Pelosi -- Da Plane, Da Plane... Give Me Da Plane!

Democrats want to justify Nancy Pelosi's request for her own commerical sized jet by saying Republican Hastert used a military plane to fly back and forth to his home state when he was the House Speaker.

Yes... but there are some "minor" differences between the commuter sized plane used by Hastert and the large commerical sized jet to which Democrat Pelosi believes she is entitled, capable of carrying almost 200 people and at an estimated cost to the taxpayers of $15 million per year!

From CBS news (AP) ...

"After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Pentagon agreed to provide the House speaker, who is second in the line of presidential succession behind the vice president, with a military plane for added security during trips home. Hastert flew in a commuter-size Air Force jet." (Emphasis mine.)

From the Boston Globe (AP)...

"A waste of the taxpayers' money, some said, claiming her trips would cost 15 million a year if she used planes such as the military version of the Boeing 757-200. In its commercial configuration the 757-200 usually seats 175-190 passengers." (Emphasis mine.)

"Pelosi should lead by example, argued others, because a bigger plane consumes more fuel and contributes more to the global warming she expresses concern about."

"'The jet that Pelosi has produces 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide an hour, far more than the previous speaker used,' said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. Pelosi's predecessor was Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill."

"'By commandeering a huge government plane for her personal transport to California, this is totally contradictory to the alarm bells we heard her ringing in the Science Committee just a few hours ago,' Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., said."

And yes, I know... but, but, but, Queen Pelosi must fly in "da plane" all the way to California ...as do millions of other Americans, Nancy!

AAR