Posted on 11/14/2010 6:39:11 AM PST by TonyfromOz
Presumptive House Speaker John Boehner says he will use commercial flights to and from House duties in Washington from his home District instead of the USAF executive jet aircraft Nancy Pelosi used. Introduced as a security measure following September 11, Nancy has a history in this area, using these top of the line C-37A (Gulfstream V) as her own private air force, and it's good to see the new Speaker allowing the Air Force to get back to its core duties. We have added a slideshow facility to this Post to show images of the aircraft and the hardships Nancy had to 'put up with' by using common old Air Force planes for her travel purposes.
Good decision.
He also should audit Nancy Pelosi.
And how soon will a democrate operative leak his naked body scan from one of the airport scanners?
Article said there are already stupid comments about how he’s going to fly first class rather than using a USAF plane. A few hundred vs tens of thousands? I’d rather them fly commercial.
He’ll pay coach and the airline will upgrade him.
Poor decision, and one that won’t last. The person 2nd in line to assume the presidency must be available, accessible, and capable of immediately responding to a crisis at all times. If that means getting ferried around by the Air Force, so be it.
“Poor decision, and one that won’t last. The person 2nd in line to assume the presidency must be available, accessible, and capable of immediately responding to a crisis at all times. If that means getting ferried around by the Air Force, so be it.”
I’m sure if there is some kind of crisis, the air force will figure it out.
I agree that the Speaker of the House should travel on government-provided aircraft for security reasons.
It is not just a matter of finding him in a crisis. It is a matter of promptly diverting him to a secure location in the event of an emergency.
How do you do that if he is on a commercial flight? How do you arrange immediate transportation if he is not on a flight, but needs to get to a secure facility ASAP?
Pelosi abused the need by wanting to transport her political cronies and friends on the plane assigned. The Air Force put the kibosh on that.
When the Speaker is on a commercial flight at 35,000 feet? I don’t think so.
If he's needed, the commercial craft will be deverted to whereever he needs to be.
I like the idea of the government leaders being in touch with the common folk.
I know I'd feel safer on the plane if Bonner was on board.
“Poor decision, and one that won’t last. The person 2nd in line to assume the presidency must be available, accessible, and capable of immediately responding to a crisis at all times. If that means getting ferried around by the Air Force, so be it.”
So, they put a security guy with him, and a “football” carrier. With modern comm equipment, it isn’t as big of a deal as it used to be. A lot of commercial flights already have satellite access. They also typically have a couple of FAMs aboard with guns. Diverting them in case of emergency isn’t all that tough, either.
Ground control: United Flight 8, we've got a secure encrypted message for the Speaker of the... I mean President."
UA8: Say again. Quit screwing around. Cincinnati approach, UA8, we've got unauthorized radio traffic on 385.4...
Plus, if he’s important enough to get the “football”, he’s important enough for his own plane...
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