ncc74656's Journal: WhoTF does Nancy Pelosi think she is?

Unfrakkingbelievable:

Pelosi's push for jet remains up in air

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.

[...]

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.

[...]

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.

[...]

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.

they must hate mother earth

[stoolpigeon]

lex adds nice bit on what this means for global warming [neptunuslex.com]

Not to mention the weekly trips

[Marxist Hacker 42]

As far as saving mother earth goes, anybody notice the now WEEKLY overnight flights we're expecting our West Coast congress critters to do? With the House on a 5 day workweek, the only access the public has to West Coast Congress Critters is a meeting with a sleep-deprived human being on Saturday Afternoon or Sunday Morning- at which point they have to go back to the airport again to get through security to get back to Washington for Monday Morning.

We could just point out the difference....

[Kymermosst]

The President gets the use of Air Force One because the President is Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.

The Vice President gets the use of a military jet because he is next in line to be Commander-in-Chief and the President can direct the USAF to give him the privilege.

Nancy Pelosi is the Commander in Chief of Jack Shit. If she wants a plane to fly around in, let her convince the rest of Congress that she needs one. Congress can pass a law saying she gets one.

The fact that the President has agreed to let