Is it right for Boosh to campaign on Air Force One?

[lpbk2713]

After all what he is doing is nothing but blatant partisan politics on our tax money. Is it legal? Seems like I should be able to refuse to pay IRS if my taxes are used against my best interests.

Not only is he playing partisan politics but while he is hopping around the country in AF-1 on our money he isn't in Wash, DC doing the job he is supposed to be doing.



The cost to fly AF-1 is $57,000.00 per hour in 2004 dollars per
this article, somebody's got to foot the bill .... Link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-01-air-force-one_x.htm

[Jane Austin]

1. Hell, no.

Love your Rush animation!

[wakeme2008]

2. Silly you that is a Dem ONLY rule

The RNC is suppose to pay part of the costs but doesn't.

[elehhhhna]

11. WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT? Enron went UNDER and sold their planes.

sheesh

[RobertSeattle]

3. He is the President

But I guarantee you the next time the President is a Democrat Limbaugh, Hannity, etc will rant about him/her using AF-1 for Campaigning.

[GCP]

15. There was plenty of it when Clinton was in

The problem is, the President ( no matter whom he is ) doesn't really have the option of going to southwest.com and booking some getaway miles.

All Presidents will do this. Perhaps it should be changed so that the political party of the Prez pays for the trips. But then they'll just schedule a 'signing' somewhere next door to a room full of 5,000 people ready for dinner with one extra spot, and oh look it's the President!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

16. It doesn't need to be changed. That's already the case.

The rules are not simple, but the following is basically true:

When the President rides AF1 to campaign, then the campaign/party picks up the tab for the fuel and other assorted expenses. (but not necessarrily the secret service overtime, etc... things that come with being the President)

This is about the third time this topic has come up in the past 24 hours. There was a pretty cool thread going yesterday about whether or not Rove was violating the Hatch Act... Lot of good, useful posts on the subject.

linky:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2536243

[Horse with no Name]

4. It shouldn't be legal

But Georgie usually pisses on the Constitution and wipes his ass with it afterwards.
Why should little things like legalities stop the little prick?

[spag68]

5. How about

Rove running the rethug campaign from the Whitehouse on our tax money?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. Perfectly legal, I'm afraid.

Welcome to Executive branch politics.

[Ilsa]

6. I think there need to be limitations set, and after that, the

political party needs to foot the bill for the trip.

The president is supposed to be the figurehead and chief politician for his/her party, and the president needs the best protection from harm. But I think there is a certain amount of extra enthusiasm they draw from having AF-1 make the show. I wish Congress would come up with a limit of trips or miles and they would start a billing process. If you want the president to campaign for you, it's gonna cost ya.

[dysfunctional press]

7. ANY airplane that the president rides on is automatically Air Force 1.

and as far as i know, strictly campaign flights are reimbursed by the candidates/parties.

[spag68]

9. Don't hold your breath till that happens!!!!!

[dysfunctional press]

12. i'm pretty sure that it already happens...

besides, i don't think that Clinton drove himself to many campaign functions either.

[elehhhhna]

8. Rec'd for the sig pic

ROFLMAO

[elehhhhna]

10. Don't forget Marine 1 here in Sugar Land Friday.

It was only flying about 16 mph. That's gotta cost a few bucks.

[Perky]

13. YES!

Look first of all Clinton did the same thingasd did Bush I and Reagan and Carter and....


Secondly, What youhave to realize is that AF! is s flying command center and very secure. It is not a perk. It is part of the job requirement.
President's ar epolitical and you can't ver well put him on a commercial plane

Finally, clearly these are political events and presidents are political should the RNC pay for it? Yes. butyou also have to realize that alot of the cost incurred are incurred whether the president is in the air on in the Rose Garden. The flight crew is salaried. The ground crew is salaried. Presidential airlift capanility is also salaried. THe real cost is fuel to get from point A to Point z and then back to Andrews.

[conscious evolution]

14. gotta agree here

as mu8ch as I dislike it there are good reasons the prez should use AF1.As political fodder it should be off limits no matter what party is in power.