Fly Pelosi One

RMNIXON · 02-07-2007, 05:13 PM

Pelosi's push for jet remains up in air

By Rowan Scarborough and Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 7, 2007

The Bush administration has agreed to provide House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with regular access to an Air Force passenger jet, but the two sides are negotiating whether she will get the big aircraft she wants and who she may take as passengers, according to congressional and administration sources.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has requested access to a large Air Force passenger jet that can make nonstop flights to her home district of San Francisco, such as this Boeing C-32.

A congressional source said that Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, which controls the Pentagon's spending, has telephoned administration officials to urge them to give the speaker what she wants.

The congressional source said Pentagon officials complained that Mr. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, is accusing them of sexism for not immediately heeding her request.

Megan E. Grote, Mr. Murtha's press secretary, said, "Mr. Murtha absolutely never said anything about being 'sexist.' We have no further comment."

Meanwhile, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents "an arrogance of office that just defies common sense" and called it "a major deviation from the previous speaker."

Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri called it a "flying Lincoln Bedroom," and Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, labeled the speaker's plane "Pelosi One."

"This is a bullet point to a larger value -- Pelosi's abuse of power continues," Mr. McHenry said yesterday. "It began when the speaker denied minority rights to Republicans, continued with her 'TunaGate' scandal, and now she's exploiting America's armed forces and taxpayers for her own personal convenience."

"TunaGate" was a reference to Democrats exempting American Samoa from legislation to increase the minimum wage. Star-Kist Tuna, whose parent company Del Monte Corp. is based in Mrs. Pelosi's district, had lobbied against the wage increase.

An aide to Mrs. Pelosi, who is arguing she needs the jets for security reasons, yesterday referred questions to the Air Force, which is studying the California Democrat's request along with lawyers at the Pentagon and at the White House. "A lot of people are working this," an Air Force source said.

The congressional source said government lawyers are trying to reconcile Mrs. Pelosi's request with Defense Department policy and congressional travel rules.

The Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi's staff was pressing the administration for access to Air Force aircraft. Sources said the request went beyond what was offered to former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican.

Mr. Hastert used an Air Force commuter-type jet to travel to and from his district. Mr. Hastert gained the access for security reasons after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Previously, the House speaker, who is second in the line of succession to the presidency, used commercial flights for such trips.

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And what about global warming and saving the planet Ms. Pelosi? I guess thats just for us little people. Gas tax for you, free ride for me and my high $$$$ Doner friends to and from D.C.

Scrum · 02-07-2007, 05:25 PM

She should have to bike around the country because she believes in global warming.

garbagemanlb · 02-07-2007, 05:29 PM

This is stupid.

Scrum · 02-07-2007, 05:33 PM

"This is a bullet point to a larger value -- Pelosi's abuse of power continues," Mr. McHenry said yesterday. "It began when the speaker denied minority rights to Republicans, continued with her 'TunaGate' scandal, and now she's exploiting America's armed forces and taxpayers for her own personal convenience."

That's my favorite part.

It reads like "Waaaahahahahahaaaaa".

Diesel66 · 02-07-2007, 06:08 PM

The VP, senior members of the cabinet, etc... get C32 (boeing 757s), so why shouldnt the Speaker get one ?

imind · 02-07-2007, 06:20 PM

*still waiting for something substantial to chew on...*

smokie700 · 02-07-2007, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

The VP, senior members of the cabinet, etc... get C32 (boeing 757s), so why shouldnt the Speaker get one ?

Why does she need more than what was previously used?

JaJae · 02-07-2007, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

A congressional source said that Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, which controls the Pentagon's spending, has telephoned administration officials to urge them to give the speaker what she wants.

Murtha... the one complaining about the cost of Iraq wants to give Pelosi this for her personal travels:

I have no problem giving her a private jet that maybe holds 10 people or so. But this is a bit ridiculous don't you think? Then again, that's just my perspective. People complaining about pork and overspending shouldn't be demanding such luxuries on tax-payer dollars.

JaJae · 02-07-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

The VP, senior members of the cabinet, etc... get C32 (boeing 757s), so why shouldnt the Speaker get one ?

They shouldn't, but Pelosi shouldn't be an exception.

garbagemanlb · 02-07-2007, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Murtha... the one complaining about the cost of Iraq wants to give Pelosi this for her personal travels:

I have no problem giving her a private jet that maybe holds 10 people or so. But this is a bit ridiculous don't you think? Then again, that's just my perspective. People complaining about pork and overspending shouldn't be demanding such luxuries on tax-payer dollars.

I agree. I see absolutely no reason why she would need suh a large plane.

RMNIXON · 02-07-2007, 07:21 PM

Now her "Office" is trying to claim it has nothing to do with hauling more of her friends and family. It is for security! You see if she had to land small jet in Middle America to re-fuel it could be dangerous! Cheney might be hunting nearby!

imind · 02-07-2007, 07:24 PM

Murtha... the one complaining about the cost of Iraq wants to give Pelosi this for her personal travels:

you may have a point in suggesting this plane is more than she needs, but pointing out that murtha is hypocritical in complaining about the cost of the war, which will run into the trillions of dollars, versus the cost of maintaining this plane, is absurd.

i would like to hear her justification for requesting this size. it does seem excessive at first glance.

RMNIXON · 02-07-2007, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

The VP, senior members of the cabinet, etc... get C32 (boeing 757s), so why shouldnt the Speaker get one ?

They are used on Official State Department trips, not joyrides back and forth to your hometown.

I think she should have a jet, just not a jumbo for 40 plus people. There is no excuse other than throwing her weight around for that.

RMNIXON · 02-07-2007, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by imind

i would like to hear her justification for requesting this size. it does seem excessive at first glance.

I think she is just living in the past, very long past! In todays blog world you can't get away with the mainstream media ingnoring this kind of stuff. The Clinton haircut at LAX should have been a clue.

JaJae · 02-07-2007, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by imind

i would like to hear her justification for requesting this size. it does seem excessive at first glance.

seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation.

Speaker pursues military flights - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

It's to shuffle her and her friends around lavishly in their very own jumbo jet.

JaJae · 02-07-2007, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by imind

you may have a point in suggesting this plane is more than she needs, but pointing out that murtha is hypocritical in complaining about the cost of the war, which will run into the trillions of dollars, versus the cost of maintaining this plane, is absurd.

i would like to hear her justification for requesting this size. it does seem excessive at first glance.

This plane costs $540 million to uphold and maintenance each year without security. That's over $2billion just to Nancy's and all these other important politician's joyrides. This figure is from over a decade ago and before fuel costs more than doubled. This is a rather conservative figure.

It's overboard. There's plenty of other plane choices that would be more practical. One person does not need their own 747.

kinggovernor · 02-07-2007, 09:16 PM

she does not need it, the last speaker was able to do their job without a plane

imind · 02-07-2007, 10:00 PM

seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation.

say sources in congress and the white house. hmmm.

it may be true, it may not, but i'd like to hear her justification, but if indeed it costs $540 million/year to maintain this behemoth then fuck her. that does seem like a great deal of money for maintanance, though. you sure your figures are correct?

Originally Posted by king

she does not need it, the last speaker was able to do their job without a plane

according to the article, he did not do without it.

Diamond Cross · 02-07-2007, 10:17 PM

I have a feeling that it'll be given to her, just because the GOP's making a big deal out of i.

7th Ninjai · 02-07-2007, 10:38 PM

Our government is hopelessly fucked.