Obama takes chopper for 6-mile trip

Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Obama takes chopper for 6-mile trip By: Abby Phillip August 6, 2010 06:39 PM EDT

President Barack Obama left the White House this morning for a six-mile trip to a sign factory on the Maryland-D.C. border. But instead of taking the presidential motorcade, he took Marine One – the presidential helicopter.

A quick search on Google maps shows the drive would have taken at least 20 minutes, but the helicopter trip took just eight. And, according to one unofficial estimate, it was the 300th trip Obama has taken in Marine One since taking office 20 months ago.

The Secret Service declined to discuss any details about the President’s travel plans, which they say fall under “ways and means”—information that, if made public, could threaten the President’s safety. Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said that Obama decided to fly instead of drive to the sign factory “probably because it's easier than [taking] a motorcade through the city in the middle of the day.”

Tom Schatz, President of Citizens Against Government Waste, says that it is impossible to calculate how much presidential travel costs or even how much energy is consumed.

Schatz says that whether by motorcade or flight, the cost of transporting the President includes factors such as the use of local police details, military staff, fuel and even the cost of inconveniencing travelers on the road.

[going hot]

We have come a long way in carrying people around in thrones.

[sinanju]

Interesting mention of sedan chairs and litter bearers. A History Channel thingy mentioned that until coaches with springs began to appear in the 18th-century riding in wagons was so bone-jarring that even the wealthy preferred to walk, unless they could afford the afore-mentioned litter bearers.