in its undercarriage.

A gloom and doom bus more suited to Darth Vader. When the president doesn't use it, the SS should lease it to some funeral home.

:(