PS: Ok now that all the sappy stuff is done, what the hell is the Secret Service doing? Sorry, gonna rant a bit here and drop the formal tone.
Like, I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo.
What I got (who knows, maybe they’re pranking me!) is nothing.
No damn security.
Not in transport.
Not in the hotel.
Not in the event.
Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance.
I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.
The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before.
Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope it’s corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again.
Like, if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed shit.
Actually insane.
Maybe the venerable SS isn't what we've come to expect. We think of them as 250# burly dudes that don't take guff from anybody and are willing to go the extra mile to protect their protectee. Yet I've noticed that they are not in the places they should be nor actively watching every square inch of a facility the protectee is in. Why is that? Because they are understaffed, underfunded, or just plain out of their element? A combination of all three probably. These guys are humans with frailties, just like every body else. They might be joking with one another while manning a post in a hotel when a young stud come running by and not have the momentary chance to tackle the dude. That's just plain happenstance.
I will cut them some slack, but the roof top at Butler? Come on, guys. Plus the gal trying to protect POTUS and was a head shorter than him? Not a very good photo op.
Heads will roll at the SS for this and stong words will be said, but in a couple of months it will be business as usual and someone else will play a stupid game.