The girls stayed on

[Lanya]

U.S. Embassy Asks Bush Twins to Leave Country

November 27, 2006 1:18 PM

Joe Goldman and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

Bush_twins_soccer_nrAmid a growing barrage of front-page headlines, U.S. embassy officials "strongly suggested" President Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, cut short their trip to Buenos Aires because of security issues, U.S. diplomatic and security sources tell ABC News.

But the girls have stayed on, celebrating their 25th birthday over the weekend and producing even more headlines about their activities.

Officials say the media coverage upstaged publicity plans for the new U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne, who had only recently arrived in the country.

Neither the White House nor the U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires responded to requests for comment.

The Argentinean press blitz followed a report on "The Blotter" last week that Barbara Bush's purse and cell phone were stolen last weekend while dining at the popular San Telmo outdoor marketplace despite being guarded by the Secret Service.

Stories of the twins' visit took on wild proportions in the Argentinean press. One tabloid headline had the young women running nude in the hallway of their hotel, a report the hotel staff denied to ABC News.

According to sources, the U.S. embassy encouraged the two girls to cut their stay short because the added attention was making their security very difficult.

But to the dismay and anger of some U.S. embassy and security staff, the girls stayed on.

Thursday night, an ABC News producer was able to walk into their hotel unchecked and engage Barbara Bush in conversation while she checked her e-mail on a computer in the lobby. Jenna sat talking with friends on a sofa nearby. No Secret Service agents were anywhere to be seen in the lobby, according to ABC News' Joe Goldman.

And yesterday the Bush twins were spotted at the Sunday soccer matches, wearing team jerseys and sitting in the owner's box, watching Argentina's top team Boca Juniors compete. Several games have been canceled due to violence in the crowds this year. In fact, last weekend no spectators were allowed to attend the match other than season ticket holders.

Sources tell ABC News the twins plan to stick to their original itinerary and stay in Buenos Aires until Thursday. 

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/us_embassy_asks.html

[BT]

Good for them

[kimba1]

security??!!
what security?

it`s onething to steal a purse it`s another thing it have a stranger go up to her and strike a conversation.
clinton have been publicly known chew these guys out for much lesser things.
papa bush jr. should be furious.
those girls should be yanked right back home now.

[BT]

If anyone should be yanked back home it should be the security detail, assuming they didn't recognize the reporter when he approached.

We don't know if they didn't. And just because the reporter didn't see security doesn't mean they weren't there.

[kimba1]

if they get yanked than the girls also.
and media is usually not approve people to get near them
so i doubt they`d let him talk to the girls
I`m pretty sure those guys will have a talking to.
but security is still compromised.
that article did not indicated the situation was resolved-security wised.
or that it can be fixed.

[BT]

And the counterpoint to all this is that the offspring of the President should be allowed to lead as normal a life as possible.

Barbara had her purse snatched, she wasn't mugged. Let's not make this a bigger deal than it is.

Can you name any First Children who have been physically assualted for their parents beliefs?

I can't think of one.

[kimba1]

beliefs is not the factor it`s security.
as first children they will targets for awhile.
actually now that it`s stated that they cannot be effetively protected and nobody can say otherwise.
the twins are solely responsible for whatever outcome from now on.
just saying they should be protected without saying how doesn`t cut it.

[BT]

I have been saying the twins should be allowed to live their own lives, and to suffer the consequences of their decisions like ordinary people should.

The reporter was the one making a big deal about their security whilst pointing out potential weaknesses to anyone with the capability to get online.

Go figure.

Say do you think Rove has something up his sleeve? Raise approval ratings through the sympathy vote?

[BT]

Meanwhile:

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy in Argentina rejected reports that it had told President George W. Bush's twin daughters to leave the country after a widely publicized purse-snatching incident.

ABC News reported on its Web site on Monday that embassy officials had "strongly suggested" that the twins, Jenna and Barbara Bush, cut short their visit to Buenos Aires due to security concerns.

Argentine officials confirmed last week that one of Bush's daughters had her purse stolen in San Telmo, a neighborhood popular with tourists. The incident led to teasing by Argentine media about the twins' seemingly ineffective Secret Service bodyguards.

"We have seen a report from news sources stating that embassy officials strongly suggested that President Bush's daughters curtail their visit in Argentina," the U.S. Embassy said in a written statement. "This is false.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2006-11-28T002533Z_01_N27178211_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARGENTINA-BUSH-TWINS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

[Xavier_Onassis]

And yesterday the Bush twins were spotted at the Sunday soccer matches, wearing team jerseys and sitting in the owner's box, watching Argentina's top team Boca Juniors compete. The La Boca neighborhood is generally known as BA's most dangerous.

I was there several times, and saw no evidence of any danger, but it is a pretty rundown area.


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If this was a home game at the Boca Juniors stadium, it is the rowdiest soccer stadium in South America.

From a personal standpoint, they have every right to stay as long as they want. But considering that they are pissing away vast amounts of taxes to pay security to follow them about (no0t that they seem to be getting their money's worth, as evidenced by the purse snatching), then as a taxpayer, it would be best for them to come home and return after they don't need security.

[BT]

From a personal standpoint, they have every right to stay as long as they want. But considering that they are pissing away vast amounts of taxes to pay security to follow them about (no0t that they seem to be getting their money's worth, as evidenced by the purse snatching), then as a taxpayer, it would be best for them to come home and return after they don't need security.

Well, come January the dems take control of the branch that sets the rules for Secret Service protection. You could market it as a deficit reduction tool. and lay claim to the mantle of budget hawk and pork buster supreme.