Question About Pelosi's Plane, Is It Usual Practice for SOTH To Receive Government Transport?

[we can do it]

What exactly is the issue? Is it just a "size" thing? Or does the Speaker of the House normally get transportation provided to them?

[bryant69]

1. Hastert got a plane

I think it's a security issue - they are third in line to the Presidency (probably).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[we can do it]

3. That's What I Thought But I Couldn't Find a Link To Support the Fact

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

7. Elsewhere on DU...

I don't know where it is, but somebody posted a link to the statement by the House Sargeant At Arms, who is responsible for security matters, that explained the situation. All of this, beginning with Hastert's use of a military plane, was at the recommendation of the Sargeant At Arms. The link is out there, probably here or in GD-Politics.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Facts & Key Points

Facts

Key Points

[Kagemusha]

2. It's normal now. 9/11 rammed home that commercial flights have risks

however small those risks might be in actuality, it's something that throwing a little money at can basically eliminate, so why not, from the military's point of view.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. this is HUGH111 I'm series

I've said that a Brazilian times!

[varkam]

18. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[radfringe]

4. Speaker is 3rd in line

after 9-11 DHS/white house security decided the speaker needed secret service protection and would not be allowed to fly on commercial planes - so a military transport was provided to then speaker HASSTERT

Hasttert's district was Illinois, alot closer to DC than Pelosi's district of San Francisco CA.

The requirements for the plane is that it has to be able to go non-stop, i.e. no refueling. The plane Hasstert can't go non-stop from DC to CA, so a larger plane is needed

The whole issue about the plane was leaked to the press by someone in the Pentagon, whoever that leaker was neglected to also leak the non-stop reuqirement and the fact DHS requires the speaker to be provided with a plane.

Pelosi is being swift-boated

[originalpckelly]

6. I wonder: why does it have to be non-stop? Why not refuel?

That might have avoided this whole flap.

[radfringe]

8. security reasons

the more stops there are the more risk to "attack" while on the ground

this requirement is one set by Secret Service and DHS

[City Lights]

19. House Sergeant says it's for security purposes:

"The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable. This will ensure communications capabilities and also enhance security," House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood said in a statement. "I made the recommendation to use military aircraft based upon the need to provide necessary levels of security for ranking national leaders, such as the Speaker."

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/02/sergeant-at-arms-i-requested-larger.html

[laughingloudly]

29. Landing and taking off use more fuel.....

so the SOTH is trying to help preserve the environment by getting a plane that can travel the entire distance in one jump. She wants to reduce her carbon footprint! She can carry other staff with her as well!

[City Lights]

31. Hi laughingloudly!

:hi: Welcome to DU!

And thank you for your service. :patriot:

[Solo_in_MD]

37. The Gulfstream, even with additional TO/Landings would never use more fuel than the other plane

[madame defarge]

10. Well, technically...

The Speaker is 2nd in line. The president is in office (unfortunately). The VP is first in line of succession (again, unfornately, in our current administration). The Speaker is then 2nd in line of succession.

[radfringe]

12. forgive the error

I'm still recovering from the flu...

[madame defarge]

14. You're excused...

This won't count on your final grade. B-)

Get better.

[radfringe]

22. rofl

when's the final exam? OMG, if I sleep on the textbooks, will the knowledge seep into my brain? I have 3 dogs, they all ate my homework

:rofl:

[wakeme2008]

25. The final exam was this morning and YOU MISS it

:rofl:

[radfringe]

28. AHHHHH!!!!

my 5 cats used my daily schedule as a litter box - I know how to put lipstick and other cosmetics on a pig - can I do a make-up exam?

[madame defarge]

34. Yes...

Bring your make-up to room 222 in 5 minutes. And leave the blue eye shadow behind (unless you want 5 points deducted from your final grade).

[madame defarge]

35. OH yeah, and NO MIRRORS! n/t

[we can do it]

20. That Is Exactly What I Thought

[originalpckelly]

5. It is usual after 9/11, the whole issue here is that the Sergeant at Arms...

asked for a large enough plane to go non-stop from D.C. to California. This plane would be a number of weather conditions, larger than former SOTH Hastert's plane.

Now, on the other hand, the Sergeant at Arms may have made an unreasonable request in asking for a plane that goes non-stop, because the old Hastert plane can probably go all the way to California if it refuels somewhere.

I want to know why it has to be non-stop, because honestly stopping to refuel doesn't seem that much more dangerous.

[olaus]

16. As I

understand the plane use before was a Gulf stream III if that is correct it has plenty of range to get to CA without refueling.

[originalpckelly]

30. Correct:

2,122.03998 nautical miles is the distance from San Francisco (in general) to Washington D.C.

The Gulfstream III has a range of 3,767 nautical miles. The trip from D.C. to SF is a little over half of the range the Gulfstream III can travel.

Now in a headwind, which can go up to hundreds of miles per hour in the jet stream, the fuel efficiency of a plane would probably go down, because the plane is wasting fuel to counter the wind and it travels slower having to burn more fuel. As I understand it from an interview with Greta Van Susteren, that's exactly the problem that was taken into consideration for this.

This makes sense to me, because the cruising speed of a GS III is 528 mph. If winds aloft range from 100-200 mph against the way she was traveling, this would substantially reduce the range of the airplane.

My question is why it couldn't just refuel? Would they have to do a security sweep of any airport they needed to land at?

I have to wonder if Cheney is behind this, because these are the aircraft that he uses. It should also be noted, however, that all different types of people use these planes, Secretary Rice comes to mind.

[kskiska]

27. Or more importantly, from California to DC

in case she has to get back to Washington in a hurry.

[madame defarge]

13. BTW...

WHY are we still talking about this??? It only feeds into the divisive, diversion tactics of the republic party. It is a non-issue. End of story.

[we can do it]

26. I Wanted To Rebut with Facts An Email I Received, Is That OK with You?

BTW I fully support Pelosi and I did read the earlier post that the sargent at arms requested the larger plane, but what I wanted to know as was stated in the OP was what is the normal procedure. How you can misconstrue this is beyond me.

:shrug:

[madame defarge]

33. Sorry...

It's just that this seems to be the dominent topic all over the blogs lately & the more space we give, the more we're diverted from the real issues.

BTW, it's not a matter of the size of the plane but a matter of distance the plane can fly without refueling. Since Hastert lives in Illinois, the plane he was alotted didn't need to go the distance (but certainly needed to carry all his extra weight).

[we can do it]

36. Its Ok - I Just Like To Refute Things I Get Concisely and Then Move On

I agree it's a distraction and getting it out of the way will hopefully bring important issues like Iraq back to the spot light.

[moondust]

17. I think the issue is

was this a conspiracy to swiftboat Nancy? Somebody at the Pentagon "leaked" that Nancy wanted this big plane that seated 42 and had a bedroom and dining facilities and what not, making it look like she was a hypocrite and a glutton at the public trough. The MSM picked up on it and with delight began skewering her for it. The Pentagon leaker either erroneously believed that Nancy was behind the request or knew better but took the liberty to start up a smear job against her anyway.

[we can do it]

32. That Is What I Thought and the Reason I Wanted Facts To Discredit Them

Thanks

[patricia92243]

21. I want her to fly commercially just once. The Secret Service will have a fit , and the correct plan

plane will be thrust upon her.

[VP505]

23. Actually, the issue

is a non issue, unfortunately for Pelosi the RePukes are looking for anything they can smear her with. It's the same old story, throw some crap against the wall and hope it sticks, even if it doesn't there are enough uninformed voters that it plants a seed that will be resurrected and used to smear long after the factual details fade from memory. That's a reality we will all have to deal with for the next two years and keep smacking down whenever they throw it at us.

[dogday]

24. They started providing Hastert with private

transportation after 9-11, but even before, they advised him not to use commercial air....