11/10/2008 12:28:25 PM EST

First-family-to-be given code names

posted by Sand

The Chicago Tribune breaks the news...

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The Secret Service traditionally has given pithy, private names to those whose lives they protect. The monikers are a throwback to a time when electronic communications were not encrypted, and they no longer serve a security function. Still, they give an occasional peek at the players' personalities, in addition to serving as great trivia questions.

President-elect Barack Obama: Renegade

Michelle Obama: Renaissance

Malia Obama: Radiance

Sasha Obama: Rosebud

Vice President-elect Joe Biden: Celtic

Jill Biden: Capri

President George W. Bush: Tumbler

First Lady Laura Bush: Tempo
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First-family-to-be given code names | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)
My take (none / 0)

Renaissance seems very apt for the most elegant and glamourous First Lady since Jackie Kennedy.

Renegade... Hm, because he was an insurgent campaigner against the Clinton machine? Or am I reading too much into this...

Celtic... He certainly wears his "Irishness" on his sleeve.

Capri... Well, she's classy. Celtic and Capri sure are opposites. 

Tumbler... Are we talking here of a whiskey glass??? That'd be a cruel joke on his past. But then, the word has multiple meanings. Any guesses?

Tempo... She's the straight-laced person in the family. 

by charlesf on 11/10/2008 01:32:13 PM EST

"Tumbler"- before they (none / 0)
knew a better fit would be "fumbler!"

by tifosies on 11/12/2008 03:48:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Curious (none / 0)
Do the code names of the members of the same family have to begin with the same first letter?

by Average Jill on 11/10/2008 08:09:28 PM EST

Don't know (none / 0)
but Ronny's name was rawhide and Nancy's was rainbow (don't ask me how I know this but I remember reading it somewhere). First family starts with R as far as I can guess.

by z1p101 on 11/10/2008 08:22:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Renegade (none / 0)

Obviously that's an homage to Lorenzo Lamas, who's Obama's favorite actor.

Jill Biden got that name because she loves Kid Capri. 

And Laura Bush is called Tempo because she went as that X-Men villain for Halloween.

She can manipulate my time anytime. That's redundant. 

Are those names just random or do they actually mean anything?

by Spencer on 11/10/2008 08:29:55 PM EST

memories... (none / 0)
"Obviously that's an homage to Lorenzo Lamas, who's Obama's favorite actor."

I loved watching that show.

And any post that recalls an obscure X-Force villian gets a thumbs up from me.

by Kang the Conqueror on 11/12/2008 11:45:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Did you see the news Kang? (none / 0)

One of our people is going to be President of the United States!!!!

No, I didn't turn black like C. Thomas Howell in that bad 80s movie.  

I mean a member of the Mighty Marvel Marching Society!

Apparently Obama collects Spidey and Conan. That's right, the report said "collects" as opposed to "collected".

Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!

by ProfRich on 11/12/2008 12:13:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You know I loved that news. (none / 0)

Conan for Secretary of Defense.

By crom! 

by Spencer on 11/12/2008 02:43:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Would Crom qualify for religious outreach money? (none / 0)

Conan would be the best Secretary of Defense EVER!

Tony Stark for Treasury?

Captain America for State? (That should restore our image!)

Daredevil for AG? (Disabled guy a big plus)

Reed Richards head of NASA?

Fury as NSA?

Peter Parker as official White House photographer?

I could go on all day.

by ProfRich on 11/12/2008 03:48:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I think (none / 0)

Fury going to the NSA would be a big demotion.  But the Press Secretary has to be the Purple Man.  Even Helen Thomas would be wrapped around his little finger.

Well, maybe he doesn't want the job afterall. 

by Spencer on 11/12/2008 04:10:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
that is awesome! (none / 0)

I always thought that if I could have one super power it would be the Purple Man.

He can make anyone do anything he wants and they are happy about it.  If you haven't read Alias you are only hurting yourself.

by ProfRich on 11/12/2008 04:22:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
First-family-to-be given code names | 11 comments (11 topical, 0 hidden)
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