You will recall the stink in KC over traffic snarls when President Bush decided to fix the riff between Senator Bond and Congressman Graves by going to breakfast at the Corner Cafe. Who knows if it has worked, Senator Bond hasn't appeared in a photo op with Mayor Kay Barnes in a while.
I made a Sunshine Request of the KC MO Police Department. The information above is direct from the police department, nothing changed, nothing redacted. I paid the pretty sum of $85.06 to get this information.
All Americans respect the presidency and security is essential for the leader of the free world. Fixing political feuds can be done in the presidential suite at the hotel. Spending $3,867.90 to transport Bush to breakfast is crazy.
The CYA at the bottom of the KC MO PD cost summary indicates that almost all of the expenses would have been realized anyway. I assume, however, that the 1 major, 2 captains, 12 sergeants, 65 officers and 14 civilians are employed to fight crime. "Transporting politicians to try to keep Graves in office" is not in a KC MO police officers description.
22 comments:
"I assume, however, that the 1 major, 2 captains, 12 sergeants, 65 officers and 14 civilians are employed to fight crime."
And if they would have done the exact same thing as a training exercise, you would have never said a word.
What is your solution to this terrible event? Should the President of the United States not visit KC, or should he get authorization from you?
What if it was the Pope that visited KC?
How much money is spent on every Chiefs game? Go ahead, spend another $85.06.
Did some great crime take place that the police department was unable to respond to because they were at this event?
The additional cost to the police department was negligible. Who knows what effect the show of police presence did to deter future crimes?
How much income was generated for the city by the media that was in town to cover the event?
Face it, George Bush is a Republican, and that's the only reason that you decided to bitch about his visit.
Whistleblower assumes that every presidential visit MUST include a rush-hour shutdown of the major roads in the city so that Republican squabbles can be handled by "the Decider". What a bunch of nonsense.
Thanks, Steve, for spending $85 to get this information concerning one small aspect of this incredibly self-indulgent president's visit. It was not necessary for the city's police to be yanked off duty and put on this foolish and costly task.
Of course, this doesn't touch upon the thousands and thousands of Kansas Citians whose work and travel was disrupted for an inconsiderate and ill-timed political visit.
And I promise I would make the same complaint if President Edwards makes the same trip into Congresswoman Barnes' district in a couple years . . .
Dan...
"It was not necessary for the city's police to be yanked off duty and put on this foolish and costly task."
Yanked off what duty? Which one of the police officers was not doing their job? Just one will do.
I apologize for the oval office. I'll make sure that they get your approval next time. I forgot that "we the people" elected you to run this country.
"an inconsiderate and ill-timed political visit." I'll make sure that all Presidential visits are run thru you first. I'm sure that no one considered the logistics of his visit.
Where was the President prior to his visit? Where did he go next? Please share this knowledge with us.
What factors are used in determining the timing of a Presidential visit?
Is it safer for the President to travel during a higher traffic time?
BlowMe-
You're not very good at reading comprehension, are you? This isn't about the whole visit - it's about the jaunt from the Plaza to the Northland during the height of rush hour.
Every single officer used for this political stunt was yanked off of their normal duty.
There was no need and no justification for Bush to clog our town up for his trip from the Plaza to the Norhtland. Dan's absolutely right - it was foolish, costly, ill-timed, and self-indulgent.
Par for Bush's course, I suppose.
Yanked off what duty? Which one of the police officers was not doing their job? Just one will do.
Whistleblower,
Two of those officers had been tasked to drive down to Cole County that day and arrest some Circuit Court judges for violating the separation of powers. Do you feel the pain now?
Steve,
Thanks for going to the trouble and expense of getting that information. It's good to know what things cost.
Anonymous said… “You're not very good at reading comprehension, are you?”
Apparently my comprehension cannot compete with your imagination.
Anonymous said… “This isn't about the whole visit - it's about the jaunt from the Plaza to the Northland during the height of rush hour.”
Other than in your statement, where is that stated in this article?
Anonymous said… “Every single officer used for this political stunt was yanked off of their normal duty.”
Do you have any documentation to support that statement, or is it only true in your imagination?
Anonymous said… “There was no need and no justification for Bush to clog our town up for his trip from the Plaza to the Norhtland [sic].”
Last I checked no one asked the President if there was a need or justification for his visit.
If you have a complaint about the manpower used by the KCPD, I would suggest that you direct it to the Chief. I’m sure that Chief Corwin would be happy to inform you that he is the one charged with ensuring the safety of Kansas City residents. He directs his personnel, and properly assigned them to their posts.
You might not like it, but the President of the United States is George W. Bush, and as long as he is in office he will be treated with the respect due to the Office of the President.
Sophia… Thanks for the good news.
Whistle -
What?! You don't see where this article is about the trip for Bush's breakfast?? What did you read?? This whole thing is about the cost of taking Bush to breakfast. That's what we're talking about!
Seems like Anonymous wins the battle of reading comprehension.
Sophia...
But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.
-George Washington; Farewell Address
You may not be able to see it, but I sure can.
Current Aricle V, Section 14.
"The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and matters, civil and criminal. Such courts may issue and determine original remedial writs and shall sit at times and places within the circuit as determined by the circuit court."
Article V, Section 14 prior to the 1976 Amendment:
"The circuit courts shall have jurisdiction over all criminal cases not otherwise provided for by law, exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil cases not otherwise provided for, and concurrent and appellate jurisdiction as provided by law."
The 1976 Amendment removed authority from the circuit court, it didn't add to it. They no longer have the authority to issue writs to Administrative Agencies of this State, let alone authority over the entire state. Judge Joyce effectively issued a writ of prohibition to the State of Missouri by her order in 07AC-CC00567.
Good job Stephen, but that receipt is WAY lowballed.
First of all it doesn't pass the redfaced test - the Police Department civilian costs are a whole lot more than $3,093.60 per hour to transport The Prez on land. That's my imputed civilian price per hour based upon that receipt.
They are a whole lot more just for police time, let alone for total civilian costs.
These are only the things I know about off the top of my very weary head at this hour.
- First off, there is at least one prior visit to the premises by the Secret Service. Typically the Secret Service makes 2-3 advance visits to major locations/events. 3+ to international venues. In this case it was probably one, accompanied by local law enforcement, which isn't covered on the bill you have.
- Was the Sniper cost included? Snipers are always deployed.
- local law enforcement spent advance time planning for the trip. Allocating officers, event orientation, advance drives, etc. they aren't covered.
- local law enforcement also spent time doing other things in association with the event - tracking threats, verbal and written, questioning people,etc.
- And there is the paperwork. Administrative costs are large, time consuming and not considered in that invoice. Believe me, there was more than $310 in civilian costs. Think crime analysts, reports, correspondence, etc.
A U.S. President traveling on ground is a big deal.
- There is absolutely no accounting for officers embarcation and debarcation from the event.
- Mr. Corwin's time was spent on this event, where is it?
(oh, and by the way, the President probably didn't even eat the food at the diner. Unless the Secret Service knows exactly the provenance of the food and it's ingredients, and control the cooking of the ingredients, it doesn't go into the President's mouth.)
And these costs pale in comparison to the social costs of his trip.
king and mr. spaulding...
You know it's not about the money that was spent. It's not that people were inconvenienced when the President was shuffled through town. It's not about any of that.
It's all about a Republican doing something that they can bitch about.
The conservative sites do pretty much the same thing.
It is unfortunate, but the only people in public office that are going to be considered somewhat good by both sides will be the ones that don't really do much of anything.
K & S,
I asked a very limited request about the transportation of Bush to breakfast. I did not have a beef about his trip, KC should be proud to host any president. My question was more about why we, the citizens and taxpayers, should pay for political breakfasts.
Stephen,
Quit being so dense.
I was trying to amplify your point. The receipt is fine, but if you think it only cost the city $3K and change to facilitate a 1.25 HR private political liaison, you're wrong.
It simply cost the taxpayers, of Kansas City, directly, much more.
That was my only point.
Do you understand that many departments in the KCPD benefit from grants from Homeland Security? And that it's in the interests of local officials to be on good terms wih the exec branch to continue to get that funding?
The KCPD may very well, on average, be anti-Bush, but they receive a helluva a lot of money from the Bush Administration.
Sheese if they were only trying to find a place run by Nazis they could have stopped at First Watch in Westport. Only right wing kooks eat there so Bush would be at home. Anyone with any sense, or love of American freedoms, boycotts the place.
Mr. Spaulding, that money comes from the American people.
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