I did not take any photographs or even show a camera.
At the perimeter I was allowed through with my dog, Buck.
Outside the perimeter the Philadelphia Fire Department and Rescue were obvious and obviously trusted.
The Philadelphia police were notably scarce. As if they weren’t trusted.
Inside the perimeter there were many uniformed Secret Service agents with white shirts, green slacks, and both a radio and a large handgun.
I did not look carefully at upstairs windows or at the rooftops. I did not want to be the guy they were looking for.
I did not see even once anyone I suspected of being plainclothes. They were that good. Some must have been there.
When I got closer there was a camera platform. No one could hide.
When I got even closer and I only got there after Obama was gone I saw the heavy weapons detail.
They were strapped and strapping. Not looking hopped up on steroids at all. I couldn’t get any of them to look me in the eye for longer than an instant. They were on the lookout for homicidal bears driving a stolen armored truck laden with explosives.
They were wearing not quite tight green khaki that was obviously bespoke tailored. The bags they carried might have contained anything in the small zippered pockets which were many. Larger than golf club bags.
What I remember is that those guys, and they had been standing there for hours, didn’t even seem to notice the weight of the bags they carried. The obvious thing was that the bags contained six or eight inch rocket launchers. Some were probably anti armor and some were probably anti air.
Dark helicopters were visibly but far overhead continuously.
That is what security looks like when the danger is real.
Bernie Sanders got Secret Service protection this week.
The protection is part obvious and part secret.
The top two Republicans are likely to receive similar protection tomorrow.
Nothing reminds one to be more careful than having a dedicated ambulance less than thirty seconds away.
I saw a photo once of Obama’s ambulance a few years ago. It was dark grey and had a stealth look about it. When he was out of Washington it rescued a terrorist shooting victim at one of the museums on the Mall.
Another photo, printed in the NYT, was of the rear of his cavalcade. It was a pickup truck. The tailgate was up and three guys were visible. They could have had anything ready on the floor of that truck.