Secret Service Detail Afraid Of What?

[ArchieBunker]

This was from a UPI article. Evidently, Obama will be visiting Yingluck during his visit. There are also many water monitors (tacuat or hia) running around the place. Now the Secret Service were concerned that there were aggresive "Komodo Dragons" running around. I thought you had to be reasonably intelligent to be an agent.

Komodo Dragons are found in well, The Isle of Komodo. The last time I looked that wasnt in Thailand......JEEEZE!!!!

[deepthroat]

Here's the story Arch:

"Secret Service agents had a scare while surveying grounds in Thailand in advance of PresidentBarack Obama‘s trip to Asia, believing they’d seen dangerous komodo dragons. But, rest assured, our Commander in Chief will likely not be consumed by bacteria-laden reptilian hellbeasts while overseas:"

Thai officials reassured the U.S. Secret Service that lizards found on the Government House grounds were not the dangerous komodo dragons, but water lizards.

The U.S. team mistook the relatively benign water monitors for the carnivorous komodo dragons as the team conducted security inspections of the Government House Thursday ahead of President Obama’s visit that begins Sunday, the Bangkok Post reported.

[deepthroat]

Faux-Bama Makes Grand Tour of Thailand

By Shawna Thomas and Catherine Chomiak

This weekend, President Obama will embark on his first trip to Thailand as president of the United States. According to the White House, while in Bangkok the president "will meet with Prime Minister Yingluck to mark 180 years of diplomatic relations and reaffirm the strength" of alliance between the two countries. But he won't be there very long, because in what will only be a three-day trip, he's going to cram in a historic visit with Aung Sang Suu Kyi in Myanmar and participate in the East Asian Summit in Cambodia.

So what's the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok to do if the leader of the free world doesn't have time to really take in the sites of Thailand? The answer: stage a series of photo ops with a life-size cutout of the president in various cultural and tourists destinations throughout the Thailand countryside.

Didn't see that answer coming, did you?

On the official Facebook Page of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, embassy staff has posted 10 photos of President Faux-bama in front of beautiful temples in Ancient Siam. The caption:

"U.S. President Barack Obama will be visiting Bangkok over the next week. Since he cannot visit all of Thailand's provinces during his trip, we took one of his "representatives" to see examples of Thailand's beautiful monuments and historical sites."

Find the other nine photos here (warning: Facebook link)

[xyzzy]

I saw something on TV saying the locations were faux as well. An excellent idea for trip pictures to show the family after next trip...

[deepthroat]

I saw something on TV saying the locations were faux as well. An excellent idea for trip pictures to show the family after next trip...

Yes, it's one of the Thailand Replica tourist places.

[Hefe]

Can we get a photo of that Obama cutout on soi Cowboy? I'm sure something like that will show up on Drudge anyway.

[Lefty]

I don't see why it is a big deal. The Secret Service were doing their jobs to ask. Better to err on the side of caution.

[deepthroat]

I don't see why it is a big deal. The Secret Service were doing their jobs to ask. Better to err on the side of caution.

From the slant Arch gave it, it looks like our resident Republican thinks someone's an idiot if they don't know where Komodo Dragons are native inhabitants. Thank heavens most of the bobble heads on Fox didn't have to pass such a rigorous intelligence test!

[ArchieBunker]

From the slant Arch gave it, it looks like our resident Republican thinks someone's an idiot if they don't know where Komodo Dragons are native inhabitants. Thank heavens most of the bobble heads on Fox didn't have to pass such a rigorous intelligence test!

Thats correct, DT. BTW I am NOT a registered Republican. I do not affiliate myself with a political party. It was a dig, albeit a very minor one. I do think that these folks should fucking know that the isle of Komodo is nowhere near Thailand.

I dont understand why you would mention Fox in any way, shape or form. You guys won the election yet youse are still totally angry. Actually youse really didnt ouright WIN as the status quo was upheld.

I see california now has a top state income tax rate of 13.3%! thats great, not the ovt gets to confiscate OVER 50% of productive people's earnings. Thats BEFORE you factor in all other types of onerous taxes.......Its beyond a joke.

[Lefty]

Thats correct, DT. BTW I am NOT a registered Republican. I do not affiliate myself with a political party. It was a dig, albeit a very minor one. I do think that these folks should fucking know that the isle of Komodo is nowhere near Thailand.

I dont understand why you would mention Fox in any way, shape or form. You guys won the election yet youse are still totally angry. Actually youse really didnt ouright WIN as the status quo was upheld.

I see california now has a top state income tax rate of 13.3%! thats great, not the ovt gets to confiscate OVER 50% of productive people's earnings. Thats BEFORE you factor in all other types of onerous taxes.......Its beyond a joke.

Us guys ain't angry. Sorry to disappoint you. While you may not be a Republican, you take any chance you get to make negative remarks about Dems. Yet I recall nary a one about any Rep. I must have missed them.

The only one angry over the election are the Reps. We read of some banning any Obama voters from shopping in their store, and many signing petitions to secede from the Union. Now, how stupid does one have to be to think signing any such petition will do any good?

[pdogg]

the govt gets to confiscate OVER 50% of productive people's earnings.

I think billionaires should pay much more than 50% and the savings used to lower taxes on the working class who I view as the trully productive people. The rich and powerful are rich and powerful because the system is rigged in their favor and both the Dems and Repubs are complicit in this game rigging.

[ArchieBunker]

I think thats oversimplistic bullshit. I dont care HOW MUCH money someone makes, the govt does not have the right to confiscate more than 50%. Of course there are many wealhy people who were born into it but there are also many who worked hard or had a great idea or some kind of talent and EARNED it.

There are MANY more people mooching off the system than people who benfit from a "rigged" system. Lets face it, stats show OVERWHELMINGLY if you have some kind of education and exhibit some personal responsibility (theres a novel idea) you have a great chance of having a decent life in the US of A. If you pop out a couple of kids from different sperm donors ( who dont take care of their obligations and we dont ask them to either) by the time you are 22, then guess what-youse gonna be poor!!! Its WAAAAAAAY too easy to get on welfare and STAY on welfare and the govt. condones it!! Who is going to vote themselves a paycut? free stuff why not-only it aint free. The fleas are all to happy to jump on the dog for a free ride but, you know what, one day all those fleas are gonna kill the dog. Then what happens to the fleas????

We will see tonight where some peoples priorties are. They are camped out in front of stores and will literally stampede each other for the chance to buy stuff at a discount. Its all fucking warped if you ask me.......

[ArchieBunker]

I just saw the topic of the thread I started. We be getting waaaaay off topic here....................................it was just a light hearted dig at some dope in the Secret Service.....

[deepthroat]

Arch, at risk of going even more off topic.... I read two things last night that will probably disturb you a bit.

1. More than 65% of Americans do not understand the basic workings of our Income Tax, in that they believe that if a higher rate is proposed for those making over $250k, that rate would apply to ALL the money a person makes if they earn over $250k. In reality, the first $250,000 is taxed at the normal rate (10% on first $8,700; 15% on the money from $8700 to $35k; 25% on the money from $35k to $85k; etc.) In other words, if the rate is increased above $250k, the first $250k is taxed at the normal rates, and the new (higher) rate for earnings above $250k is ONLY applied to the additional earnings beyond $250k. That's what the whole "marginal tax rate" thing means.

Now Arch, I'd guess you probably blame that ignorance on the educational system; I blame it on the conservative media which is doing nothing to correct this misunderstanding. In fact, stories keep cropping up about "small business owners" who are threatening to shut down and take early vacations if they get close to the $250k earnings for the year (thinking they will be penalized with lower net earnings if they make $250,001). The media doesn't bother to point out the fallacy. They will pay EXACTLY THE SAME TAX on the first $250k in earnings, but every dollar above that would be taxed at a higher rate.

2. If the Social Security Tax income cap were removed, the program would be fully funded for at least the next 75 years, and it would actually result in a 300% increase in comparison to raising the retirement age to 70. But instead, the conservative media keeps pushing this idea that the middle to lower income folks should just work longer and harder, instead of the wealthy paying a pittance more and everyone coming out ahead.

I'm a guy that right now is paying ZERO Social Security Tax on my earnings, as I crossed the cap earlier this year so every check until the end of the year has no SS taxes removed from it. This is wrong. I'd be happy to have that money continue to be removed from my check every month if it would mean that those less lucky than I could retire at 62 instead of working to 70 or beyond.

[Hefe]

I want to get drunk with Archie & Lefty! It'll be more entertaining & interesting than watching cable tv...

[Meathead]

There are MANY more people mooching off the system than people who benefit from a "rigged" system.

We agree on something Arch!

In sheer numbers perhaps 10% are moooching, 89% working their ass off, and the top 1% benefiting from friggin in the rigging. Or fill in your own numbers maybe the 10% is 5% or 20%, I dunno. But I do know that the Top 1% know how to play the system in an extremely sophisticated way that puts three card monte operators to shame.

And I think the shareholders of Lehman Brothers, guys like you on the loading dock maybe had Lehman exposure through mutual funds in their 401K, would be better off today if you, Arch had been CEO of Lehman.

As a conservative guy, you would not tolerate the excessive leverage based on garbage CDOs that Lehman held. But Dick Fuld figures lets ramp up short term profits and he gets outlandish yearly bonuses in the good years that he gets to keep. And he gets these big bonuses granted by his asshole buddies on on the board and rubber stamped by compensation consultants who know they have to play ball to get business.

And all this crap is legal.

It's a game. The rules of the game are devised by the rich and powerful. Guys like Fuld played the game well. These guys aren't evil, can't blame them for their competitive spirit and will to win. But guys like that add no value to society. Same same as drug dealers collecting welfare checks cause they're technically unemployed.

These guys effectively gambled with YOUR money Arch. If they win they get big bonuses that they EARNED. If they lose the government bails them out. To me that's welfare for the rich and powerful. World class moochers.

Why in their right mind would the middle class agree to these rules?

[Lefty]

I want to get drunk with Archie & Lefty! It'll be more entertaining & interesting than watching cable tv...

I don't generally hang out much with Republicans.

[williethepimp]

_So secret service agents didnt know where Komodo was,thats understandable.......but surely common sense would have told them that Komodo dragons,as dangerous as they are would not be allowed to roam around willy-nilly around the presidential palace.

[ArchieBunker]

We agree on something Arch!

In sheer numbers perhaps 10% are moooching, 89% working their ass off, and the top 1% benefiting from friggin in the rigging. Or fill in your own numbers maybe the 10% is 5% or 20%, I dunno. But I do know that the Top 1% know how to play the system in an extremely sophisticated way that puts three card monte operators to shame.

And I think the shareholders of Lehman Brothers, guys like you on the loading dock maybe had Lehman exposure through mutual funds in their 401K, would be better off today if you, Arch had been CEO of Lehman.

As a conservative guy, you would not tolerate the excessive leverage based on garbage CDOs that Lehman held. But Dick Fuld figures lets ramp up short term profits and he gets outlandish yearly bonuses in the good years that he gets to keep. And he gets these big bonuses granted by his asshole buddies on on the board and rubber stamped by compensation consultants who know they have to play ball to get business.

And all this crap is legal.

It's a game. The rules of the game are devised by the rich and powerful. Guys like Fuld played the game well. These guys aren't evil, can't blame them for their competitive spirit and will to win. But guys like that add no value to society. Same same as drug dealers collecting welfare checks cause they're technically unemployed.

These guys effectively gambled with YOUR money Arch. If they win they get big bonuses that they EARNED. If they lose the government bails them out. To me that's welfare for the rich and powerful. World class moochers.

Why in their right mind would the middle class agree to these rules?

The powers that be are totally complicit and that would be both parties. Who writes the laws?? Who enforces the laws?? How many Wall Streeters has the administration prosecuted?? Did you know that Congress actually exempts itself from all the laws it passes???

Wall Street has rules that makes things "rigged" so that the "little guy" cannot compete. Some people compare the markets to a casino i.e the house always wins. But historically, that isnt really true. All decades have seen positive growth in the markets.

Why do pension finds and 401ks invest so heavily in the markets? Is that the wrong thing to do?? If you want to look at a system thats a total rip off look at social security here in the US of A. What a shitty deal that is. had I been able to "opt out" of the system years ago and only gotten HALF of the money in payroll taxes, believe me, I would be rolling in it right now.