New private jets for Congress? Are you kidding?
I don’t know whose mistake this is, but as speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will get and deserve the blame. She ought to step in right now and announce that this thing is grounded permanently. The audacity is really unbelievable.
WASHINGTON — Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.
The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes as members of both chambers of Congress embark on the busiest month of the year for official overseas travel. The plan to upgrade the fleet of government jets, which was included in a broader defense-funding bill, has also sparked criticism from the Pentagon, which has said it doesn’t need half of the new jets.
“The whole thing kind of makes me sick to my stomach,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) in an interview Sunday. “It is evidence that some of the cynicism about Washington is well placed — that people get out of touch and they spend money like it’s Monopoly money.”
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167 comments Add your comment
Gale
August 10th, 2009
4:16 pm
It’s hard to believe this one ever got to the public ear. I can believe some idiot proposing this. But really, just because they are talking billions and trillions these days, did someone really think the public wouldn’t notice this?
USinUK
August 10th, 2009
4:16 pm
Okay, Jay … under the heading “You Can’t Make ^%$£%&* Like this Up” …
the anti-healthcare demonstrator who was “attacked” (the jury is still out) in St. Louis while he was handing out “don’t tread on me” flags is now soliciting donations for his medical bills:
“Supporters cheered. Brown finished by telling the crowd that Gladney is accepting donations toward his medical expenses. Gladney told reporters he was recently laid off and has no health insurance.”
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/7C2B91CFCB7B4D398625760D0008E6EA?OpenDocument
ladies and gentlemen, Irony has left the building …
booger
August 10th, 2009
4:28 pm
Jay finally got the opportunity to critize the democratic congress. There will no doubt be weeks of citing this blog as an example of his even handedness.
Mac
August 10th, 2009
4:31 pm
Yeah, but see it’s OK, because it was done by Georgia Congressmen, who were just rounding up pork for Georgia.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
4:34 pm
Jay,
According to Roll Call, our Reps. Sanford Bishop-D and Jack Kingston-R are two names mentioned for the requests although, according to this article, Kingston denies requesting the funding.
http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html
I had heard before that the two of them were involved because Gulfstream is located in their area and are campaign donors too.
Class of '98
August 10th, 2009
4:37 pm
C’mon, Jay. You’re not trying hard enough. There HAS to be some way to blame this on Bush and/or Rush. Isn’t there? You can do it. Try harder.
thomas
August 10th, 2009
4:41 pm
But yet you could not find one instance of waste in the stimulus plan?
This is no more wasteful than some of those programs. But I know you have your agenda, and that did not fit into it.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 10th, 2009
4:42 pm
Well, all the guys with kids were excited about the first day of school. And that goes double for the ones with kids starting the 1st grade. They done their best not to spoil the suprize that those little squiggles that show up on signs and stuff really stand for sounds. The first book their kid will ever see will be today. So the parents can say to the teachers, Here he is. His head is empty. Just pour the learning in till he’s full. If you don’t do the job, we’d hate to have to use NCLB on you because that would mean the furloughs we give you to start the year are just a taste of what you’re going to get. And don’t go giving tests and homework to ruin a good NASCAR or football weekend, neither.
Anyhow, I reckon Congress needs all the new jets so they can take their famblys with them on their overseas trips. They call it fact-finding. Me, I call it boondoggling. But I reckon I wouldn’t complain none if my boss down at the warehouse give us all new Cadillacs so we could visit all the bars we stock and see if everything’s going all right.
Have a good night everybody.
I Report/ I Am The Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 10th, 2009
4:44 pm
Maybe they can bomb our enemies with them, now that we don’t have enough F22’s?
Wait a minute, Nasty Pelosi and crew is the enemy.
never mind.
Chris Salzmann
August 10th, 2009
4:46 pm
thomas August 10th, 2009 4:08 pm WROTE: Except for the one about IF YOU LIKE YOUR HEALTH CARE YOU CAN KEEP IT. That is only true if every single thing in the plan stays the exact same. If anything changes then a person in washington decides, not the consumer, if the plan is still acceptable.
CHRIS WRITES: Wrong again. The Bill states that, after a 5 year period, all NEW health insurance plans offered to the public, privately or through employers, will need to meet a minimum standard. So, if your NEW employer already has an EXISTING health insurance plan that meets or exceeds these minimums, you’re doing great and can enroll in that plan. However, if your NEW employer has an existing plan that does NOT meet the minimum care requirements, then you will have to shift to a Federal plan. Employers or Insurance companies will no longer be able to offer sub-standard plans that don’t take into account preventive care, pre-existing conditions, etc. So, how is this bad for anyone?
So please, read the Bill or go to http://www.factcheck.org to get some unbiased answers.
Chris Salzmann
August 10th, 2009
4:47 pm
New jets for Congress? Take some of the used ones sitting around in the government inventory. This needs to be, pardon the phrase, “shot down”.
DebbieDoRight
August 10th, 2009
4:48 pm
Well, I guess being an even handed middle of the road journalist is not enough these days. You mention something that’s wrong with the system, (a system that has both dems and repubs in it); and people get angry that you even bring it up – start accusing you of being partisan and questioning your allegiance to intelligent jouranlism. I guess, they really don’t wanna hear the truth.
Next time you do a column Jay, why not just bring up things like the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, it seems more people are enamored with make-believe and just can’t handle the truth. Let them get all their news from the National Enquirer. At least there they can understand the pictures even if they can’t understand the words.
AmVet
August 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
98, aren’t you the one who contends George Bush never told a single solitary lie in his entire two terms?
No deception? No duplicity?
Man, there goes someone’s credibility…
getalife
August 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
It’s a rep. from GA. Kingston’s earmark.
thomas
August 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
Chris again since you want to post on multiple blogs.
You proved my point even if YOU like your insurance, YOU do not get to keep it if teh gov. says it ain’t good.
Even if YOU like YOUR insurance.
But thanks for proving my point, that THEY lied by saying that.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
4:57 pm
Chris and Thomas,
May I ask, if you don’t mind of course, can you take that argument downstairs. I know people are passionate on both sides of the health care debate. But, I’m getting tired of the entire thing. Neither side has a chance of swaying people. I see both sides as entrenched and firm in their beliefs. This is one topic that we all have to agree to disagree on, and that’s why I avoided that topic.
I’m not trying to offend either of you, but I’m just tired of that debate.
Chris Salzmann
August 10th, 2009
5:01 pm
thomas August 10th, 2009 4:49 pm SAID: Chris again since you want to post on multiple blogs.
You proved my point even if YOU like your insurance, YOU do not get to keep it if teh gov. says it ain’t good. Even if YOU like YOUR insurance. But thanks for proving my point, that THEY lied by saying that.
CHRIS SAYS: Yeah, ff you like your CRAPPY and SUB-STANDARD health insurance policy, you DON’T get to keep it. I guess only YOU seem to have a problem with that, right? Gotcha!
BTW, I’m insurance licensed among which is a life and health insurance license, so I know what I’m talking about. You obviously don’t have a freaking clue.
But hey, I’ll argue that we should have a “too ignorant to know better” clause in this reform bill, where people like you should be allowed to be taken for a ride by insurance companies. After all, ignorance must be such bliss. Are you sure your other name isn’t “Joe the Plumber”?
George American
August 10th, 2009
5:02 pm
No doubt this is the work of the three stooges – Pelosi Reid and Frank. Maybe one of the limousine liberals form New York though he was entitled to it too.
Chris Salzmann
August 10th, 2009
5:03 pm
Angry Black Man August 10th, 2009 4:57 pm SAID: Chris and Thomas,
May I ask, if you don’t mind of course, can you take that argument downstairs. I know people are passionate on both sides of the health care debate. But, I’m getting tired of the entire thing. Neither side has a chance of swaying people. I see both sides as entrenched and firm in their beliefs. This is one topic that we all have to agree to disagree on, and that’s why I avoided that topic.
I’m not trying to offend either of you, but I’m just tired of that debate.
CHRIS SAYS: You’re right. Might as well try to talk sense to a tree.
Brad Steel
August 10th, 2009
5:04 pm
I guess they are suppose to get the same or superior privileges are their underlings in the car business.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
5:06 pm
Jay
Some of the blame needs to go to the Chmn of the committee that put the earmark into the bill. Somebody’s gotta start calling people to the floor on this. I understand that Reps want to steer work to their areas, but this is not the time for the gov’t to be Mr. Big Spender. Just shows that no matter what, it’s politics as usual in Washington. I’m looking foward to 2010 so I can work to getting rid of all incumbents.
Scooter
August 10th, 2009
5:09 pm
ABM, you tellem, I’m so mad I can’t!
Davo
August 10th, 2009
5:09 pm
Faux outrage + cut and paste journalism = Jay Bookmans column
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
5:10 pm
Chris Salzmann
August 10th, 2009
5:03 pm
LOL!!!! I didn’t mean it quite like that, but you’re right on point.
AmVet
August 10th, 2009
5:10 pm
Kingston and Sanford both need to get around on a bicycle…
35 years ago yesterday the first of the ultra-mean-little-pr!cks in the GOP resigned in disgrace.
I remember walking into my squadron building and it was on TV. I laughed out loud.
Had only the Hero of the Texas ANG the balls to do the same…
mike
August 10th, 2009
5:11 pm
Redneck Convert –
Thanks for the bigotry. Your hatefulness is a great testament to liberal “tolerance”.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
5:12 pm
Damn Davo,
Jay just can’t please you no matter what he posts, huh? If that’s the case, why do you continually come back to the blog?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 10th, 2009
5:16 pm
Well, mike, you’re welcome again. I try and be as tolerant as I can.
Huckabee 2012
August 10th, 2009
5:18 pm
Just received this email. Beautiful. I’ll be at the company picnic now that I know 60 idiots won’t be.
LETTER FROM THE BOSS
Dear employee:
As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that
Barrack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. But since we cannot increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead. This has really been bothering me, since I believe we are family here and I didn’t know how to choose who would have to go. So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty ‘Obama’ bumper stickers on our employees’ cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can’t think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change…… I gave it to them.
I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.
THE BOSS
DebbieDoRight
August 10th, 2009
5:19 pm
Oh Mike PLEASE
I know you’re not calling anyone on this board a bigot!!! Yet, you conveniently don’t say anything to Whine or some of the others who have taken bigotry to a new art form!! Check out the Sotomayer op-ed and you’ll see your conservative friends true colors. HINT: It ain’t brown, red, or even blue…………..
Scooter
August 10th, 2009
5:20 pm
Once again, all you have to do is follow the money to see why bills get introduced!
Joey
August 10th, 2009
5:21 pm
Jay is just ticked because this is one more straw. The camel is beginning to stagger.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
5:23 pm
Exactly Scooter. Maybe if I hit the Mega Millions, I can buy a rep or two.
I Report/ I Am The Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 10th, 2009
5:33 pm
The final Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Election 2008 showed Barack Obama leading John McCain 52% to 46%. We are pleased to report that those figures precisely matched the actual election returns.
Rasmussen 8/9/2009 Obozo approval rating 49% approve 51% disapprove
Hardee har har har.
Scooter
August 10th, 2009
5:36 pm
ABM, what a waste of money! No bang for your buck.
I Report/ I Am The Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 10th, 2009
5:37 pm
Say, how’s that stimulus working for ya?-
More than 126,000 consumers filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. last month, 34 percent more than in July 2008, the ABI said in its latest report on Aug. 4. The increase came after a 36.5 percent rise in personal bankruptcies nationwide in the first six months, to 675,351, according to the ABI research group, which interprets data collected by the National Bankruptcy Research Center.
ew
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
5:42 pm
Scooter
Maybe that’s what they mean by “special interest” groups. They must get a special interest rate on the donations when they’re deposited. I think I’d be better off taking lottery winnings to a strip club. At least I’d get some enjoyment from the money spent.
Taxpayer
August 10th, 2009
5:43 pm
I try and be as tolerant as I can.
I commend you for your civility, Redneck.
DebbieDoRight
August 10th, 2009
5:45 pm
It seems to me that the US is getting ready to implode. We have far-righters, far-lefters, and they are continually in a battle for the souls of americans but all they’re doing is polarizing the country. We’ve drawn lines and double-dared anyone with a differing opinion to cross. I had asked myself when did we become such a bitter, hate-filled, arrogant people; who’d rather be heard than be correct? It came to me when this happened:
December 12, 2000. The case that resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush; by the United States Supreme Court.
We’ve been bickering, heckling, yelling and tearing each other down ever since. Where are all of the “middle of the roaders” at? Where are the moderates and independents? Maybe with them, we can get this country back in the business of doing the people’s business.
Pogo
August 10th, 2009
5:45 pm
Exactly why does this bother you so much Jay when everything else the people in control (your people) are doing up there doesn’t? The money for these planes is chump change compared to the billions and billions that are being thrown away daily on the “stimulus” and that could be thrown away on this Health Care thing and this Climate Change package? Could it be that your animosity towards this is because you inherently know, as a good progressive, the right populist chord to strike with the “ignorant” public? And mean-while, you conveniently leave the real truth about the really destructive issues in the dark (such as those aforementioned) for you and your kind to push on an un-aware or on an uncaring public? I don’t come here much anymore because it is full of predictability from both you and your sad band of followers. The Liberal Lap Dogs (LLD’s) here are pathetically cliche. I have to say, as an outside looking and who is absolutely disallusioned with both political parties, with the exception of a few of the bloggers here, the conservatives win hands down as far as actually putting thought into their comments. The LLD’s spout the same old tired “Bush did this, Bush did that” rhetoric and they are incapable of actually looking objectively at what their leaders (Obama, Pelosi and Read), who are now and have been totally in control, are trying to do to this country. That is wearing very thin very fast with the American public. Un-American indeed. If Pelosi wants to see un-American, she only needs to look as far as her own mirror.
Scooter
August 10th, 2009
5:46 pm
ABM, let me know if you win the Lotto. I’ll go with you!
Taxpayer
August 10th, 2009
5:47 pm
More than 126,000 consumers filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. last month
Dang Republicans. Always going for the easy way out of the binds that they manage to get themselves into. I thought Bush fixed that problem with his “consumer protection act”. I guess he must have overlooked some little loophole.
Michael
August 10th, 2009
5:52 pm
And they berated the 3 CEO’s that represented the working class – the US Automobile Industry- about their jets.
Kamchak
August 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
Taxpayer
I know you told mom to get me a IBM PC–but an 80286 running on MS-DOS 3.3? This time you have gone too far.
Scooter
August 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
Dang Pogo, what blog do you visit that makes you happy?
electrician
August 10th, 2009
6:08 pm
DebbieDoRight 5;45 I think you hit it,looking at all these postings over the last few weeks proves that we are at a complete standoff with plenty of hate to go around, just the same stuff over and over,day after day. we have turned into a bunch of angry americans,this is my first post in a few days,I am tired of it,gonna play grand tourismo 5 with my grandsons now.
TnGelding
August 10th, 2009
6:09 pm
Well, I’m sure Gulfstream and its employees would beg to differ. If it comes out of the stimulus appropriation I have no objection. It would probably save money in the long run, since the older planes are going to have to be replaced eventually anyway.
The belt-tightening starts next year.
RW-(the original)
August 10th, 2009
6:13 pm
If the government buys a private jet doesn’t that make it a public jet?
Taxpayer
August 10th, 2009
6:13 pm
I know you told mom to get me a IBM PC–but an 80286 running on MS-DOS 3.3? This time you have gone too far.
Ouch! Dang, this talk brings back some memories. I remember way back when we got our first HP 10 MByte hard drive to hook up to our PC at work. The hard drive was about three foot long by six inches wide by three foot tall. My new PC has a 640 GByte hard drive. Times have sure changed.
Angry Black Man
August 10th, 2009
6:15 pm
Scooter
I’ll let you know. It will probably be all over the news though. “One Man Stimulus Package”, a Channel 2 Exclusive at 6′o clock.
electrician
Do like me, I avoid the topics that I know are going to be heated. I’ve gotten a headache from the health care debate. When I hear it on tv, I change the channel. Sometimes, I wish I still had my subscription to the Playboy Channel. But all is not lost, football season is around the corner. Yaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!