Do you feel sorry for poor poor Pelosi? Her plane is to small!! Awww!!!?

Question

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http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2858225&page=1

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Answer 1

Oh, the poor baby. She may have to put up with just a twelve-seater, like the rest of the Congressmen who actually have planes. She can't figure out that being a "woman of the people" means not acting as though they are only to be tolerated when it is politically advantageous. I'd like to use my money for me, thanks, not because our darling Speaker decided she needs a jumbo jet to ferry her around.

Answer 2

Please read.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force transport plane decried by Republicans as an extravagance for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was requested by the House sergeant-at-arms as a matter of security, he said Thursday.

“I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue,” Bill Livingood said in a news release. He said because Pelosi lives in California he was compelled “to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable. This will ensure communications capabilities and also enhance security.”

Republicans had taken 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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17035721/

Answer 3

When the Homeland Security Act was passed by the do-nothing congress, the law stated that the Speaker of House should have secure flight back to his/her district. Secure would mean that that should be able to make it all the way without having to stop for fuel which is something the current plane cannot do.

Answer 4

The Sergent at Arms who is in charge of security for ranking House members SPECIFIED that she have a plane that could do a DIRECT flight to her home district in CA. The thought that she could be Prez is I guess as much a right wing nightmare as is the occupancy of the White House by the Dumbya Coup to normal thinking people. They would LOVE to do a Wellstone job on her.

Answer 5

Even the White House supports Speaker Pelosi's request for a larger plane. As they said, she is only two heart beats from the presidency, and she deserves to be flown--non-stop--from Washington to San Francisco.

Answer 6

In all fairness to Pelosi - can you imagine the reception she'd get if her plane had to make a re-fueling stop in one of the dangerous, mid-western, red states?

The thought alone would have her soiling her draws.

Answer 7

If you want to worry about planes, why don't you focus on the helicopters that are being shot down in Iraq on an almost daily basis? This is another diversion to keep people from asking about Iraq, the environment, illegal immigration, the rising cost of living, the Libby trial, the continuing problem in New Orleans, and countless other scandals. And you fall for it every time.
The cost of a larger plane is $15,000. Chump change for a country that throws away billions in Iraq. Get your priorities straight.

Answer 8

looks like you'll have to find some other petty thing to complain about read this

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not request a larger plane for personal use to travel cross-country without stopping, Bill Livingood, the House sergeant at arms, said Thursday.

Livingood said the request was his, and he made it for security reasons.

"The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable," Livingood, who has been at his post for 11 years, said in a written statement.

"I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue," the statement said.

Pelosi is striking back against accusations she asked for a plane larger and more expensive than the one used by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a claim published last week in The Washington Times.(Watch Pelosi call the GOP charges "a myth" )

The Times article, headlined "Pelosi's Power Trip -- Non-stop Nancy Seeks Flight of Fancy," led the Republican National Committee to send out a research briefing and blast Pelosi on the House floor.

The article said Pelosi asked the Pentagon for "routine access" to a military plane "not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation," quoting sources "familiar with the discussions."

"I have never asked for a larger plane," Pelosi said. "This is a myth that they are talking about on the floor."

The White House also stood behind Pelosi.

"As speaker of the House, she is entitled to military transport and ... the proper arrangements are being made between the Sergeant of Arms Office in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Defense," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

"We think it's appropriate," he added. "And so, again, I think this is much ado about not a whole lot. It is important for the speaker to have this kind of protection and travel."

On Wednesday, the Pentagon sent a letter to Pelosi's office with guidance about travel regulations. The letter said the military would make "every effort" to provide a non-stop flight to Pelosi's home district, but "such support is subject to aircraft type and availability and therefore may not always be guaranteed." (Read the Pentagon's letter to Speaker Pelosi -- PDF)

Pelosi's family would have to reimburse the Air Force if they used the aircraft, the letter stated.

Meanwhile, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said on Thursday that he's planning hearings this spring on executive and congressional travel on military aircraft.

Murtha said he's requested from the Defense Department records on travel and logistics from the past two years. He asked the Defense Department to hand those over within a month.

Some House Republicans on Thursday were pressing for an amendment on the floor on Pelosi's use of a military plane, according to Murtha.

Murtha predicted that Pelosi would end up getting a plane that would be able to fly across country without stopping to refuel.

"I'm seldom wrong on these kinds of predictions," he said.

Answer 9

we have already covered this like 30 times today...president bush was the one who ordered to have a military plane escort the speaker of the house. he also said that he wanted it to make non-stop flights to and from washington. hastert only had to fly to illinois. pelosi has to go to california. thats a little bit further i think. it wasnt her just making up crap to get a big plane. she was trying to do what the president requested. now she has to stop, which is a security hazard. if she would have been a republican, they would have granted her a 757.

Answer 10

No, I don't she is a heartbeat away from the White House and should be able to fly nonstop back home. Everyone seems upset when Democrats ask for any convenience. I guess we just expect Republicans to be greedy and demanding.