PHOTO It's not exactly the Big Air Force One, is it?

[Jackeens]

:shrug:



President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama board a small jet serving as Air Force One for a personal visit to New York City from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, May 30, 2009.

RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho: “As President Obama prepares to wing into Manhattan’s theater district on Air Force One to take in a Broadway show...."

I know, whatever plane the President is on is Air Force One, but didn't Bush use the biggie for his trips?

[MADem]

1. Bush ALWAYS used the Biggie--unless the Airport couldn't handle it. NT

[Captain Hilts]

12. That's standard practice. Not just him. nt

[MADem]

18. Kennedy sometimes used to take a smaller (than could fit) plane into Otis.

Not sure if he was simply sparing the runway or economizing.

[Captain Hilts]

22. A different era. And security is different because of him, as it were. Did they

close Otis, as planned even after Sept. 11th?

[MADem]

35. Nope. Still open. NT

[lapfog_1]

31. Kennedy also rode around in a convertible.

Like he was the mayor at the local 4th of July parade.

One of the reasons for the 747s was the inclusion of a fully functioning operating room with staff. And the Kennedy assassination was the prime motivator for having it on the plane.

[MADem]

36. And Bill Clinton used to jog down the street and into McDonald's.

And Obama was at Five Guys the other day. I used to see the Gores walking around DC all the time, and almost got knocked over by Babs Bush power walking by the Vietnam Memorial on an early spring morning.

It's not always the level of armor that controls. Sometimes, it's the lack of advance public notice, which makes it harder for ill-wishers to do harm.

I'm betting they had plenty of ground support sussed out along their route. It's a very brief flight, and it's not like NYC is devoid of security capabilities, particularly post Nahn Wun Wun.

[Captain Hilts]

38. Spontanaeity is the Prez's best defense. nt

[MADem]

39. Agreed, wholeheartedly! nt

[sofa king]

57. That was Lyndon Johnson's theory.

Supposedly, he used to love pulling over the motorcade and talking to crowds of random people. The Secret Service hated it, but Johnson knew the chances of randomly running into someone carrying a weapon who wanted to kill him was vanishingly small.

On the other hand, I'll bet there are a few people out there who do carry a weapon in the hope that just such a thing will happen.

[lapfog_1]

41. The trip to NYC was not published, but it also wasn't a secret.

They had press with them.

[TahitiNut]

43. There's a press pool assigned 24x7 - with their bags packed - and often have no idea what's up

... until they're off and running. It's a "go team" and they're that way for exactly that reason ... it's secret.

[lapfog_1]

44. However, this particular trip wasn't a secret.

It just wasn't publicized.

[MADem]

49. Well, the WH does have a large press contingent, but they know

not to release info ahead of time--because they'll never be "cut in" again if they do.

[burrowowl]

47. Even when the airport couldn't handle it

Bu$hco took it. It ruined a runway in Las Cruces, NM, cost about a million bucks to repair. Captain et al were told the Cruces runway couldn't take it.

[MADem]

48. The baaastids! Was he in for a fundraiser? nt

[burrowowl]

52. Yes and

a Repuke only audience!

[RoadRage]

61. He was always compensating for something... NT

[jefferson_dem]

2. Sorry...

Having trouble focusing on the plane, given the postures in the pic.

Sorry... Male moment here.

[Jackeens]

3. LOL.....behave!

[jefferson_dem]

10. I know. My bad.

She's just so...DIVINE. :dilemma:

[madmax]

6. LOL I think the Prez is, too. n/t

[vaberella]

7. I'm female and I was checking out her assets. I have this thing about fit buns. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. that's a cute dress!

[sandnsea]

9. It's as if he's thinking

do not look, do not look, and don't even think about grabbing that ass. Men are so predictable. lol.

[alsame]

17. That's funny. And you're probably right! n/t

[EquallyExhausted]

37. lmao he DEFINITELY looks like he's trying super hard not to look

the look on his face is priceless.:)

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Airplane? What airplane?.......

Oh, now I see it.

[Jackeens]

15. ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are BAD, TheCowsCameHome.

[smalll]

40. Mile High Club -- the smaller plane must be a much more private and intimate setting...

hubba hubba

[elleng]

46. Is he glaring at her Stilettos???

:eyes:

[HughMoran]

54. I immediately looked at the Subject to see if it actually said "Big Ass One"

:rofl:

I wonder why I thought that?

:)

[Skittles]

58. I'm kicking your ass, and my boyfriend's

this lusting after Michelle thing has GOT TO STOP :mad:

[vaberella]

4. I love that dress. I only have a superificial purpose on this thread. n/t

[Jackeens]

8. You're a HOOT vaberella!

:hi:

[Cha]

5. gail gitcho is just jealous because the Obamas

are creatively stimulating the economy.

[Captain Hilts]

11. No, GWB used various planes and helicopters. nt

[lapfog_1]

13. I am a little surprised that the Secret Service and

the Air Force would let him use one of the executive jets instead of the modified 747.

The 747 has the operating room and the doctors and such, not to mention more "counter measures".

Good for Obama to do it, but I'm still a little surprised.

[Phx_Dem]

16. Yeah, me too! And, love the dress , Michelle!

[Captain Hilts]

23. It's got escorts. nt

[lapfog_1]

29. As does the 747...

but I'm pretty sure the executive jet doesn't have the operating room.

I guess they figured it was a short hop and, should something happen (heart attack, etc), they could set down quick and get the President to a hospital. Still...

I've been at the fence line twice when Clinton flew into my Navy base (Moffatt Field, CA), and the military support transports, the 747s (two, one had VP Gore on one trip), the motorcade, etc, etc. were an impressive sight.

[Captain Hilts]

32. You'll love this story. When Bubba went to Bethesda Naval to get his physical and hearing aids....

he took a helicopter. Standard practice.

On the way out of Bethesda the chopper was escorted by two fighter jets. The helicopter was flying at about 80 feet off the ground - we could tell by looking at the Holiday Inn on Wisconsin Ave how high it was - and two fighter jets following it along Wisc. Ave. One of the craziest things I've ever seen!

[TahitiNut]

42. I think there probably was still an airlift to NYC for the "Beast" ... for a motorcade.

Whenever he goes anywhere, there's far more than just him and his traveling companion(s) - like Michelle - there're all the other vehicles, comm gear, and security.

[SamCooke]

19. I thought the whole point of Air Force One was that u can run a country from it

What does this plane have on it?

[MercutioATC]

26. Any Air Force plane the POTUS is on becomes "Air Force One".

...a little Cessna 172 owned by the Air Force would be "Air Force One" if Obama got onboard.

[SamCooke]

27. I meant doesn't the big plane has like a situation room and other stuff on it?

[MercutioATC]

30. Oh, yeah...it's just that he doesn't always take that plane.

My point was that although he has the big plane, any plane he gets on becomes "whatever" One...so the bizjet in the picture WAS "Air Force One", just not the same one that people are used to seeing.

[firedupdem]

20. Please tell me I can buy that dress somewhere?....or a cheaper

knock off version. I love it!

[Submariner]

24. I luv his suit coat and shoes

Hey guys, where can I get the same thing, only cheaper?

:hide:

[elleng]

45. Hart (Schaffner) Marx!!!

:rofl:

[Pirate Smile]

25. Obama put out a statement responding to the RNC whiners - He's keeping a campaign promise.

"The president touched down at JFK International Airport about 4:35 p.m. in the first plane of three, pool reports, then took a helicopter to Wall Street. NYPD cleared the northbound half West Side highway, so no traffic as the president headed up past Ground Zero. Southbound traffic, while light, was slowed by the inevitable rubbernecking.

POTUS waved to enthusiastic watchers as his vehicle headed toward the Blue Hill restaurant on Washington Place.

WHO deputy press secretary Josh Earnest read a statement from POTUS: "I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished." (5:32 p.m.)"

[rsmith6621]

28. They are doing this due to space limits

At JFK and perhaps for energy savings. It is a whole lot easier for JFK to accommodate the Gulfstream G-5 than a 747.


They certainly would have a security web around the A/C enroute be it another G-5 or Air Force fighter jets.

If this was for fuel savings I applaud President Obama.....very responsible and a good example set.


I think also there is a suggestion of ROMANCE involved as well....It is DATE NIGHT after all.

[lunatica]

33. Bush never went to a Broadway show

[SpartanDem]

34. No it's not, but NYC is just short hop

and it's just two of them


Full shot

[arcadian]

50. Yeah, but they didn't show the C-5 Galaxies that have all the support vehicle and equipment

Plus, I don't think they wanted to fly into New York on the VC-25A considering what happened on the fly over recently when everybody freaked out.

[Baby Snooks]

51. Just another night on the town...

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05312009/news/nationalnews/obama_keeps_his_big_apple_pledge_171810.htm

Taxpayers footed the bill for the big night on the town, which included a total of at least $24,000 for the three aircraft used to ferry the Obamas, aides and reporters to New York and back. Dinner costs and orchestra seat tickets -- at $96.50 apiece -- were paid by the Obamas.

Obama's jet, a Gulfstream 500, served as a more modest Air Force One for the day in place of the customary presidential Boeing 747.

The White House declined to say how much the trip was costing taxpayers.
________________________________________________________________________

Some really do object to their night on the town with the taxpayers paying for it and paying quite a bit for it when there are so many in this country who probably didn't have dinner at all while the Obamas were enjoying just another night on the town. With the taxpayers paying for it. At least they paid for their own dinner and theatre tickets.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124364352135868189.html

And apparently Congress believes the taxpayers should pay for their little perks and their nights on the town as well.

There are people in this country who a year ago had jobs and lives and a year later are homeless. The Obamas are sending the wrong message to them and everyone else. The Obamas should pay for their night on the town. Not the taxpayers.

[rasputin1952]

53. Have to wonder what all of that brush in Crawford cost the

taxpayers...or that cake for McCain in AZ. Nothing like a full presidential entourage to AZ to give some clod a B'day cake...:eyes:

[Baby Snooks]

55. Not the same...

We're talking about a private night out on the town. That was out of town. Although it wasn't that private. They took the media along with them. Even a date for the Obamas is an opportunity for another photo-op. Sort of ruins the romance of the moment when you think about it although romance obviously was not behind the date. Or the media wouldn't have been part of the date.

We're not talking about securing a presidential compound or a political event that was paid for by the RNC just as the DNC paid for the trip to Los Angeles last week.

But she looks pretty and he smiles a lot and so, well, all is well in Camelot, isn't it?

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[high density]

62. $24,000? wow.

That is rather insignificant. What is that, a few millisecond of the costs of our Iraq operations?

[geiger]

59. It makes me wonder if they have decided to pay this on their own tab.

Ya gotta feel sorry for two people who just want to be normal and get out on a normal date. To maintain normalcy and romance and a relationship.

I wish them both well.

[Bucky]

60. This is the most important photo you've ever posted

Thanks to you, I will have trouble concentrating on work today.