Posted on 08/20/2009 10:06:37 AM PDT by roaddog727
From a former Air Force Colonel....
Subject: The Date
First, let me say that I've moved three presidents up to now and I've seenincredible waste. But, the "new" guy really takes the cake. I don't havean issue with the President promising his wife dinner and a show or that heeven takes his wife out.
But, when I saw the news say that the date cost $24,000, here's what youDON'T know.
Three days before "dinner" a C-17 flew Marines and the helicoptermaintenance equipment to JFK Airport .
The day before "dinner" I flew the US Secret Service (USSS) and themotorcade to JFK Airport .
Our crew of 5 spent two days and nights at the Hilton in Times Square . Myhotel bill: $621.66 plus $64 a day in per diem. The USSS guys were at adifferent Hilton in NYC, so figure that cost another $14,000 (or so) plusper diem. The Marines had to have cost as much and were there four days, sofigure another $55,000 plus per diem (for 44 Marines).
We were supposed to fly the motorcade back and go home, but the Air Forcewas so short C-17's that we were re-tasked to take the motorcade back,return to JFK and take the helicopter back to Quantico.
When we got back to JFK, while the pilot was turning the plane around topark, he noticed a rotor blade sticking out of the hangar where thehelicopter was parked and informed me that either it wasn't ready to transport or it was flying home. After shutting down I walked over to thehangar and to my surprise I find FIVE helicopters, not ONE.
We're obviously not transporting five big helicopters. I went and talked tothe Marines guarding the "fleet" and found that they were flying all fivehelicopters home and we were only transporting the Marines and themaintenance equipment. After talking to the Marine(s) in charge, I was toldthat the White House requested FIVE helicopters. The Marines told me thatthey spent all morning trying to figure out how much it cost them to comeand said they figured it cost them $140,000 to stay there (I don't knowwhere they came up with that)and the trip's total had to be about $1,000,000.
We heard that the President didn't use Air Force One (the 747) so I asked if he came in on one of the 757's. I was told that he came in on THREE AirForce Lear jets.
So, date night consisted of:
2 C-17's flying three missions,
3 Lear jets,
5 Helicopters,
1 Presidential Motorcade,
44 US Marines, more than 20 USSS personnel on just our plane.
Who knows what it cost the NYPD and NY Port Authority (at the airport) in overtime.
These are the same people that chastised the automobile CEO's for using their aircraft. It further proves that the media only use the facts thatmake the President look good and hide any facts that will detract from his persona.
Is this the 'change' we expected?
Talk with friends and those who are not blinded by charisma. Many folks I know who voted for Obama are very disappointed and sorry they did so.
The Emperor's clothes on a grand scale.
"Transparency"? Remember, 2010 isjust around the corner. All we have to do is survive long enough...
Can you say "Fraud, waste and abuse" boys and girls?
I thought you could.
As always, have at it.
I heard the price for the ‘First Family’..(blech) to visit the Grand Canyon was an ASTRONOMICAL amount.
In his heart, Baraq understands it’s all over in 3.5 years and he’s going to party hard while it lasts.
I will refrain from making a comment. But the theme song from “The Jeffersons” is appropriate, isn’t it?
Did they go on these type of extravagant vacations/dates before becoming POTUS? Or are they taking advantage of ‘free servicess’?
Yeah. Then he’s GONE and leaves us the big, d@mned mess he created.....like all the other politicians.
No doubt.
I’ll take ‘B’ for $500, please.
Can this be verified and fact checked?
Is info on Presidential travel and related costs available to the public? if not, why not?
Yeah, this turd will run up at least a couple billion before we get rid of him. Remember, all this foreign travel is just a vacation trip also. He accomplish nothing but a sight seeing tour.
Thooretically, all presidential expenditures are public record (if not national security related) I can’t immagine that date night in NYC is a national security matter.
am not surprised at all...the media would be all over the previous administration if this had happened back then. We jumped through hoops at AAFB to make sure the presidential stuff was always taken care of first, and took great pride in doing so. But now I’m SO glad I’m retired...
spending like there is no tomorrow leads to ruin...isn’t that how our country got to the current economic state we’re in? Couldn’t he set a much better example if he were to try to be more fiscally frugal with the taxpayers’ money used to support his administration? I have no problem with security measures for his safety, nor do I have a problem with a special date for his wife—I do have a problem with excess though, and it seems that the mission could have been definitely streamlined. Oh well, what do I know, I’m just an old retired lady...
Date night in NYC might not be a national security matter, but the costs & nature of the President’s protective detail (whether for date night or anything else) sure is - we’re never going to see the full cost of that (or any other) trip 0 takes.
Because I really would like to see some definitive documentation on these trips and what they cost including the C-17’s and all that, rather than just a quoted email with some numbers and speculation.
I’ll be away for the weekend but when I get back I am going to find out how to find out.
Additionally because it seems the Obama’s take several family members along with them when they travel, they did for the Europe trip and the Grand Canyon trip.
It’s bad enough I have to pay for the Obamas, I don’t want to pay for cousin whoever’s vacation.
“Because I really would like to see some definitive documentation on these trips and what they cost including the C-17’s and all that, rather than just a quoted email with some numbers and speculation.”
And rightly so - this just gives you are starting point from which to begin poking and proding
From a FORMER Air Force Colonel....
Yep. Former.
I hear a lot of my peers are putting in their papers to go either IRR, or retire.
Waiting for the ABCNNBCBS to notice ....
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
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Still waiting.
Still waiting.
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Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
Still waiting.
AND HOW!!!!!!!!
Maybe, heneeds a newkeyboard.
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