"Gig 601XL Builder !" wrote

But that aside the majority of the citizens of the US feel that the POTUS
is
of significant enough importance to allow those who are charged with his
well being a certain latitude in his protection. While a individual or
even
many individulas might have in the past or in the future suffer some
financial loss due to the steps required to protect the POTUS it pales in
comparison to the loss that would be suffered by many, many people should
he
be killed, especially should that attack be part of a larger attack on our
country. The loss may!well be caused by purely emotional reactions but
that
doesn't make the loss any less.

Bringing a city to a halt is, to say the least, a little overstated. Bush
was here in little old El Dorado Arkansas (pop. ~20k) before the last
election. The town didn't come to a halt. A matter of fact if you weren't
in
a 4 block radius of where he was speaking you wouldn't have known he was
in
town. As a matter of fact I went to the airport where AF1 was sitting
(though it wasn't the 747 it was a 757)and was allowed inside the fence
and
allowed to go to my hanger. There was a police officer there who asked why
I
was there. When I pointed to the airplane tires in the back of my truck
and
to my hanger he said, "Have a nice day and please leave via this exit."
This
was mainly because AF1 was parked 50 yards from the other exit and I would
have had to drive past it.

As far as the limit to the POTUS's importance to the US, yes there is a
limit as there is a limit to what can be done to protect him. But, at
least
at this point the general public doesn't think that limit has been
exceeded.

Well said, Gig. It is always good to hear a voice of calm analysis, as all
around are freaking out.

They remind me of all of the conspiracy theorists, in a way. Something like
all the POTUS is trying to do is ruin their (and as many other's) day. So
sorry; life is not fair, but I believe as you do, that a dead president at
the hands of an assassin would not be a "good thing" for the country.
--
Jim in NC