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Pelosi Plane Report Factually Incorrect
Yesterday the Drudge Report, FOX News and Political Machine ran articles about a report put out by the conservative group Judicial Watch that claimed that Nancy Pelosi had abused her privileges with Pentagon supplied aircraft. Well, not so much, it turns out. ABC , echoed by Politico have both now looked into the matter and found that the actual record finds no such evidence of abuse. In other words, the claim that Pelosi is acting in an "unprecedented" manner is a bunch of hogwash.
Judicial Watch also pushed an often repeated rumor that Pelosi demanded use of a jumbo Air Force C-40, out of a desire to travel in style, I guess. But, again, the facts show that no such trips are on record.
Nor is there any evidence that last-minute cancellations cost taxpayers large sums of money. Nor that Pelosi's staff had tried to arrange for a C-5 aircraft for Pelosi over 2007's Memorial Day recess. Judicial Watch's report, in other words, reads like work of fiction. While some may not agree with the post 9/11 order giving the Speaker of the House the use of military travel, accusing Pelosi of abusing this arrangement seems to be--shocker--just a tad inaccurate.
Here are a couple more contextual articles by Newsweek, and Factcheck.org.
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In fact, it appears that Pelosi uses military aircraft less often than her predecessor, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
Judicial Watch also pushed an often repeated rumor that Pelosi demanded use of a jumbo Air Force C-40, out of a desire to travel in style, I guess. But, again, the facts show that no such trips are on record.
Pelosi did not make any domestic trips on a C-40 during the 23-month period from January 2007 to November 2008. Her trips to San Francisco have all been on smaller executive aircraft, usually an Air Force C-20...
Nor is there any evidence that last-minute cancellations cost taxpayers large sums of money. Nor that Pelosi's staff had tried to arrange for a C-5 aircraft for Pelosi over 2007's Memorial Day recess. Judicial Watch's report, in other words, reads like work of fiction. While some may not agree with the post 9/11 order giving the Speaker of the House the use of military travel, accusing Pelosi of abusing this arrangement seems to be--shocker--just a tad inaccurate.
Here are a couple more contextual articles by Newsweek, and Factcheck.org.
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David Knowles
A journalist, musician and novelist, David Knowles has covered politics at AOL for the past two and a half years...more
Comments (230)
Ryan
2:13PM Mar 12th 2009
David Knowles Loves Nazi Pelosi!
BONG!
BONG!
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SPacificGrove
2:18PM Mar 12th 2009
Gee...Imagine that.....A JudicialWatch/Drudge/Fox/ news report accusing the Democratic Speaker of the House of wrongdoing in regards to abusing her plane privileges, has been proven wrong.....Isn't THAT type of distorted reporting an abuse of power AND privilege??
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(0) honeybunny
2:18PM Mar 12th 2009
Who is Nancy Polosi ?
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(0) JACK DANIELS
3:00PM Mar 12th 2009
IN OTHER WORDS THEY OUTRIGHT LIED...... WHY IS THAT NOT A SUPRISE? THATS ALL REPUBLICANS HAVE LIES LIES AND RECYCLE THE OLD LIES
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(0) nepglazervic
2:25PM Mar 12th 2009
Bet ya she can suck start that jet.
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(0) Rose
2:29PM Mar 12th 2009
Were the memos from Nancy Pelosi's aide, a Ms King a fabrication ? If Pelosi's aides did in fact inquire about on-going availability and bullied not planes may no have been available, then for sure, the Speaker is taking advantage of the position. It was reported that members of the family reimburse the govt. under $ 1,000 per flight per person, a small fraction of the actual cost.
Everyone understands safety.
Everyone also hears the Speaker's harsh criticism of CEO's who flaunt lavish lifestyle now, while the great majority is doing with less.
Perhaps the Speaker should use these planes less, return her pay increase and call on her colleagues to do the same !!!!!
Everyone understands safety.
Everyone also hears the Speaker's harsh criticism of CEO's who flaunt lavish lifestyle now, while the great majority is doing with less.
Perhaps the Speaker should use these planes less, return her pay increase and call on her colleagues to do the same !!!!!
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(0) HMI
2:29PM Mar 12th 2009
Who cares the question is, Is what is she doing with her plane in thefirst place and that goes for Democrat or Republican. Why do we the tax payer have to foot the bill?
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(0) demsrdumbos
2:33PM Mar 12th 2009
Oh, gee.... ABC has "investigated" and golly, gee... they can't find anything wrong with what Nancy Pelosi has done? Now, why am I not surprised? Can we get an INDEPENDENT investigation on this, and not by an organization clearly influenced by George Stephanopoulis, who worked for Klinton and is in bed with President what's his name?
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(0) Obama-man
2:36PM Mar 12th 2009
Dems are dumbo, you are refering to the Abortion President.
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(0) Annie
2:37PM Mar 12th 2009
Oh, Dan Rather CBS. The very libral CBS. The CBS that couldn't get enough of Obama. Wonder where their *reports* came from....they do have a little problem with documents. Sure I'll believe anything CBS reports....when hell freezes over.
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(0) Truth
2:40PM Mar 12th 2009
Regardless of the veracity of the Judicial Watch account of Pelosi's use of military jets, her behavior as Speaker is definitely "unprecedented". She is dangerous and imbalanced, to put it politely, and mildly. We have never had such a complete idiot as speaker in this country's history. In addition, she is a marxist power monger with a rich bitch attitude, and a truly nasty, vengeful nature. I can't write bitch in big enough letters to begin to convey what a total asshole she is, but there is no doubt about her status as the worst of the worst. The next time she flies a military jet would be the perfect time to practice a paratrooper jump at high speed and really low altitude over a dense cactus field. As far as Dimwit Dave and his "setting the record straight", I seriously doubt the truth of anything he writes. After all, David is a typical, card carrying, lying his ass off, leftist. The end justifies the means with good old Know-less.
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(0) Obama-man
2:43PM Mar 12th 2009
The Judicial Watch release cites e-mails from the military complaining that Pelosi was frequently reserving military aircraft and then canceling, causing the Air Force to incur costs as crews prepped planes than never went anywhere. These e-mails, however, are from early in her tenure as speaker.
David "the Liberial" Knowles failed to report that the story is true.... just happeded before the Abortion President was elected.
David "the Liberial" Knowles failed to report that the story is true.... just happeded before the Abortion President was elected.
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(0) gin
2:47PM Mar 12th 2009
i think queen pelosi should read up on marie antoinette who also flaunted her arrogance and used her position to further her own lavish lifestyle at the expense of the starving "little people."
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(0) Hope
3:01PM Mar 12th 2009
Obama-man: Hey dumb ass - just pray to God that your daughter, grandaughter, sister or any female member of your family never has to make the painful decision to have an abortion or not. And if they do, then will be guided by their doctor, their conscience and their God and not by dumb ass pig like you. And what the hell are you going to do if they do have an abortion ?????????? Curse them and throw them out of the house ??????????? You have no idea about the facts but you want to sit on your potty and pass judgement on other people. You seem to be inualing the crap shit you are spewing out from your other end because you are NOT God. Better make sure you check your mug shot in the mirror and see exactly what kind of a dimwit, nitwit, dumbass, nincompoop, pathetic excuse for a human being you are before casting stones on other people. God and I mean God whether is Jesus, Rama, Shiva, Buddha loves everyone and that includes women who have to make the painful decision to have an abortion without passing judgement on women so you are nothing except a pitiful pathetic repuke.
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(0) Willet
3:13PM Mar 12th 2009
This is old news. Congressional use of military aircraft goes back to the 1970's. The practice was stopped not because it was thought to tie up military aircraft and personnel, but because congressmen and senators were arguing with each other over who got to use the aircraft(s).
Pelosi was doing one of the things congressmen and senators were doing in the 1970's. "Booking" flights on military aircraft in advance and then not using them.
It sounds to me like it's 1970 all over again. Our elected officials bitching with each other over the use of military aircraft.
Pelosi was doing one of the things congressmen and senators were doing in the 1970's. "Booking" flights on military aircraft in advance and then not using them.
It sounds to me like it's 1970 all over again. Our elected officials bitching with each other over the use of military aircraft.
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(0) Botts
3:26PM Mar 12th 2009
"Oh, Dan Rather CBS. The very libral CBS. The CBS that couldn't get enough of Obama. Wonder where their *reports* came from....they do have a little problem with documents. Sure I'll believe anything CBS reports....when hell freezes over."
Annie, who gives a shit about CBS? This article mentions ABC. Maybe next time you should read the article before commenting. Otherwise you sound like a bitter, divisive, ignorant princess.
Annie, who gives a shit about CBS? This article mentions ABC. Maybe next time you should read the article before commenting. Otherwise you sound like a bitter, divisive, ignorant princess.
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(0) IRONBLUEEYES
3:28PM Mar 12th 2009
This response is along the line of "It depends what your definition of "is" is. Great to see that language hasn't died out.
T
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(0) Botts
3:30PM Mar 12th 2009
No Willet, it just sounds like a false report put out by biased and one sided organizations. It's really that simple.
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(0) HBORGNA
3:31PM Mar 12th 2009
LET THE BITCH TAKE THE TRAIN
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(0) RawleyCoop
3:34PM Mar 12th 2009
David said "and found that the actual record finds no such evidence of abuse." and "Nor is there any evidence that last-minute cancellations".
David - Shame on you. I followed your links and discovered that there is plenty of evidence in the Judicial Watch story. They simply took disjointed facts and exaggerated them to make her actions sound 100 times worse then they were. That is bad, and clearly worth you time to tell us about it.
But instead of reporting their exaggerations, you write a story that claims there is "no evidence" and call them out-right liars (rather then blatant misleaders which is almost as bad). So David, instead of righting a wrong, you go and sin worse then they did.
Shame on you David! Up to now, I didn't always agree with you (often I do), but I never thought you would lie to me. I am very disappointed.
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