TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross

Wheels up, hair down

April 16, 2012 @ 8:23 am (Updated: 4:19 pm - 4/18/12 )

cedargrove
The Secret Service sent home some of its agents for misconduct that reportedly occurred at the Hotel El Caribe in Cartagena, Colombia before President Barack Obama's arrival on Friday for the Summit of the Americas. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Secret Service scandal deepens; 11 placed on leave

The president isn't quite sure yet whether to be angry.

"If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, of course I'll be angry," said Obama.

But members of the Secret Service advance team allegedly arguing with a prostitute over what to pay her? On the plus side, it's certainly the most attention Americans have paid to a trip to Latin America probably EVER. But as Congressman Darrell Issa says, it doesn't fit our image of the Secret Service:

"It's part of a pattern of behavior that's built up so- called "wheels-up parties," said Issa.

Wheels up parties?

"When the president leaves there's a wheels-up party, that's when you can sort of let your hair down. In this case, you had a pre-wheels-down party. You had drinking and you had activity that clearly compromised the ring of security."

Wheels up, wheels down -- more like wheels off.

A former long-time agent said this is way out of character:

"This sort of thing doesn't happen with the Secret Service, this is an anamoly," said Ralph Basham.

But I'm willing to go out on a limb here and guess this is the first time they got caught, but probably NOT the first time it's happened.

Heterosexual males on out-of-town trips have a long tradition of patronizing sexual entrepreneurs, and while I assume most of the rest of us probably have little direct experience with this recreational choice, even the most naive know that of all the bills you might be tempted to challenge, challenging THIS type of bill is an especially bad idea. Skip your mortgage payment, fine.

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Comments (14)


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  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    they will now be replaced
    April 16, 2012 7:43 am
    by the Fruit of Islam.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    HEY.................
    April 16, 2012 7:55 am
    Did they think they were working for a Chicago ward boss ?????? (or just someone who thinks like one).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 77SunSetStrip wrote...
    Procuring
    April 16, 2012 8:36 am
    Getting hookers for da boss is a long standing Chicago tradition
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • delvin wrote...
    when doing business in latin america a guy needs to be carefull-some women will meet with you and never talk as if they're pros
    April 16, 2012 8:45 am
    The good looking women can be at the beach, resturants, public areas and a US guy thinks he is "picking up" a women when in fact it is a unspoken business deal. Confusing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    And meanwhile
    April 16, 2012 8:59 am
    The actual conference was barely reported.And it could be the very last one after the USA and Canada said they wanted No part of Cuba being involved in the next one.Funny how the 2 English speaking countries attempt to dictate to the 20 or so other countries all but one that speak Spanish. S Americans see no need to follow the US attempts to lead as countries like China are providing not only a market for their goods but a place to buy what they require
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    delvin
    April 16, 2012 12:38 pm
    If your an average looking guy beautiful women generally don't throw themselves at you without wanting something.Perhaps on your world but not on the world where the rest of us live
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • delvin wrote...
    messiah how often do you do business in Latin America? A US business man doesn't have to be good looking.
    April 16, 2012 2:20 pm
    Also, I just finished a book you need to read- "Republic Lost" written by a former democratic congressman, it details how both D's and R's are corupted by lobbyists and campain contributions. But what you NEED to read is the portion which details the contributions from Wall st to Obama and the D party. (D's get more $ from Wall st than R's)The system is broke and anyone who thinks Pres O and the D's are less guilty than R's needs to read more. Yes the D's give more money to poor and low income but this is to buy votes and this is leading to the downfall of the US and the downfall caused by the generational cycle of poverty. It has ruined some families by taking away the DAD and creating dependancy.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    "Heterosexual males on out-of-town trips have a long tradition of patronizing sexual entrepreneurs"
    April 16, 2012 10:01 am
    Sorry to break it to you.....anyone, male, female, gay,.....it's the old Vegas line, whtat happens in Vegas (or anywhere else)...stays in Vegas.....this behavior is not heterosexually male dominated.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    You don't pay your hooker?
    April 16, 2012 12:23 pm
    That's how you make a hormone!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    GSA
    April 16, 2012 12:38 pm
    Don't forget about those poser's flaunting their greed in our faces,now the leader is in front of Congress taking the 5th,and hating life!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    It's certainly not something that can be
    April 16, 2012 2:40 pm
    blamed on the President.

    It is an embrassment to the Secret Service, an organization that's had an excellent reputation and sad to see it tarnished. I'd recommend reading "Rawhide Down" for a view of the heroic side of those guys..

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    no blame
    April 17, 2012 9:15 am
    certainly NOT. Some agents refused to pay the prostitutes. And the President would never condone saving money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    You would think...
    April 16, 2012 4:41 pm
    That with the amount of money this adminstration wastes already, that they could have just "contracted" these women for the guys. Kind of a Health Care/Morale for the guys or jobs for women program, something.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    Obama said if it's true
    April 17, 2012 5:57 am
    he will be angry. Okay....then what? Sounds like his empty threats to Iran to stop with their nuclear proliferation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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