Posted on 08/17/2010 9:32:26 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
President Obama's motorcade passed back through Beverly Hills at 8:05pm on Monday night as he returned from a fund raising function in Hancock Park, which caused traffic chaos across the Westside.
All lanes of Olympic Blvd had been closed between Century City and Hancock Park - between Century Park East and Western Ave from about 5pm.
Motorists were trapped on all roads leading to Olympic Blvd and had to wait it out until it was reopened shortly after the President had made his way back to the Beverly Hilton, where he was staying.
"I feel horrible because I have somebody coming over and I cannot get home," said one resident who was traveling north on Clark Drive and could not turn onto Olympic Blvd.
The presidential motorcade first passed through Beverly Hills on the way to the function at around 6:15pm.
Motorists had also been creeping along at snail pace down major streets like Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards, according to a Beverly Hills Police Department dispatcher.
The Los Angeles Police Department and Metro did not release other specifics of street closures, citing a request from the Secret Service for security reasons.
Signs were posted at bus stops on closed streets to advise riders where to go, Metro's Gayle Anderson said.
Obama was in Hancock Park at the home of television producer John Wells at two fundraisers for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, was also scheduled to speak at the events benefiting the official campaign arm of Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Tickets were $2,500 per person for the cocktail reception.
The cost to be a co-host is $30,400 per couple, which included the cocktail reception, a photo with Obama and a co-host dinner.
Co-hosts for the event include director Steven Spielberg, entertainer Barbra Streisand, DreamWorks Animation Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg, producer-director J.J. Abrams, Warner Bros Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn and Tom Unterman, founding partner of the Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Rustic Canyon Partners.
Wells' credits include The West Wing, ER and China Beach.
He is president of the Writers Guild of America.
Air Force One arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 3:36 p.m. on Monday, about 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
Obama was taken by helicopter to the Brentwood area and then to the Beverly Hilton, where he remained for about 90 minutes before leaving for the fundraiser at 6:10 p.m.
This was Obama's fourth trip to the Southland since taking office, the last three of which have been exclusively for political fundraising.
(I am still hetero here.)
I liked the quote last night on the radio from someone forced to abandon his car and walk many blocks to his home, “I wish I’d voted for McCain!”
Watch the video there and you’ll understand my question.
Just as an aside, when is this effing clown going to do something besides play golf, vacation and fundraise?
From Hancock Park to Century City is quite a distance. To shut down Olympic Blvd at that time of day must have been a commuter’s nightmare.
A relatively small price for the peons to pay for having a celebrity play the role of POTUS.
It sure is a distance....several miles ;traffic in those parts of town sucks even at off peak hours.
What did anybody think this communists Muslim would do. He won the lottery worth billions. His communists party (formally the Democratic Party) and his communists staff destroyed America. Wait until the cap and trade bill passes and you will puke.
“Signs were posted at bus stops on closed streets to advise riders where to go...”
They won’t be telling us where to go much longer, GD them. A chopper would have made much more sense and all the major hotels have them. I think this Ahole loves this regal BS.
I hope you’re not holding your breath waiting for him to change.
Oh, he's done plenty.
United States presidents and foreign leaders stay at the Century Plaza when they visit Los Angeles. (The Secret Service goes gaga over the security advantages of the helicopter pad on the roof.)
Only dictators close roads for extended periods because they’re scared shitless of the very people they claim to “protect!”
Imam Abu Bama was probably fundraising for the GZ mosque as an aside.
I use to live in the area and I know how those street go from a long commute home to a parking lot. It is dangerous for what if a paramedic or fire engine has to get through to save lives and property, almost impossible.
"Ha ha ha ha! You all didn't GET my campaign slogan! Now you have to sit around and HOPE I CHANGE!!! How's that workin' out for you suckers?"
LOL!
Right on the mark!
Yeah, that was a rather obvious understatement on my part.
The Los Angeles Police Department and Metro did not release other specifics of street closures, citing a request from the Secret Service for security reasons.
All lanes of Olympic Blvd had been closed between Century City and Hancock Park - between Century Park East and Western Ave from about 5pm.
That is quite telling.
When Clinton was still President he came here to Dallas for a fundraiser located just off Preston road and there was NOTHING like that in the way of security. He had some Dallas cops, about 5-6 cars of SS, an unmarked ambulance and a marked ambulance. The entire caravan fit into a block. We were holding a few standard protest signs of the time and one SS guy wandered over to give us a look-see.
When Clinton got there his car stopped directly across from us on the northbound side, we were on the sidewalk on the southbound side. No streets blocked off not even a cop stationed with us, NOTHING.
Looks like Fearless Reader and the SS are worried about something.
.
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