If this doesn't fall into the "I am not surprised" category, then nothing does.........
The Secret Service, charged with protecting presidents and their families, ex-presidents and their families, as well as candidates running for the office and their families, are also responsible for other areas of our nation's security, like anti-counterfeiting efforts.
The Secret Service is now a part of the Department of Homeland Security, so its departmental efforts have been linked to all of the other agencies under the DHS umbrella.
More on this, after the fold....
In a fairly graphic representation of the national and international loathing most people (sans those 25% of unshakable authoritarian fascists, ultra-wealthy, and die-hard Repuglians) have for the Bush cabal, not only is Bush planning on hiring 103 new Secret Service agents to protect him, but over the last six years Bush has nearly doubled the amount (from 26 to 54) the amount of people in his junta who qualify for SS protection!
This looks like a sign a desperation and fear to me. These people know that there is deep seated animosity, if not hate, on the part of tens of millions in this nation towards their administration. Add in the billions in other parts of the world, and one has to wonder if 103 new SS agents, or even dozens of fully armored military regiments, would be enough.
What a sad commentary on the state of our nation on its birthday. We have a government so corrupt, so craven, and so evil, that they feel the need to pull out all the stops to protect themselves from the very people they are supposed to be serving. Of course, it's always been so with this bunch. Look at Bush and Cheney's refusal to speak in front of anything but hand-picked and fully screened crowds. Hell, they won't even allow protesters, or those publicly expressing contrary views, within a half-mile of their events. This is democracy?
Even when speaking to the media, they fully control the process. When was the last time Dick made the rounds of all the networks? Remember when our politicians used to do this? They used to give every major network some time, on a regular basis. But now, Bush and Dick almost always, when not speaking in front of some right-wing neocon group like the fascist AEI, go to FOX to spread their lies and propaganda. And worse yet, they order their minions to do the same. FOX ='s Pravda. Bush Regime ='s fascism. The sky is blue.
Back to the Secret Service, their budget requests are nearly doubling as well. It takes a lot of money to protect criminals like those occupying our White House right now. Of course, they lay part of the blame for their 100 million dollar budget requests, on the many presidential candidates now running, and the need to provide them protection, yet only HRC and Sen. Obama are receiving protection.
In the past, people like Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz received SS protection too. Can't have the architects of the illegal Iraq invasion and occupation left unprotected can we? After all, one of the relatives of the over half-million (est.) Iraqis killed thus far, might want to come after them for a little revenge. And any bets that Joe LIEberman is also receiving "protection" from the SS? Can't have Bush's best traitor/propagandist feeling any angst now, can we?
As far as the 103 new agents being hired to protect Bush, do you realize the cost for this? I would wager to say that it will cost more to protect Bush after he's out of office, than any other two or three ex-presidents combined. 103!! Bush must be one scared little puppy.
It really might be best for him to go to Paraguay, but his staff are saying that he plans on being a "very active ex-president", and "will be regularly attending various functions around the country, after he leaves office". Oh really? What group of forking idiots would want Bush to attend their gathering? What would he lend to the event? This will be very telling...
Now the big question is, how many agents are they planning on hiring to protect Dick? 200? 300? The entire U.S. Army?
I think the Dems need to pass a law pulling any and all SS protection for anyone who is impeached or convicted of a crime,... and then convict and impeach the bastards!
Link to McClatchy article referenced above: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/...
**Edited to remove inflammatory sentence.