Democrats Question Cost of Bush's Sea Landing

washington Post (of course) ^ | 05/08/2003 | Puppage

[Puppage]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in Congress on Wednesday demanded to know the costs of President Bush's jet landing on an aircraft carrier last week that they branded a costly political stunt.

The Bush administration disclosed on Tuesday that Bush insisted on landing on the USS Lincoln in a S-3B Viking jet even though the carrier was within helicopter range because he wanted to share the pilots' experience. The ship was returning from the Gulf region after the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

The Democrats issued a news release headed 'shameless' in large red type that cited the 'nerve required to delay the return of 4,000 sailors to their families after 10 months at sea in order to stage (a) photo-op.'

[Puppage]

Hmm, and WHERE were the rats when x42 spend the last year of his term traveling the globe with 130+ "friends"...specifically Africa.Anyone remember the Great Stainmaker tying up LAX for 2 hours WHILE HE GOT A HAIRCUT?

Where was their outrage then?

[ChadGore]

Great Stainmaker ?

[mict42]

The President is Commander-in-Chief. Enough said.

[dalebert]

I still say we should ask them(Dems) to return pork to offset this Presidents widely popular trip to show support for the troops. Maybe they could ante up a little more so the President can do it again. I loved seeing our guys so pumped up.

[Jeff Head]

This isn't about cost or anything but political ambition to these scallywags and carpetbaggers.

BUSH ON DECK

What Bush did will be remembered fondly and with great respect by Patriotic Americans for decades to come.

[Steely Tom]

The Democrat street is in a foul mood. It's seething. I'm scared.

(steely)

[hapy]

The Rats should use this as an opportunity to raise their taxes that they so much desire.

God what a jealous mean group of people.

some Pres land planes and some Pres land interns.

[abnegation]

[Puppage]

Clinton, Lewinski..THE DRESS?

[Cacophonous]

But you see, the GOP is handling this poorly. Why set Clinton up as the standard of behavior?

Instead of pointing to Clinton's transgressions, and saying that Bush is better in comparison (and really, is it a question?), what Bush should say is this:

"The sole purpose of my visit to the Abraham Lincoln was to acknowledge the soldiers and sailors and the fine job they have done, and to memorialize those that did not return.

"While it was not my intent, I can see how my Democrat opponents can be concerned that they will not have the same opporunities to come before the public, and that they may feel they will be at a disadvantage come campaign time.

"So, in the spirit of fair play, I will have the General Accounting Office compute the cost to the taxpayer of the visit, and my re-election campaign re-imburse the government in that amount. I will also donate a like amount to the National Rifle Association, as atonement for not vetoing the Assault Rifle Ban."

That's the high road, and the dems would have nothing to complain about.

[Semper Paratus]

As said before, the only time the democrats talk about costs is on tax cuts and the military.

[50sDad]

At the end of the day, it is going to be the Dem's reaction to the President's landing, and not the landing itself, that boots them out of power for another four years. After all these years of watching my party shoot themselves in the foot, how grand to see the other guys do it!

[mountaineer]

I think any one of the Clintoons' overseas trips - at taxpayer expense - more than makes up for Pres. Bush's little jaunt to the aircraft carrier where he did what a commander in chief should do, that is, address his troops.

[Woahhs]

I have just four words for any democrat pissing and whining about useless, expensive flights:

Retiring Senator John Glenn.

[Sgt_Schultze]

These weren't just trips. Spunkman and the hildebeast scheduled these "official" trips during spring break so they could show Web Hubble's daughter the world on the taxpayer's nickel.

[ricpic]

Democrats worried about costs. Talk about an oxymoron!

[Havoc]

Rats still trying to find something to be outraged about.

[CaptRon]

the 'nerve required to delay the return of 4,000 sailors to their families after 10 months at sea in order to stage (a) photo-op.'

I'd like to cite the nerve of the Democrats to tell this blatant lie. In fact, there was an article posted on FR some time this week which stated that the ship was actually on the way home 2 days ahead of schedule due to the President's visit.

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, to use their own phrase, these guys are "mean spirited." But what else is new?