Invite Obama to Atlanta, we already did

To be brutally honest, I doubt any current president will be able to attend Champs. Here's my reasoning:

A. It's open to the general public. This makes security an even larger nightmare.
B. Teams enter and exit with toolcrates constantly. This creates a security environment that is inoperable for a president. It would be disturbingly easy to smuggle a firearm into a FRC competition, hence the lack of likely hood of his attending.
C. We're not big enough. This is the president we're talking about here, folks. This is the most powerful man in the world. We aren't big enough yet. We're close, but this is the man who single-handedly packs millions for speeches.

[Trent B]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba,145551

If that isn't a similar security problem I dont know what is.

[SU 39]

Originally Posted by Trent B

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba,145551

If that isn't a similar security problem I dont know what is.

It is nowhere near that situation. Obama did not just show up unannounced at the game. The security to get in the arena there would definitely have been turned up a bit. At the Championships, people can come and go as they please, definitely too much of a security risk. While it would be nice to see Obama in Atlanta, it would probably be safer (for him) and more efficient (for the event) if it was just something like a pre-recorded video.

[MattLi]

Wait how about a live webcast? He could talk to us from the white house. He'd never have to leave.

I've already sent an email to my team talking about sending letters.

[cbale2000]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

To be brutally honest, I doubt any current president will be able to attend Champs. Here's my reasoning:

A. It's open to the general public. This makes security an even larger nightmare.
B. Teams enter and exit with toolcrates constantly. This creates a security environment that is inoperable for a president. It would be disturbingly easy to smuggle a firearm into a FRC competition, hence the lack of likely hood of his attending.
C. We're not big enough. This is the president we're talking about here, folks. This is the most powerful man in the world. We aren't big enough yet. We're close, but this is the man who single-handedly packs millions for speeches.

I agree with your rational, but I will also point out that last year when George Bush Sr. Spoke at nationals no one really knew about it ahead of time.

My guess is that sort of planning could be used, because if there is no way of knowing if he will show up, no one will plan for it. This generally would make security much easier (Again, note the security detail at the event when George Bush Sr. was in Atlanta, it seemed to me to be quite light, even if he is an ex-president).


My 2cents anyways, I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons for him not to come, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. And there's always Deans plan of taking everyone to the Washington mall in a few years too.

Originally Posted by cbale2000

I agree with your rational, but I will also point out that last year when George Bush Sr. Spoke at nationals no one really knew about it ahead of time.

My guess is that sort of planning could be used, because if there is no way of knowing if he will show up, no one will plan for it. This generally would make security much easier (Again, note the security detail at the event when George Bush Sr. was in Atlanta, it seemed to me to be quite light, even if he is an ex-president).


My 2cents anyways, I'm sure there are plenty of good reasons for him not to come, but I wouldn't rule it out completely. And there's always Deans plan of taking everyone to the Washington mall in a few years too.

Bush Senior isn't a president anymore, so he doesn't have too many current enemies.

[BJT]

the security for a presidential visit would SCREW UP the entire event. nobody could get into the arena that entire day without being searched. it's a nice thought, but I don't really think it's possible.

[MattLi]

Ok while I agree with you people that security will be an issue, I don't believe it's completely impossible for him to show. Honestly, he could just probably show up unannounced and FIRST will let him speak. I mean he is the president after all. Also, last time I checked, no one at FIRST has a burning desire to bring any firearms to the Georgia Dome for a robotics competition. He could just show up, his security lock down the Dome, and then leave. No one would expect anything, so there would be no risk of random assassins bringing snipers to the event.

[Viper37]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

C. We're not big enough. This is the president we're talking about here, folks. This is the most powerful man in the world. We aren't big enough yet. We're close, but this is the man who single-handedly packs millions for speeches.

That's the one that came to my mind first. Pardon the pun.

[Molten]

I don't know. Personally, I don't think he belongs there. He should be writing laws and negotiating with other countries. FIRST is very important to me and to many others, but it really is not the most important thing for this country. Let Obama fix the economy, then he can worry about robotics. Afterall, with engineering outlook, that would be doing us all a huge favor.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Molten

I don't know. Personally, I don't think he belongs there. He should be writing laws and negotiating with other countries. FIRST is very important to me and to many others, but it really is not the most important thing for this country. Let Obama fix the economy, then he can worry about robotics. Afterall, with engineering outlook, that would be doing us all a huge favor.

Just a heads up, the President doesn't write laws, elected officials in Congress do.

[ZakuAce]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Just a heads up, the President doesn't write laws, elected officials in Congress do.

Executive Orders?

I too believe that fixing the economy is top priority. Maybe he could send a cabinet member, maybe VP Biden? But honestly, this country has more problems. I'd say more but I too don't want to get political. Flame wars suck!

[Viper37]

Originally Posted by Molten

Let Obama try to fix the economy, then he can worry about robotics.

Fixed.

[Tetraman]

Here is a better idea: Tell Dean Kamen to get Obama. It would be a much easier for one of our greatest inventors of our time to invite a president to an event then it would for a group of students. Yes I agree that if we were a complete legion and everyone in FIRST asked Mr. Obama to join us for atlanta there would be just a good a chance for him to attend, but lets get real for a second. A Webcast would probably be easiest, and a pre-recoreded video would be even easier.

Also, reminder - keep the political stuff at a min.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

Also, reminder - keep the political stuff at a min.

Note to all: I was not trying to be political. Trust me. If I felt like talking politics, everyone would be well aware. I would be giving details on what I think he should do. Instead, I simply put a few generalized problems that are of bigger concern then FIRST. I'm just trying to make the point that maybe Obama going to Atlanta may not be the best thing. Afterall, if I were to somehow make it to Atlanta and had to go through a ton of safety precautions just so 1 guy could make a speech in person, I'd be mighty annoyed. I wouldn't mind the live camera feed though. That might actually be somewhat cool.(especially if it was a two-way so he can actually see the crowd, field, and perhaps a match or two.)