Posted on 02/07/2007 5:42:02 PM PST by Hadean
A source close to the controversy over the request made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for use of a military plane that can fly to and from her home district in San Francisco, Calif., without having to stop to refuel, tells ABC News that the Pentagon has rebuffed Pelosi's request.
The source says that Pentagon officials and the Bush administration have instead offered Pelosi use of the same plane made available to former Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois: a C-20, which seats about 12 passengers and five crew members.
A C-20 can make the 700-mile flight to Hastert's Aurora, Ill., district easily but would generally have to stop to refuel to complete the 2,800-mile trip from Washington D.C. to the San Francisco Bay Area, depending on the headwinds.
Pelosi has expressed concern about having to stop and refuel, primarily for security reasons, her office says. Since 9/11, the Speaker of the House — second in line behind the Vice President in the line of presidential succession — has been able to use a military plane for travel, for security reasons.
In response to the Pentagon offer, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly tells ABC News, "We appreciate the Defense Department's continuing concern for the Speaker's security. We are reviewing their letter."
They're dragging this out. Bush will give it to her.
He's too much the gentleman.
You are correct.
She also wanted a 14 member crew on the plane to wait on her and her friends.
Yep, plenty of Air Force bases between the 2 coasts, security wouldn't be an issue.
The current Air Force One is a 747-200, actually; and yes, it's a *lot* bigger than a 757.
Since it's an Air Force plane it would most likely stop at a military base for refueling. How unsecure is that?! What a whiner!
Pelosi reportedly had requested that there be a bowl of M&Ms provided (with the red ones removed) each time she stepped onto 'Pelosi One' and also insisted that her champagne be chilled to exactly 42 degrees.
If the Republicans don't go nuts with this 'Pelosi One' fiasco, they are cowardly idiots.
This story alone could win them back the House in '08. No joke.
Regular people shake their heads and grimace in disgust and contempt at this stuff.
Maybe they screwed up giving Hastert a plane. Since he didn't live so far away, they were able to let him use a small plane that wasn't in big demand and didn't cost too much.
Now Pelosi wants a plane that can go cross-country, and there are only a few of those stationed at Andrews, and they are in high demand. They would take over a hundred people, and cost a lot of money.
The Government has a 2.9 trillion dollar budget. Why doesn't the house of representatives simply vote into the defense budget the purchase of a plane for the House Speaker to use, and then request a security detail for the trips?
I'm guessing they don't want to take the heat for the expense.
How about a handfull of C-4 and I'll owe her the rest?
You remember the James Bond movies? Well, we have our very own PELOSI GALORE.
Pelosi said, more than once, that the friction (or the dispute, can't remember her exact words) was coming from within the Pentagon (or the Defense Department), because she has been a critic of their waste, fraud and abuse. She said, again more than once, that the dispute was not coming from the president - that he's been a good boy about rolling over and giving her everything she wants (OK, so those are my words).
Pelosi is not at all concerned about making more enemies at the DOD, from the looks of her accusations tonight.
Maybe that female astronaught could be her personal driver. Just wear those diapers and drive straight through.
She WILL get her private plane and many family members and friends will use it also.
The stops are at military bases, not exactly unsafe place to land and take off..... she's whining because she wants non-stop.
"Pelosi Galore!" LOL!
Pelosi's life is not in danger from terrorist attack. She is their FRIEND. Why harm her?
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