The Audacity
June 18, 2007 4:42 AM Subscribe
Apparently, The Secret Service's code name for Barack Obama is "Renegade". Former agents told the Washington Post that military officials chose the code names without particular reference to the characteristics of the politician.
Sadly, Bush's code name isn't "The Decider" but rather "Tumbler" and, later, (shockingly) "Trailblazer".
If you're feeling left out, you budding Junior Secret Service Agents can make up your own.
I remember a bit of controversy in 1988 when it was revealed that Jesse Jackson's Secret Service codename was "Pontiac", which also happens to be the punchline to a racist joke.
posted by TedW at 5:23 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by TedW at 5:23 AM on June 18, 2007
Former agents told the Washington Post that military officials chose the code names without particular reference to the characteristics of the politician.
Obviously.
posted by three blind mice at 5:28 AM on June 18, 2007
Obviously.
posted by three blind mice at 5:28 AM on June 18, 2007
My Secret Service code name would be "That Fucking Asshole." That way when they'd talki into their sleves they'd have to say stuff like, "That fucking asshole is on the move. Transport, get that fucking asshole's car ready. That fucking asshole is at the door..."
posted by Pollomacho at 5:39 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by Pollomacho at 5:39 AM on June 18, 2007
CJ: What's your secret service code name?
Sam: They just changed it.
CJ: I know. What's yours?
Sam: "Princeton".
CJ: Mine's "Flamingo".
Sam: It's nice.
CJ: No, it's not nice.
Sam: Flamingo's a nice-looking bird.
CJ: The flamingo is a ridiculous-looking bird.
Sam: You're not ridiculous-looking.
CJ: I know I'm not ridiculous-looking.
Sam: Any way for me to get out of this conversation?
CJ: I'm gonna talk to someone.
Sam: Excellent.
posted by flashboy at 5:45 AM on June 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
Sam: They just changed it.
CJ: I know. What's yours?
Sam: "Princeton".
CJ: Mine's "Flamingo".
Sam: It's nice.
CJ: No, it's not nice.
Sam: Flamingo's a nice-looking bird.
CJ: The flamingo is a ridiculous-looking bird.
Sam: You're not ridiculous-looking.
CJ: I know I'm not ridiculous-looking.
Sam: Any way for me to get out of this conversation?
CJ: I'm gonna talk to someone.
Sam: Excellent.
posted by flashboy at 5:45 AM on June 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
Former agents told the Washington Post that military officials chose the code names without particular reference to the characteristics of the politician.
From the Wiki: "The Vice President's staff - Pacemaker[6]"
Riiggghhhht.
posted by psmealey at 5:46 AM on June 18, 2007
From the Wiki: "The Vice President's staff - Pacemaker[6]"
Riiggghhhht.
posted by psmealey at 5:46 AM on June 18, 2007
which also happens to be the punchline to a racist joke.
Not the punchline, the set-up:
Q. What's Pontiac mean?
A. "Poor Old Nigger Thinks It's A Cadillac."
Dumbass Secret Service goons. Like the Rev. Jackson would be seen driving GM when Ford stands by him.
posted by three blind mice at 5:47 AM on June 18, 2007
Not the punchline, the set-up:
Q. What's Pontiac mean?
A. "Poor Old Nigger Thinks It's A Cadillac."
Dumbass Secret Service goons. Like the Rev. Jackson would be seen driving GM when Ford stands by him.
posted by three blind mice at 5:47 AM on June 18, 2007
After review of my above comments, this fucking asshole is going to get more coffee so I can perhaps wake up and not make so many spelling errors.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:47 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by Pollomacho at 5:47 AM on June 18, 2007
Not the punchline, the set-up:
I thought all racist jokes started the same way:
*looks left, looks right*
posted by Pollomacho at 5:49 AM on June 18, 2007 [5 favorites]
I thought all racist jokes started the same way:
*looks left, looks right*
posted by Pollomacho at 5:49 AM on June 18, 2007 [5 favorites]
Some other good ones... apparently Ron & Nancy were Rawhide & Rainbow, Frank Sinatra was Napoleon, and Maureen Reagan was Rosebud -- which changes my whole understanding of Citizen Kane.
posted by miss lynnster at 6:47 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 6:47 AM on June 18, 2007
Frank Sinatra had a secret service name? At what point was he a national security asset? And...uh...didn't he know any other heavily armed groups of people who could protect him?
I'm sure he visited the White House a lot, but come on...you think Toby Keith has a codename?
posted by PlusDistance at 7:00 AM on June 18, 2007
I'm sure he visited the White House a lot, but come on...you think Toby Keith has a codename?
posted by PlusDistance at 7:00 AM on June 18, 2007
Well, for a while there JFK was hanging out with him a lot. And apparently there were a lot of big discussions about how it was a bad idea for the POTUS to socialize with Frank because of his mob ties. So I'm sure he probably inspired more genuine security concerns than Toby Keith. Whose only controversial quality from what I understand is that he's a zillionaire for making sucky cowboy music about putting boots up A-rabs asses. YMMV - maybe you like those kinda tunes.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:28 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 7:28 AM on June 18, 2007
When I walk past, I wish people would whisper renegade. . .
posted by four panels at 7:39 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by four panels at 7:39 AM on June 18, 2007
Since I'm in a position to talk to these kids and they listen/
I ain't no politician but I'll kick it with 'em a minute/
Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I'll wear it/
But if it don't, then y'all'll swallow the truth grin and bear it
posted by felix betachat at 7:52 AM on June 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
flashboy - I always loved that scene from The West Wing. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I read this post.
Ah, Sam Seaborn.
posted by kbanas at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2007
Ah, Sam Seaborn.
posted by kbanas at 7:58 AM on June 18, 2007
YMMV - maybe you like those kinda tunes.
I hope there aren't any closet (or uncloseted) Toby Keith fans reading the blue.
posted by chuckdarwin at 8:16 AM on June 18, 2007
I hope there aren't any closet (or uncloseted) Toby Keith fans reading the blue.
posted by chuckdarwin at 8:16 AM on June 18, 2007
My secret name is "Mildly Gassy". Actually, that's not such a secret in the Pileon household.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:39 AM on June 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:39 AM on June 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
That's so strange. My secret service codename just happens to be "Toby Keith".
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:26 AM on June 18, 2007
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:26 AM on June 18, 2007
you think Toby Keith has a codename?
I don't know if the Secret Service has one for him, but I sure do.
posted by psmealey at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
I don't know if the Secret Service has one for him, but I sure do.
posted by psmealey at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
My codename is "Some Dude".
"Some Dude is on the move."
posted by secret about box at 9:43 AM on June 18, 2007
"Some Dude is on the move."
posted by secret about box at 9:43 AM on June 18, 2007
"Tumbler" refers to his spill on the segway back in 2003.
Here's a google search result with pics.
"Trailblazer" is probably due to the 2004 incident at his ranch in Texas where he took a header over the handlebars of his mountain bike and scuffed up his knees.
You know, because those things actually happened and stuff.
posted by daq at 10:10 AM on June 18, 2007
Here's a google search result with pics.
"Trailblazer" is probably due to the 2004 incident at his ranch in Texas where he took a header over the handlebars of his mountain bike and scuffed up his knees.
You know, because those things actually happened and stuff.
posted by daq at 10:10 AM on June 18, 2007
If I were president, I would insist that my Secret Service codename be "Your Mom."
Reason #5686 why I will never be president.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:18 AM on June 18, 2007
Reason #5686 why I will never be president.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:18 AM on June 18, 2007
My Secret Service 2008 presidential campaign code name is "Zen Master This."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:23 PM on June 18, 2007
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:23 PM on June 18, 2007
The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found him
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Never more to go astray
This'll be the end today
Of the wanted man
posted by Smedleyman at 8:20 PM on June 18, 2007
They finally found him
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Never more to go astray
This'll be the end today
Of the wanted man
posted by Smedleyman at 8:20 PM on June 18, 2007
(What's his Delta Tau Chi name?)
posted by Smedleyman at 8:24 PM on June 18, 2007
posted by Smedleyman at 8:24 PM on June 18, 2007
"Tumbler" refers to his spill on the segway back in 2003.
"Tumbler" was his codename from during his father's term. His brother Jeb had "Tripper". Here are most of the codenames.
posted by Shakeer at 2:42 PM on June 19, 2007
"Tumbler" was his codename from during his father's term. His brother Jeb had "Tripper". Here are most of the codenames.
posted by Shakeer at 2:42 PM on June 19, 2007
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posted by delmoi at 5:02 AM on June 18, 2007