Alaska's Governor Gets Sleek Jet Critics Say $2.6 Million Aircraft Is Unusable on Many Airstrips

http://articles.news.aol.com ^ | 11 12 05 | reuters

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[MadIvan]

Meanwhile, most officials in the British government, fly British Airways.

Regards, Ivan

[AmishDude]

Oh, I would imagine that the Gov. of Alaska has had planes before this one. It'd be essential because the state is so large and regular commercial flights won't go to most places.

[MadIvan]

I suggest it would be more cost effective to charter a plane for those occasional trips, rather than buy this.

Regards, Ivan

[A.A. Cunningham]

Dump the Westwind for a Caravan or Super Cub.

[JRandomFreeper]

They have a perfectly good turbo-prop that was capable of short-field operations. Word in the bars in Ketchikan was that it was ALL about ego.

/john

[Mount Athos]

Well the out of the way location of the capital actually means this purchase makes some sense, doesn't it? Maybe they should have got a different plane that can land on shorter runways, but a plane of some kind has got to be justified for the governor.

[Mark was here]

I wonder if it can land on their bridge to no where.

[NeoCaveman]

Can't Alaska do better than Murkowskies (I'm guessing that's the plural of Murkowski)

[CindyDawg]

If Alaska can afford it and doesn't have a problem with it, I don't either.

[NeoCaveman]

Sounds like they may have a prolem with it.

Polls show him to be the nation's second-most-unpopular governor, topped only by Ohio Republican Gov. Robert Taft.

And it is not very fiscally conservative, even if the state is flush with money.

[LegendHasIt]

Hey, Alaska's Governor is just trying to 'keep up with the Richardsons'...

NM's governor had to have the state taxpayers buy him a big jet...

Not really useful for State business, but he will need it for his 2008 campaign for President (or VP)....

[byteback]

Looks like Ted Stevens will be getting some Federal money soon to build new runways.

[Mike Darancette]

Can't they put floats on it?

[AmishDude]

I'd disagree with you, Ivan. It's probably cost-effective for the governor's office to own a plane as opposed to always chargering one.

I agree with you JRF, it is probably too expensive and elaborate, but a turbo prop makes for a looooong trip from Juneau to Point Barrow.

[kylaka]

I'll betcha he could have had a head installed in the turboprop for about $25,000. Better yet, a funnel, a hose and a curtain for $50.

[sharkhawk]

Alaska has $30 billion in savings, yet the entire US tax base has to pay for the bridge to nowhere?

[Thinkin' Gal]

Critics say Murkowski's jet is unusable in much of rural Alaska, where runways are too short and made of gravel or nonexistent.

That's some scary runway material. Can fault anyone for refusing to land on nonexistent runways.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

More practical: