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| Home Front: Politix |
| White House Defends Pelosi Plane Request |
| 2007-02-09 |
| Democrat Nancy Pelosi received some rare help Thursday from the White House against a barrage of Republican criticism over how the new House speaker intends to get back home. For security reasons, Pelosi is entitled to fly to her San Francisco district on military planes. The House sergeant-at-arms, who helps oversee security for the House, suggested that flying nonstop would be the safest way home for Pelosi, next after the vice president in the line of presidential succession. Republicans, led by aggressive junior lawmakers, seized on the most extreme possibility: Pelosi's flying on the military equivalent of a Boeing 757 with the latest in travel comforts. Too expensive, some critics said. Too polluting, others said. Too much ado about nothing, the White House weighed in. "I have never asked for any larger plane," Pelosi said. "I have said that I am happy to ride commercial if the plane they have doesn't go coast to coast." To presidential spokesman Tony Snow, "This is a silly story and I think it's been unfair to the speaker." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 Did anyone catch Murtha threatening the Pentagon? Keeping in mind that Pelosi put jackassless Jacking in a chairmanship role allowing him to try and pull the military strings. Then we get this bullshit story: "The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable," Livingood, who has been at his post for 11 years, said in a written statement. Complete crap since there are other planes out there that have the same range. Wonder what Snow is thinking? Hot Air has been following this. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-02-09 14:08 |
| #9 I like the way M. Murcek thinks. |
| Posted by: RD 2007-02-09 13:59 |
| #8 Give her a plane like the one Ron Brown was on... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-02-09 13:35 |
| #7 Unless I read the argument wrong the sticking point is that Pelosi wants a dedicated 757 at her disposal. The Air Force is offering an on-call aircraft that may have to refuel enroute. While I support her request for an on-call aircraft I don't think the Speaker warrants her own personal fleet. Sounds like she is getting a bit power hungry and I would add that the Donks (contrary to their belief) do not have a lot of friends in the DOD, so look for DOD to stall this as long as possible. The White House is playing it right, they support the request but leave it to the DOD to make decisions vis-a-vis aircraft usage. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-02-09 13:04 |
| #6 To presidential spokesman Tony Snow, "This is a silly story and I think it's been unfair to the speaker." Should have said, 'If the people don't object to the extra cost of such an aircraft, then she should be able to fly home non-stop.' |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-02-09 09:29 |
| #5 A veritable Bigfoot track of a carbon footprint for little Mimi. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-02-09 09:11 |
| #4 Give her the plane. Give her what ever she wants. This plane is just one noose of many she can't help but stick her head into as she expands the role of the Imperial Speaker. |
| Posted by: TomAnon 2007-02-09 09:03 |
| #3 Just be sure to get lots of pretty pictures of Nancy and her entourage with their private 757. Price to ferry Pelosi one round trip round trip on a US government Boeing 757: $300,000 Cost of the 757-200: $65,000,000 (2002) Photos of Queen Nancy splashed across every newspaper, tabloid and TV news show: Priceless |
| Posted by: ed 2007-02-09 02:51 |
| #2 We have plenty of C-130E aircraft that can't haul heavy loads anymore. But I'm sure they could ferry the donks back and forth to Calexico non-stop. I propose we give here a Hercules and a smile, she can remodel the interior to her standards. |
| Posted by: Aiman joe 2007-02-09 01:54 |
| #1 First rule of statecraft: Keep your friends guessing, and your enemies happy. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-02-09 00:57 |