The Secret Service's Dirty Secret

Thanks to Obama Derangement Syndrome, the USSS has its hands full to the point where people in Washington are questioning whether or not the Service can handle its other traditional Treasury Department duties besides protecting the President and other leaders (emphasis mine):

The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency’s overall mission.

The Secret Service is tracking a far broader range of possible threats to the nation’s leaders, the officials said, even as it also investigates financial crimes such as counterfeiting as part of its original mandate.

The new demands are leading some officials, both inside and outside the agency, to raise the possibility of the service curtailing or dropping its role in fighting financial crime to focus more on protecting leaders and their families from assassination attempts and thwarting terrorist plots aimed at high-profile events.

“If there were an evaluation of the service’s two missions, it might be determined that it is ineffective . . . to conduct its protection mission and investigate financial crimes,’’ according to a inter nal report issued in August by the Congressional Research Service.

The report, which was provided to the Globe, said such a review should look at how money and staff are allocated, and whether some of the agency’s functions and workers should be transferred to the Treasury Department.

“This is a discussion going on not only in some quarters in Congress, but inside the Secret Service. Should there be a re-look at the mission?’’ said a government official, who like others was not authorized to speak publicly about security matters or reveal details about the number or nature of the threats.

Already, there are signs of strain on the agency, officials said. Budget documents submitted to Congress this year said the agency lacks the necessary technology to keep up with threats.

Gosh that's a cheery picture, isn't it? There are so many threats against not just Obama, but other leaders of our government and their families, to the point where the USSS can't cover them all adequately. They need more money and personnel.

The bigger issue is why the GOP and FOX News continue to be allowed to foment unrest on a level that is now threatening the Secret Service to be able to do its job.

Or does somebody have to be hurt or killed first before they stop lighting dynamite and throwing?

Obama Derangement Syndrome has consequences, folks. Real ones.

[UPDATE 7:30 PM] BooMan asks referring to the story:

Does anyone want to take any responsibility for this?

Of course not. The Wingers have plausible deniability. It's not their fault people are using the paranoia the Wingers are inflaming to threaten the President. It's Obama's fault for being like Nixon and forming an enemies list...

Wait, what do you mean that's a lie? Now why would the Wingers lie to you?