Air Force

October 20, 2005 1:49 PM

With the Air Force One Pavilionopening at the Reagan Presidential Library this week, President Bush is coming to L.A. But that's not the big news. The big news is that the 405 freeway (one of 3 major arteries in this city) will be closed for four hours both tonight and tomorrow morning. During rush hour. More inside.
posted by sarajflemming (63 comments total)

Different hours from the local ABC-affiliate.

I wonder why the decision was made to come into LAX instead of maybe landing @ Edwards AFB. I mean... less traffic and also closer(ish) to Simi than LAX.
posted by sarajflemming at 1:50 PM on October 20, 2005

Last one: GMaps route from EAFB to Simi Valley. See?
posted by sarajflemming at 1:51 PM on October 20, 2005

intermittent is the key word here. It'll probably be fucked, but not closed for four hours.
posted by 2sheets at 1:54 PM on October 20, 2005

I remember Clinton did this once in Santa Barbara. Closed both sides of the 101 so he could visit his friends in Summerland or something. Really annoying. Of course, you can't really compare that to closing the 405 for four freakin' hours during rush hour.
posted by cell divide at 1:55 PM on October 20, 2005

I don't think you have the details quite right. As far as I can tell from the email I got from work, the Sunset exit on the 405 will be closed for ~15 minutes tonight and ~15 minutes tomorrow morning. There's a 4-hour window during which these closures could happen.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this doesn't mess up my commute.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:55 PM on October 20, 2005

Doesn't he have a helicopter? You know, one that can take him directly to his destination?
posted by odinsdream at 1:56 PM on October 20, 2005

Am I the only one to read "Bush to Visit Traffic Delay on San Diego Freeway"?

I assume that he'd stop workers clearing whatever grisly accident had occured and have the police and ambulance workers pose in the backdrop of the photo op?

And maybe spend a few minutes directing traffic with a "SLOW" sign in his hand?

That'd be perfect.
posted by anthill at 1:56 PM on October 20, 2005

Ah, 2sheets, mr_roboto: I slipped right past "intermittent." My bad! Here's to hoping the intrustion is minimal, then.
posted by sarajflemming at 1:57 PM on October 20, 2005

The only thing funnier about Reagan getting a library is that Bush gets one also.
posted by Peter H at 2:00 PM on October 20, 2005

The only thing funnier about Reagan getting a library is that Bush gets one also.

Than?
posted by b_thinky at 2:07 PM on October 20, 2005

It definately causes the same sort of chuckle as when you find out one of the stars of "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle" is a vegitarian, Peter.
posted by phearlez at 2:07 PM on October 20, 2005

I had originally read that as full closure, but intermittent is a bit better.

However, anyone who knows about LA freeway traffic knows that even a 10-minute stoppage of traffic can cause hours of gridlocked pain.

Nice timing, GW!! *grumblegrumble* kthxbye
posted by zoogleplex at 2:07 PM on October 20, 2005

http://www.405themovie.com
posted by jimjam at 2:07 PM on October 20, 2005

Is there any depths to which this man won't stoop? When are we are going to revolt in this country?
posted by dios at 2:13 PM on October 20, 2005

Honest mistake. Motion for thread-delete!
posted by LordSludge at 2:13 PM on October 20, 2005

Anyone with some numbers care to estimate what kind of productivity loss that could entail, in dollars?
posted by StickyCarpet at 2:14 PM on October 20, 2005

in case there was any question:
WHAT A JACK-ASS
posted by threehundredandsixty at 2:14 PM on October 20, 2005

Well I have always just BREEZED down the 405, especially past Sunset. . .no biggie.. . .*smile*

I also am confused why he's not landing at Edwards. The Antelope would be easier to close than the 405.

I seem to remember Clinton mentioning once as an aside, what a pain in the butt it was for locals if he went ANYWHERE.
posted by Danf at 2:17 PM on October 20, 2005

here in Argentina, they've almost zip-locked Mar del Plata for the rapidly approaching Summit of the Americas, which Bush will be attending. And there's a 175 km no-fly zone around the city.
posted by punkbitch at 2:20 PM on October 20, 2005

Danf, you must commute at 3AM then, heh!

Yeah, Edwards really would seem to make more sense. Plenty of runway, no public nearby, relatively empty freeway, fighter cover if you need it. The drive is a bit longer though, at least 70 miles I would guess.
posted by zoogleplex at 2:22 PM on October 20, 2005

Than?

Ha, yes - I almost posted "about than" right after that but when you dog a post it's best to just to just leave it be.

This is why I don't get a library, :(
posted by Peter H at 2:23 PM on October 20, 2005

Also - Harold and Kumar is a great film, meat or no meat, hah
posted by Peter H at 2:24 PM on October 20, 2005

To put things into perpective for all of you non-Angelenos: the Annual Average Daily Traffic for the 405 FWY is around 300,000 and that's per a study from 2002.
I'm just glad that we have such an amazing public transportation network in LA, otherwise this would be a real stinker.
posted by threehundredandsixty at 2:25 PM on October 20, 2005

I am wondering if there are any mooning possibilities, even from afar. . .oh crap, I don't live there anymore. . .damn.
posted by Danf at 2:26 PM on October 20, 2005

Los Angelenos simply MUST arrange for one of those weekly televised high-speed chases to coincide with this. The cable news channels would all be paralyzed.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:28 PM on October 20, 2005

Is there any depths to which this man won't stoop? When are we are going to revolt in this country?
posted by dios at 2:13 PM PST on October 20

Meet the new dios, same as the old dios.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:33 PM on October 20, 2005

And thank God for it.
posted by Asparagirl at 2:58 PM on October 20, 2005

Meet the new Asparagirl, same as the old Asparagirl...
posted by Skeptic at 3:07 PM on October 20, 2005

Don't you mean "thank Goddios"?
posted by gigawhat? at 3:08 PM on October 20, 2005

I wonder if God told George to shut down the 405 and bugger alot of people's traffic or if he's acting alone on this one.

I will expect clips of Bush cutting the ribbon and inviting everyone in to see the brand new "libary" with all its books and, um, other stuff.
posted by fenriq at 3:09 PM on October 20, 2005

I have travelled the 405 enough to shudder at the thought of what will happen if traffic is stopped. Not to mention, the highway is a nice breeding ground for idiocy. Nothing peeved me more than fighting through stop and go traffic to find out that the sole reason for the stopping and slow down was idiots slowing down to look at an accident on the OTHER side of the highway. Not a single impediment on our side. Ugh.
posted by Atreides at 3:12 PM on October 20, 2005

At least for once we'll know what's causing the backup. He might be doing Angelenos a service by allowing them some focus to their road rage.
Maybe he should put Los Feliz Boulevard on that itinerary, too. For the people's sake.
posted by maryh at 3:12 PM on October 20, 2005

Well, one would think that scheduling could be arranged so the highway closings were not happening during rush hour, eh? It's not like the Prez has to work his travel around (a) airline schedules (b) car-rental counter lines (c) hotel check-in restrictions (d) blackout dates.

As one of the taxpayers who foots the bill for Air Force One and Marine One - and whose commute will be affected, since I work west of the 405 and live east of it - I wouldn't begrudge him some extra gas money to land AF1 at LAX (or Edwards) and then fly via helicopter (Marine One) to Van Nuys Airport, then motorcade from there to Simi Valley.

Air Force One, a 747, is too big to land at Burbank or Van Nuys, so logistically this would seem feasible. It would actually be more expensive in direct dollars, of course, but it would show a bit more sensitivity to something like a half million commuters in a city where any traffic glitch can screw everyone pretty royally - I think the indirect expenses of jammed traffic and lost productivity time would be far more than the costs of the secondary chopper flight.

Then again, LA voted blue in the last two big elections, didn't we. :)

On preview: I like Asparagirl; she's my favorite Republican. She actually uses her brain and has good backup for all her positions - and more importantly, is willing to listen to opposing points of view without rancor. (I hear she's pretty hawt, too.) Your comment may be misplaced, Skeptic.
posted by zoogleplex at 3:13 PM on October 20, 2005

From the east coast...yawn.
posted by fixedgear at 3:16 PM on October 20, 2005

Atreides, you and the 405 do not have a lock on the rubbernecking idiots blocking traffic northbound when the accident was south bound. I had to roll through about ten miles of it this morning because people wanted to see a mashed up SUV on the other side of the highway.

Would have sucked badly if I'd taken my car instead of the motorcycle today.
posted by fenriq at 3:16 PM on October 20, 2005

> Is there any depths to which this man won't stoop?

What's the problem? I thought we hated cars and freeways. We're all going to be walking when the revolution comes, aren't we? It's as fundamental as tofu and hash brownies. One would think you folks would applaud shutting down the LA freeway, or anybody's freeway, for any length of time, the longer the better. You forget who you are.
posted by jfuller at 3:20 PM on October 20, 2005

One would think you folks would applaud shutting down the LA freeway, or anybody's freeway, for any length of time, the longer the better. You forget who you are.
posted by jfuller at 3:20 PM PST on October 20 [!]

You're right. We'll plant organic gardens over the freeways, and live on the fragrant fallen pods of the carob trees. I can finally realize my dream of becoming a goatherd, and LA will become a rural paradise. Thank you for re-introducing me to myself.
posted by maryh at 3:31 PM on October 20, 2005

Metafilter: You forget who you are.
posted by anthill at 3:52 PM on October 20, 2005

Fenriq, I'm on the bike too today (and every day it's not raining), but unfortunately, my S.O. has to drive the 405... I fear her mood this evening will preclude the hot romance I had planned.

Darn you, GWB! Don't mess with my sex life!! *shakes fist*

OT: dude, were you on the red Suz V-S yesterday, waving me by on the 10? :)

fixedgear, the east coast has traffic jams too. Boston, NYC, NJ 80/287, DC, Atlanta?
posted by zoogleplex at 4:03 PM on October 20, 2005

Yeah, sure, even here in Philly. Or at least that's what I hear...I don't sit in them, I ride my bike 2 miles from home to work. I'm one of six people in America who chose where to live based on where he worked. What a concept.
posted by fixedgear at 4:25 PM on October 20, 2005

zoogleplex, you are totally making me blush here. You do know I'm married, right? ;-)
posted by Asparagirl at 4:29 PM on October 20, 2005

Yes, I know Asparagirl. But you're not dead, you see. :)

I'll just have to admire from afar, *SSSIIIIGGGHHHHHH*

*throws back of hand to forehead in moody angst*

:D j/k

Note that I'm also involved (tho not married), so I'm merely extending respect. I'm allowed to look, thank goodness!!
posted by zoogleplex at 4:39 PM on October 20, 2005

George doesn't have the brain capacity to plan, with forethought and malice, such an endeavor. The resulting
inconvenience caused by his visit is beyond his comprehension. I can see him now with his head out the window, ears flapping, tongue hanging, saying to himself
"being president is so cool" as he wags his tail and barks at a rock.
posted by bat at 4:56 PM on October 20, 2005

oh. well, carry on, then!
posted by Asparagirl at 4:58 PM on October 20, 2005

UK Filter - Did this happen when Bush came over a few months ago?
I run up the A40 into London almost every day and see Blair and Royalty hammering it because the bike cops stop all junction traffic 15 minutes ahead ongoing. It's awesome. People get delayed 5 - 10 minutes, which is sh*t, yeah, but not as bad as ballsing up your whole journey into work... (like that's a bad thing :o\ ...)
posted by Frasermoo at 5:16 PM on October 20, 2005

Uh... wait, Asparagirl, did I miss an opportunity here???

I'm not very good at that game (mostly because I'm a nerd)...
posted by zoogleplex at 5:21 PM on October 20, 2005

Cut it out, you two.
posted by Kwantsar at 5:46 PM on October 20, 2005

He's actually come by already tonight. All of San Vicente was shut down within the last hour or so. The little prick. There are schools and childcare centers along Sunset which will be essentially shut down in the morning because Sunset will be closed. Hundreds of families will be without childcare or school in the morning because of this "fundraiser."

Fuck you A-Girl - with all your hawtness!
posted by filchyboy at 6:04 PM on October 20, 2005

get a room.
posted by 3.2.3 at 6:08 PM on October 20, 2005

MetaFilter: get a room.
posted by oaf at 6:18 PM on October 20, 2005

"Hundreds of families will be without childcare or school in the morning because of this "fundraiser.""

Ack, too easy. You can do better than that.
posted by Frasermoo at 6:40 PM on October 20, 2005

Sorry my snark meter needs a tune up. What do you mean?
posted by filchyboy at 6:42 PM on October 20, 2005

Well, what more of a result do you want? legitimate excuse - 'THE President screwed my babysitting up.'

I mean OK, it still is Dubya, but he is still THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES'

gotta count for something? you pay taxes?
posted by Frasermoo at 6:53 PM on October 20, 2005

So fucking what. When Clinton was here I bitched just as loud. Just because they are fucking royalty shouldn't give em the ability to screw with our days. You think it's cool that these morons shut down a city invite em to your town. And no he's not screwing with my babysitting. He's screwing with the operations of my business.
posted by filchyboy at 7:03 PM on October 20, 2005

I'll second the "So fucking what." Having lived in the LA area for 7 years, trying to go between Ventura and San Diego, anyone who lives there knows this:

1. Avoid the 405 at all costs.
2. It is a parking lot.
3. It is ALWAYS a parking lot.

Having the chimp come into town a tie up the 405 doesn't add any appreciable pain. The only people that USE the 405 are those that either HAVE to or don't know any better.
posted by matty at 10:10 PM on October 20, 2005

I took the 405 home this evening around 8:45 and didn't notice anything. My onramp (to the NB 405) was about a 1/4 mile north of Sunset.

What about you, Optimus Chyme?
posted by shoos at 2:44 AM on October 21, 2005

Next time take a helicopter, jackass.
posted by insomnia_lj at 4:51 AM on October 21, 2005

I took the 405 home this evening around 8:45 and didn't notice anything. My onramp (to the NB 405) was about a 1/4 mile north of Sunset.

What about you, Optimus Chyme?
posted by shoos at 2:44 AM PST on October 21

Iwas driving on the 101 because I live in Arizona and not California. :)
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:35 AM on October 21, 2005

The entries to the 405 around the 10 FWY were closed off at 10 pm.
posted by threehundredandsixty at 8:45 AM on October 21, 2005

Coming over the hill this morning in the car with The Girl (an unusual occurrence as I am a motorcycle man) it was pretty bad. We did all surface streets, and even that was pretty bad, took over an hour from Sherman Oaks to West LA. On Sepulveda we saw about 2 dozen LAPD motorcycles heading north.

Bleh. Traffic in LA is just plain broken, if you're in a car, President or no President.
posted by zoogleplex at 9:44 AM on October 21, 2005

C'mon, its Regan. All acts are forgiven in the name of the Great Communicator™.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:55 PM on October 21, 2005

You're right. We'll plant organic gardens over the freeways, and live on the fragrant fallen pods of the carob trees. I can finally realize my dream of becoming a goatherd, and LA will become a rural paradise. Thank you for re-introducing me to myself. posted by maryh

I will join you, with my band of merry minstrels...lo, how we will laugh as we dance, tripping through our vined paradise...I shall convert my truck to a stage, where all the world may play. I shall conquer my fear of goats, and bring pounds of patchouli essential oil with me, for our hippy, incenseing ways. To the Freeway, Sister! Our future awaits!

Hee.
posted by dejah420 at 10:04 PM on October 21, 2005

Here's an article on what I was referring to earlier.
posted by filchyboy at 4:46 AM on October 23, 2005