Bush's vacation air ticket costs taxpayers $450K?

[Applan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55214-2005Mar21.html

Snip....
Rather than incurring the cost of flying back to Washington on Air Force One -- pegged in 1999 at $34,000 an hour -- Bush could have signed the bill in Texas a few hours later without significantly endangering Schiavo's life, critics said. Not only had doctors estimated that she could live for up to two weeks without the feeding tube, but a federal judge was not expected to hear the case until today........

So, let me get this straight, Bush uses Air Force One to fly to his vacation ranch. At 2004 prices AF1 costs $54,800 per hour to operate....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-01-air-force-one_x.htm
At what, 4 hours each way from Washington to Texas, that means his airline ticket runs at about $450,000, all paid for by the taxpayer of course.
Is it just me, or does anybody else find this incredible?

[Tux]

1. Hey

He is president. He needs his weekly vacation.

[biscotti]

4. George says

It's hard work! (sarcasm sign lite)

[Nite Owl]

2. He's sure no conservative

when it comes to spending taxpayer money. All those town hall meetings cost big in fly time and protection for the boy king. And he won't even let in anyone that doesn't agree to worship him.

[subterranean]

6. And that doesn't even include

the cost to the towns he holds the meetings in, who have to pay for the added security themselves. It's easy to spend other people's money. I wonder if anyone can calculate the total cost of this wasteful "60-day tour" to taxpayers. I, for one, would really like to know.

[napi21]

3. Why does it cost $55,000/hr for AF1?

If the Country's airlines had expenses like that, they'd ALL be out of business!

I recognize it may be a bit more expensive because of the cost of SS agents and staff, but that's a bit much don't ya think?

[Applan]

5. I dunno, but if Fox News says that's what it costs then it must be true

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121387,00.html

[DemoTex]

8. No! No! No! No!

The $55,000/hour number is waaaaaaay under-stated. It is actually way, way more than that. Maybe by a factor of two. Bu$h, the critic of Clinton's use of the new AF-1, has eclipsed Clinton's use in spades. Most of Bu$h's use of our B-747-400 was for his re-election campaign on our nickle. Pissed yet? Naw, you are a pussy. GET IN MY FACE! Agree with me, prove me wrong, or go on your merry way. Bu$h is an asshole.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. I do

And all for the dog and pony show. *sigh*

[quaoar]

9. We should pay our presidents

at least as much as the top CEOs in the country make.

Then, if he wants to take AF1 for a personal vacation, he can just reimburse the taxpayers.

[Contrary1]

10. What?

You expected to see the circus for free?