Really? Cannoli says differently, and I believe he's right on that one. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 20/01/2011 01:54:49 AM
Try your little FB experiment with a US Congressmans name in place of Chinas and see how long it takes the Secret Service to call.... 
Probably never - the secret service does not guard congressmen
Bobby Kennedy had two Secret Service agents guarding him the night he was murdered (allegations neither was in the room at the time provide much grist for conspiracy theories, but since I can't vet the allegations I'm not prepared to say either way).
They were presidential candidates, placing them under the Secret Service. There position as members of congress was irrelevant, they guard the First Lady too, were she a senator they would guard her, because she was the first lady. They will guard governors, congressmen, children, if they happen to be POTUS, VP, or relatives. They have authority for a few other obvious cases as well. I've no idea why you are going on about RFK, but incidentally they could guard him as both a POTUS candidate and as a relative of a former POTUS.
I referenced him because he was a member of Congress, not President, which I believe Cannoli is right in saying is at least as relevant as his relationship to a President, that Secret Service protection is available to all Congressmen by request (IIRC they only gave it to Senator Obama after he requested it during the campaign). Congressmens safety is very much under their jurisdiction; who else would be responsible, the local police?
McCain and Obama both had Secret Service protection throughout the campaign, as did all the candidates, and you can bet if someone makes a public threat against a Congressman the Secret Service will be all over it. But, again, if you're so sure they don't mind, feel free to post something to test your theory.
No, they would be all over a threat to a presidential candidate...g et your jurisdictions straight, and what theory of mine are you talking about that I should test? If the Secret Service becomes aware of a threat, they can pass it on to the proper jurisdiction but its not theirs. They are law enforcers, so I doubt they'd idly ignore a threat to anyone that came across their radar, but it has nothing to do with their status as a member of the legislative branch.
I referenced RFK because he was a member of Congress, not President, which I believe Cannoli is right in saying is at least as relevant as his relationship to a President, that Secret Service protection is available to all Congressmen by request (IIRC they only gave it to Senator Obama after he requested it during the campaign). Congressmens safety is very much under their jurisdiction; are you seriously saying that if they knew of a credible threat to a member of the federal government they'd just call the local police and leave it to them? Can you imagine the political firestorm and bureaucratic scandal if Sheriff Lobo wasn't up to the task, either screwed it up or couldn't get there before an professional assassin? If so, that's the theory I suggested you test: Like I told the last guy, if you think a public threat against a Congressmen is no big deal, try making one and see how that ends for you. Something tells me you're not going to make that mistake any more than he did, which speaks volumes about how firmly you believe it's a trivial matter.