Speaker (Pelosi) pursues military flights

WashTimes ^ | 1 Feb 2007 | Rowan Scarborough

[radar101]

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pressing the Bush administration for routine access to military aircraft for domestic flights, such as trips back to her San Francisco district, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The sources, who include those in Congress and in the administration, said the Democrat is seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation. A knowledgeable source called the request "carte blanche for an aircraft any time." "They are pressing the point of her succession and that the [Department of Defense] needs to play ball with the speaker's needs," one source said. The request originally went to the Pentagon, which then asked the White House to weigh in. Mrs. Pelosi's request is not new for a speaker, who is second-in-line in presidential succession. A defense source said the speaker's regular access to a military plane began after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, who was speaker at the time, started using U.S. Air Force planes for domestic travel to and from his district for security reasons. A former Hastert aide said the congressman did not use military planes for political trips or regularly transport his family. The defense source said Mr. Hastert requested a plane with good communications so he could conduct legislative business. The military flights increased to the point the speaker used a military plane for many, if not all, flights to his Illinois district, the former aide said. Sources said Mrs. Pelosi's request goes beyond what Mr. Hastert received. The speaker's legal counsel is spearheading the talks.

[Bahbah]

Just the beginning of democrat abuse of our military, just the beginning.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Whats wrong with her broom? No long range tanks? Get one from ACME.

[cajungirl]

Well, Denny Hastert started using them for the same purpose except from the article it seems his family and friends didn't "regularly" use them.

Seeing the raw power play congress used against the pubs in the budget process, I hope the Pres says too bad Nan. He can let her ride, Hastert did, but not her entourage.

[armymarinemom]

Is she going to use MAC flights and bump Military families using MAC for emergencies?

[radar101]

My thought exactly:
She supports Islamofascists--Why would they want to hurt her?

[Road Warrior ‘04]

For one who holds the military in such disdain, I don't think she should be able to use military aircraft to shuttle back and forth to SF. However, given her importance in the structure of the government, she should be afforded the use of the military flights. Put her in one of the backward facing seats without the comforts of heat/air conditioning. Might break her will to fly via Military Airlines.

[Fresh Wind]

This can be solved easily. Give her parachute training, make her put on a helmet, boots, and a flight suit (SOP for civilians on combat aircraft). Watch how fast she runs back to the commercial flights.

[saberpride]

"What happened? Did her broom throw a rod?"

LOL! Good one!

[Mo1]

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

Flights for her are one thing

Her family and the California delegation can fly commercial like the rest of

[twonie]

Good Lord! Does she know what she is asking for? Asking to get into a plane filled with people who despise the very ground she walks on? Does she know that no one will sit with her or talk to her? I certainly hope she doesn't plan on eating or drinking anything while she is there - for her own safety, of course. You can't make this stuff up, can you.

[kerryusama04]

I think the President and everyone who gets to do this have to purchase a first class ticket, right?

[CharlesWayneCT]

As Speaker, she should have access to military planes, for the reasons Hastert said he had them. It's not unreasonable.

But not for the entire california delegation. Pelosi isn't the leader of the california delegation anyway, she's the speaker of the house. Her request was not only excessive, it was parochial and inappropriate -- as speaker she should have asked for military flights for ALL members of congress, not just the delegation from her home state.

And no way her relatives should get on a military plane, unless they are defense employees, like anybody else. Our military isn't a shuttle service.

[Mo1]

And no way her relatives should get on a military plane, unless they are defense employees, like anybody else. Our military isn't a shuttle service.

Exactly!

[oldbill]

She will be using the Air Force VIP aircraft.

Unfortunately, the Air Force will not let space available travellers use the unused seat capacity of her flights.
Guess she wouldn't want the unwashed soldiers and their families (whom she supports, you know) mixing with her family and friends.

[radar101]

SOMEONE WHO DESERVED IT!

Staff Sgt. Aime Gaona receives a Purple Heart from Col. Larry Jackson for being struck by a sniper's bullet in her right femur Dec. 19 outside Kirkuk, Iraq. Sergeant Gaona is a weapons intelligence team member of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, deployed from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Colonel Jackson is the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kirk Clear

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. Colonel Timothy Strawther, 56th Operations Group commander, welcomes back to Luke Staff Sgt. Aime Gaona after she received a Purple Heart Dec. 19, after being hit by a sniper’s bullet in her right femur. Sergeant Gaona was a weapons intelligence team member of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron deployed from Luke to Balad, Iraq. She returned to Luke directly from Andrews Air Force Base via a C-17. She was also welcomed back by Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, 56th Fighter Wing commander, and a crowd of family, friends and co-workers.

[elcid1970]

"Pelosi using MAC flights"

Of course, Her Most Imperial Arrogance must be waited upon. But if Pelosi flies MAC, it won't be space-A, which led lots of us overseas types to say that MAC really stands for

M aybe
A irplane
C ome

[bray]

She's got $30 million, can't she pay for herself?

Pray for W and Our Troops

[johnny7]

I'd give her a plane

...and have the crew bail out mid-flight.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Hubris, thy name is Pelosi.

[Semper Vigilantis]

More likely she is afraid to fly on anything her supporters a terrorist may be on. It is their right, you know....