I saw her on FNC last night. She was stating that because she is a constant critic of the Pentagon, they are getting even by giving her grief on this issue. Man, that is scary. She basically is saying that she remembers and will get even. I bet in the next couple years, a lot of career Admirals and Generals will desert President Bush and kiss the Dems arses.
While channel surfing and fighting off insomnia, I landed on CNN and watched yesterday's Lou Dobbs re-run. I actually enjoyed his program as he had great coverage of the border patrol agent that was beaten in prison and the cover-up of said event. His segment on Pelosi and her plane fiasco was delicious. Enjoy the transcript below:
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After weeks of intense accusations, the speaker of the House tried to set the record straight. But Nancy Pelosi was in denial.
PELOSI: We didn't ask for a larger plane, period.
PILGRIM: She was so in denial, she even denied it was a plane.
PELOSI: And by the way, it's not a plane. A plane seems to make you think your plane's waiting there. It's a ride.
PILGRIM: What Mrs. Pelosi's staff admits to is asking the DOD for a plane that could fly nonstop to San Francisco. The DOD letter in response doesn't reveal whether she indeed asked for a C-32, the same plane as Vice President Dick Cheney's Air Force Two, a plane that carries 45 people. The DOD letter only says they will provide a plane subject to availability and not always guaranteed.
"Aircraft assigned to these missions will accommodate between seven and not more than 10 passengers. Your family will be required to provide reimbursement to the Treasury..."
White House spokesman Tony Snow defended her right to military transport as speaker of the House.
SNOW: I don't believe she's asking to be sent, you know, on the space shuttle.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you like her to be put on the space shuttle, Tony?
PILGRIM: But the debate on the House floor raised voices and passions.
REP. DAN BURTON (R), INDIANA: And I hope that Speaker Pelosi will take the time to come down and explain to the full House the reason why she thinks she should have $15 million a year to fly back and forth to California.
REP. GINNY BROWN-WAITE (R), FLORIDA: Congress should not be above coach or first class travel.
REP. ERIC CANTOR (R), CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP: The ability to fly on a jumbo jetliner is a privilege never before granted to a member of Congress. (END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Now, John Murtha, chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, says that he wants to hold hearings later this spring on executive and congressional travel on military aircraft, and he's given the Defense Department a one-month deadline to provide records on congressional travel for the last two years -- Lou.
DOBBS: You know, I have to say, I'm amused by this, because as we've been reporting the story for some time, I mean, my gosh.
For those of you who are just joining our broadcast, you know, just recently, you may not know that because of the often critical nature of our reporting on some of the policies of the Bush administration, I'm persona non grata at the White House. And people are writing in as though -- and obviously very liberal.
Democrats saying, "How dare you carry Republican freight and criticize the speaker of the House." But the issue is straightforward.
What the in the world gives anyone the idea, whether it be the sergeant-at-arms, who, after all, does have to respect mightily the speaker of the House, or whether it's the Department of Defense, you know, who depends upon the House for its budgeting -- I mean, the idea of get her a 757 to fly back and forth is unprecedented. It's absolutely irrational.
PILGRIM: Well, the discussion certainly consumed Capitol Hill today. I think they will get to the bottom of it -- Lou.
DOBBS: Well, the other part of it is -- and Murtha, my gosh. John Murtha, a man who really knows his stuff on defense, he did everything but threaten the DOD, reminding them that they were, in fact, dependent upon this speaker for their funding.
I mean, this is pretty outlandish all the way around. And Democrats or Republicans, sorry, folks, when it's wrong, it's wrong. And we don't really care on this broadcast which partisan ox gets gored. Just so when they're out of line, they get gored.
Kitty, thank you very much.
Kitty Pilgrim.
Time now for some of your thoughts.
Anita from Louisiana, "Your story about Nancy Pelosi demanding a huge military jet for her personal use was at best inaccurate and slanted, and at worst a smear."
Well, actually, former House speaker Congressman Dennis Hastert of Illinois flew to and fro Washington, most commonly on a Gulf Stream III jet. There it is. And despite a lot of journalistic reports to the contrary, that aircraft will fly coast to coast for just about $15,000 less than the proposed aircraft for the speaker. And if you have any questions about the position the Defense Department's put in. Congressman John Murtha makes it just pretty clear, as I said.
"They're making a mistake" -- referring to the Department of Defense -- "when they leak it. Because she decides on the allocation for the Defense Department."
Now Congressman Murtha has gone completely overboard. He's decided the DOD is leaking this information. And he went on to say that he did not believe the House speaker would let a rejection drive her decisions on Pentagon funding.
We are very pleased for her mercy and for yours, Congressman Murtha.
Get a grip, please, sir. And put this into some sort of proportion and perspective without partisanship, if you don't mind.
And those are the facts.