MORE ON CONGRESS'S NEW LUXURY JET

instapundit ^ | November 21, 2007 | Glenn Reynolds

[george76]

"One final thought: the delivery of a new 'junket jet' for Congress may infuriate a lot of taxpayers, but there's a method in Boeing's apparent madness.

Winners of the KC-X and CSAR-X contracts will be announced early next year, and by delivering the C-40 now (just in time for Christmas holiday 'fact-finding' trips), the aircraft giant hopes that some of its Congressional friends will pressure the Air Force to steer those contracts toward Boeing."

"Since congress's new luxury jet is part of the military appropriations and with congress not funding the military as the president requested, the jet should be the first causalty of the reduction in spending required to maintain support for the troops in harm's way...

Actually all congressional fights provided by the Air Force should be grounded. Let them all take to the airways with the regular folks and experience the problems we face.

[george76]

Or the politicans could fly commercial like the rest of us ?

/s

.

[Army Air Corps]

Yes, let them deal with TSA!

[george76]

the travel perks don’t end there.

In addition to their global junkets on Air Force VIP aircraft, members of Congress also received 32, fully-reimbursed trips to their home districts each year, and free, reserved parking at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2007/11/your-tax-dollars-at-work-vip-airlift.html

[george76]

Funny how nobody in Washington ever mentions these $70 million jets as an example of wasteful defense spending. Or as an example of an unjustified Air Force mission that doesn’t support our soldiers on the ground.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3acc73e813-523d-4200-97c3-46005c1c6b50&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

[RobinOfKingston]

Or the politicans could fly commercial like the rest of us ?

Or the "politicians" could stay home and look at the pretty pictures in Nat'l Geographic, like the rest of us.

God help us! American now elects its royalty!

[bmwcyle]

'fact-finding' trips

When have the facts mattered?

[napscoordinator]

I believe the only people that should have aircraft access is The President, Vice President, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Majority Leader, and House Minority Leader and that is it!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone else including Presidential cabinet should fly business class on commercial airlines.

[CindyDawg]

Yep. This should be an immediate cut.

[CindyDawg]

These are tough times. Just the Prez and his VP. The senate/house “leaders” can hitch a ride when the executive is flying but no air force taxi anymore.

[CGTRWK]

No one in the legislative branch needs aircraft access. The executive runs thing. Congress is just a bunch of squabbling, lying lawyers. But I repeat myself.

[CindyDawg]

They said they were going to stay in session so it would be a good time to ground all of “their” planes for servicing .

[napscoordinator]

These are tough times. Just the Prez and his VP. The senate/house “leaders” can hitch a ride when the executive is flying but no air force taxi anymore.

Would we say this if Republicans were in charge now? I was just using those examples because I know things change and eventually the Republicans will be in charge again.

[CindyDawg]

If Republicans were holding up funds for our military, I would say stop their allowance too.

[Army Air Corps]

Would we say this if Republicans were in charge now?

I know that I would. Congresscritters need to pay for their air travel unless they are hitching a ride with the President.

[Calvin Locke]

A guy I know worked for the federal government. He'd have to fly down to DC a couple, three times each year. He said a couple of those times, he had to endure sitting next to his congressman on a commercial flight. He said the guy absolutely reeked of BO. I pointed out that with the then recent news of Gerry Studds and Barney Frank, I didn't blame the guy for not wanting to share showers at the House gym.

I thought of the same thing when that Levy woman disappeared, and it came out that her Congo adulterer had some out of the norm habits for most males.

[LIConFem]

Better yet, let them fly Belkan Airways.

Passenger: What kind of plane is it?

Airline employee: It's a modified 727.

Passenger: Modified?

Airline employee: Yes, it was just painted. You can hardly tell where the old wing ends and the new one begins.

end obscure Odd Couple reference

[napscoordinator]

Wow. That is interesting. I am torn. I think that status does play a bit in this. I mean the military generals pretty much fly around on aircrafts that are pretty nicely equipped.

[Army Air Corps]

Reminds me of flying on a Vietnam Airlines A320. I looked out the window and noticed that the silver paint on the wing did not completely obscure the name of the previous owner - Alitalia.

[Bruinator]

That is because they are MILITARY Generals. Usually go to and from command appointments.

[Army Air Corps]

I might consider a point system for Congresscritters. The more they actually present for a vote on the floor, the more points they earn to fly on Federally owned aircraft. Makes the gits work for their flight. If they are absent from a vote, then points are deducted. Also, if they kite checques at the house bank, then points are deducted.