House GOP (And Lou Dobbs) Blast Pelosi for Plane Request

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PELOSI_PLANE?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For most of the past five weeks, House Republicans could do little else but watch as majority Democrats passed major legislation without giving them a chance to propose changes or offer alternatives. So when they finally got a chance Thursday to air pent-up frustrations over how Democrats were running things, the Republicans decided to make some noise - and how. They aimed high, all the way to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The California Democrat went before the House Science Committee in the morning to champion her commitment to do something about global warming, a rare appearance for a leader of the House.

She did so as reports swirled on Capitol Hill that she had requested a bigger, swankier government airplane than her Republican predecessor had used for trips back to her home district when Congress isn't meeting.

For Republicans, feeling muzzled and still blue over losing control of the House, the irony was too good to ignore.

A waste of the taxpayers' money, some said, claiming her trips would cost $15 million a year if she used planes such as the military version of the Boeing 757-200. In its commercial configuration the 757-200 usually seats 175-190 passengers.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Sigh, as they overlook Bush's almost daily use of AF1 for fundraisers and photo ops

:eyes: MKJ

[Xipe Totec]

2. White House defends Pelosi's access to Air Force transport plane

WASHINGTON – Democrat Nancy Pelosi received some rare help Thursday from the White House against a barrage of Republican criticism over how the new House speaker intends to get back home.

For security reasons, Pelosi is entitled to fly to her San Francisco district on military planes.

The House sergeant-at-arms, who helps oversee security for the House, suggested that flying nonstop would be the safest way home for Pelosi, next after the vice president in the line of presidential succession.

Republicans, led by aggressive junior lawmakers, seized on the most extreme possibility: Pelosi's flying on the military equivalent of a Boeing 757 with the latest in travel comforts.

Too expensive, some critics said. Too polluting, others said. Too much ado about nothing, the White House weighed in.

“I have never asked for any larger plane,” Pelosi said. “I have said that I am happy to ride commercial if the plane they have doesn't go coast to coast.”

To presidential spokesman Tony Snow, “This is a silly story and I think it's been unfair to the speaker.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070208-1614-pelosiplane.html

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Keith Olbermann gave a great report on this last night, saying it was a non-issue

and basically saying that the Republicans are being ridiculous.

[Rose Siding]

5. That was great. She pinned it on retaliation from the Pentagon

She even mentioned that rumsfeld, who she has harsly criticized, still has a desk there. Which leads me to conclude that by doing so, the Pentagon is taking an active role domestic politics.

[BlueManDude]

4. The goal is to drive up her negatives.

The issue itself is ridiculous and they know it. I don't blame the GOp for trying - I blame CNN and MSNBC for playing along.