Her comment about this story was that it sounded like a political event, a fundraiser.

If that’s what it turned out to be, it would explain a lot.

capitalist piglet on May 5, 2009 at 2:10 PM

This makes the most sense for the flight. That’s why pressure should continue to find out all the planning for the flight and the manifest that show who all participated. The photos outside mean nothing, it’s what is going on inside the aircraft that matters.
Also, need a continuous thread on the movement of some states to challenge the Fed. government on intrastate commerce. Should encourage all states to follow suit. Good cause to add to Tea Party list.

We have plenty of shots in the public domain of Scare Force One buzzing terrified New Yorkers,

Apparently you missed the memo that all GOOD PARTY MEMBERS will turn in their photos. Anyone caught with a copy of these photos in their possession will be considered a de facto enemy of the state, and will IMMEDIATELY be transferred to a State Re-Education facility.

Heil Obama!

sedition
treason
domestic terrorism
impeach

Ris4victory on May 5, 2009 at 11:38 AM

Hussein al-Chicago KNOWS he won’t be impeached – House Madam Nancy is keeping the Congresstitutes of the Biggest Little Whorehouse on the Potomac under her botoxed glare. Unless Madam Nancy is kicked out and adults are put in charge the Acts of Impeachment won’t even be discussed in hushed whispers.

This country is screwed.

One . . . out of ???

One . . . out of ???

My guess is the photographs will remain classified because Obama was on the plane.

zoyclem on May 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Wouldn’t that be interesting — especially if it was some kind of political reward, or fund-raising event?

Face time with The One schmoozing with his political supporters and contributors — aboard Air Force One! Watch them as they fly to the New York and New Jersey harbor area, and buzz the statue of Liberty, scaring the wits out of people on the street and in offices in both states!

Say, why aren’t Chuckie Schumer or Anthony Weiner publicly demanding Congressional hearings on this? What about Menendez? Haven’t heard much from him!!

After all, Weiner even called everyone involved (1:26 and on) including federal, state and city, a bunch of boneheads!!

Let’s have Congressional hearings!! Right now, Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, is “investigating” the incident.

Gee whiz, that ought to give everyone a real comfortable feeling, huh?

Oh yeah…
misdirection=lie
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Your original point — the one I was responding to — was that there were no photos at all, and that that was the only possibility.

You said:

“Someone here and at Ace’s suggested that there are no photos. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

My point was that, through misdirection, the Administration was leading people to believe that the photos taken during the flight were for some legitimate, governmental purpose — by essentially calling it a publicity photo-op to update the file.

So, in responding to your claim — that there were probably “no photos” — I said:

“That automatically means they were completely lying about it. Misdirection is a much more likely possibility. (added emphasis)

I do not take issue with the fact that “misdirection” is a “lie” but I’m confident you’ll agree that in the world of spinmeisters, they believe it gives them a little wiggle room, an “out” if they are caught.

So, I then laid out what I think is a very distinct possibility — that the flight was taken for partisan political purposes. And, I demonstrated how that speculative scenario entirely fits with the facts as we know them so far.

Perhaps you could share with us why you think they chose to out-and-out lie about the existence of any photos? Panic?

And, what possible scenario do you see — why they took the flight?

As I posted on my site:

Who in their right mind would arrange for a large passenger jet and two F-16 Fighters, to fly up to the New York harbor area, circle around the Statue of Liberty area at a low altitude with one of two F-16′s tailing the large jet, just to “update” a few file photos — and unclassified photos at that?

That story is simply absurd on it’s face. Especially in a post-9/11 world!

In other words, I think they took the flight for a reason that they are not telling us. The very fact that the photos are, according to the NY Post, NOT “classified” strengthens that argument, and tells me that this was some sort of “frolic” that went bad for them. If it comes out, it will be good for the country because it will reveal them for what many of us know they are.

What is your scenario, baldilocks?

They won’t release these photos, but they are itching to release ‘torture’ photos. Interesting values.

Simple: first one hurts Obama, second one hurts America and her warriors abroad. No comparison in the Dem value system.

Otherwise this is irresponsible to the feelings of normal Americans, our security and a careless waste of taxpayer money.

The 160th Fighter Squadron was renamed the 100th in September in honor of the 100th Pursuit Squadron, one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen units. The 100th was formed in February 1942 as the second squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, which was the only US fighter group in which all pilots, ground crews, and support personnel were African-Americans. The pilots and crews were trained at Tuskegee, Alabama, about forty miles east of Montgomery.

Those fighters are a long way from home for a photo “op”.

misdirection=lie

Why? I mean logically, why?

What is the logical reason that most people lie? Because they are trying to hid something.

That automatically means they were completely lying about it.

You say that like it was the first time.

Trochilus on May 5, 2009 at 11:22 PM

Someone here and at Ace’s suggested that there are no photos. That’s the only thing that makes sense.

baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 4:03 PM

Why? I mean logically, why? That automatically means they were completely lying about it. Misdirection is a much more likely possibility.

Now, it may turn out that there are no photographs.

Or, it may be that there are photographs, and that they are ones that the Obama people do not anyone to see — ever! Especially if those pics have nothing to do with national security, or even with the appropriate or official conduct of the nation’s business.

What if the flight was some sort of “frolic?”

By the way, Ed, the New York Post reported today that someone at the White House said the photos were not technically “classified” but that they were not going to release them anyway!

As they reported here in pertinent part:

“We have no plans to release them,” an aide to President Obama told The Post, refusing to comment further.

The sole purpose of the secret photo-op, which sent thousands of New Yorkers running for cover, was to take new publicity shots of the presidential jet over the city.

“The photos . . . are classified — that’s ridiculous,” Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., said.

The photos have not technically been “classified,” a White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view.

So, they are not classified, and yet the White House still refuses to release them? And they refuse to answer any more questions about them, or the incident?

My hunch is that there is at least a possibility that the flight may nave constituted the Barack Obama version of the Bill Clinton Lincoln Bedroom sleep-over scam — a way to either reward bundlers, and other significant contributors and campaign favor-doers, or, a way to conduct an actual in-flight fundraiser!

They sure wouldn’t want you seeing those pictures, now would they?

You see, I think most people assume that the photos were taken in the course of official business.

I do not. They are being too evasive about this . . . “a little too cute by half.”

See the earlier post here by capitalist piglet on May 5, 2009 at 2:10 PM. I think that comment comes close to hitting the nail on the head.

Do you know how many real financial “heavy-hitters” they could pack on Air Force One for a once-in-a-lifetime flight around New York? A lot more than you could get in the Lincoln Bedroom!

And, I think it is a good possibility because it fits logically with everything we know so far — I posted about that today. It would pretty much explain all of the following:

a. the extreme demand for secrecy in advance;

b. the lack of any coherent public explanation as to why the flight was taken in the first place;

c. consistent a little bit with the “cover story,” because there indeed would have been some “file” photos taken of the occasion, ones that the White House would definitely NOT want to get out;

d. their adamant refusal to release any of the photos, even though they admit they are not classified;

e. the refusal of the White House to entertain any further questions about it, clearly indicating they have something very embarrassing to hide, and,

f. it would also explain why they strangely went out of their way at first to point out that it was not “officially” Air Force One . . . but a “back-up,” and that it is only AF-1 when the President is on board, thus “minimizing” the PR problem, should it come out!

Personally I think this was an Obama-muslim salute to the hijackers of 911. The Bow to the Muslim king and now this. Coincidence? I think not.

Guardian on May 5, 2009 at 11:02 AM

This was sort of my line of thinking too, except it involved current al-Qaeda members and a double dog dare.

In all seriousness, this is really frightening. The fact that we can even speculate this might be a dry run is horrifying. Who have the (dumb) American people put in our White House?!

Or maybe Jake Tapper already has.

- The Cat

P.S. Don’t worry, the next administration can declassify them.