Despite the recent outcry over the massive increase in travel by members, these thinly disguised publicly paid vacations have not only continued but the House of Representatives has now approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy elite Gulfstream jets to add comfort to their travels. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been singled out for much criticism in the increase of such vacations, but appears so unconcerned that the Democrats are pushing through an expansion of the fleet for the members to enjoy at public expense.
The Air Force asked for one Gulfstream 550 jet ($65 million) as part of an ongoing upgrade of its passenger air service, but the House expanded the number to be sure to cover any future travel demands for members.
The company’s literature bills the Gulfstream G550 as a luxury business jet, “with exceptional comfort [and] . . . features up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, a choice of 12 floor plan configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers.” They have everything that our leaders might need, except of course a modicum of shame.
Nothing but the best for our public servants. With millions out of work, record federal deficits, increasing taxes, and a trashed economy, one can understand why members would want to get away from it all. Of course, as the public officials bearing much responsibility for these woes, these junkets are particularly outrageous for average citizens. I have long argued for a virtual shutdown of such publicly funded travel for members. At one time, lobbyists and corporate interests would take the members on these vacations (under claims of “fact-finding missions” or educational trips). With that loophole closed, members simply shifted the cost to the taxpayers rather than pay for their own vacations.
It is a measure of how blind the voters have become to corruption that the Democrats have no fear whatsoever in pushing for such appropriations. Members have succeeded in convincing voters that no matter how corrupt or hypocritical they may be, voters cannot risk losing a given seat to the opposing party. As a result, members can fly to Europe on glorified shopping trips with little fear of repercussions at the polls.
For the full story, click here.
GWLSMom,
Sure, I’m game for that too, but I still think the catapults have a much more entertaining finish. The thought of Mitch McConnell skipping across the Atlantic like a flat rock makes me giggle. But picturing him on the bus has it’s own distinct charms. Especially a late night or muti-day run. Preferably a bus full of grumpy babies and even grumpier biker mom’s and their “old men” bikers in transit back home after their latest turn in the clink. lol yeah. That’d get ol’ Mitch pretty twisted up. He would be sweating in buckets.
Thanks for the happy thought.
buddha writes: Catapults.
For the big ocean crossings you might have to step up to a trebuchet.
why not just put them on Greyhound? they did go to Washington to serve the people. let them see how the people travel when they have no discretionary income for regular flights.
I’d like to see my congressman in line at the downtown Greyhound station. its next door to a tattoo parlor and has a real nice bar next to the ticket counter. it’s not like he’d have to travel sober.
plus there are plenty of hookers there for evening departures.
The more I think about this, the more I think I have a solution for the politicians travel problems that allows them to travel in privacy and give the tax payer the most value for the dollar spent.
Catapults.
For the big ocean crossings you might have to step up to a trebuchet.
I fully agree that this is a waste of taxpayer money and another example of pork barrel spending gone awry. However, I do disagree with the “Democrats are pushing through an expansion of the fleet for the members to enjoy at public expense” statement. The earmark was also requested by a Republican congressman from Georgia, where the planes are made. When appropriate, the blame should be shared among those responsible.
I also failed to see in the original article how Nancy Pelosi was responsible for this specific appropriation, but I’ll take your word it….
“It is a measure of how blind the voters have become to corruption that the Democrats have no fear whatsoever in pushing for such appropriations.”
JT,
This is the only point in the story I disagree with you on.
My take is that it is not the voters blindness, since most will never have this story penetrate their consciousness and so won’t have anything to react to. The corollary to that is that most in Congress already have little regard for what the voters think, or their ability to affect their actions. Their congressional service usually guarantees them lucrative offers and opportunities if they lose elections. Plus they get great healthcare and equally great pension plans. The issue has never been the need for change, but how to effectuate it when one is living in a Plutocracy/Corporatocracy, that purports to be run with democratic values.
Aye, mespo, that Twain was a sharp fellow.
Mespo (Twain) said it right …
Jill –
“Again, he (Obama) is not a progressive, he is a corporatist.”
I am afraid he has begun to bend to the will of the corporations, there can be no doubt about that. I also think, though, that he truly has lofty aspirations about where we should be as a country (even if those ambitions were naive at conception) and that he has now begun to realize, and to conform to, the constraints his office holds against those ambitions as congress proves itself to be owned by corporate America on this health care reform bill (among many other issues.)
It seems to be par for the course in government today.
I know this thread is supposed to be about misuse of tax-dollars in order to make comfier flights for congress, but this also reflects the hot-topic of health care reform. It seems it is all about themselves, with little to do with the citizens of this country, and that’s where the topics collide.
Rafflaw –
“I think Congress is getting a “deal” on these jets because they were used extensively to ferry secret detainees to secret CIA Black Site prisons.”
Then at least we know they were “renditioned” in style …
“The offspring of riches: Pride, vanity, ostentation, arrogance, tyranny”
–Mark Twain
In that sequence, I think.
TU,
Improving the justice that is currently being denied to immigrants is an important issue, but Congressional misuse of funds is also very important. We can deal with more than one issue at at time.
Jill,
You are right that some of these same people were outraged at the auto execs who flew to Washington. Maybe Congress should listen to their own advice and drive some Malibu’s around for awhile.
I’m sorry, but doesn’t this country have more pressing issues to attend to like, oh I don’t know, IMMIGRATION!
rafflaw,
What better advertizement?
Also, weren’t these clowns excoriating the auto company executives, not too far back?
I think Congress is getting a “deal” on these jets because they were used extensively to ferry secret detainees to secret CIA Black Site prisons.
This is incredible, Mr. Potter, everything is turning into Potterville. Where is George Bailey when you need him? Clarence will not get his wings, help George act quick.
Alas here he is:
Mojo,
I think you have that exactly right. Looking at financial issues I think especially demonstrates your point: “and another party who claims to be against their schemes but quietly supports them anyway.” To me this explains why my very wealthy and extremely conservative neighbor thinks Obama is a socialist when in fact he is a corporatist who’s on her side. Many liberal people think he’s a progressive and he’s on their side. Again, he is not a progressive, he is a corporatist. One man, same actions, neither group is correct. If having the same financial plans, donors, and minions as Bush is either: 1. socialist or 2. progressive I’ve misunderstood those terms. But I think the subterfuge of a “two party system” works well for both parties and their handlers.
It reminds me of the state government officials who hold a vote to determine if they should give themselves a raise.
How does that vote usually go?
Not only do they “let” us eat cake, here it is being crammed down our throats …
It is particularly beneficial to the establishment, those who really pull the strings, when there is one party who unabashedly supports the upper-class, and another party who claims to be against their schemes but quietly supports them anyway.
A real win-win.
But Ms. Pelosi sure does look great in her newest pants-suit and pearls.
When I watch Congress on TV I think I have entered another dimension and I guess I have. This isn’t true of all of them, but most of them speak loudly, gesticulate wildly and talk about nothing. I really do believe they are completely detached from life. This is very dangerous because they cannot solve problems if they don’t even realize they exist. I don’t know how this could be remedied but it needs to be, pronto. Both the president and the congress have no desire and no need to interact with reality. You can see it on their blank faces, in their blank eyes, which show only petulance when challenged, even slightly to look at what’s going on. And yes, there is also something very wrong with how people react to our political overlords. It’s not the first time this has occurred in history and when it has, it has never ended well.
More White Collar Crime scene tape. Wrap it around Congress and the airfields.
Well written Prof. Turley. I have been in the process of fighting lies and corruption from government officials for the 3.5 years since I retired. Stories like this make me wonder why I should try because even with irrefutible facts and evidence, I still lose. As you said, our officials have no shame; I would add that the law is also most often unable to shame them.
O Superman
by Laurie Anderson from “Big Science”
O Superman. O judge. O Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad.
O Superman. O judge. O Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad.
Hi. I’m not home right now. But if you want to leave a
message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
Hello? This is your Mother. Are you there? Are you
coming home?
Hello? Is anybody home? Well, you don’t know me,
but I know you.
And I’ve got a message to give to you.
Here come the planes.
So you better get ready. Ready to go. You can come
as you are, but pay as you go. Pay as you go.
And I said: OK. Who is this really? And the voice said:
This is the hand, the hand that takes. This is the
hand, the hand that takes.
This is the hand, the hand that takes.
Here come the planes.
They’re American planes. Made in America.
Smoking or non-smoking?
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom
of night shall stay these couriers from the swift
completion of their appointed rounds.
‘Cause when love is gone, there’s always justice.
And when justice is gone, there’s always force.
And when force is gone, there’s always Mom. Hi Mom!
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. So hold me,
Mom, in your long arms.
In your automatic arms. Your electronic arms.
In your arms.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Your petrochemical arms. Your military arms.
In your electronic arms.
There is one context where this could be useful. Our reputation in the world is like the residue in an outhouse, and in need of fragrance.
If each congress person was supplying the fragrance, good, then the more trips the merrier.
But if turd blossom is still going to be shipped around the globe in our name, different story.
What more can I say?
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/08/dna-of-what-is-killing.html