Brekkie Crumbs (Notes from the NewsRadio Breakfast team) for Tuesday December 8th
Glen - Presenter …
Well, It’s the biggest police mobilisation ever in Norway to ensure the safety of a single person.
AFP reports more than 2000 police, including snipers and sniffer dog handlers, will be mobilised for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on Thursday honouring US President Barack Obama.
Part of the Norwegian capital’s normally-peaceful centre will be completely blocked off during the American leader’s visit. Snipers will be placed on roofs and manhole covers have already been sealed.
Between 2000 and 2500 police officers will be mobilised, most of whom will for the rare occasion carry weapons.
The Norwegian Government has earmarked 92 million kroner (10.9 million euros, $16 million) to cover security needs during Obama’s visit — more than 10 times the prize money awarded to the Peace Prize laureate.
Maybe Obama could give his prize money to the Secret Service, as it seems there’s a bit of work to do on Presidential security at home.
The Washington Post has published a 2003 Secret Service report that reveals the uninvited couple that recently sneaked into an exclusive State dinner at the White House join a lengthy list of similar security lapses.
The Secret Service — the branch in charge of the president’s security — have mistakenly seen at least 91 breaches of their checkpoints since 1980. (Hey, that’s only about 5 a year - what could possibly go wrong ??)
“This document reflects a proactive attempt to evaluate our security and obviously raises the awareness of uniformed division officers and agents about their jobs,” Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said, according to the Post.
“We have to be concerned about the threats to our protectees at all times, whether at the White House or away from the White House.”
In one of the more bizarre lapses at the President’s heavily guarded mansion in Washington, an October 1982 breach known as “The Family Outing” saw a family of four in a minivan pull through the White House gates, after honking their horn at agents. ( “Coming through !”)
They were stopped as they approached the West Wing entrance.
In a more serious example, the report highlights a 1994 incident where a man fired 29 semi-automatic rifle rounds at the White House from outside the perimeter fence before he was confronted. (Just exercising his democratic right to bear arms, I guess)
Secret Service director Mark Sullivan accepted responsibility for the gate-crashed State dinner fiasco at a Congressional hearing last week.
Socialites Tareq and Michaele Salahi got past several checkpoints and into the White House, where they shook hands with Obama and mingled with top-level officials at the November 24 dinner honouring visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Sullivan insisted security procedures were followed “without incident” for the other 1.2 million visitors to the White House in 2009, but acknowledged his service needed a “100 percent” security standard.
Apparently the 2003 report was used to train agents.
I think there might be a little more training required.
Maybe a field trip to Norway ?
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Marius - Politics
One of the more interesting perspectives on our age of celebrity is that of the TV make-up artist.
These are the women (are there any men?) who powder and puff and pack faces, to allow them to look less flawed in the unpitying glare of studio lights.
They are there before the appearance, to dust away the human imperfections.
And they are there at the end with a hot towel.
For the stars, make-up is an elaborate procedure; for people in the news, it is a more cursory dust-over.
And for politicians, it is an enforced moment of stillness in their whirling-dervish lives.
They have to sit, and they can’t do much as they endure a moment of mild physical intimacy - and their response is instructive.
Recently, I asked for some assessments of the great and powerful from these women who see them more closely than almost anyone.
Here are some assessments from those who wield the powder brush.
John Howard…..”Used to be quite chatty, but became quieter and grumpier the longer he was in power.”
Julia Gillard….”She’s really nice.”
Bob Brown…”Very nice, too”
Malcolm Turnbull……”No communication…doesn’t know you’re there….no ‘please’ or ‘thank you.’”
Kevin Rudd…”He used to be quite chatty…always wanted to know what the punters were thinking…he’s pretty quiet now, but he might just be tired.”
A general pattern seemed to emerge that people became less considerate, less inclined to small talk and small courtesies, the greater their power and the longer in office.
But there are clearly exceptions to that rule.
It is unfair to judge anyone by this standard, but as the ABC’s correspondent in South Africa in the mid-1990s, I had the great good fortune to see Nelson Mandela as he campaigned to win that country’s first democratic election, and then as President.
Nelson Mandela was always a complete gentleman.
He would introduce himself to every person in a room, regardless of whether they were a national leader or a note taker. He would typically go out the back to meet kitchen staff or other support workers, giving them a handshake and a moment they would treasure for a lifetime.
Mandela was tough and shrewd and politically skilled, but always fantastically courteous.
He is a living reprimand to all of us when we are short with anyone.
And if you are dismissive of a make-up artist in particular - beware.
They are watching closely.
