Pentagon Rejects Speaker Pelosi's Request for Military Aircraft

ABC News ^ | Feb. 7, 2007 | Jake Tapper

[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."

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

757's are not bigger than Air force one 747-400

[stockstrader]

A C-20 does NOT have to refuel flying coast to coast!!!

[patton]

C-20's are equipped for in-flight refueling.

And the argument wasn't that she wanted it to fly her, or her entourage, it was that she wanted it to fly her entourage, when she wasn't on it.

Air taxi service, a'la you and me.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Typical, ego and the entourage sounds like the real reasons.

Will they rename whatever plane she ends up with "Palomino One"?

[MeekOneGOP]

Scary stuff, folks, imho ...

Exposed: Pelosi's Socialist Ties

Pelosi leader of 'Progressive Caucus'

Click here or on the pic to hear
the Socialist Pelosi Pig squeal !

From those links, these excerpts ...

"DSA/USA, the 'Democratic Socialists of America' are the U.S. arm of the Socialist International. They share the symbol of the fist holding the rose, and they share the tasks to be accomplished — in our case, an altogether different America ...

"Some time ago — the date is missing from the descriptions — 58 members of the U.S. House of Representatives formed a subdivision of the Democratic Socialists of America and called it the Progressive Caucus. Their statement of purpose, as well as their membership list, formed an integral part of the dsausa Web site (www.dsausa.org ). The membership list appeared on the screen with the continuous background of the fist holding the rose, should anyone have missed the connection with the Socialist International."

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the likely [she is now] new minority leader in the House of Representatives, serves on the executive committee of the socialist-leaning Progressive Caucus, a bloc of about 60 votes or nearly 30 percent of the minority vote in the lower chamber.

The Democratic Socialists of America's chief organizing goal is to work within the Democratic Party and remove the stigma attached to "socialism" in the eyes of most Americans.

"Stress our Democratic Party strategy and electoral work," explains an organizing document of the DSA. "The Democratic Party is something the public understands, and association with it takes the edge off. Stressing our Democratic Party work will establish some distance from the radical subculture and help integrate you to the milieu of the young liberals."

Progressive Caucus

[pfflier]

She would need a C-5 just to haul her ego around.

[al baby]

Air force one is any military aircraft that has the president aboard its not a plane however the current plane
for Bush is a 747 that is bigger than a 757 ok

[sam_paine]

Pelosi has expressed concern about having to stop and refuel, primarily for security reasons, her office says

How can she have security concerns refueling between DC and SFO if there is no domestic terrorism threat?

[Howlin]

Thank you for the correction; I just assumed it was.

But it's big, right? I hope so, I"m getting ready to get on one!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Actually, I'd prefer she stay away.

[Txsleuth]

Hallelujah!!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

For those who may have missed it, Pelosi and "Palomino"

[Mo1]

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.

Guess Gramma won't be able to chart people around to campaign stops this election

[Howlin]

Okay, thanks.

But still...

[You Dirty Rats]

Pelosi has expressed concern about having to stop and refuel, primarily for security reasons, her office says.

What utter BS.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

That's not the type of "green" transportation I would expect from such a friend of the environment. Actually, on second thought it is exactly what I'd expect.

[patton]

C-20A/B/H: Primary function: C-20A — operational support airlift; C-20B — special air missions. Speed: 576 mph. Dimensions: Wingspan 77 ft. 10 in., length 83 ft. 2 in., height 24 ft. 6 in. Range: C-20 A/B — 4,250 miles; C-20H — 4,850 miles. Crew: Five. Inventory: C-20A, three; C-20B, five and C-20H, two.

[daybreakcoming]

Pelosi has expressed concern about having to stop and refuel, primarily for security reasons

LOL Self-annointed queen PILLosi is one of our enemy's bestest friends and she knows it. Security. HA.

I think H&C is going to have a segment on this very subject. Colmes will no doubt whine that Hastert had his own military plane after 9/11 but will conveniently leave out that PILLosi is demanding one twice as big with 3 times the number of crew.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Yes its very big

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Just as well. Nancy's hair and demeanor would be a bit mussed after making a cross-country trip duct-taped to the jet's tail.