O.T. President in Bozeman?

[David Kirk]

So our President will be in our little town this Friday and as hard as that is to believe we are excited.

Today I needed to drop the lovely Karin off at the Bozeman airport and I was surprised to see a number of military helicopters all lined up and running on a runway very near the viewing area. So after dropping Karin off at the terminal I went and parked for a second and leaned against the fence with many others watching the Marine One copter check out the area in preparation for the President's visit in a few days. There was Marine One and a number of other support aircraft and they lifted off in unison and floated out over our valley.

Now I'm not usually impressed by stuff like this and the pomp and circumstance but I have to admit it was mesmerizing to watch and gave me goose-bumps. Very cool.

Dave

[Ray]

I've never seen a president in person, at least not once they'd become president. A friend of mine once literally almost bumped into President Ford at the University of Arizona many years ago (well, sometime between 74 and 76 I guess) and despite his anti-Ford political leanings, he was kind of mesmerized. It should be pretty cool having the prez show up in a relatively small city like Bozeman. They come into Philly all the time and nobody really notices except that traffic is snarled for a couple of hours and everyone gets pissed off.

Enjoy it,

-Ray

[chuckred]

I've never seen a president in person, at least not once they'd become president. A friend of mine once literally almost bumped into President Ford at the University of Arizona many years ago (well, sometime between 74 and 76 I guess) and despite his anti-Ford political leanings, he was kind of mesmerized. It should be pretty cool having the prez show up in a relatively small city like Bozeman. They come into Philly all the time and nobody really notices except that traffic is snarled for a couple of hours and everyone gets pissed off.

Enjoy it,

-Ray

Off the Schulkyl, over the South Street Bridge into U Penn campus. Those guys move with purpose! Wouldn't want to be in their way!

[bhungerford]

yeah, the whole entourage is pretty impressive. I met Bush (the first) out in Maine for my first solo flight at 16, he was out of office but still had security. took time to say happy b-day to me before flying off someplace.

and saw clinton pretty close up once also.

doesn't matter your political leanings, its still pretty cool to run into a president (or ex-prez).

should be a fun time friday for you, and the town for that matter.

[gdw]

Did you meet Bush the first at the Sanford Airport?

[rpm]

W was coming to the university hospital here to announce some small health care program. Being no fan, I had forgotten about his visit when I took my customary lunch hour ride. On the way back, I was crossing a bridge over a freeway when I found the way ahead blocked by police. I turned around to go a different way, and found that the way behind me was now blocked, too. I was trapped in a place that had a line of sight to the freeway exit, and the police were getting agitated (as if I could be hiding a high powered rifle under my lycra). I finally persuaded them that I really wanted nothing more than to return to my office, and they escorted me though a barrier to a side street. I did get to see the limo pass by.

[Kevan]

a few years back Bill and Hillary (after office) were walking down into town and caught me with my back turned to them, me raking leaves. Not knowing what to say (Who rehearses such encounters?), I introduced myself and welcomed them to Chappaqua. I had a nice stumbling conversation with them and as they walked away Hillary turned and said something like, "Have a nice day Kevan!"

I bet they forgot.

[rpm]

Actually, I'll be driving through Bozeman this Friday, taking my Strong back to visit its birthplace. What time is the President coming?

[nahtnoj]

Was walking around CC this weekend and saw the FLOTUS & daughters at Independence Hall.

Watching the Secret Service go about its business is fascinating.

[palincss]

While I was in the Shenandoah Valley on a bike tour in June, the President brought his daughters down to my neighborhood to the Dairy Godmother (http://www.thedairygodmother.com/) for Wisconsin-style frozen custard. We're only 6 miles from downtown DC, but folks in the neighborhood were talking about it for days.

[Len J]

Was walking around CC this weekend and saw the FLOTUS & daughters at Independence Hall.

Watching the Secret Service go about its business is fascinating.


I spilled hot snapper soup on Nixon back in the early 70's......The SS was going crazy. I was a waiter and he decided to get up while I was serving him over his right shoulder...........he was not amused and I wasn't either after an hour or so in a room being questioned by the SS.

Len

[GregL]

During my corporate pilot days, I crossed paths with lots of government leaders, both US and foreign. The most memorable encounter was seeing (former) President and Mrs. Reagan on the ramp at the Rochester, MN airport in the early '90s. My FO and I had just finished post-flighting our aircraft and were walking across the ramp to the GA terminal when a Suburban drove past us to a waiting Gulfstream. We stopped by the wing of the Gulfstream to see who the VIP was. Out popped the Reagans just a few feet away. Apparantly, we looked harmless enough, so the security escort ignored us as the Reagans walked to their plane. We acted like typical rubes, shouting out our good wishes and waving. The Reagans turned at the bottom of the plane's steps and gave us their famous smiles and waves. In his early 80s, the President was still an imposing figure.

Regards,
Greg

[David Kirk]

Actually, I'll be driving through Bozeman this Friday, taking my Strong back to visit its birthplace. What time is the President coming?

He's going to speak in a hanger at the airport I think. Here's the article with times and details.

dave

http://www.newwest.net/city/article/obamas_montana_town_hall_set_for_bozeman_airport_p ublic_invited/C396/L396/

[Bob Ross]

I almost got arrested at a Bush motorcade

My good buddy John & I almost got arrested at a Bill Clinton meet&greet in Rockefeller Center during the 1991 campaign. We were hanging out on the sidewalk with thousands of other gawkers, and just as the limo pulls up and Bill gets out, John suddenly remembers a newspaper clipping he had in his wallet (I've since forgotten what the article was about, but remember at the time thinking it was appropos). So he reaches his hand in his back pocket while saying a bit too loudly "Ooh, I've got something to show him!"

Two SS suits had him pinned to the sidewalk in a nanosecond. It was really impressive (& freaky) how quickly they seemingly came out of nowhere and dropped a 6'3" 250lb man.

[sg8357]

[QUOTE=David Kirk]He's going to speak in a hanger at the airport I think. Here's the article with times and details.

dave
QUOTE]

He is going to Bozeman and not ordering a bike ??
So much for the crack presidential research staff. (harrumph)

Scott G.

[PaMtbRider]

President Clinton, and President George W. Bush both have visited my place of employment (Harley-Davidson) since I have worked there. It's pretty neat to see what goes on in preparation for a presidential visit to a manufacturing facility. We had employees make "off the cuff comments" prior to the presidents visit and they were not allowed access to the plant that day. Secret service takes their job very seriously.

[RPS]

I've never seen a president in person, at least not once they'd become president.
I saw Bush 41 in Houston a couple of times. The first around 1990 at a celebrity golf tournament held in our planned community (created a little traffic mess when police stopped all traffic when he was on greens near the main road) and a couple of times I saw him when jogging at Memorial Park when he visited Houston. The golf tournament reportedly marked the first time a sitting United States President participated in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.

And if I recall accurately the last time I saw him while jogging was the morning he lost the election to Clinton. On that particular day he had a group of about 50 runners around him while they jogged past me in the opposite direction on the 3-mile loop. Two things really caught my attention that morning: How tall he stood above most regular runners (the few big guys jogging next to him were easy to spot as SS), and how tired he looked from campaigning. To me he almost seemed relieved it was finally over.

It's kind of sad to think that in today's world a sitting president probably would not do either of these things because of security risks.

[rpm]

He's going to speak in a hanger at the airport I think. Here's the article with times and details.

dave

http://www.newwest.net/city/article/obamas_montana_town_hall_set_for_bozeman_airport_p ublic_invited/C396/L396/

Thanks, Dave. That's a little earlier than I planned to be there. I'd have to get on the road pretty early to make it.

[Climb01742]

so dave...are ya going? want to ask a question? would you want to be part of the meeting? depending on how it goes, it could be cool...or could be :crap:

[choke]

I've been up close to two Presidents. I was about 15ft from Pres. Reagan when he gave a speech to the Embassy community at Spaso House. I was perhaps 20ft (and armed) from the first Pres. Bush as he departed AF1 and gave a small speech at the airport in Köln. Unfortunately I was on duty the day he met with the Embassy personnel and missed out on getting my picture taken with him.

[tylercheung]

present him with a Presidential Kirk Obamaplane - think of the publicity!

[David Kirk]

so dave...are ya going? want to ask a question? would you want to be part of the meeting? depending on how it goes, it could be cool...or could be :crap:

I would like to go but doubt I can get tickets unless I want to stand in line very early in the AM. I did get to see him speak during the campaign and it was moving. I could do that again.

Dave

[sspielman]

I spilled hot snapper soup on Nixon back in the early 70's......The SS was going crazy. I was a waiter and he decided to get up while I was serving him over his right shoulder...........he was not amused and I wasn't either after an hour or so in a room being questioned by the SS.

Len


Is there any truth to the rumor that he stormed out of the restaurant declaring, "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore!"....

[Jeff N.]

I met Governator Schwarzenegger about a year ago, shook his hand. Does that count? Jeff N.

[rounder]

I went to an opening day oriole game one time when Reagan was president. At some point he had to leave and was taken away in a helicopter. Immediately, a bunch of other helicopters showed up and flew around (diversionary tactics) so that there was no way to tell which copter he was on.

Also, in D.C. , lots of times you see motorcades that form out of nowhere to carry the pres or visitors to whereever they are going. It is very cool to watch, knowing how important they must be. Anyway, it is great that an entourage like that is coming to Bozeman.

[gasman]

I got to meet and shake Obama's hand when he was on the campaign trail this last July. I was working at the hospital on a Saturday and he stopped by for a surprise visit. He was very polite, intelligent and charming. The nurses loved him.
You can't quite see the prez but I'm the guy with the Star-spangled scrub hat, I was going from OB back to the OR.

[rwsaunders]

The G-20 Summit is coming to Pittsburgh in September, and they are basically closing off downtown due to security concerns. Court offices, two universities and several larger businesses that are located downtown have already announced closings. They are going to fly the attendees to the smaller county airport, as opposed to the primary airport, which will effect businesses in that traffic corridor.

Too bad, as it would be interesting to see some of the world's leaders live, as opposed to on TV. Estimates of security costs are $15-20MM for the two day event.

We're used to large parades and gatherings here....too many Super Bowls and Stanley Cups, but not professional protesters. It'll be interesting to see how the protesters fare.

[gasman]

It'll be interesting to see how the protesters fare.

They will be too far away to make an impact.

[rugbysecondrow]

Also, in D.C. , lots of times you see motorcades that form out of nowhere to carry the pres or visitors to whereever they are going. It is very cool to watch, knowing how important they must be. Anyway, it is great that an entourage like that is coming to Bozeman.

I work in DC and used to work about a block behined Lafayette Park. That is where they seemed to often exit with the Pres and it is very impressive to see the orchestration. Police have an ongoing precession of blocking, and unblocking streets as the cars string through the city. And they move very quickly.

[David Kirk]

Our President just finished speaking (I listened to the live broadcast on the radio) and it is absolutely pouring rain. I wonder if they can fly in this to get him to his next stop and if he light want to instead come over to have a sandwich and get measured for a new bike.

I wanted to go listen to him speak but real life got in the way. The local radio reported that folks waited overnight in line to get tickets. I didn't want to go that bad.

dave

[gasman]

if he might want to instead come over to have a sandwich and get measured for a new bike.


dave

That's what I would do !!!!

[Louis]

it is absolutely pouring rain

I read on teh internets that they turned on the secret weather manipulation satellites to drive away the death panel protesters.

[David Kirk]

That's what I would do !!!!

We'll leave the light on for ya.

dave

[rePhil]

I met George W, Barbara and family. He likes to fish and was a guest of a local family on many occasions. I knew his fishing guide and represented the company that provided the boat motors.
I would follow along in a chase boat with a camera and a member of the Secret Service. Don't know if it was for show but an agent asked questions like my mothers maiden name etc. There was always a rifle within easy reach and I was told many times that the safety was off. The "suitcase" and phone were always at hand. They simulated shooting from a moving boat by practicing from the tops of moving boxcars in the desert.

[johnnymossville]

I went to see Bill Clinton when he came to Scranton a few times back in the day. I recall that before his first election it was a pretty exciting time and his voice was completely shot from talking so much. Bill and Hillary used to vacation at the old Rodham summer cottage on a lake there.