Uh, 707*5=3536. So, the bill, "including airfare" to Alaska was less than the room alone.
Read again. First of all, you misquoted the AP and Powerline. She filed five days and four nights of expenses.
The point is, the room alone, for a five-hour conference, was nearly $3,000...and when you include air-fare, was well over $3,000.
I can't imagine any of my clients liking it if I billed them a 5-day/4-night stay for a 5-hour meeting.
Be honest...if this were a Dem, FReepers woud criticize it, even if it's a long way from Alaska. Why hold our own to lesser standards?