Real World

I've only seen this in blogs and such, but apparently Judicial Watch has filed some FOIA requests, and uncovered some real waste here.


New Documents Detailing Pelosi’s Use of Air Force Aircraft

Guest Commentator on January 30, 2010 in Federal GNC

House Speaker’s Military Travel Cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a Two-Year Period, Including $101,429 for In-Flight Expenses

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained documents from the Air Force detailing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s use of United States Air Force aircraft for Congressional Delegations (CODELs). According to the documents, obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Speaker’s military travel cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period — $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol. The following are highlights from the recent release of about 2,000 documents:

» Speaker Pelosi used Air Force aircraft to travel back to her district at an average cost of $28,210.51 per flight. The average cost of an international CODEL is $228,563.33. Of the 103 Pelosi-led congressional delegations (CODEL), 31 trips included members of the House Speaker’s family.
» One CODEL traveling from Washington, DC, through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq May 15-20, 2008, “to discuss matters of mutual concern with government leaders” included members of Congress and their spouses and cost $17,931 per hour in aircraft alone. Purchases for the CODEL included: Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey, Corona beer and several bottles of wine.

New Documents Detailing Pelosi’s Use of Air Force Aircraft | LVTSG


So we pay up to $18k an hour for the flight, but little Pelosi pays $264? WTF is this all about? Congress, from top to bottom (D & R) should be audited ASAP. I can guarantee you that she is not the only one doing this. This is an outrage!



Un-frickin-believable: U.S. Military Serving as Chauffeurs, Babysitters for the Pelosi Kids: Receipts That Will Blow Your Mind

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"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."
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ljuneau

I wonder if the Obama bows to Queen Pelosi when he sees her.

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Harry Boy

Pelosi is a disgrace to the people of America, a disgusting political hack piece of *****, America tolerates her, America deserves her, go get em Nancy the more you suck on your false teeth and grin at them the more they love you, you friggin old hag.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

IcyPatriot

Americans are losing their homes while Nancy lives large.

Why do I get the feeling she feels she is the new Kennedy in DC ... royalty???

She's supposedly a practicing Catholic ... ... if she's a Catholic then God is certainly on vacation.

Mrs.PatsFanInVa

Actually, if you look hard enough (i.e. - "google") you'll find lots of information - from both sides of the coin.


Judicial Watch has received much attention from the usual right-wing outlets for its recent mini-report claiming that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent $2 million in taxpayer money on Air Force aircraft. The press release seems rather deliberately underwritten, suggesting that much, if not all, of that money was spent solely on Pelosi and her immediate family -- for example, their press release's headline states that Pelosi's "Military Travel Cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a Two-Year Period." But the release later discloses that the data is actually for "103 Pelosi-led congressional delegations" -- i.e., the congressional delegations set up through the Speaker's office, many of which included other members of Congress as well -- not her personal travel.

Judicial Watch is also completely silent about the passenger lists for these CODELs -- perhaps because some of them include Republican members of Congress and their spouses.


Judicial Watch hides facts in attack on Pelosi flights | Media Matters for America

STFarmy

I would agree with Harry Boy's characterization of Pelosi, but I would also agree with the Mrs.PFinVA - it happens from both parties. I think she's a particularly flagrant example, but it's indicative of the general attitude of those in Washington. They use our tax dollars for their ridiculous requests all the time, and it's an unfortunate facet of the culture that's developed there. Without more outrage from the public though, it'll just get swept by the wayside and continue.

It reminds me of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. If you haven't seen that movie, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Patters

This an old issue, but I guess Judicial Watch isn't finding anything else, so might as well regurgitate this old chestnut. Besides what Mrs.PatsFanInVa pointed out,part of the issue here is that the Speaker of the House is in the line of succession.

Pentagon Rejects Speaker Pelosi's Request for Military Aircraft - ABC News

http://www.factcheck.org/askfactchec..._200-seat.html

patsfan13

IIRC Gingrich flew commercial....


BTW what does a $1,000 a week of booze and food have to do with being in the line of succession. I won't even get into the 3M spent on the junket to Copenhagen in Dec where she had no role.

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Mrs.PatsFanInVa

Gingrich served as Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999.

Following the attacks of 9/11/2001, the Bush White House instituted a policy for the Speaker of the House, for security reasons, to travel on a military plane – whenever available – back and forth to their congressional district only.

Use of Aircraft
The availability and size of the military aircraft is determined by the Department of Defense. Typically, when Speaker Pelosi uses military aircraft to travel between her Congressional District and Washington, the military assigns the same 12-seat aircraft used by her predecessor, Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois.

The House Sergeant at Arms asked for an aircraft that can travel between the District and Washington without refueling citing security reasons.

Pentagon mum on Pelosi flights - First Read - msnbc.com

"Nuff said - the comparison is null and void per Bush edict.

Patters

Newt Gingrich was Speaker when we had a President who was more successful at keeping our country safe. Perhaps if Obama keeps our country safe for several years, without losing Americans overseas, either, we can return to normalcy. Until then, we seem to be in a fairly paranoid time, and that being the case security for the third in line of succession seems reasonable. That doesn't mean there are ways to do it for less and to avoid waste, but I don't think the whole thing is a waste, though I would support looking into all the costs associated with flying military aircraft. Why does it cost so much? Perhaps we're overpaying our the personnel involved, the parts suppliers, and so on. Did Judicial Watch get that info?