I hear President Bush will be in Greensboro for a private fundraising dinner on October 18...$1,000 per person gets you in the door; $10K gets you a pic with the prez; $25 K gets you into a private reception.

Comments

[Kim]

You couldn't pay me enough to go to that; I can't imagine actually PAYING to attend! :-o

[Ed Cone]

Seems like it would be interesting on a number of levels.

[Roch101]

If local bloggers can come up with $24k, I'll poney up $1,000 and have a private chat with the man on our behalf.

[Samuel Spagnola]

"on OUR behalf"...hmmm

[sean coon]

sam, hate to be the one to break it to you, but you're not a blogger; you're a commentor extraordinaire.

[Mick Riggs]

Ooh. I spy an "ism" in that last comment!

[Ed Cone]

Blogger, commenter, whatever...I'm sure that Roch would include Sam's message if he chips in toward that $24K.

[beth]

The question is how much does Roch charge as a hitman?

[Ed Cone]

The Secret Service tends to find such comments unamusing, Beth.

They really don't mess around with that kind of stuff.

[sean coon]

i don't know if roch can deliver confusing sarcasm via reactionary button pushing.

[Samuel Spagnola]

Sean, I meant the "OUR" as in "one unified voice?" But I agree that I am certainly "extraordinaire".

Beth, Ed is dead on, no pun intended. The Secret Service does not play with such matters. Perhaps you would consent and Ed would agree to delete that post. You really don't want the attention.

[Kim]

Oh. Boy. Beth, that post just made me very nervous. That's not a good thing to post on a public forum, even if you're only joking. That has the potential to get everyone who has EVER posted here in trouble! :-o Can that go away maybe? Seriously, I'm a big supporter of freedom of speech, but a comment like that...oh boy.

[Samuel Spagnola]

I give you permission to delete my references to it as well, Ed, if you deem fit. I'm sure Kim didn't mean it literally, but the Sec. Serv. won't care.

[Samuel Spagnola]

I meant Beth, not Kim.

[Samuel Spagnola]

Or you could clear it up by saying "I meant to say how much does Roch charge as a SHITman"

[Bubba]

I suspect it may already be a moot point, Sam.

[Ed Cone]

Beth's comment is not the only one that might get deleted.

[Cara Michele]

I'd LOVE the chance to meet GB2 and to hug him and pray for him in person. I'd be honored to hug and pray for any U.S. prez. Not that I expect that to happen, but I'd definitely seize the chance if I had it! However, while I could possibly save up $25 within the next few weeks, 25K is just no way. ;)

[capo]

Beth,

You don't need Roch. Go see the movie.

[meblogin]

I think it would be great to meet the President that had to deal with 911, a failing economy and all the poor information inherited from an earlier administration/pres. who shall remain nameless, clueless and worthless except when it comes to explicit internal affairs...sigh...yep...it must be FRIDAY!!! I mean....I do fully understand why Clinton's information was sloppy at best as they new that he would never use any of it...

[Samuel Spagnola]

Hey, I was just trying to help.

[gate]

That would be cool to meet the President. Unfortunately 25k is beyond our capabilities and we have to admit that this event is way,way beyond our ability to get comped.

[Roch101]

"I meant to say how much does Roch charge as a SHITman" -- Sam

Sam, your scatalogical fantasies aren't of interest to me.

[Samuel Spagnola]

I appreciate your humor, too bad you can't appreciate mine.

[Samuel Spagnola]

BTW - it wasn't personal Roch- your name just happened to the one Beth used in the sentence.

[Beth]

Oh dear... your kidding right? Ed can delete anything he wants, I certainly don't want him to feel uncomfortable... but please, this is America. Freedom of Speech people, sarcasm, satire, and irony. Yes, Irony. George Bush is responsible for 130,000 deaths in the middle east. Deaths of innocent civilians. Yet I come along and suggest we might be better without George? Not that I want the man [fill in the blank] but, seriously if the Secret Service thinks I'm a threat to suggest Roch [fill in the blank] to [fill in the blank] then maybe we don't live in the land of the free (speech) and should all consider moving to a country where a nice leader who allows it (free speech) like Chavez?

[meblogin]

Beth,

Several have offered sincere advice. In the event that you are picked up for questioning...good luck with that. I guess it will make for an interesting post.
Perhaps you will believe that it was really a UFO encounter.

Next maybe you could experiment with your "this is America. Freedom of Speech people, sarcasm, satire, and irony" at the airport security and really apply some good humor and tease them with what "could" be in your baggage or shoes.....

[beth]

Mel you must have me seriously confused. You must think I take this president serious, or his airport security serious. You must think that I'm someone unable to dichotomies my human experience from responsible decisions. I made a candid remark, which is far from the verbal discussion I would have with the President if I ever met him face to face. I'm light hearted, and leave the politics to Ed, and the other bloggers; but If you think for one moment that his role in this world somehow exalts him to a greater place then I, one that demands my silence and his protection, you are wrong. George Bush is a failure as a human being, a terrorist cloaked as our leader, and he should not be in power. How's that for freedom of speech?

[Jim Caserta]

Isn't there a better way to spend $25k? Like 10 semesters worth of tuition scholarships at UNC? I'm sure Cara's work would find good use for the $. Or you could use it toward becoming a Bull Gator.

[meblogin]

Beth,

Earlier, it was not my intent to offend or criticize. The President of our great country regardless of name and time and what you think "is" protected 24 hours a day and you most likely are not. In this regard he is held to a higher place than you or I. Without trial and any form of due process you can be submitted in this great country to defend that you are innocent for making such dumb idiotic remarks. (I might be being a tiny bit critical now...smile..but my intent is not to offend.)

My guess is that if you have flown in recent years that you held your tongue or you would have a story to tell therefore you did/do respect airport security and were silent. One need only pass through security and jokingly tell security that you have a bomb in your carryon to learn that your silence is demanded.

Yes....you have convinced me that " You must think that I'm someone unable to dichotomies my human experience from responsible decisions." It is your earlier and later post that caused others to offer opinion that you have and are making poor irresponsible decisions.
I guess that you made poor decisions based on your lack of human experience in this area.

Your last sentence " that Bush is a failure"...blah...blah..clearly shows that you are light hearted and without strong political opinion. (humor intended)

I guess you are all growed up...do what you want. The intent was to help.

Ed is a journalist and can comment on the potential hole that you have indeed dug deeper with your last two posts. Others are lawyers and I would like to see their comments as I am sure that we all could learn. Me...just trying to help.

Have a great day!! (and I am very light hearted...but heck no..not going to leave politics to ED!!!...grin)

[Ed Cone]

Beth's criticism of the President is protected speech. She need not exalt anyone, and she like all Americans is free to excoriate any President and any policies she wishes.

My point is that the Secret Service tends to take very seriously language that might conceivably be construed as a threat of bodily harm.

I understood Beth's comment as a joke, not a threat, which is why it remains posted here; I'm just saying that the Secret Service has a notoriously limited sense of humor about such things.

The analogy to joking in the airport security line is a pretty sound one.

[Lenslinger]

I actually George W. Well, 'met' is probably the wrong word. I huddled with the then Texas Governor in a back at the Koury Convention Center while Bob Buckley peppered him with innocuous questions. It was during Lauch Faircloth's failed re-election bid, I think ... around the time Charlton Freakin' Heston came a stumpin' and wowed the crowd with his steely indignation and feeble appearance. Thousand dollar rubber chicken plates, middle aged debutantes in makeup and pearls, suited heavies talking into their cufflinks, a sea of uppercrust white diners gladhanding each other as the Filipino waiters in cheap tuxedo shirts scurry from table to table...I'd rather cover as drive-by...

All I really re

[Lenslinger]

I'd rather cover a drive by...

(Sheesh!)

[Bubba]

"Beth's criticism of the President is protected speech."

You're probably right.

After all, bad judgment and BDS are not illegal, are they?

[Ed Cone]

Not probably, it is her right.

Even anonymous bloggers who deride critics of Bush as "deranged" have the right to free speech.

But when you exercise your right to make even joking references to harming the President, your free speech may bump up against Secret Service policy and action.

[beth]

Anyone ever see the movie where the guy gets on the plane and says "It's not like I have a bomb" and gets kicked off the plane.

[Bubba]

"Even anonymous bloggers who deride critics of Bush as "deranged" have the right to free speech."

As do arrogant pseudo-iconic bloggers who think they know it all, but don't.

[Ed Cone]

Yep. It's a great country, init?

[Kim]

I understood Beth's comment as a joke, not a threat as well, but I seem to remember, and I can't verify it because it was a while ago and my memory of it is foggy, that someone once had the secret service show up at his door because he posted something similar on a message board. I do not remember the outcome. Maybe I'm wrong....maybe that was just a rumor, but I do recall something like that happening.

[Ed Cone]

That kind of stuff has happened, Kim.

[Kim]

Interesting article. Thanks.

[meblogin]

I think everyone here believes that Beth was just joking. What I don't get is her response... Who knows? She may get a visit prior to the President's visit. If so I hope she blogs her visit.

Ed,
Who was challenging her freedom of speech as it pertains to her non-political lighthearted perspective of him and his performance? Why the shift from the primary subject of helping her with the threat comment?

Further, my guess is that had you removed all comments that the chances would have been greater for investigation and my additional guess is that you already knew this.

One has got to believe or should consider that the USA has sophisticated data mining running at all times looking for topics such as this.

Anyway, I would like to meet any president and be able to spend enough time to understand the job.

[Spags]

Bubbam you forgot to add "psuedo-intellectuals" and "know it alls" (ironic, don't ya think?)to your comment.

I don't think she was serious, and I tried to help out with a little humor, but because I'm not part of the LGBBC, I get flack for it.

I also think it is comments like hers from Americans that empower people like Chavez to come to this country and insult our president. I wouldn't have appreciated it if they did it to Clinton, and I don't appreciate it when it was done to Bush. We reap what we so, and I have never seen the level of disrespect and outright hatred- including wishing personal harm- to any president. So when you hear about how these attacks weaken America, look no further than Mr. Chavez for proof. It's one thing to criticize a president, quite another to wish him harm, joking or not.

Even when Bush is gone, the damage has been done. Every subsequent president will be weaker for what has been done to Bush. I hope these lefties are proud.

I fully expect to be attacked by the LGBBC for what I just stated. I'm sure I'll hear the usual freedom of speech, Bush is arrogant, he brought in on himself, Clinton impeachment excuses from the crowd, but don't bother for a response because I'm done here. You'll only be preaching to the enlightened and annointed choir. See you in November.

[Spags]

... Except to say I meant "sow" not "so"...

[GOP4LIFE]

I am uncertain why the local GOP was not contacted.

In the past, I give money when asked, but this is rediculous.

I don't care if the person hosting the event is considered a 'large donor'

What about the small donor, or or people who helped with putting up yard signs, or making phone calls during the campaign...are we considered unwanted, since he is not running again?

[Ed Cone]

Meb, Beth brought up her right to freedom of speech. Nobody disputed her rights, even as several people pointed out the problems with using them thusly.

[Billy The Blogging Poet]

Beth, are you still free? Do I need to round up a gang to bust you out? Scream really loud and I'll come running as fast as a fat boy can go.

Hey, who wants to "fly"over the White house?

[beth]

Yeah... no one's found me yet.