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Why Is This News?

.

airforceone

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Is this what we’ll hear now every time the president travels?

As President Barack Obama flies Monday to Chicago for a midday speech on health-care reform, the round trip on Air Force One will run about $236,000, according to government estimates of the operating costs for one of the top symbols, and perks, of the presidency.

But that does not include such expenses as Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports.

Ok.  And?  What’s the point?

We get it.  The president uses Air Force One to get from A to B.  So did Bush, Clinton and Reagan as will the next president, Democrat or Republican.  Obama is not going to fly economy on JetBlue or take a window seat on a Greyhound.  Deal with it.

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Comments

  1. Lantos says:

    It’s pseudo news. It’s placing every Obama action under a microscope and analyzing it to death no matter how trivial. It’s silliness at its best.

  2. Maria Sofia Belgara says:

    Love the illustration Mario! He deserves an office in the skies and much more for having the world on his shoulders!

    When I am president, that is where I am having my pedicures and manicures, on Air Force 1!

  3. sanity says:

    From this point on, all Obama speeches should be made via GoToMeeting after entering offer code RUSH for a free trial membership.

  4. sweetgreatmom says:

    He is the President of the United States. He must conduct his business under the protection of the Secret Service. It would be nice if he could catch a commercial airline, however, for security reasons, he must take Air Force One. This has not been an issue previously, so why is it now such a big issue? Our President is only following protocol for his safety while he travels. Can’t the media just get off his back and let the man conduct his business?

  5. liberalsRs....d says:

    Personally, I think for the most part it’s a lot to do about nothing. You could make the argument that President Obama makes routinely, that these are extraordinary times calling for extraordinary measures. I think he could possibly be a little more image conscious. After all, we have so many people that have literally lost everything.

    Elderly people that had retired and were prepared to spend the balance of their lives idling, have gone back to work, working at Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Wendy’s…you know, all those places where younger, able bodied people can’t find jobs?? (But that’s another post.) Honestly, given the times, he could be more image conscious.

    With that said, I wouldn’t give him a token for bus fare to assist him in peddling the pile of horse manure he is trying to shove down our throats with his Health Care “Reform”.

    But I guess that’s okay. He’s taken my tax money to fund abortion clinics in other countries. And to prop up Unions and failing businesses. These are causes I would NEVER willingly support.

    So I guess it stands to reason I should have to help him peddle his Socialist Health Care Initiative also.

  6. Maria Sofia Belgara says:

    More image conscious liberalsRs….d? You did not go there… well I guess you did!

    Just as image conscious as when hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on just the dresses Cindy McCain and Laura Bush wore at the Republican convention last year, correct?

  7. trudeau-ite says:

    Part of the cost of running the country…

  8. liberalsRs....d says:

    I can’t believe it. I’m agreeing with you loons and you STILL complain!

    Furthermore, I’m not entirely certain about Mrs. Bush’s clothing. But Mrs. McCain’s clothing was most likely paid for by the RNC, not YOU and ME!

  9. liberalsRs....d says:

    Please read more carefully. I agree it’s basically a cost of doing business. I’m merely suggesting that given the “Extraordinary Times” he is constantly talking about, he might consider the image he presents. Particularly knowing that whatever he does is going to be picked apart.

    Or……have we reached the point where merely suggesting President Obama MIGHT POSSIBLY be doing something that could be better thought out sufficient to draw the ire and ridicule of you people?

  10. Micah Blu says:

    You are so out of your mind it’s not funny. We’ll get more acquainted with you after you go and shoot up some legal abortion clinic or some government run institute. Tell me this how is the President “shoving” health care reform when the plan is “optional” meaning you can use it if you’d like, if not you may stay with the plan you have. Wow, oh and by the way I guess Bush wasn’t in office when AIG and the big New York banks were bailed out? No the facts don’t matter to bigots like you.

    A list of Bush’s bailouts:
    2008:

    March 16 — The Federal Reserve agrees to guarantee $29 billion of Bear Stearns’ assets in connection with the government-sponsored sale of the investment bank to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    July 11 — Federal regulators seize IndyMac Bank’s assets after the mortgage lender succumbs to the pressures of tighter credit, falling home prices and rising foreclosures. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. says it will cost about $8.9 billion out of its $53 billion insurance fund.

    Sept. 7 — The Treasury Department seizes teetering mortgage finance institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, temporarily putting them in a government conservatorship with plans to inject up to $100 billion into each.

    Sept. 16 — The government announces an $85 billion emergency loan to rescue American International Group Inc., a major insurance company, in return for a 79.9 percent stake.

    Sept. 19 — The Bush administration proposes a plan to let the government buy $700 billion of bad mortgages and other forms of toxic debt that have been weighing down U.S. financial companies. Government officials and lawmakers were still scrambling to put a deal together a week later.

    Sept. 25 — The Federal Desposit Insurance Corp. seizes Washington Mutual Inc. — the largest bank to fail by far in the U.S. — and sells the deposits and banking assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.9 billion.

  11. Micah Blu says:

    What does his image have to do with his travel arrangements? Is supposed to try and hide the fact that he rides air force 1 when traveling? Hide the fact that he has secret service escort him everywhere? WTF are you talking about!?

  12. liberalsRs....d says:

    You are a very unintelligent individual and I have neither the time nor inclination to educate you.

    As I said from the beginning, I agree this is a non issue. I simply added that were it up to me, I would not donate one cent to assist the President in promoting Socialized Health Care. There are many varying opinions about the nuts and bolts of Health Care Reform. Not everyone shares your naive, starry eyed and simplistic views.

    “We’ll get more acquainted with you after you go and shoot up some legal abortion clinic or some government run institute.”

    Now, isn’t that a brilliant statement? What? Just because we are ideologically opposed now all of a sudden I’m going to be running around shooting things up? What an Idiot!!

    What you people are attempting to do is mainstream Extremism, then say anyone that disagrees with you is a “Radical Extremist” and should be silenced. And you loonies complain about Conservative Talk? What a bunch of hypocritical loons.

    Good luck. If you can’t do any better than this, perhaps you should consider relegating your brilliant political insights to the Hannah Montana blog.

  13. liberalsRs....d says:

    Man, Please! I don’t have time for starry eyed zombies like you. You really should consider just being quiet and not verifying your comprehension shortcomings.

    Let me see if I can simplify it enough that you can understand. Obviously, some people are caught up in the “image” presented by President Obama jetting around for dates and what is essentially, promotional efforts for his policies and plans.

    President Obama has made much commentary about the “Extraordinary Measures” because of “Extraordinary Circumstances or Times”. While the President is entitled to special transportation and protection and I AGREE HE SHOULD EXERCISE IT AS HE SEES FIT, he could turn it into a PR or “IMAGE” bonanza by doing a teleconference or two while touting that yes, he is taking whatever measures he can to hold down costs.

    Now….do you understand what I’m saying? Do you realize I’m essentially stating this is a non issue? Do you understand I’m also saying that with a little “Image” awareness, he could turn some of these things into very positive PR?

    If you don’t then as I suggested earlier. Maybe the Hannah Montana Blog is more acclimated to your political acumen.