Romney shows he's above the law in South Carolina

[Netbeavis]

easy there tiger...you're not president yet.
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http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7012057


SALUDA, SC (AP) - The motorcade of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney exceeded speed limits and went through stop lights Friday as local law officers escorted him to campaign events in two South Carolina counties.

Traffic pulled over for the flashing blue lights. Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth, a Romney supporter, led the candidate's motorcade to the Newberry city limits.

The caravan traveled between 10 mph and 15 mph over posted speed limits of 45 mph and 55 mph.

Booth says officers wanted to make sure Romney stays safe and gets where he's going.

Later in the day, Romney said his campaign requests that police turn their lights on only if there's a public safety concern.

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Later in the day...as in this was a response to numerous complaints starting to roll in. In Romney's defense...the family dog was not on the roof this time.

[Ian David]

1. It's all harmless fun, right, Romney?

Motorcycle officer in Bush motorcade killed in crash
08:55 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A police officer in President Bush's motorcade crashed his motorcycle and died Monday, less than a year after a crash in Hawaii killed another motorcycle officer accompanying the president.



AP Photo / Evan Vucci
A Rio Rancho, New Mexico motorcycle officer receives emergency medical attention from two unidentified officers at the scene of a crash. The officer, who later died at University of New Mexico Hospital, was riding in a presidential motorcade.at the Albuquerque International Sunport Monday, Aug. 27, 2007

More:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/082807dnnatmotorcade.77e9ff8f.html


Also:


Hawaii officer dies after Bush motorcade crash
27 Nov 2006 03:56:56 GMT
Source: Reuters

HONOLULU, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A Honolulu police officer died on Sunday from injuries suffered when his motorcycle crashed while escorting President George W. Bush during his Hawaii visit last week.

Steve Favella, 30, of Ewa Beach on Oahu, died at The Queen's Medical Center, said Honolulu Police Department spokesman Captain Frank Fujii.

More:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26337463.htm




Details Emerge of Bush's Scotland Bicycle Accident
By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Feb 26, 2006 at 11:12:57 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

<snip>

It was "about 1800 hours on Wednesday, 6 July, 2005" that a detachment of Strathclyde police constables, in "Level 2 public order dress {anti-riot gear}," formed a protective line at the gate at the hotel's rear entrance, in case demonstrators penetrated the biggest-ever security operation on Scottish soil.

The official police incident report states: "{The unit} was requested to cover the road junction on the Auchterarder to Braco Road as the President of the USA, George Bush, was cycling through." The report goes on: "{At} about 1800 hours the President approached the junction at speed on the bicycle. The road was damp at the time. As the President passed the junction at speed he raised his left arm from the handlebars to wave to the police officers present while shouting 'thanks, you guys, for coming'.

"As he did this he lost control of the cycle, falling to the ground, causing both himself and his bicycle to strike {the officer} on the lower legs. fell to the ground, striking his head. The President continued along the ground for approximately five metres, causing himself a number of abrasions. The officers... then assisted both injured parties."

<snip>

Legal experts also suggested lesser mortals could have ended up with a fixed penalty fine, prosecution, or at least a good ticking-off from officers. John Scott, a human rights lawyer, said: "There's certainly enough in this account for a charge of careless driving. Anyone else would have been warned for dangerous driving.

More:
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2006/02/26/831/90801

[Netbeavis]

4. Nice...wish I had thought of that...

the irony is that Mitt still has no shot of winning a SC primary. Check out The State's (SC largest newspaper) political blog section and the mega-freepers are out in force going after Romney because he's not a bible thumper.

www.thestate.com

scary stuff.

[rurallib]

2. Did they let his kids ride in the police car and blow the sireeen?

They are so cute. Not old enough to fight in the great war yet.

[Netbeavis]

5. no, but they let them touch their guns....

so now they can claim combat experience.

[valerief]

3. I hear he ties his five sons to the roof nowadays. You know, the

ones serving their country by supporting his campaign of war, death, and torture.

[MonkeyFunk]

6. I hate to defend Romney

but it sounds like local law enforcement decided to do this, not Romney himself.

[Netbeavis]

8. I disagree

ever politician has an advance team who meets with local support. Those teams provide a "DO & DON'T" list to help with the campaign. I can guarantee you that travel plans were covered in great detail.


If nothing else, its shows the demagoguery that the GOP minions undergo and how they feel that they can do whatever as long as it helps their man.

[pnwmom]

7. Welcome to DU, Netbeavis! n/t

[MissMarple]

9. I wonder if this was only for Romney since the sherrif is a supporter.

This could make Rudy a bit jealous.

TPM has an article on this, as well.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/08/romney_motorcade_escorted_by_cops_broke_speed_limits_and_ran_red_lights.php