Invite Obama to Atlanta, we already did

[Nawaid Ladak]

i'll have my letter sent off some time this week

also; for all the people still worrying about all the security

if this was a public event
the stadium would have more people
more people = more exposure to FIRST

so i don't see anything wrong with that

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by DCA Fan

But as for my two cents, I can't see why you wouldn't invite President Obama. As others have said, the worst that could happen is that he declines.

I think the worst thing that could happen is that he could show up. Having the presidential circus come to town would seriously disrupt the event, take the focus off where it belongs (the work of the students), and provide a platform for a working politician to get PR on our collective time. I would much rather have a successful scientist or engineer, or an apolitical public figure (sort of like the first George Bush, but not like Bill Clinton who is still actively involved in politics) than Obama. I don't think the students on CD realize how a presidential visit would suck all the air out of the event and make the Championships a sideshow to the presidential appearance. As others have suggested, the security around a presidential visit is VERY likely to disrupt an entire day of the event. Let him stay in Washington and get some work done.

[Bongle]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

I think the worst thing that could happen is that he could show up. Having the presidential circus come to town would seriously disrupt the event, take the focus off where it belongs (the work of the students), and provide a platform for a working politician to get PR on our collective time. I would much rather have a successful scientist or engineer, or an apolitical public figure (sort of like the first George Bush, but not like Bill Clinton who is still actively involved in politics) than Obama. I don't think the students on CD realize how a presidential visit would suck all the air out of the event and make the Championships a sideshow to the presidential appearance. As others have suggested, the security around a presidential visit is VERY likely to disrupt an entire day of the event. Let him stay in Washington and get some work done.

I don't think that's the case. I think a visit from Obama would be about the same level as one of the many generic "Obama visits pork factory" or "Obama gives speech to troubled autoworkers" visits that he (and every other president) makes month after month. There wouldn't be a huge media entourage. Keep in mind that Bush Senior still has secret service protection, yet I didn't hear that the dome was locked down for his visit. Obama is certainly a higher-risk target, but I think the Secret Service (who arrange visits to public areas for their living) could probably handle it without much disruption.

In the end: I don't think an Obama visit would necessitate locking down the dome, but a recorded message or live webcast is far more likely.

Edit: Even if they have to lock down the georgiadome, entry and exit doesn't happen _that_ often: the people going to/from the fields for matches are low in volume enough that there probably wouldn't be a problem searching them. People entering and leaving the main georgiadome might see more of a delay, but I don't think it would be enough of one to really dampen festivities.

As for the "but anything in a toolbox could be a weapon" thoughts, I think he'd probably give a speech like he did in Chicago on election night: behind a few inches of bulletproof glass. Walk in, give speech, walk out.

[Cow Bell Solo]

Originally Posted by CraigHickman

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

Didn't you ever see the top searches on google when new clues went out, or after kickoff. FIRST highly impacted those searches, which I'm sure had to of been a lot of people.

But yes we are smaller than other events in the world. But many people I have come across knowing or not that I am on the robotics team, asked If I saw this robotics competition on TV. So the word is getting out.

[Noeen Kashif]

this is a really great idea, but then again, he is the president of America!
He has lots of important tasks, and if he does accept our invitation. The amount of security there will disturb everyone. He is not any average person!
Great idea though

[XXShadowXX]

we need to start a petition!

my friend is attempting to start this on face book right now