Video: Is Pelosi getting a bad rap on her use of military flights?
posted at 4:11 pm on March 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
Three minutes with the boss from this morning’s Fox & Friends, in which this ABC piece attempting to debunk the Judicial Watch expose is briefly mentioned. The gist:
The documents cover the period from January 2007 to November 2008 and show that Pelosi made the equivalent of 20 round-trips between Washington (Andrews Air Force Base) and San Francisco. That’s an average of less than one round-trip per month. In contrast, former Speaker Hastert traveled home to his Illinois district virtually every weekend and, his former aides tell ABC News, he would almost always travel on military aircraft…
The Judicial Watch release cites e-mails from the military complaining that Pelosi was frequently reserving military aircraft and then canceling, causing the Air Force to incur costs as crews prepped planes than never went anywhere. These e-mails, however, are from early in her tenure as speaker…
The Judicial Watch release also cites an e-mail from a Pelosi staffer complaining about the lack of available C-5 aircraft for Congress’s 2007 Memorial Day recess, but this has nothing to do with Pelosi’s travel. Instead, the staffer was trying to arrange travel for eight Congressional delegations (all such travel is arranged through Pelosi’s office).
MM replied at her blog, emphasizing Madam Speaker’s imperiousness in requesting a military base for departure instead of a civilian airport — a privilege not even granted to the Secretary of Defense — and she makes a fair point in the clip about the hypocrisy of someone from an anti-military district flying military air. Even so, with the notable exception of the base request, seems like Hastert was as demanding as Pelosi is. I guess we’ll have to go back to dumping on her for stuff like talking up a second stimulus and then quickly backing down when everyone else in Congress reminds her what a terrible idea that is. Shucks.
Blowback
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Which is why it doesn’t matter who is elected.
lorien1973 on March 12, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Pelosi can rap?
- The Cat
MirCat on March 12, 2009 at 4:14 PM
At least Hastert didn’t cackle like a mule drinking a double-espresso.
AubieJon on March 12, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Peloser is a first rate c*** and we need no reminder of her ways. She deserves to have the Sedition Act resurrected on her and her alone.
I hope she steps out in front of a bus and gets run over by Barack.
JP1986UM on March 12, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Her record label gave her the moniker Plain White Rapper.
jgapinoy on March 12, 2009 at 4:17 PM
O, it matters.
Brian on March 12, 2009 at 4:18 PM
So if Hastert did she can?
I thought things were going to change.
Each person is judged on their actions…not relative to someone else’s, at a different time.
If you remember, Hastert got the planes right after 9/11, when bomb threats were at a heightened state.
The number 3 person should not have been exposed so soon after the horrible event, so things needed to “calm” down.
Now they have, threats have diminished…time to make a change.
Unless Pelosi doesn’t feel Obama will keep this country as safe as President Bush did…
right2bright on March 12, 2009 at 4:18 PM
If Hastert was as demanding as Empress Pelosi, then bad on him. Further, don’t come down on business execs for using private jets while you’re doing the same. W. allowed the use of the jets after Sept. 11, but no rep should use them all the time or be wasteful by ordering and canceling.
And would it kill them to once in a while fly with the rest of us? Maybe see how hoi polloi live and what we have to deal with at airports. It would even garner you good publicity.
rbj on March 12, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Let’s see her fly around on wind or solar power.
When that woman opens here mouth she emits more noxious gas than 1,000 Chinese coal fired power plants!
TheBigOldDog on March 12, 2009 at 4:22 PM
For someone who has done so much America bashing and hating of the military, there’s no such thing.
Speakup on March 12, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Well, if we are not in a war on terror..then why should she use these planes? Every darn Democrat that has been asked this on any Fox show has thrown up the ole “well, Dennis Hastert did it too” and no one confronts them and say…this was due to the attack on 9/11.
becki51758 on March 12, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Wow… It’s so nice seeing the alphabet media companies standing up for the US Government again… It must be because the government is “good” again, huh?
Skywise on March 12, 2009 at 4:26 PM
YO YO YO
My name is N-Dawg and I love distortion
I lectured the Pope about abortion!
I don’t like soldiers and I can’t stand war
But if you’re a lobbyist I’m a…congresswoman.
Yeah.
I never met a commie that I didn’t esteem
The stimulus bill is a fraudulent scheme
The Democrats are in and it’s my shot
Everybody knows I’m a stupid old…congresswoman.
Know what I’m saying?
We’re changing the country, and it’s no stunt
Late at night I know I’m a stupid old…congresswoman.
Word to your oppressive social construct.
Pelosi out, yo.
Kensington on March 12, 2009 at 4:29 PM
We should offer the Speaker a compromise. Tell her she can have her weekly flights, delivering her right to the heart of her district, if they reopen Alameda NAS and Moffet NAS. I miss having the Navy around here.
SPCOlympics on March 12, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Pelozi is a liberal DINGBAT like mckinny
They only belive that they are entitled to be treated like queens ..
Bery soon you liberals very soon americas rage will explode
and be turned against
ALL DEMOCRATS..
Period
and a lot of republiccans too for you are all
CORRUPT NOW and deserve
death..
jcila on March 12, 2009 at 4:31 PM
You’re a disturbing nut. Go clean up your trailer and live like a human.
capitulus on March 12, 2009 at 4:31 PM
The House Madame is spending money her Government can’t afford.
SeniorD on March 12, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Sorry Allah. Just because somebody did this in the past does not make it right now. Besides nobody was making hay about CEOs taking private jets till the Dims brought it up. Berate people if you wish. But before you do it be sure your own house is clean. Eh?
Dr. Dog on March 12, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Any way you can work “Palamino” into that rap?
PappaMac on March 12, 2009 at 4:33 PM
+1
Remember, Denny Hastert also came out for “Cold Cash” Jefferson too. It’s one reason he’s no longer Speaker Hastert or Congressman Hastert.
He was acting like an arrogant democrat, so his constituents replaced him with the real thing.
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I have a hard time believing that Hastert was as heavily invested in anti-corporate-jet and environmental demogoguery as Pelosi is.
DaveS on March 12, 2009 at 4:34 PM
SECOND LOOK AT PELOSI!
Allahpundit on March 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Yeah, but she lives on the other coast. How’s she supposed to travel to and fro?
Allahpundit on March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Don’t remember Hastert touting Cap & Trade or degrading the military, but Hastert Repubs otherwise not much better than Pelosi. Hence the fix we find ourselves in.
Christian Conservative on March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Yea, poor Pelosi. I feel real bad for people questioning the ethics of the woman who helped pass the biggest bundles of pork in the nation’s history without blinking an eye. Well, scratch that second part…
scalleywag on March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Never an absence of material with those zany, madcap Dems.
Patrick S on March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Don’t think that any vindication of Pelosi on any level for any reason is going to make me think well of her.
jeanie on March 12, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Wasn’t Denny Hastert flying around during that famed budget surplus the left loves to talk about?
Well, the times have changed. You don’t think terrorism is a problem and you think the economy is the worst it’s been since the Great Depression – cinch your belt up like everyone else and fly commercial. OR, take some of your own money, buy/lease your own private jet, and fly wherever you want whenever you want on your own dime.
I seriously do not understand why tax payers are supposed to shuttle these people back and forth all over the place. A ticket in at the start of the congressional season and a ticket out at the end. Everything else (with emergency exceptions) should come out of the person’s pocket.
JadeNYU on March 12, 2009 at 4:38 PM
I have an answer that would benefit the whole country…have her STAY on the other coast. Make her a telecomuter. Give her the floor via satellite.
scalleywag on March 12, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Oh, and AP, thanks for the video with Michelle. Always great to see the boss sock it to ‘em.
Christian Conservative on March 12, 2009 at 4:39 PM
She can fly in the baggage hold for all I care.
CP on March 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM
+1
Does anybody know when it became customary for taxpayers to pick up the tab for all this travel?
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Jet, of course. But why not a commercial jet that’s filled to capacity instead of a corporate jet that’s carrying 5-10 people max?
I actually don’t have a problem with people flying (I’m working on my private pilot’s license and fly 1-2 times per week). I do have a problem with people lecturing me about carbon emissions and doing our part at the same time that they fly cross-country once a month on a private plane.
Is there any good reason for congressmen to be flying back and forth all the time? It seems that during congressional sessions they should be in D.C. and afterwards they should be in their districts/states. I couldn’t care less if they want to fly home every other day to see their families, but, it should be billed to them.
JadeNYU on March 12, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Put her on one of these!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-66AcTo9TU
scalleywag on March 12, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Do they have any idea how big a C5 is? What, a Learjet isn’t big enough for them? What were they taking on their delegation, a platoon of M1A1s?
JamesB on March 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Speaker of the House, Nancy
Thinks Rush to be a Nazi
Loves to Fly on the Military
And gets angry if they tarey
She is one so regal
It shall never apply the word – Illegal
She comes from San Fransico
Oh that she had stock in Crisco
The Democrats are her minions
To whom she gives their opinions
3rd in line to the President
The Republicans can get bent!
sabbott on March 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM
However she’d like, on her own dime.
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM
At least when the business execs were flying on private jets it was with money they earned, or their company earned. (and yes, I still thought it took giant stones to fly out and then beg for money) But when she does it, it’s OUR money, OUR taxes paying for it. Even when she didn’t actually fly, OUR money was being spent prepping the flights. Not only is her house not in order (literally) but it’s not even HER money she’s pissing away.
DrAllecon on March 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Exactly. And if we had a president who cared about wasteful spending and wanted to bring about some change, he’d do away with all that.
scalleywag on March 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM
If ignorance is bless,
Then I’m Nirvana
I’d fly in coach
But I don’t wanna.
Spread around the wealth
That’s my creed
Crashing the markets at a dizzying speed
Voters are crying out “PALOMINO!”
But we’re in charge like Mussolino!
That’s Italian, homes.
Kensington on March 12, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Dammit, “bless” should be “bliss” above.
Kensington on March 12, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Did she make an even fairer point about the hypocrisy of someone from an anti-American district flying in America? Because it’s not like the argument would have become any dumber.
radiofreevillage on March 12, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Well lets put some “N” numbers on a broom stick and call it good!
grapeknutz on March 12, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Allahpundit on March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM
DC-San Fran, $213 round trip, which I suspect is slightly cheaper than using a G5.
We’ll see if that link works.
DaveS on March 12, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Are there anti-American districts in America? I’d be curious to hear which ones.
It’s a simple point: If her constituents object so much to the military, let her “lead” by doing without. That’s why conservatives were after GOP governors to turn down stimulus money.
Allahpundit on March 12, 2009 at 4:52 PM
You live in one, Allah; your fellow Manhattanites just don’t like to admit it.
Kensington on March 12, 2009 at 4:54 PM
thomasaur on March 12, 2009 at 4:55 PM
AP, agent provocateur in the comments today. :-)
DaveS on March 12, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Berkley, Dearbornistan to name but two.
thomasaur on March 12, 2009 at 4:57 PM
WTF
Why on earth are we paying for these bastards to fly around in C-5s at all?
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I don’t have a problem with “Madame” Speaker traveling on military planes that will make the SRO non stop. I don have a problem of her office demanding planes and then threatening the military with budget requests or wanting to know where the GS5′s are being used. Not to mention the cost of last minute request or last minute cancellations. The “let them eat cake” is the problem.
Sorry, just had to rant…
d1carter on March 12, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Oh, you didn’t hear about Teh Real America? It’s ok. How’s life up there on the Moon?
Except, of course, they don’t object “to the military”. What does it even mean? The majority of San Francisco is against its very existence? Can we have some data on that?
P.S. I don’t get why she needs to fly military airplanes. But I also don’t get why dumb arguments are now acceptable.
radiofreevillage on March 12, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Just a thought, but maybe if we stopped giving out so many perks, like free unlimited travel apparently, to our elected officials we wouldn’t attract so many greedy unethical cheats like we have now and maybe some honest people who actually care about the direction our country is headed would run for office.
scalleywag on March 12, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Well, exactly. Give her $1000 a month for air travel, and let her use it any which way she wants.
radiofreevillage on March 12, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Can someone explain this logic to me…just because Hastert was an ass means it make it OK for Nancy? To wrongs make a right?
Topsecretk9 on March 12, 2009 at 5:10 PM
+1
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 5:12 PM
When you attack a Democrat for what you clearly had no problem tolerating from a Republican, then you have no credibility. If someone is trying to decide whether you make a valid point in a public debate, then as a practical matter you should appear honest and sincere. Your hypocrisy technically has no bearing on the truthfulness of what you’re saying. However, in order to change the status quo you should not only be right. You should be persuasive. Hypocrites never are.
radiofreevillage on March 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Why can’t she just use her broom?
tcn on March 12, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Awesome!111!
Kensington on March 12, 2009 at 5:20 PM
When was the last time we saw such a detailed report from any major news outlet refuting criticism of a Republican ?
InterestedObserver on March 12, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Because it’s powered by battery and only good for short hops.
thomasaur on March 12, 2009 at 5:23 PM
San Fran Nan has some serious back if she needs a C-5 to carry her butt around… I guessing its a Gulfstream G-V, which is an ultra long range business jet (7500 miles)…
My recall from the original stories in ’06/’07, is that Hastert was typically flying a much smaller C-21 (Learjet 35) to/from IL. with an some flights on older gulfstreams (G-II or G-III)’s These older gulfstreams are plenty large, and have intercontinental range, and should be more than enough for San Fran Nan, except they aren’t as posh as the G-V…
phreshone on March 12, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Also, even though Nan is only using the aircraft once a month, she’s requisitioning it for every weekend. Given the plane could be taking generals, diplomats and special forces teams 1/3 of the way around the world non-stop, it is quite a lot of sunk cost for AOG at edwards…
phreshone on March 12, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Is her broom broken?
TheBigOldDog on March 12, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Because it probably isn’t certified to fly higher than 5,000 feet. She would need to get to at least twice that height to get over the Rockies and Sierra ranges.
Nancy’s district comes to mind. The battleship Iowa was supposed to make its final home there, but the Democrats in charge voted it down-because of their opposiition to the evil Bush’s war in Iraq and also because of the gays in the military thing.
From 2005:
Del Dolemonte on March 12, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Duh. Electric car.
TheUnrepentantGeek on March 12, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Frisco (Ed’s term) Fran was a friend of mine…
Fuquay Steve on March 12, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Funny how terrorism isn’t much of a threat, unless it gets Pelosi on a private jet.
Hey- that rhymes.
hawksruleva on March 12, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Against it’s existence? Not exactly … against how it looks currently? You betcha. How many asinine bumperstickers about the air force and bake sales do you need to see driving around the bay before that becomes obvious?
I’ve no doubt progs would very much like the US military to resemble the Canadian military, since they seem interested in modeling most other aspects of that society (sans hockey and mounties, natch).
TheUnrepentantGeek on March 12, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Isn’t Hastert an Evil Rethuglican? I thought the Dims were all about change and higher standards?
Speedwagon82 on March 12, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Andrews AFB in MD
funky chicken on March 12, 2009 at 5:51 PM
More examples-in 2006, San Francisco’s Board of Education abolished the city’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, which has been active in the city’s high schools for 90 years. This despite the favt that the program had a full roster of students, and its annual cost was less than 1/300th of the total SF school budget.
And in 1995, SF’s Board of Supervisors wiped the name of that city’s famous “Army Street” off the map, renaming it “Cesar Chavez Street.”
Del Dolemonte on March 12, 2009 at 5:56 PM
OT – somebody explain how to do a link.
ladyingray on March 12, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Broom?
There are no coast-to-coast airlines available at Washington Dulles? She could book the entire First Class cabin of any of the major carriers for peanuts compared to the operating costs of her usage of Air Force aircraft.
coldwarrior on March 12, 2009 at 6:05 PM
As I have a son in the USAF, the very thought that this hag could subject him to “serve” her on one of her weekend trips home, well…let me say it in an old southern way…it’s enough to puke a buzzard off a gut wagon.
ladyingray on March 12, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Like every other congress-critter. She could share a ride with my Rep. Tom McClintock, and Dan Lungren. THAT would be an intersting 3 hours.
Seriously. Why not a military shuttle service? I mean, we have more Reps than any other state, why can’t they all just take one AF flight into SFO or SMF? From there they can drive the rest of the way, or catch a Southwest flight to anywhere else in the state.
juanito on March 12, 2009 at 6:12 PM
This privilege and perk stuff is way out of control. These career politicians are corrupt powerbrokers and are taking their constituencies down the road to ruin. They all have fat bank accounts and will survive under the worst that can happen but love the power and order around folks who are not in their change of authority. Once this person leaves the floor of the House she is entitled to zero, nada, nothing. She can hail a taxi and head for the airport like the rest of us citizens. What section of the constitution gives them the right to any of these privileges? The answer: there is none. It happens because their constituencies continue to elect them and they take that as a sign they can do anything they want. When the press and media won’t call them on it they are bolder than ever in taking it to the next step. How do we find leaders and people of character and get them elected?
rsl775 on March 12, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Where Obama at?! Where my unicorn?!!
BHO Jonestown on March 12, 2009 at 6:14 PM
What the hell is the USAF buying such expensive jets for in the first place?
The President of the United States uses the 747-200 to promote National Pride wherever the President goes.
The Secretary of State can use an old 707 to travel to other countries (or their Ministers can come here)
The various Congestitutes have reserved parking at Reagan-National Airport.
Tell me again why The House Madame needs her own private jet.
SeniorD on March 12, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Haster’s use of miltary aircraft is supposed to excuse this? BS. Hastert shouldn’t have done it and Pelosi should not do it. The public should not subsidize these aholes’ personal trips back to their districts. Period.
edshepp on March 12, 2009 at 7:16 PM
This was covered in one of those SNL Tina Fey parodies of Sarah Palin, but you are surely aware why coastal dwellers in DC / LA / NY / SF call America fly over country. They always assure their European friends how much more like them they are than the rednecks in America proper.
chunderroad on March 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM
Jet pooling. I like it.
chunderroad on March 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM
1 Find the url you want to post.
2. Use your mouse to move the cursor to the link.
3. Highlight the link by left-clicking your mouse; the url should now be highlighted ib lue.
4. Now right-click on the highlighted link; a box will pop down. Click on copy.
5. Move your cursor to where you want to post the link, and right-click; the box pops down again. Click Paste.
Del Dolemonte on March 12, 2009 at 7:21 PM
“Pelosi staffer complaining about the lack of available C-5 aircraft for Congress’s 2007 Memorial Day recess, but this has nothing to do with Pelosi’s travel. Instead, the staffer was trying to arrange travel for eight Congressional delegations”
How frigging fat are these eight Congressional delegations?
You can easily DRIVE 4 fire engines (the red one your town has) easily inside the cargo bay of a C-5
Or several M1A1 tanks and CH 53 helicopters.
Why did eight Congressional delegations need the largest jet in the western world!
DSchoen on March 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Nice lie but still a lie. Coastal residents had no problem voting for an all Southern ticket: Arkansas, Tennessee. It’s the Southerners, who necessarily need to have one of their own.
radiofreevillage on March 12, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Don’t think we have any of the old 707′s left-those things are flying Model T’s nowadays. They do use smaller planes on occasion-I remember even seeing “Air Force 2″, the Vice Presidential plane landing here in New Hampshire during the days of Dan Quayle. It was a DC-9.
During that same Adminstration, Pappy Bush’s Chief of Staff was forced to resign in disgrace for using government planes for relatively short hops.
But several years later, no one made a fuss when the First Lady at the time used government planes to campaign for Senator of New York. Some people are more equal than others, as we all know.
As for the Dragon Lady needing a government plane, that was a direct result of 9/11. It applies to all senior government officials.
Del Dolemonte on March 12, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Pelosi has her family book every week?
Enuf said.
AnninCA on March 12, 2009 at 7:40 PM
I’m good. No second helpings of that for me, please.
MB4 on March 12, 2009 at 8:08 PM
A Malkin/Pelosi split screen is the same as Beauty & the Beast.
Now Michelle and MKH – hhhhhhhoooooooooootttttttttt!!!
madmonkphotog on March 12, 2009 at 8:23 PM
How many F-22s has Pelosi burned up with all her flights?
njcommuter on March 12, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Pelosi ran for the office she holds. Traveling back and forth is her problem. Maybe she can borrow Hillary’s broom every now and then.
Zorro on March 12, 2009 at 10:15 PM
“Why can’t she just use her broom?
tcn on March 12″
“Because it probably isn’t certified to fly higher than 5,000 feet. She would need to get to at least twice that height to get over the Rockies and Sierra ranges”
And the problem would be?
Hey I know How bout we strap some JATO pacts to her and right around Enders Nebraska, light em off!
What could go wrong?
DSchoen on March 12, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Pelosi didn’t ask for a C-5. Because the C-5 is too utilitarian she would just as soon ride a garbage truck. She asked for a G-5 which the Air Force calls the C-37A. A flying limousine.
.
Air Force One is the call sign of any Air Force plane that has the president on board. And yes there were several 747s purchased for that purpose. The planes provides transportation, and secure communications, for the president,and his entourage.
darktood on March 13, 2009 at 7:11 AM
Pelosi – F22 Raptor (Only plane available), 70,000 feet…mach 1.5… Emergency…Emergency…Emergency… “Sorry Madame Speaker” “This is your pilot” “I’m going to have to punch you out” “We are having a slight problem with our engines” Boom…Whoosh… “Ahhieeeeeee….” Pilot…”I think I have things under control now tower”…
sabbott on March 13, 2009 at 8:03 AM
It is times like these where I start to sound like my mother by asking,”And if Dennis Jumped off a bridge would Nancy?”
Of course this is in response to Nancy’s childish whine of “He started it!”
UcantCme on March 13, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Isn’t right for her or Hassert… having an (R) after your name didn’t make it ok for him, and her (D) doesn’t make it ok for her.
Maybe she could lower her standards enough to fly first class from time to time and save US some money?!?
CLaFarge on March 13, 2009 at 1:58 PM
she said flying first class was fine till she became queen
of the new world.,now well first class is for losers,she has the check book she signs are name too it .you party all you want little girl payday is coming in 2010 .
wade underhile on March 13, 2009 at 5:36 PM