Hastert Used Military Aircraft To Fly Foley Page Scandal Figure To Washington

[RedEarth]

The media continues to pound a false Washington Times report accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) of wasting government resources by “demanding permanent access to a large military jet for herself, her staff, other Members and supporters.”

In fact, Pelosi’s office has stated repeatedly, from the beginning, that “it is up to the Air Force to decide what type and size of plane will be required,” and that she “will not use the plane for political travel.”

Conservatives have tried to bolster their attack by claiming that former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) only used his military aircraft for official business. The Washington Times quoted an unnamed “former Hastert aide” saying Hastert “did not use military planes for political trips or regularly transport his family.” But Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynne Sweet says that isn’t true:

On Sunday, Oct. 1, Hastert’s team was scrambling to contain the escalating fallout from the Foley page scandal.

That day, Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), then the chairman of the page board, had gotten an urgent phone call from Stokke. The Hastert team wanted Shimkus to return to Washington immediately from his home in southern Illinois in order to appear at a press conference on Monday with the Speaker, and they did not want to deal with commercial flight schedules.

So at 8 p.m. that day, Shimkus arrived at the military side of the Scott Air Force Base near Belleville to board the Speaker’s jet that had been dispatched for him.

The plane then headed to an airport near Aurora, Ill., to pick up Hastert, who had been weekending at his home in Plano, before flying on to Washington.

That Monday, Hastert and Shimkus headlined a press conference in the Capitol to talk about the Foley resignation.

For those who don’t remember, Shimkus is the former House Page Board chair who learned of Foley’s inappropriate emails and then refused to inform the Democrat on the board, Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI).

Pelosi said today she will fly commercial rather than use the aircraft offered by the Pentagon, which cannot reach her home district in California without stopping to refuel.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/08/hastert-flight/

[rodeodance]

1. has this been on the talk shows? bet not

[Dr Fate]

4. Any Democrat on any talk show could bring it up. Have they?

Or do we still expect Republican owned "journalists"
to do our work for us?

All the talk shows you refer to have Democratic guests pretty much everyday who could bring this up.

The media has stopped talking about the Foley scandal, true, but then again, I havent heard many DEMS with media access bring it up either.

[bottomofthehill]

10. When do Democrats get to appear on talk shows.

[Dr Fate]

11. I see them on TV shows every single day. Which show is banning them?

Name the cable news show that does not have DEM guests on.

[bottomofthehill]

14. Real Democrats

Not the Dick Morris Zell Miller types are not so easy to find and when you find them, they do not controll the airtime so they are not free to go up field with questions

[Dr Fate]

15. So Dean, Obama, Reid, Kerry, Pelosi, Hillary, etc are not "real democrats?"

I've seen them all on TV shows multiple times- and I have never heard them claim that their hired, professional PR people are being denied access to the producers of cable TV news shows.

Can you back up your claim? Please show me where Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Obama or any "real" household name Democrat has claimed that they were denied access to a TV show or "not allowed" to bring up certain issues subjects once they were on.

If the media is censoring "real" elected DEMS, yet no elected DEMS are willing to inform us of this fact by making that claim, then I see 2 problems, not one.

I think that if a "real", elected Democrat is NOT on TV saying something, it is because the did not want to say it-for whatever reason, not because someone held a gun to them and ordered them not to.

[TankLV]

36. No one disputes the fact that Democrats do appear, multiple times, on TV.

What I am interpreting the point that the poster was trying to make, is that:

1) Democrats apprear INFREQUENTLY and MUCH MUCH LESS THAN REPUKES on all these shows. While it is all too common to have ONLY REPUKES without ANY Democrats on the various TV shows, ALL THE TIME, when a Democrat appears, infrequently at best, they are ALWAYS "paired" with a repuke.

2) While repukes always are sought out to for comment on various stories, be they repuke or Democratic, Democrats are RARELY on to make similar comments.

3) When Democrats are on, they are routinely cut off or the direction of the discussion is steared towards trying to get a repuke spin on the discussion. Not so when repukes are on, they are allowed to spew LIES WIHTOUT PROTEST or followup, and they are always allowed to finish their intended spew...

[Dracos]

20. Oh you mean FOX NOISE

the whores of the GOP Greedy Old Party.

[bottomofthehill]

16. When was the last time you say a democrat on

Glynn Beck's show?

[Dr Fate]

17. That is one show. I've never watched it. What about the rest of the shows?

I've never seen his show- if you say he is not allowing Democrats on, fine. I've never heard a prominent Democrat accuse him of not letting them on for equal time. If his producers are turning down requests from DEMS to be on, I'd love to hear those DEMS say so.

I've seen many household name DEMS on TV shows hundreds & hundreds of times with my own eyes- that's one way they got so well-known to begin with- by appearing on talk shows multiple times.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

18. Beck did take time out from bashing penguins...

to interview that big, bad scary Ellison in November. Remember "Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."? Since November, I have no idea, but that dude from Syracuse who slammed him with "I don't think this story is going to get you a Peabody ." was definitely worth tuning in to.

[Canuckistanian]

22. I'm sure Hannity will get right on it.

After all, he "likes to get his facts straight".

[wryter2000]

2. K&R

And bookmarking. Good spot!

[BOSSHOG]

3. The Wash Times concerned about "wasting government resources"

that is so rich. bush was given a surplus and now brags about balancing the budget in five years. What happened to the surplus? bush wastes billions of dollars a month because he lied to become a war president and the speaker of the house is wasting resources? Gosh if I were a constitution hating ignorant trash bush supporter I'd give this story merit too.

Surely all those morons yakking on the floor of the house can't believe this is good press for them.

[redqueen]

5. they believe (know?) their supporters to be that stupid,

so yeah... i think they do expect it'll be good press

[peacetalksforall]

6. Sweet Justice - If true, thanks to lies we learn the truth. If only

people would step forward like this everytime there is a foul attack trick like one was. Get the word out if this is true. Test it by calling it to your Republican Representative - especially people in Illinois.

[StClone]

8. If there was an ethical, unbiased media

A stunt like this would reverse the searchlight onto the endless corruption and abuse of Government resources for partisan gain by the squealing pigs, the proud hypocrites that go by the name of Conservatives.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. I would LOVE to have a complete run down of every time Hastert used a

government plane and have Nancy go to the House floor and throw it in their faces. How much money did Hastert spend on flying?

[bottomofthehill]

9. Time for a FOIA Request or a Congressional Hearing

Now that we have subpoena authority, it may be time to use it.

[MADem]

25. You WILL--Jack MURTHA has vowed to INVESTIGATE GOP "OFFICIAL TRAVEL"

He's going to use his chair convening authority, and look into ALL administration travel...so we'll no doubt see some interesting use of aircraft.

Mark my words, by being shitty asswipes, the GOP has unleashed the wrath of Murtha. That's his gal, Nancy, and he's not gonna let this slide.

And the Pentagon is in BIG trouble, too--because someone got shitty there, and someone cattily called the press.

It will be interesting.

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. Woohoo! Go Murtha! This just keeps getting better and better!

The repukes just don't know when to stop DIGGING their hole!:rofl:

[Independent_Liberal]

12. Call the House Ethics Committee for hearings and demand the...

...establishment of a bipartisan commission called "The National Commission of U.S. Government Child Pornography and Sex Predators" to further review the Foley case and reopen the Franklin case from the late 80's and early 90's.

[TankLV]

13. I am sooo glad that repuke just can't seem to keep their KNOWN hypocricy in check & their mouths

shut.

Now back to Anna Nichole Smith's death...

[creeksneakers2]

19. The Washington Times is still at it

They ran another Pelosi story today. They also went with this lunatic editorial:

In 1983, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy offered to help the Soviets mount a public-relations offensive in the United States. This propaganda attack would target President Reagan and his policies. These are the same policies that eventually ended the Cold War and reduced the possibility of nuclear annihilation. This charge was made by Paul Kengor in his book "The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism."

(snip)

According to this research and released KGB papers, Mr. Kennedy felt that the booming economy during Mr. Reagan's presidency made him popular — and thus a difficult target for Democratic criticism. Because of this, Mr. Kennedy reportedly felt that Mr. Reagan's only weakness was in foreign policy. Here, the articles say Mr. Kennedy felt the Soviets might be of assistance, if Mr. Kennedy and the Democrats could get the ear of the general-secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Numerous articles also saidthatthisanti-Reagan/anti-U.S. conspiracy was not a one-man operation by Mr. Kennedy. They indicate that former Sen. John V. Tunney, a California Democrat, went to Moscow and met with officials of the KGB on Mr. Kennedy's behalf. Additionally, in their book "The Sword And The Shield," Christopher Andrew and Vasili Metrokhin said that as early as 1975 the KGB began operations to penetrate the inner circles of a number of leading Democrats, including the likes of Mr. Kennedy and Ramsey Clark. They also mentioned that a Democratic Party activist had been recruited by the KGB and had supplied the Soviets with information from a variety of Democratic leaders, including President Carter.

(END) http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20070207-090506-1276r.htm

The real scandal is that "legitimate" media outlets use the Washington Times as a source for anything.

[symbolman]

21. Good!

Not only that, it is INAPPROPRIATE for someone a BORG heart CLICK away from the Presidency to be riding around in COMMERCIAL jetliners.

This woman is THIRD in line to the White House and is not afforded the security, comfort and protection that those CRIMINALS are? We should lobby that Pelosi DESERVES, REQUIRES and that it would be Irresponsible to NOT have her in a Plane worthy of Bush or Cheney, or as close as possible to it.

Use their Logic, "It's a DANGEROUS WORLD, POST 911" and she is a potential target, etc, etc

Let's see how many fucking HOEDOWNS BUSH attended at 55 THOUSAND dollars an HOUR on OUR DIME..

Let's think about Wellstone a minute, shall we?

I would not put ANYTHING past these monsters.

[MADem]

26. Everyone, repeat this--John ASHCROFT rode in PRIVATE JETS BEFORE 9-11

And he was hardly right behind Tick Tock in the line of Presidential Succession...in fact, he's WELL back in the pack. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/26/national/main303601.shtml

Ashcroft Flying High

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2001
CBS) Fishing rod in hand, Attorney General John Ashcroft left on a weekend trip to Missouri Thursday afternoon aboard a chartered government jet, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart.

In response to inquiries from CBS News over why Ashcroft was traveling exclusively by leased jet aircraft instead of commercial airlines, the Justice Department cited what it called a "threat assessment" by the FBI, and said Ashcroft has been advised to travel only by private jet for the remainder of his term.

"There was a threat assessment and there are guidelines. He is acting under the guidelines," an FBI spokesman said. Neither the FBI nor the Justice Department, however, would identify what the threat was, when it was detected or who made it.

A senior official at the CIA said he was unaware of specific threats against any Cabinet member, and Ashcroft himself, in a speech in California, seemed unsure of the nature of the threat.

[symbolman]

32. M'dear

MADem, PLEASE send this article off immediately to Keith Olbermann?!

And I will too if the rest of you will, PASS THIS NUGGET AROUND, this will cook their goose, no way around it. :)

Thanks for this, beautiful!

[MADem]

37. The GOP is backing off--they're making the House Clerk take the rap!

They should be ashamed of themselves....

[Vinca]

34. This is a double scandal since they didn't bother to let the public

know there was a threat to commercial aviation. Ashcroft was saving his own skin and risking the rest of the flying public. We know how that worked out.

[lvx35]

23. Infuriating.

Pelosi should DEMAND pentagon transportation if Hastert had it. And what the fuck...Aircraft offered by the pentagon has to stop to refuel? Maybe one of those zillion dollar planes should be built by Boeing so it can be up to ar with 30 year old commercial aircraft...It might save some money.

Ass hats.

[Zambero]

24. The end always justifies the means

The means is retaining, or in this instance regaining absolute control, whatever it takes. It worked just fine for Stalin. And the lying swiftboating hypocritical character-assassinating GOP wholeheartedly bought into that same "principle" long ago!

[tedzbear]

28. A 737 is NOT a jumbo jet!!!

The Los Angeles Times erroneously claimed it was a "jumbo" type jet which is false. A 737 is a single aisle passenger jet and is considered the smallest of Boeing's models. It's probably not much more expensive to fly than one of the Air Force Gulf Streams that are considered more appropriate.

This bugs me because most people will take the jumbo claim on face value. It's nothing but slander.

[havocmom]

29. .

For when I need to :rofl: tomorrow.

[ZaiusNation]

30. Nancy Pelosi's is bigger...Dennis Hastert's? Not so much.

I was just watching Lou Dobbs tonight, and he is still going on about the Republican bilge about Nancy Pelosi and their claim that she has asked the military for some extra special pimped out ride. He was gleefully telling the tale, disregarding the fact that the story was debunked almost a week ago. Will somebody please tell Mr. Dobbs that there is an illegal immigrant in his bran muffin?


Zaius Nation

[symbolman]

31. And deny him the pleasure

of PUBLICLY Shitting said Immigrant OUT? :)

I told my wife the other day that if you cut Lou Dobbs open, THOUSANDS of little Lou Dobbs would fall out :)

I'm pretty sure there's one of those doohickeys on the back of his neck like you see on a car tire, where you put the air in, and he can REACH it..

Good one, thanks, funny stuff!

[Seldona]

33. Yet not a peep when * refurbished the presidential YACHT

These people are so full of shit they must have it coming from every orifice.

[farmhand]

35. Operating costs are lower for the 737, only 10k per hour

Well I was reading on the costs of the 737 and its around about $10,000 per hour to operate, and the 747 is much higher. We need to keep in mind that our government officials need this kind of service. With the kinds of budgets they have to work with I don't see why they should have to fly around with regular people. Considering what we are spending on the Iraq war and the 3 Jets for the Bush Administration, one of them being the most expensive jet to fly in the world, Air force 1 , why should members of Congress not get one too. Pelosi is right to ask for a jet that can get her all the way across the country without having to stop for fuel. What I don't understand is why can't they just fuel her in the air, this is a military plane right? What I can't stand is all these conservative types talking about how they don't get a private jet. They act as if the money isn't spent, like its going to be returned to the people or spent on the poor, what hypocrites the Repugs are.

[IWantAChange]

38. Rev. Moon's Washington Times w/false report on Dem's? tsk tsk

In Repug BizzaroWorld if IT DIDN'T APPEAR THAT WOULD BE NEWSWORTHY.

[thoughttheater]

39. Tongue-in-cheek visual

See a tongue-in-cheek visual of "Nancy's Flight Of Fancy"...here:

www.thoughttheater.com

[bobthedrummer]

40. For those that do remember Mr. Foley was Chair of the House Caucus

on Missing and Exploited Children

"The National Center For Missing And Exploited Children Board Of Directors" from 10-1-2006
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2280827

[mtracy9]

41. Pentagon Planes Unsafe for Democratic Politicians

In an interview with Fox News, Pelosi speculated that Department of Defense officials were distorting the story as retribution for her stance against the war and former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

"There are probably those in the Department of Defense who are not happy with my criticism of Secretary Rumsfeld, the war in Iraq, other waste, fraud and abuse in the Defense Department, and I guess this is their way of making their voices heard," she said.

I was thinking that Pelosi might be advised to take commercial transportation. The Pentagon and its CIA allies have a history of making planes crash, especially their own planes, as with Ron Brown. Unfortunately, American politicians have more to fear from right-wingers in the Pentagon then they do from any likely terrorist attack.