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Reunion is owned by the City of Dallas. Thanks goodness they weren't having a sporting event there - they would have searched everyone no matter how long it took. But Obama wanted a full arena for the media when he arrived so open the flood gates.

By JACK DOUGLAS Jr.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.

"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

Doors opened to the public at 10 a.m., and for the first hour security officers scanned each person who came in and checked their belongings in a process that kept movement of the long lines at a crawl. Then, about 11 a.m., an order came down to allow the people in without being checked.

Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because, they said, the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event.

"How can you not be concerned in this day and age," said one policeman.

JACK DOUGLAS Jr., 817-390-7700
jld@star-telegram.com

But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

JFK's last words to Jackie were "Dallas, what a nice city, sure seems like a friendly crowd".

Thanks God nothing happened to Obama. That's all Dallas would have needed - first Kennedy then Obama.

This made me think about something I read earlier today; apparently a large bloc of his co-ethnics seem to be already thinking about martyrdom.

Obama must be challenged and defeated on the battlefield of ideas, via the soap box and ballot box.

CHL/LEO,

My thoughts exactly! I can't imagine the secret service making the decision lightly and would assume that they resisted fairly strongly. Obama must have been fairly insistent but I would bet we had a Chief of Police and Mayor that were puckered pretty tight when they got wind of what was going on.

Just can't imagine them allowing it if they had any say-so in the matter. It would have been disasterous for Dallas if anything had gone wrong.

Dallas paid a high enough price for the political fanfare with the loss of one of it's officers. We clearly don't need more opportunity to be in the headlines with someone making these kind of crazy decisions.

yerasimos wrote:
This made me think about something I read earlier today; apparently a large bloc of his co-ethnics seem to be already thinking about martyrdom.

Obama must be challenged and defeated on the battlefield of ideas, via the soap box and ballot box.

Co-ethnics???? This is one of those times that an attempt to be PC sounds worse than just spitting it out. Anyway, as a black man, I'll admit there is a fear in my mind that Obama would truly live up to every last detail of JFK's legacy, including is final trip to Dallas. Actually, I can't help but think that the election of either Obama or Clinton would turn into a bad version of that KKK episode of Dave Chappelle's old TV show.

Selfish though it may be, my choices in politicians always boil down to whose policies cost me the least money and cause the least interference in my life or my ability to defend that life. I just wish the Republican party didn't simply ignore blacks with the assumption that all of us are mindless lemmings who vote Democrat because we are told to do so by our local pastor. I know the voting history but it seems no one has ever asked why or made even a remote attempt to buck the trend.

GC,
Red, Yellow, Black, or White, no one on this board cares. When you speak, write, or teach at PSC, we all listen & learn. I am not sure them Publicans er them Desakrats either one think any more of this Redneck, wood burnin, country white boy than they do you. At least they figger you vote. Think all I do is fish w/ a telefone & shoot deer under a spot light.

G.C.Montgomery wrote:Co-ethnics???? This is one of those times that an attempt to be PC sounds worse than just spitting it out.

I was thinking about this after I posted it and thought about how roughly four years ago, Teresa Heinz Kerry once claimed to be "African-American" because she was born in Mozambique. IIRC, Obama's father is from Kenya, and his mother is from Kansas, so I am not sure how genetically related he would be to those I termed his "co-ethnics" (ie, African-Americans whose ancestors were brought here from Africa's west coast, opposite from Kenya). So I am possibly mistaken there, too, in my use of the word "co-ethnic".

GC, we have met before, though I doubt you remember me. As far as I am concerned, and going by what you just posted about your political views, we are on the same side.

Politics is a funny thing. Even those who pretty much think along the same lines have their differences. I voted today and my wife and sister inlaw gave me grief for not voting in the Democratic party and not trying to stop Obama. I thought about it momentarily but it nauseated me and made me sick. In the end I voted Republican to support candidates in the lesser offices.

G.C, I agree that the Republicans have turned their backs on Black voters and have done a poor job on reaching out to black voters. Both partys are playing the demographic games rather than deal with real ideology issues. Republicans have also turned their backs on those who want less government and more freedom from government.

yerasimos wrote:

G.C.Montgomery wrote:Co-ethnics???? This is one of those times that an attempt to be PC sounds worse than just spitting it out.

I was thinking about this after I posted it and thought about how roughly four years ago, Teresa Heinz Kerry once claimed to be "African-American" because she was born in Mozambique. IIRC, Obama's father is from Kenya, and his mother is from Kansas, so I am not sure how genetically related he would be to those I termed his "co-ethnics" (ie, African-Americans whose ancestors were brought here from Africa's west coast, opposite from Kenya). So I am possibly mistaken there, too, in my use of the word "co-ethnic".

GC, we have met before, though I doubt you remember me. As far as I am concerned, and going by what you just posted about your political views, we are on the same side.

I know there's no offense intended dude...Like I said, I figure it sounds worse than it is. I think nearly everyone on this board thinks along similar lines. There will be disagreements on somethings but one thing we all have in common is desire to remain free men with right to defend our families, our homes and our own persons.

On the election, I respect the fact that some people have different priorities and therefore different politics. But what bothers me most about this election is that more than ever, people are voting one way or another for all the wrong reasons. The fact that Obama is black or that Hillary is a woman should not be a qualifying factor yet I've heard a great many people planning to vote for one or the other for those reasons. The few that aren't voting for one of those reasons are voting because they think the Demonrats will give them something for free. Everyone deserves free healthcare don't you know? And everything in Europe is better than it is here according to these people. I also ways wonder why these folks don't just move to Europe if it's so much better over there.

G.C.Montgomery wrote:But what bothers me most about this election is that more than ever, people are voting one way or another for all the wrong reasons. The fact that Obama is black or that Hillary is a woman should not be a qualifying factor yet I've heard a great many people planning to vote for one or the other for those reasons.

and got flamed on another board for daring to say this.

yerasimos wrote:
This made me think about something I read earlier today; apparently a large bloc of his co-ethnics seem to be already thinking about martyrdom.

Obama must be challenged and defeated on the battlefield of ideas, via the soap box and ballot box.

Into the mind of the Manchurian Candidate's wife's mind...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html

Truely a potentially horrific view of someone that close to this guy...You have to read between the lines...Its deep in the core of how she thinks...