Nancy Pelosi: Globetrotting and Gas Guzzling
By Bluey Posted in Congress | Featured Stories — Comments (22) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
When it comes to transportation, Speaker Nancy Pelosi can't seem to catch a break. Under fire from Republicans for wanting to fly a Boeing 757 at the expense of taxpayers, Pelosi just held a very impromptu press briefing on Capitol Hill in an attempt to defuse the situation. Her loyal supporter Rep. John Murtha has even threatened the Pentagon, saying, "I don't need to pressure them. I just tell them what they need to do."
Pelosi's also dealing with a report today by Pajamas Media's Richard Miniter about the gas-guzzling SUV that chauffeurs her to Capitol Hill. The government-owned Chevy Tahoe gets 15 miles per gallon, according to Miniter, and ironically enough, was used today to transport Pelosi to a global warming hearing held by the House Science and Technology Committee.
UPDATE -- 10:43 p.m.: Just as it seems everyone is joining Facebook, the same could be said about YouTube. Rep. Eric Cantor (R.-Va.) is the latest member of Congress to take advantage.
Cantor today led the charge on the House floor to publicly rebuke Pelosi. He offered an amendment to the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act (H.R. 547), which passed by a vote of 385-23. Below are a couple clips from the debate.
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Nancy Pelosi: Globetrotting and Gas Guzzling 22 Comments (0 topical, 22 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Armored Chevy Tahoes? Well, the truth is that Nancy doesn't really, um, prefer to ride in those either, even for short hops to Williamsburg. As I note in my entry over at The Minority Report, Nancy was nabbed last week trying to hop a military flight to the Democratic retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia -- a mere two hour ride from D.C.
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.
See, the problem really is that Nancy forgot to submit the request for a helicopter to fly her around on short trips like that. But she'll get around to it, eventually, I suppose.
I always wondered where the Dems were planning on retreating to. Now I know.
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"We can all do our part to save the planet by dying." - R.E. Finch
had already "re-deployed" to England from Yorktown and were hoping that it wasn't too late to surrender so that Nancy could usurp the throne and become Queen of England and Ruler of the British Empire.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Come on....if we all change the way that we live, then it more than offsets their pampered, decadent, carbon-exhausting lifestyles!
Harry Reid is to ethics reform what HIV was to free love!
to ride around in a battery powered vehicle with no up-armor on it to protect her from all those Jihadists who want to behead her because she won't wear a burka now do you? Especially when she's headed to a fund raising event to remove the greatest threat to America the world has ever know? Please. Show some common sense!
[end sarcasm mode]
I'm surprised folks here weren't upset when former speaker Hestert was driving around the SAME SUV that current House Speaker Pelosi uses. That's right, Hestert drove around in the same 15 mpg Chevy Tahoe.
But wait, when Democrats do it -- Oh my! What foul!
The 757, however, is a bit excessive.
Jason
...Hastert wasn't courting Ed Begley Jr. and grilling oil company executives for their evil capitalistic ways.
As usual, Grandma's all talk, no walk.
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"We can all do our part to save the planet by dying." - R.E. Finch
Ya know I came here from a link given to me from someone on Newshounds, the super leftwing website dedicated to bashing conservatism. I was hoping that I would find some sensible folks who could approach a subject without the bashing... alas after reading all the rhetoric surrounding the Pelosi airplane issue, I am quite disappointed. I found the same name calling and bashing as I did on the leftwing site with the exception of the profanity. I will say this in response to the pelosi issue. Personally I think a modest plane with all the most up to date amenities it could carry should be afforded her. I do not have to agree with her politically to respect her position. Where was all the outrage at the polls? If everyone had stood up then she would not have mad it as speaker. She also from my understanding did not ask for this plane, someone else did. And as of a few minutes ago, the white house and tony snow were defending her over it. So why should this be an issue?
Respectfully, J D Grant
...that's what Hastert had - a commuter jet. Pelosi has requested a 50-passenger equivalent of a Boeing 757.
Sorry, your sensibilities were offended. But it's interesting that you're more offended by a little harmless Pelosi bashing than you are by the newly crowned Speaker playing fast and loose with taxpayer dollars.
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"We can all do our part to save the planet by dying." - R.E. Finch
Personally I think a modest plane with all the most up to date amenities it could carry should be afforded her.
I think a coach ticket on United should be afforded her. Maybe. Really, she could afford to pay for her own tickets with her generous salary.
I do not have to agree with her politically to respect her position.
I don't see much to respect in a "I want better free stuff, not this crappy free stuff I am getting now" position. The expression about gift horses comes to mind.
Where was all the outrage at the polls?
Since there hasn't been an election since she took over, I guess this doesn't make much sense, now does it? I predict there will be sufficient outrage built up by 2008 to force her out of her job.
And as of a few minutes ago, the white house and tony snow were defending her over it.
That and $3 might buy you a cup of coffee, depending on where you go.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
perhaps Ms. Pelosi could strap Newshounds on one side and redstate on the other and she would have plenty of hot air to propel her around the world several times without refueling... and if she had an internet link she might never have to land
I mean, I'm sure there are literally tens of places on the internet where your tender sensitivities won't be so offended.
Bye now.
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So libs, how's that Congressional Resolution to end The War™ coming along?
They land in places called hubs, where they change planes and hustle to make their connections.
The "little" executive jet doesn't make you do this. You can remain on board and stay quite comfortable. On and off - should take about 30 minutes.
I agree that the Speaker of the House requires special consideration for her safety, even if her party is in denial about the GWOT. But guaranteed non-stop service, especially a reserved Boeing 757, is a little over-the-top. Especially as the government only has 4 of those big planes, and from what I read, they are stretched pretty thin already.
There is a lot of contradicting assertions flying (pun intended) around on this story. I see where someone makes a claim about Madam Speaker Pelosi requesting a specific aircraft but I have not been able to find any factual references. Does anyone have a link and/or factual source to that claim?
Also, I did some preliminary calculations on the USAF C-20 (civilian Gulfstream III) based upon the published specifications on the USAF site and determined that it does not, in fact, meet the mission parameter established by the AF/HS of being able to make the flight from DC to CA non-stop while maintaining the necessary and required fuel reserves.
"that it does not, in fact, meet the mission parameter established by the AF/HS of being able to make the flight from DC to CA non-stop while maintaining the necessary and required fuel reserves."
My choice would be that it load about 95% of the required fuel and that the pilots take the gas can and parachutes to go find a filling station.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Then it is probably a good thing that you are not responsible for the security and safety of the transportation of USA government representatives and officials.
your confusion.
n/t