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...
Me thinks ye’ll be waitin’ a long time, laddy-buck. A long time indeed.
What he does best are photo ops and campaigning.
Romney on Hannity said it best. The guy is out running around in campaign mode while Pelosi runs the country. the guy has yet to govern.
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 that make the President look good and hide any facts that will detract from his persona.
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