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."

[ConservatismNow]

I don't know if anyone has asked this, but why the hell does she need a plane that doesn't need to refuel anyways?

[Brandie]

ROTFLMAO love it

[Brandie]

OMG ROTFLMAO

[Brandie]

giggle, you are always so good. Love your talent.

[tina07]

yeah, at $300,000 round trip EACH time...

[tina07]

that's $300,000 for EACH round trip

[RunningWolf]

I am with GW and Tony Snow on this one

In this case it is not about Nancy. This issue would have surfaced later, if not when it did.

IOW, the 3rd in line may need non stop DC- LA and beyond capability.

It does underline and highlight what a transparent hypocrite she is though.

---

Lets face it folks. I think all of us are going to be tried in ways that we never imagined.

[seanmerc]

Do Riley, Sill and Hood have runways?

[seanmerc]

Now THAT'S funny! :-)

[seanmerc]

Yeah, and she didn't even use taxpayer funds for that or the redecoration.

[Holicheese]

I think she deserves an SR-71 on standby at all times.
I am sure she needs to get back to San Franciso quickly so she doesn't miss the office S and M party.

[Holicheese]

Hmmm, I have not seen that. I wonder why ABCNBCCBSMSNBC are not leading their news reports with these pols?
Strange..

[jveritas]

That was Rasmussen poll published few days ago.

[ripley]

"pentagon rejects pelosi's request for military aircraft..."

doesn't the pentagon know that speaker pelosi is the real president of the United States, that Hillary is still the co-president but really the president, that the democrats in congress are the real politburo and the real policy makers and that the Bush administration is not really the real administration but just a figurehead administration???

dosn't the pentagon know who the real movers, shakers and intellectual giants are??? hmmmmmmmm???

sarcasm off. (welcome to alice in wonderland)

[Holicheese]

Sweet. I am sure they will discontinue polls about her if the numbers don't look good.

[Miss Didi]

Didn't see this posted anywhere:

House GOP Blasts Pelosi for Plane Request

[RavenATB]

"Where does it say this for the President? Is he screwing Delta out of their airfare?"

It doesn't say any specifics for either, but the President has a far different set of responsibilities and needs than does the speaker of the House. The decision as to how the President would fly, and what aircraft would be established for his use, was made far before GW got into the W/H.

In your previous email you said that you disagreed w/ the "general populace," and that she "deserved" a ride [at taxpayer expense].

It's not the request for aircraft support that people are taking issue with...it's what aircraft she's asking for. A gulfstream is more than adequate for any possible need she could ever have to travel for true government business while still Speaker. If you're going to disagree w/ the general populace, you're saying that the gulfstream is too small, and that this "ride" she "deserves" is a 757, which is absolutely ridiculous.

Nancy is lucky the W/H doesn't offer her a Air Force C-21, which is exactly what I'd recommend, should GW ever ask my advice.

[Candor7]

Hey Nancy, If you want the Air Force Perks, ya canj't be making anti military propaganda, like: Bring The Troops Home. etc. SO the airforce said know.

Now Nancy, if you had been on the President's side, and on the side of freedom, re: the Iraq war,You would have a jet to ride in.

So Nancy, watch what you say and do.This time its just a little payback, but ya know, if you get too far out of hand with your anti-military jingoistic tripe along with Murtha, we might just put you both on an ICBM, one with a bedroom.

The military was quite right . They said," We need to save all the money we can in case Nancy cuts off our funding."

As far as I am concerned, Nancy, you can ride a bicycle tp Washington.

[rodeoguy]

I just wanted to point out that this ABC article is not true because Pelosi did not even make the request that everyone is freaking out about, according to CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/09/pelosi.plane/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[B-bone]

I dont post on Free Republic anymore unless really drunk.

where do I send the booze?

Seriously, I understand as the crazies seem to have taken over.

I always look for and appreciate your posts. Glad you are still lurking. Rational conversations seem to be few and far between these days.