Pelosi flies disputed military jet home

Chronicle Washington Bureau

Saturday, February 10, 2007

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the subject of Republican criticism for her mode of air travel, flew home nonstop Thursday night aboard a 12-seat military aircraft set aside for use by lawmakers.

Republican House members, aided by friendly radio and television talk show hosts, created a political tempest this week, claiming Pelosi was pressuring the Pentagon for the use of an "Air Force Three" and a "flying Lincoln Bedroom." Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, however, the administration has required the speaker -- then Republican Dennis Hastert of Illinois -- to travel home and on official business using military planes for security reasons.

House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood said he had asked the Pentagon to provide a plane large enough to fly Pelosi nonstop to San Francisco, citing the security concerns.

Even the White House defended the Democratic speaker. The president's spokesman, Tony Snow, on Thursday called the criticism "unfair" and the flap "a silly story."

Pelosi flew nonstop from the nation's capital to San Francisco to attend the funeral services of the late Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy aboard a C-37A, the military's version of a Gulfstream V that can travel 6,300 miles. It is one of the planes used regularly by Hastert, Pelosi's office and the Pentagon said.

This article appeared on page B - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle

This thing was blown completly out of proportion last week. I can understand her wanting a jet to fly her from DC to CA without stopping to refuel completly. Afterall, she is only a hearbeat and a half away from the Presidency.

I think that many Republicans only caused a stink about it in order to draw attention away from Iraq and everything else going wrong under the Bush administration.

And you can tell things are bad when even the White House is defending her.

You go girl! Nancy Pelosi rocks, and I am damn proud to be a Democrat!

God, how I despise Nancy Pelosi...

Edited February 11, 200718 yr by HoganStaysAtDAYS1

You go girl! Nancy Pelosi rocks, and I am damn proud to be a Democrat!

Agreed

God, how I despise Nancy Pelosi...

Why? She is not the one who requested the jet. Plus, since 9/11 it is standard protocol for the Speaker of the House to fly to their home district in a private jet.

I applaud her, and not just because she is a Democrat. She is the highest ranking woman in US gov't. and I give her credit for making it as far as she has in our male-dominated society. And the fact that she's a Democrat makes it that much better.

Why? Because she's a b!tch, that's why.

Why? Because she's a b!tch, that's why.

Why do feel that way about her? Just curious.

Because she's just so shrewd and obviously full of herself. I dunno, I just don't like her at all.

Because she's just so shrewd and obviously full of herself. I dunno, I just don't like her at all.

Well, she's not as full of herself as our President is. He does what he wants without considering the consequences.

But I like her....she's a mother, a grandmother, and someone who stands up for what she believes it.

But that's just my opinion on it.