Cheney Flies in Comfort (AP's Nedra Pickler Whines About Veep's iPod)

AP ^ | Wednesday, December 21, 2005 | Nedra Pickler

[kristinn]

ABOARD AIR FORCE II - Vice President Dick Cheney didn't suffer for comfort on the cavernous cargo plane that he rode into Iraq and Afghanistan this week.

The Air Force loaded the plane with the "silver bullet," a mobile home in the sky strapped down in the middle of the belly. The accommodations included sleeping and working quarters that protected him from the noise and cold of the cargo hold during a more than five-hour flight into Baghdad.

The rest of his traveling party was not so lucky. Cheney's senior staff and junior aides were assigned to a cramped three rows of seats in front of the bullet, while reporters and Secret Service agents had to sit in jump seats along the side with a view of Cheney's stainless steel exterior walls.

SNIP

The vice president is an iPod fan, and keeping it charged is a priority for his staff.

Normally that isn't an issue, even when he's flying around the world. Air Force II is equipped with outlets in each row of seats.

But when Dick Cheney was traveling home overnight Wednesday from his diplomatic mission, most of the outlets went on the fritz.

Working passengers began lining up their laptops to share the power from a couple of working outlets — particularly the reporters who urgently needed to prepare their articles to transmit during a quick refueling stop in England.

But when Cheney said his iPod needed to be recharged, it took precedent above all else and dominated one precious outlet for several hours. The vice president's press staff intervened so a reporter could use the outlet for 15 minutes to charge a dead laptop, but then the digital music device was plugged back in.

That way, Cheney got his press coverage and his music, too.

[kristinn]

It's good to be the Veep!

[My2Cents]

I guess this AP news chick would rather that Cheney freeze to death on these flights.

[xcamel]

But she doesn't complain about her neighbors forcing her to pick hot steaming doggie-doo with her dainty clear plastic gloved hands, now does she?

[jennyjenny]

What do you expect from someone named Nedra Pickler?

[Ron in Acreage]

Anything to nitpick. That's all they live for. The liberal media are professional sissies.

[Mike Darancette]

.The Air Force loaded the plane with the "silver bullet," a mobile home in the sky strapped down in the middle of the belly.

Way cool.

[jaredt112]

I wonder how long until members of the Senate start asking whether this is an impeachable offense because of the law that states you aren't allowed to charge iPods on an Air Force cargo plane. </sarcasm>

[crazyhorse691]

The reporters should have been duct taped to the wings. Ya ain't going to please them, so, might as well please yourself.

[atomicpossum]

The gist of this article: "Cheney bad. Cheney scum. Cheney should suffer like the poor women and minorities he crushes beneath his boot."

[GeorgiaDawg32]

duct tape hell..remember "flight of the phoenix" with jimmy stewart?? let them just hang on and hope for the best..:)

[furquhart]

Apple ought to run commercials showing that both the Vice President and the President use an iPod.

[kevkrom]

The reporter is just being snotty because the reporters weren't given VIP treatment. Frankly, they should just be grateful that they were allowed inside the plane in the first place, rather than whining about the accommodations.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

Fritz is on it!

[My2Cents]

Nedra Nit-Pickler

[Founding Father]

Exactly who put a gun to the babette's head and made her go on the trip? She could always arrange her own transportation. I'd never let these scum ride on AF1 or AF2.

[theFIRMbss]

>Cheney Flies in Comfort

Yeah, I have heard that
he may be getting back with
Renee. Weird couple.

[TomGuy]

Working passengers began lining up their laptops to share the power from a couple of working outlets — particularly the reporters who urgently needed to prepare their articles to transmit during a quick refueling stop in England.

But when Cheney said his iPod needed to be recharged, it took precedent above all else and dominated one precious outlet for several hours.

Oh the humanity. Making reporters have to wait. Who does he think he is, anyway????

[Only the 2nd most powerful man in the world, Nedra. So, just stand aside, wait your turn, adjust your I[heart]Kerry-kneepads, and shut up.]

[IncPen]

Further proof that the goal of liberalism is to spread the misery equally.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

Good visual.

[mtbopfuyn]

So, the journalist's mommy didn't remind him the day before to charge his own danged lap top? Send him packing, he's too widdle to play with the big dawgs.

[CFC__VRWC]

If it's so bad for the reporters, why do they even go at all? It's not like they're going to report on what actually happened anyway; they're just going to make up whatever it takes to slam the administration. They could do that just as easily from their favorite gay fetish club, ala Jayson Blair.

[commish]

Gee Nedra now you know what is was like for me to travel for the last 23 years of my life! YOu have one 5 hour flight in a military cargo plane and are whining like a little stuck b*tch.

Well tough Shiite lady. I rode in jump seats for up to 19 hours on flights all over the world doing my duty so you can whine about the VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES flying in comfort while you freeze your little knickers off.

Pardon me if I don;t get my panties all in a wad over your plight.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

I don't think SJ would approve.

[OldFriend]

Sounds good to me. Duct tape to the wings!

[ladiesview61]

Hey if I was the Vice President of the USA, I'd sure as heck want to fly in comfort too!!

[crazyhorse691]

duct tape hell..remember "flight of the phoenix" with jimmy stewart?? let them just hang on and hope for the best..:)

---

By duct taping the little skunks you control when they may deplane. All for their safety, of course:-)

[jw777]

I wonder if Nedra's trips on Theresa Heinz's G5 have been terribly uncomfortable?

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Poor babies, the VP should have dumped their sorry arses off in a remote US combat zone for a Christmas in Afghanistan. If our troops can handle it, why not the same for the tough and prissy LMSM?

[gridlock]

I guess these geniuses have never heard of one of these...

[Wristpin]

Frickin libs...Thanks for telling the world about the portable second in command pod!

[Bommer]

Nedra Pickler? Should be Nit Picker!

[bray]

You can imagine that the "silver bullet" was loaded with communication and sound insulation gear. The Stone Age Press just sinks further into the tarpits of histoir! Next time let the broad play which parachute has a parachute at 20,000'.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[mombonn]

Did the Pickle ever complain about albore's accommodations?

rhetorical question

[MoralSense]

Absolutely normal executive quarters on those noisy AF long range cargo birds.

[mombonn]

The reporters should have been duct taped to the wings.

What a waste of duct tape.

[furquhart]

Steve Jobs is a great businessman.

Right now the iPod sells great, but not all across the market. And, I think, it ought to. The damned things are awesome. I have one and I love it as much as life itself.

Well, maybe not quite to that degree - but damned close.

[RJL]

Nedra, While of course none of us here are one of the ubiquitously brilliant progressive liberal scribblers, but if we were national corespondents on the way to Baghdad Iraq, why we would pack an extra battery or two. That's just us morons in flyover country though.

/S

[bray]

Not to mention if she needed power to write these 2 paragraphs of tripe she should not been allowed on.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[WorkingClassFilth]

Glad to hear the presstitutes are being paid fairly for their services.

[Keith in Iowa]

Boo freakin who who who...

If I was in charge, those whazoo apertures of the press would get their reporter's notebook (as in paper...) and a pencil or pen. They could write all they wanted, and call their desk and dictate the story when they got to a phone...kind of like the good old days...

The Press Corps...on their way to becoming the Press Corpse...

[Clioman]

Somebody ought to remind ol' Nedra that when SHE gets elected to be the Veep, then SHE can have first dibs on the power supply: that's what it means to 'have juice.' Otherwise, maybe next time she could fly on United instead...all she has to do is to a) make a reservation and b) convince her boss to buy the ticket.

[Keith in Iowa]

Those don't work on aircraft...at least for power distribution. They'd be great for tying up an unruly reporter or three though...

[truth_seeker]

Reporters don't carry spare batteries?

No doubt if the US government or military was found to not having adequate contingency planning, it would be severely criticized.

[boop]

Yep. Just ban her from the plane, Cheney! Then she won't have anything to whine about. Actually, if I was Bush, I'd forbid ANY more contact with NYT (or AP) reporters, until Jan '09.

[DoughtyOne]

Hmmmm, dose the V.P. have more pull, or do the members of the press?

I think we know the answer to that one. Grow up toots.

[texson66]

"The liberal media are professional sissies."


That's my next tagline! LOTFLMAO!!

[TChris]

I guess this AP news chick would rather that Cheney freeze to death on these flights.

The AP is of the opinion that reporters are just as important as the VP... in their own minds.

[Ol' Sox]

[steveyp]

What in the world is this? Why would a self-respecting organiza... never mind.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Ha - werewolves in the media intimidated by close proximity to a "silver bullet"! LOL!