Pelosi Demands: “carte blanche for an aircraft any time.”
By: Pam On: Feb/2/07 -
In today’s world, I have no problem flying the Speaker on a regular basis to wherever she needs to be, but I draw the line at staff and relatives. She isn’t the POTUS or VPOTUS, therefore, her family and staff should fend for themselves if she is not with them. Here are some highlights. I’d like to hear what you think:
- the Democrat is seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation.
- “They are pressing the point of her succession and that the [Department of Defense] needs to play ball with the speaker’s needs,” one source said.
- after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, who was speaker at the time, started using U.S. Air Force planes for domestic travel to and from his district for security reasons. A former Hastert aide said the congressman did not use military planes for political trips or regularly transport his family.
- The speaker’s legal counsel is spearheading the talks.
- The rules for congressional travel on military aircraft are contained in Defense Department Directive 4515.12.
Says Bryan: “Pelosi is one limousine liberal who doesn’t hate the military. Not when they make such excellent aerial chauffeurs.”
Others blogging:
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February 2, 2007 - 09:41 PM on February 2nd, 2007
I say we give the bitch a c-130 turbo prop transport for whatever she needs. Preferably one of the ones we used at Airborne school back in 1983. They were Vietnam war era and have plenty of room for her and her staff. She’ll never use it and we can paint it with a picture of the Capitol Building and call it Piglosi One. It will end her crap. I want to see her start screwing with the military spending bills. The Dems KNOW that messing with the military at this point would play right into the hands of the Republicans.
February 7, 2007 - 11:02 AM on February 7th, 2007
[...] Last week, I brought up Pelosi’ request for access to military aircraft. The Bush administration has agreed to provide House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with regular access to an Air Force passenger jet, but the two sides are negotiating whether she will get the big aircraft she wants and who she may take as passengers.     ”Who she can take is being worked out, outside the Air Force,” said Ed Gulick, an Air Force spokesman at the Pentagon.     He said the Air Force is studying what types of planes are available for long, cross-country flights. Currently, three planes assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base can make such nonstop flights year-round — the C-32, C-40B and C-37.     Such VIP planes are in high demand.     ”She’s effectively taking a bird out of the fleet,” said a defense source. “It will most directly impact the House, because they’re the heavy users of the large aircraft. Congress looks at that Andrews fleet as their Hertz rent-a-car.”     The congressional source said the speaker’s office requested an Air Force plane to take her to a weekend Democratic retreat in Williamsburg, but the Pentagon declined.     The source said Mr. Hastert on one occasion used an Air Force plane for such an event. The Air Force later determined it was a mistake, and such flights were not repeated.     The source said the Pentagon will likely give in to Mrs. Pelosi’s requests for a large plane and travel entourage, given her and Mr. Murtha’s power over defense spending. [...]
February 8, 2007 - 08:17 AM on February 8th, 2007
[...] UPDATE: Pentagon limits Pelosi jet size:The Department of Defense yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that puts limits on the size of the plane she may use to travel across the country and restricts the guests she can bringI have posted on the subject of Nancy Pelosi receiving military aircraft for travel, see here and here.  Fox has this article referencing the issue, and I saw the interview between Greta and the Speaker , discussing the issue. I have not heard one single person question her need for the military trasport, but I and others have questioned the entourage that goes along with her. [...]