[AnotherUnixGeek]

The story is really a bit pathetic, and it just won't go away! Nancy Pelosi wants the Pentagon to fly her back and forth between Washington and San Francisco. Fine, that' s fair. Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert had access to a Pentagon Gulfstream III to fly him back and forth to Illinois. Good enough for him, good enough for her.

Sorry, this isn't an issue of fairness between Democrat and Republican. There is no good reason for taxpayers to foot the bill for private, catered flights for any members of Congress. These people should fly on the same commercial flights the rest of us use at their own expense - never mind the lame rationales about the House Speaker's position in the line of succession if anything happens to the president. Members of Congress are elected representatives of the people, not US aristocracy.

And if I'd known Hastert was flying home on private jets on my dime, I'd have raised the same objection then.

[Atlas Sneezed]

There is no good reason for taxpayers to foot the bill for private, catered flights for any members of Congress. These people should fly on the same commercial flights the rest of us use at their own expense - never mind the lame rationales about the House Speaker's position in the line of succession if anything happens to the president. Members of Congress are elected representatives of the people, not US aristocracy.

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Amen. If they don't like the commute, they shouldn't apply for the job. There are plenty wwho would take the position without the perks.

And the Speaker is as replaceable as any citizen (which would be minimally disruptive of our goverment, compared to an emergency change of power in the White House.)

[ctdonath2]

There is no good reason for taxpayers to foot the bill for private, catered flights for any members of Congress.

If there IS a war on, and terrorism IS a viable threat, then as #2 in line she should indeed get a military flight (suitable for lower-48 nonstop flight for a small enturage (sp?), and little more comforts than a flying cubicle) - and commercial should not be an option.

If, however, there is NOT a war on, and terrorism is NOT a viable threat, then she can take cattle class with the rest of us.

Of course, the answers to the "ifs" above must also translate to her voting appropriately regarding Iraq et al.
money -> mouth.

[ChildOfThe60s]

As far as line of succession, it's not as if the line stops with her. She's not the last hope. But I imagine that, with her ego, she feels anyone after her in the line is a poor second.