Presidential Jet Wings Obama to Washington

washingtonpost. ^ | Dec 4 2009 | Philip Rucker

[dennisw]

President-elect Barack Obama arrived at Andrews Air Force Base tonight, aboard a presidential aircraft for the first time as the principal passenger, as he moved to Washington from his home town of Chicago 16 days before being sworn into office.

After posing for pictures on the windy tarmac with the ground crew, Obama, wearing a navy suit, blue tie and black overcoat, boarded a Boeing 757 painted like Air Force One. This particular jet is frequently used to carry the vice president, first lady and other top officials.

Obama ordered a cheeseburger and french fries from Dickson, who joked with reporters that he prepared the burger "Air Force One-style."

Asked whether he was looking forward to moving to Washington, Obama said: "Yeah, although living in a hotel for two weeks, we kind of did that for two years."

Obama was joined on the plane by several of his top aides, including senior adviser David Axelrod and incoming press secretary Robert Gibbs.

As they boarded the presidential plane for the first time, Obama's transition staffers looked delighted at the fruit plates and baskets of candy on their seats. Although the plane was not officially designated Air Force One, flight stewards and ground staff wore jackets embroidered with the Air Force One logo, and presidential seals decorated the plane's interior.

[silverleaf]

Complaining about how tough life is in the Hays-Adam hotel $8000 a night executive suite with hot and cold free room service, surround sound, valets, chauffers etc.

Bambi empathizes with American homeless.

Red diaper babies like Axelrod and Bambi “delight” in “free fruit baskets” with AF One logo. I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

[dennisw]

Hey, you can already buy 0bama coins. I’d like to see everyone involved in the manufacture, promotion, delivery and posession of 0bama coins prosecuted for destruction of US government property.

All kinds of Franklin Mint style 0bammy coins and silver & gold plated trinkets are out there for you to buy

And probably 0bama lucky Buddhas you can rub the belly on for good luck

[rod1]

Wonder if smoking is permitted on that aircraft and flight?

[tanknetter]

After posing for pictures on the windy tarmac with the ground crew, Obama, wearing a navy suit, blue tie and black overcoat, boarded a Boeing 757 painted like Air Force One. This particular jet is frequently used to carry the vice president, first lady and other top officials.

Much ado about nothing. It's a C-32A (757) used to haul all sorts of Government officials around, NOT one of the VC-25s (747) normally associated with the "Air Force One" moniker. Or the E-4B that hauls the SecDef around.

Obama is the President-Elect. As such he has a pretty significant Secret Service footprint and requires a special level of security and protection. There's nothing inappropriate about putting him and his contingent onto a fairly generic government aircraft (again, giving him the keys to the VC-25 would be a different story) at this point. It should be expected.

[tanknetter]

Also note that in the pictures the Air Force door-guards (not sure what their title is) are not saluting Obama, since he’s not CinC yet.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Exactly.

[Da Coyote]

And that would be the only time that I would be ashamed to have my pilot’s wings.

I wonder how much longer our services will display professionalism given the muck around our “leaders”.

[silverleaf]

We put up with Clinton

and worse, Hillary

“you there in that pretty uniform, take my luggage, get me a drink, then get out of my sight and don’t try to LOOK AT OR SPEAK TO ME!!!”

[Carley]

The whiner in chief!

Poor baby, he lived in hotels for two years and now these last two weeks is just too tooo toooo much. boo hoo

[Carley]

He’s whining because he wanted to move into Blair House a couple of weeks before tradition and protocol allowed and was graciously told NO by the Bush administration.

This has been a whine for a couple of weeks now.

What the heck is the difference. IF he moved into Blair he’d have to move again anyway.

[Carley]

Remember when the bubba brigade stole the robes, towels, etc. when they were guests on a Navy ship during one of the numerous jaunts.

[UCANSEE2]

Thanks for posting the article.

---

So... all is well in Candy-land.

But the dice will be rolling soon.

[UCANSEE2]

GUY IN MIDDLE: "I don't care if he is supposed to be black, he's a chump."

[silverleaf]

The Clintonoids also stripped Air Force One for “souvenirs” when it carried them away from Washington on their final departure, too

Maybe if they had known they would all be back, they wouldn't have felt the need to steal everything on the aircraft that wasn't bolted down

[ml/nj]

aboard a presidential aircraft

What happened to the Lincolnesque train ride?

ML/NJ

[backhoe]

Click the picture:

[mmanager]

Question is: Will the 0 salute?

[MamaTexan]

As they boarded the presidential plane for the first time, Obama's transition staffers looked delighted at the fruit plates and baskets of candy on their seats. Although the plane was not officially designated Air Force One, flight stewards and ground staff wore jackets embroidered with the Air Force One logo, and presidential seals decorated the plane's interior.

Look boys & girls, the overture is coming to a close, and the first act is about to begin! Aren't you thrilled?

GAG!

[Carley]

This first trip was a good indication of what is to come. I am sure that future trips will have comestibles only and nothing worth stealing.

[Magic Fingers]

He’s also a meat-eater. Vegetarians, ATTACK!