Posted on 08/06/2010 8:59:11 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Oh, I thought he jumped on a flame-festooned two seater from Orange County Choppers with the Dyke Justice. With she in front.
Actually I’m with him on the chopper flight. It’s ridiculous in DC how much a presidential motorcade ties up the damn street.
Can’t wait for the Star Trek transporter.
Guess he was running late for a tee time.
I heard he went to some sign company so he could tell everyone there how great the recovery is doing.
Now other than the obvious waste, doesn't it seem that if we were really in a recovery, the Dear Reader wouldn't need to keep telling us how great the recovery is going.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/05/oops_presidents.html
Where did he land, and what damage did he do?
My sentiments exactly. Can’t fault him on this one.
Yeah, maybe that Star Trek transporter will be cheaper in expense on the taxpayer as compared to that 6 min helicopter ride......... =.=
You could call him a one-man stimulus plan.
It would have cost the tax payers $300,000 if Michelle and a few guests had gone...
I don’t fault him for not tying up traffic...I do fault him for constantly campaigning with our money.
well. he did buy a lot of orange highway signs.. they are everywhere, and not long after seeing one your sure to be suck in a work zone.
I’m with you. I was trying to enter a military base once but was denied because Al Gore was on his way. After an hours wait I decided to leave and come back another day, but was told I couldn’t leave because Al Gore was on his way. What a colossal traffic snarl and waste of time.
LOL - That’s the first thing I thought of too - Orange County Choppers! I’m taking a break from watching the one about the dragon bike. (Another bike that would be impossible to go over the handlebars on without leaving your nuts behind!)
Why should tax payers be paying for their campaigns?
Sometimes they forget to put one in a useful place, like when you’re about to go onto road that has been grooved in a star pattern or something crazy. Motorcycle riders would find it handy.
To be fair, every time a Presidential motorcade goes through DC streets, said streets have to be blocked off, security has to be stationed, and tons of people who otherwise would use these streets would have to be detoured or end up being stuck in worse traffic than would otherwise be. I think the setup time for all this process would have been a lot longer than 20 minutes, and it isn’t like the President can just hop in the car and drive out there.
I’m still wondering who he was impressing on AF1 when they buzzed New York.
The strange children of the 60’s and 70’s hold the reins of power, but they don’t know where they are going. They just think its the right direction.
They have no moral compass.
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