Pentagon Rejects Speaker Pelosi's Request for Military Aircraft

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

[Pukin Dog]

http://www.americanprowler.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10928

[Paradox]

I know, lets see if Burt Rutan will sell her one of these :

It has GREAT range, although I hear the seating is a bit... cramped.

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Nope! She can stay in DC and do her stinkin' job!

[VRWCmember]

What make her hot stuff that she can't used commerical plane she is first Speaker of the house ask for special plane

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.

Speaker doesn't fly commercial for same reason the VP doesn't fly commercial. She can use the same plane that Hastert used, but she doesn't want to have to stop to refuel "for security reasons". That is a crock because the security for her refueling stop would probably be even tighter than her facial stretch. The real crux of the issue is she wants a bigger nicer fancier plane so she can have a bigger entourage and fly in luxury.

[Pukin Dog]

http://washtimes.com/national/20070208-121345-5680r.htm

It turns out that Pelosi asked for a military plane for her trip to the Democrat Retreat, a TWO HOUR DRIVE.

[buck61]

Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RobbyS]

Her flight would stop at Omaha. That's not safe enough for her?

[OBXWanderer]

Excellent

[Finny]

Ping Jim Robinson:

I hope I dont appear elitist when I say, that this place is going downhill fast, and will lose influence rapidly if something is not done about the silly posters who have nothing to offer but negativity and nonsense.

This proud forum, home to Registered, Mia T, Buckhead and others is quickly devolving into a mirror of DU, minus the cursing. Now that that is off my chest, SEE YA! (emphasis mine)

Dear Mr. Robinson -- Perhaps FR might consider a policy of limiting the many and horrifically destructive and discouraging Bush and Republican bashers to, say one or two posts per thread when those posts are only to talk about how stupid Bush, Republicans, etc. are, and how HOPELESS everythign is. Pukin Dog is right -- they contribute negative junk. They don't offer useful criticism nor are they even interesting, and when they drive away thoughtful, informed, and informative posters like Pukin Dog who offer real meat to a discussion, that's bad news.

Thanks for this forum, Jim. You're a true American hero. I hope you and your moderators will take the bull by the horns with regard to the all-Bush/Republicans-stupid-all-the-time posters so that guys like Pukin Dog, Mia T., Buckhead, etc., continue to offer their valuable and useful observations.

[SkyPilot]

What Pelosi is doing, has already been described in a Ben Stein article from weeks ago, where he described how the Democrats, unable to impeach Bush, have decided to simply marginalize him by conducting their own National and Foreign Policy agendas. Pelosi and the Dems want their own Air Force One, with their own press corps in tow, hoping all over the globe, meeting with Foreign leaders, making their own deals and treaties, and generally speaking for the nation, as if the President didnt exist. Air Force One is a very powerful symbol of American authority, and the Dems know they wont get their hands on one of the big -47s, so the 757 is their next best hope. The refueling and security issues are just a ruse, something they can use to get a willing media to back them

Probably the most clear and illustrative of posts on this subject that I have read. You and Ben Stein are correct - this is precisely what she and the Democrats are trying to do.

[b4its2late]

[EDINVA]

do you think Jane Harman is gonna get a ride ?

[taxesareforever]

Actually, the Constitution says Congress by law is to designate which "officer", meaning "official", is to become President if the presidency and the vice presidency are vacant.

I agree. However, it also states that the House Speaker, if chosen, would have to resign the position. When the position is resigned that individual is no longer eligble to become President. It is a glitch in the system but you can bet it would go to SCOTUS to resolve.

[taxesareforever]

However, it also states that the House Speaker, if chosen, would have to resign the position. When the position is resigned that individual is no longer eligble to become President. It is a glitch in the system but you can bet it would go to SCOTUS to resolve.

[anymouse]

Speaker Palosi, a plane has just become available to transport you and your associates to the appropriate Federal facility. :)

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm late to the discussion, but here's my take:

Speaker or not, Pelosi only received 148,435 votes to win here seat. Compare that to Feinstein (who ran a statewide campaign), who won 5,076,289 votes; or Boxer, who won 6,995,728 votes.

President Bush won over 50,000,000 votes.

Should a person who won less that 150,000 votes really command such extravagances? If she want better accomodatons, let her run a wider campaign and win the support of more Americans.

-PJ

[PhiKapMom]

As are Tinker AFB, Vance AFB, Offut AFB, and the like here in flyover country.

[PhiKapMom]

You are wrong! This plane can easily fly to the West Coast with no refueling stop -- you bought into the Pelosi koolaide.

No she should not be entitled to take a plane out of the active inventory to be on stand-by for her. No she should not be given a plane that the press and her family and other Congressional members can ride. That is not the responsibility of USAF!

She gets the plane like Hastert or gets lost!

The American people did not elect her -- she is from one louzy district in CA.

[xzins]

I didn't buy into anything. Read my post again carefully. It says that "perhaps" there should be an upgrade, but that the evaluation should be based on real needs of the #3 person in the US Constitutional Chain of Command.

These are the specs on the C20 here

The needs assessment should be done by the White House.

[Flyover Country]

I can't take it anymore! Just heard on Rush's show, that Bush has added his two cents, and he AGREE's with Pilosi, and that she should get the big jet.
Bush has long since lost any confidence I had in him. And, it will only get worse. He will get in bed with his Democrat buddies on immigration and doom the country.