She's gonna need bigger pants too!

quote:

Pelosi's push for jet remains up in air By Rowan Scarborough and Charles Hurt THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published February 7, 2007 Advertisement 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, according to congressional and administration sources. A congressional source said that Rep. John P. Murtha, chairman of House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, which controls the Pentagon's spending, has telephoned administration officials to urge them to give the speaker what she wants. The congressional source said Pentagon officials complained that Mr. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, is accusing them of sexism for not immediately heeding her request. Megan E. Grote, Mr. Murtha's press secretary, said, "Mr. Murtha absolutely never said anything about being 'sexist.' We have no further comment." Meanwhile, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents "an arrogance of office that just defies common sense" and called it "a major deviation from the previous speaker." Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri called it a "flying Lincoln Bedroom," and Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, labeled the speaker's plane "Pelosi One." "This is a bullet point to a larger value -- Pelosi's abuse of power continues," Mr. McHenry said yesterday. "It began when the speaker denied minority rights to Republicans, continued with her 'TunaGate' scandal, and now she's exploiting America's armed forces and taxpayers for her own personal convenience." "TunaGate" was a reference to Democrats exempting American Samoa from legislation to increase the minimum wage. Star-Kist Tuna, whose parent company Del Monte Corp. is based in Mrs. Pelosi's district, had lobbied against the wage increase. An aide to Mrs. Pelosi, who is arguing she needs the jets for security reasons, yesterday referred questions to the Air Force, which is studying the California Democrat's request along with lawyers at the Pentagon and at the White House. "A lot of people are working this," an Air Force source said. The congressional source said government lawyers are trying to reconcile Mrs. Pelosi's request with Defense Department policy and congressional travel rules. The Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi's staff was pressing the administration for access to Air Force aircraft. Sources said the request went beyond what was offered to former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican. Mr. Hastert used an Air Force commuter-type jet to travel to and from his district. Mr. Hastert gained the access for security reasons after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Previously, the House speaker, who is second in the line of succession to the presidency, used commercial flights for such trips. Mrs. Pelosi wants a larger aircraft that can fly to her home district of San Francisco nonstop. She also wants to be able to ferry other members of the congressional delegation, family members and her staff. The speaker's request is being handled by her chief counsel, Bernard Raimo, a veteran Democratic lawyer on Capitol Hill. "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. Mr. Raimo argues that Mrs. Pelosi needs a military aircraft, as opposed to commercial flights, for security reasons. The defense source, who asked not to be named, termed her request "carte blanche," saying she wanted a plane that could carry an entourage just like President Bush, who flies on Air Force One, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who also always flies on military planes. c Christina Bellantoni contributed to this report.

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka She's gonna need bigger pants too!

Man, first the Moonie Times has one of their papers press the Obama smear. Now they go after Pelosi. Funny that. Sadly, that gasbag Lou Dobbs is seemingly leading the charge. I guess he thought Pelosi was an illegal immigrant or something. Anyway, let's take a look at some of the accusations:

quote:

Meanwhile, Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida said Mrs. Pelosi's request represents "an arrogance of office that just defies common sense" and called it "a major deviation from the previous speaker."

Jesus, anyone just get a little soda up their nose after reading that? I guess we can defer back to the previous WaTimes smear story that said this:

quote:

"A defense source said the speaker's regular access to a military plane began 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." http://www.washtimes.com/national/2...22225-1157r.htm

Funny, back in October of 2006, the NYTimes had this to say about Denny:

quote:

Mr. Hastert, a former schoolteacher and wrestling coach, is more at home in Illinois than in Washington, traveling back to the state almost every weekend with Scott Palmer, his chief of staff, and Mike Stokke, his deputy chief of staff. When Congress is in session, the two aides and Mr. Hastert share a townhouse near the Capitol, living a bachelorlike existence. The speaker once boasted that neither he nor his roommates had cooked a meal since 1986, preferring to dine out. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/w...serland&emc=rss

Another story 3 days later had this to show about Denny and pal:

quote:

A week ago Sunday, about 8 p.m., Shimkus arrived at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville to pick up his ride back to Washington. As speaker, Hastert flies on U.S. aircraft. The government plane picked up Shimkus and then headed to Aurora to board Hastert, who spent the weekend at his Plano home. Hastert's team was scrambling in reaction to the escalating fallout from the Foley scandal. Shimkus was returning to the capital because his staff had gotten an urgent call earlier in the day from Hastert deputy chief of staff Mike Stokke, who wanted Shimkus at the press conference with Hastert, putting him on a national stage on their terms. http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/200..._splits_ha.html

But I guess those stories don't count. Anyway, Pelosi has clearly indicated that she will not be taking these trips for political travel:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...7020501295.html

And until she does, I would suggest we keep such accusations a mere one fucking month into her term at bay, whadya say?

quote:

"It began when the speaker denied minority rights to Republicans, continued with her 'TunaGate' scandal, and now she's exploiting America's armed forces and taxpayers for her own personal convenience." "TunaGate" was a reference to Democrats exempting American Samoa from legislation to increase the minimum wage. Star-Kist Tuna, whose parent company Del Monte Corp. is based in Mrs. Pelosi's district, had lobbied against the wage increase.

Fucking pathetic. *Sigh*:

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...d=&pagenumber=2

I mean really, she's not even a fucking month in her term and you've got the fucking Right Wing Noise Machine on Full Tilt gasbagging it over to the mainstream media at will. Go figure.

quote:

Sources said the request went beyond what was offered to former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican.

I love it when the media hides behind their "sources". Who are your fucking "sources", dear writer? First off, House Sergeant at Arms Wilson Livingood initiated the fucking inquiries:

quote:

1) The House Sergeant at Arms, not Pelosi, initiated inquiries into the use of military aircraft. House Sergeant at Arms Wilson Livingood, who has served in his position since 1995, released a statement today clarifying the facts. He writes, “In December 2006, I advised Speaker Pelosi that the US Air Force had made an airplane available to Speaker Hastert for security and communications purposes following September 11, 2001.” Additionally, Livingood writes, “I offered to call the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense to seek clarification of the guidelines [which governed Speaker Hastert’s use of a plane].”

And furthermore, the reason was a very, very, oh so very simple one:

quote:

2) A larger plane was requested because Hastert’s plane required refueling to travel cross-country. The Washington Times says a larger plane was requested to accomodate Pelosi, “her staff, other Members and supporters.” That’s not true. In fact, the plane used by Speaker Hastert was too small for Pelosi since it “needs to refuel every 2,000 miles and could not make the nonstop haul to California. ‘The Air Force determined that [Pelosi’s] safety would be best ensured by using a plane that has the fuel capacity to go coast-to-coast,’” a Pelosi spokesperson said. source

I really think that's not that difficult to understand, even for the most simplistic-mind Wingnut Moonie Times writer.

And finally:

quote:

“it is up to the Air Force to decide what type and size of plane will be required,” ....“she has never asked for a plane or space on a plane to accommodate ’supporters.’” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/arch...2/07/51817.aspx

I love it, seeing "the source says" such and such all over this article. Terrific writing. Try not to let those darn facts get in your way of the smear, though.

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I guess she doesn't have a penis then. I suppose that's comforting. Did you get your rebuttal from Kos? I believe this article clarifies some of the raging rabid comments from your reply with regard to Denny and such.

quote:

Pentagon limits Pelosi jet size By Charles Hurt and Rowan Scarborough THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published February 8, 2007 Advertisement 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 Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi's staff was pressing the Department of Defense for an Air Force aircraft large enough to fly nonstop to San Francisco. She also has pressed to be able to include other members of the California congressional delegation, her family members and her staff on the plane. "It's not a question of size. It's a question of distance," Mrs. Pelosi told reporters yesterday. "We want an aircraft that can reach California." Earlier, Mrs. Pelosi did not comment on the matter but yesterday began a counteroffensive accusing the Bush administration of twisting the story. These "misrepresentations could be coming from the administration," she told reporters yesterday. "One would only have to wonder why," she said, though adding that she did not suspect President Bush "because he has impressed upon me over and over again the need for me to have the security that I need." The letter from the Pentagon yesterday cites specific U.S. Code that government policy does not include the routine use of military aircraft for the speaker of the House. "Nonstop service is not guaranteed, meaning she's getting Hastert's plane and nothing bigger," the congressional source said, referring to the commuter jet Mr. Hastert began using for security reasons after the September 11 terrorist attacks. But the administration official said Mrs. Pelosi "wanted to be able to fly between Washington and the West Coast nonstop." The letter leaves open the possibility that Mrs. Pelosi may get a larger plane that does not require refueling if one happens to be available in the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base. But, generally, the larger military passenger jets are in high demand, especially due to the Iraq war. In addition, the letter stipulates that the Air Force will only fly her between Washington and her San Francisco district and places limits on who can travel with her. The Washington Times reported earlier this week that the Pentagon denied a request by Mrs. Pelosi to fly on a military aircraft to last weekend's Democratic retreat in Williamsburg, a two-hour drive from Washington. "Non-governmental personnel, i.e. political supporters and contributors, may not fly," the congressional source said yesterday, paraphrasing the letter sent to Mrs. Pelosi. "The plane may not ferry her to any political events and other members may only accompany her after approval by the House ethics committee, which means Republicans would have to OK it." Immediate family members who fly with her must pay the U.S. Treasury for the flight. Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly acknowledged the letter but declined to get into specifics about it. "We appreciate the Defense Department's continuing concern for the speaker's security," he said. "We are reviewing their letter." Mr. Daly said the negotiations with the Pentagon and the Air Force over using a larger plane is a matter of security based on her position as second in line to the presidency. "The military is saying she needs this for her security," he said yesterday afternoon. "She's the speaker of the House." But the congressional source noted that no speaker of the House has ever succeeded to the presidency. "Just because she's second in line to be president does not entitle her to a military taxi service around the United States," the source said. White House spokesman Tony Snow said yesterday that while negotiations were continuing between Mrs. Pelosi's office and the Pentagon, she would ultimately have some sort of military transport at her disposal. "The Department of Defense is going through its rules and regulations and having conversations with the speaker about it," he said. "So Speaker Hastert had access to military aircraft, and Speaker Pelosi will too." In an interview on Fox News, Mrs. Pelosi said the plane request was not hers. "I wish I didn't have to have so much security, because I like my freedom of mobility," she said, adding that she would be willing to fly commercial aviation. "I'm not asking to go on that plane. If you need to take me there for security purposes, you're going to have to get a plane that goes across the country." But Mrs. Pelosi's requests for the larger jet still has drawn ridicule from Republicans, who have dubbed the requested plane "Pelosi One." It's especially galling, they say, since Mrs. Pelosi and her fellow Democrats ran on campaigns to clear out many of the perks provided to lawmakers. One of the first changes she made to the rules governing House members was to ban free air travel by members of Congress on corporate-owned or chartered planes. The "jumbo request," as one Republican called it, also comes at a time when Democrats are trying to push through Congress a resolution that sending 21,500 reinforcement troops to Iraq "is not in the national interest of the United States." "So let's get this straight," Republican Study Committee spokesman Brad Dayspring said in a statement yesterday that reproduced a picture of a transcontinental U.S. military jet. "During a week in which Democrats are pushing a resolution that states, 'it is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq,' they believe that securing Speaker Pelosi the military plane pictured below for luxury flights is in the national interest?"

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 Man, first the Moonie Times has one of their papers press the Obama smear. Now they go after Pelosi. Funny that. Sadly, that gasbag Lou Dobbs is seemingly leading the charge. Jesus, anyone just get a little soda up their nose after reading that? I guess we can defer back to the previous WaTimes smear story that said this: And until she does, I would suggest we keep such accusations a mere one fucking month into her term at bay, whadya say? Fucking pathetic. *Sigh*: I mean really, she's not even a fucking month in her term and you've got the fucking Right Wing Noise Machine on Full Tilt gasbagging it over to the mainstream media at will. Go figure. I love it when the media hides behind their "sources". Who are your fucking "sources", dear writer? I really think that's not that difficult to understand, even for the most simplistic-mind Wingnut Moonie Times writer. And finally: I love it, seeing "the source says" such and such all over this article. Terrific writing. Try not to let those darn facts get in your way of the smear, though.

welcome to my world. man, if you can't take the heat now.....?

this whole debacle is silly but do you really think, Opus, that your gas-bag Mad Murtha needs to be threatening the Pentagon's funds over this?>HERE<

Murtha is a f**kin turkey-neck havin joke. why the hell is he still in politics?

quote:

White House defends Pelosi plane request By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 8, 1:40 PM ET WASHINGTON - The White House on Thursday defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) against Republican criticism that her desire to fly in an Air Force transport plane is an extravagance. "This is a silly story and I think it's been unfair to the speaker," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. Republicans are taking issue with the size of the plane Pelosi would need to fly in to reach her hometown of San Francisco without refueling. There are three Air Force airplanes that have the fuel capacity to make the trip nonstop, with the largest being a C-32 plane, a military version of the Boeing 757-200. In an interview with Fox News Wednesday night, Pelosi speculated that Department of Defense officials were distorting the story as retribution for her stance against the war and former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. "There are probably those in the Department of Defense who are not happy with my criticism of Secretary Rumsfeld, the war in Iraq, other waste, fraud and abuse in the Defense Department, and I guess this is their way of making their voices heard," she said. The Pentagon this week informed Pelosi's staff that she would be provided with a plane but that its size would be based on availability and that it could not guarantee nonstop service. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Pentagon agreed to provide the House speaker, who is second in the line of presidential succession, with a military plane for added security during trips back home. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, flew in a small commuter-sized Air Force jet. Pelosi said she would be happy to fly on commercial airliners but said the House sergeant-at-arms office urged her to continue Hastert's practice of using Air Force transport. She said she was informed on her first trip home that her plane would not make it across the country. "I said well, that's fine, I'm going commercial," she told Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren. "I'm not asking to go on that plane. If you need to take me there for security purposes, you're going to have to get a plane that goes across the country, because I'm going home to my family." Rep. Adam Putnam (news, bio, voting record) of Florida, the No. 3 Republican leader, called Pelosi's desire for a large transport plane "an extravagance of power that the taxpayers won't swallow." "It's important we see what the specific request was," Putnam said. But Snow on Thursday said the negotiations over Pelosi's transport have been conducted solely by the House sergeant-at-arms and the Pentagon, with no direct involvement by the speaker or her office — or the White House. The guidelines provided by the Pentagon say Pelosi could be accompanied by family members, provided they pay the government coach fare. The plane could not be used for travel to political events. Members of Congress could accompany her on the plane if the travel is cleared by the House ethics committee. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070208...VKhXu.He1jMWM0F

Well if the white house is defending it, I'm more inclined to think it actually is a big deal.

___________________
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quote:

Originally posted by Shakka She's gonna need bigger pants too!

damn you and your metaphors!

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Well this thread is certainly pulling out the whos who of PDD. I think whats going on is this is really the first issue Pelosi has addressed thats received obvious direct resistance. Albeit its a stupid issue to be fighting over but the media was waiting, impatiently, for a battle. It does make me wonder how much power does she really has if this small issue is such a difficult task. I mean how can she expect to accomplish all these great feats without even being able to get the transportation she wants to and from work.

quote:

Originally posted by josh4 I think whats going on is this is really the first issue Pelosi has addressed thats received obvious direct resistance.

her 1st debacle was appointing certain Chairs for committees.

quote:

Originally posted by Q5echo her 1st debacle was appointing certain Chairs for committees.

obviously its not the first thing shes been scrutinized for but rather for wanting and not getting. Murtha for majority leader was just an endorsement. you can't really encounter resistance for appointments. we can go back and forth on these things all day but its certainly the issue thats got considerable attention, if not the most. which is probably simply because its a light issue thats easy to discuss on morning talk shows

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka And here I thought you were dead. Welcome back.

I've got another 24 hours of soberness and then I'll be gone for another couple months .

___________________
Retro ...

what a silly issue.

obviously she should just suffer through the refuling bit, oh no, one more hour to her commute! I say it is equivalent to going through the airport lines of checking, security, and boarding.

I'd trade a stop-over in the midwest on a private jet over commerical anyday.

Of course, I would much rather government just fly first class, much cheaper on us the taxpayers.

Though understandably, I can see why many would want to kill her which would make her a security risk



I think it is ridicilous the bit about the Reps. not being able to take their families/friends on board on occasion. I mean, if there is room on the plane, what do I care who gets on board?
The cost is still the same.

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