February 08, 2007
Pelosi Gets Her Plane...
...just not the big one she wanted.
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 bring, The Washington Times has learned.
A congressional source who read the letter signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Wilkie said it essentially limits her to the commuter plane used by former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, which requires refueling to travel from Washington to Mrs. Pelosi's San Francisco district. A second source, in the Bush administration, confirmed the contents of the letter.
The plane will only take her from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. She may not use it for any other purpose.
In addition, non-governmental personnel (like campaign contributors) may not fly, and if her family members want a ride, they have to pay the U.S. Treasury for the privilege. Other House members may only join her if the House ethics committee gives them the green light.
There is the possibility she will be allowed use of a larger craft that will not need refueling (which is why she says she needs it) if it is available, but at the moment, she'll have to make do with the lil' ol' twelve-seater Dennis Hastert got to use.
Favorite quote (from a "congressional source"):
"Just because she's second in line to be president does not entitle her to a military taxi service around the United States."
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Nancy Pelosi Is a High Flier on Our Dime
Pelosi Asks for Military Flight Rights
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Women. Can't live with 'em . . . pass the beer nuts.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 8, 2007 12:17 PMABC News has more on this story, including the following juicy items:
(the dreaded s-word is out)
The Speaker told gathered reporters, "As a woman, as a woman speaker of the House, I don't want any less of an opportunity than male speakers when they have served here," implying a sexist undertone to the recent criticism.
(HEY, Murth, babe, I THINK the Pentagon KNOWS Pelosi's job. Never been sure of Murtha's smarts, by the way.)
Late Wednesday afternoon, one of Pelosi's closest allies in the House, Rep. John Murtha, D-Penn., chairman of the key Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense, told CNN that the Pentagon was making "a mistake" by leaking information unfavorable to the speaker "since she decides on the allocations for the Department of Defense."
(Hastert didn't take the Pelosi type circus with him.)
"Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col Cathy Reardon tells ABC News that when Hastert used the plane, "it was himself, and he usually had one to three staff members and two security staff — members of the Capitol police force. His wife would sometimes fly, and he reimbursed the government for everyone," paying the government for the cost of a commercial flight to the same place. Hastert's office did not return a call for comment."
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2857672&page=1
Posted by: jng at February 8, 2007 04:37 PMI read it was a Gulfstream III, which can go 4100 miles on a full tank. Easily gets her from DC to SF.
Posted by: JimK at February 8, 2007 07:59 PMthere was a little informal query on another blog to determine what Pelosi's plane should be dubbed (as much as she'd like it, AF1 and AF2 are taken and AF3 just w/n be appropriate).
so I say that since the 3rd Infantry Division is deploying to Iraq for the 3rd time (and their 4th to the ME) and we all know how Nancy sssssoooooo respects our troops and their sacrifice (but not what they're doing), I suggest that whatever plane Nancy is riding be dubbed Dogface One... (if you don't get the reference search "dogface soldier 3ID) or go here http://avconvert.com/time/060218/marching--dogface060219.mp3
Posted by: Some Soldier's Mom at February 10, 2007 11:19 PM
