Boehner: I’ll Fly Commercial as Speaker

[RandySF]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/boehner-ill-fly-commercial-as-speaker/

John A. Boehner, the House speaker-to-be, pledged today that he would still fly commercial airlines to his home district in Ohio after he becomes the second person in line to assume the presidency next year.

The announcement was a not-so-subtle dig at the current speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who took heat for flying military airplanes when she returned home to her San Francisco district.

“Over the last 20 years, I have flown back and forth to my district on a commercial aircraft, and I am going to continue to do that,” Mr. Boehner said during a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday.

Former speakers from both parties have used the military planes to accommodate their travel, which has become more complicated in the post-Sept. 11 era, requiring a much larger security detail.

But Mr. Boehner said that he had talked to security officials and was convinced that he could continue to fly on commercial planes.

[librechik]

1. Ha ha

right. You do that.

[mdmc]

2. Thank you

He will be safe.

[Raven]

3. I don't want to sit next to him on a plane. n/t

[liberal N proud]

26. Yea, some of the orange might rub off.

[Blue_In_AK]

42. Not to mention he probably reeks of cigarette smoke and booze.

[Champion Jack]

4. Why doesn't he drive, or better yet walk

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. too many DUIs would be bad for his future.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Hmm no you won't

you are in the line of succession you moron.

[Fuzz]

17. +1

[Canuckistanian]

36. The Secret Service may have some opinion on this

They don't care WHO the Speaker is, the Speaker is a vital part of Government and special arrangements have already been made.

Amd it'll probably cost a shitload of money figuring out how to provide that level of protection on a regular commercial flight.

[tritsofme]

43. Speakers flew commercial until 9/11

Only Hastert and Pelosi got planes.

I think it is really a non-issue. Flying commercial is plenty safe.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. Exactly and mark my words

he won't fly commercial.

[cynatnite]

47. Agreed. n/t

[haifa lootin]

6. I'm giving 8 to 5 he will either never do it or one time at most.

There will be "unspecified security concerns" surfacing just before or after his first commercial hop (which by the way is a hell of a lot simpler logistically since Ohio is just an hour away from D.C., very unlike California)

[madmax]

7. No need, just borrow

O'Donnell's broom. She isn't going to be using it to fly from DE to DC. :evilgrin: ya putz!

[elleng]

8. Big f*g deal NOT, OHIO is NOT CALIFORNIA, in case he hasn't noticed!

[Dreamer Tatum]

12. You're right. One day commercial flights will make it cross country, however.

I hear the R&D is coming along nicely.

[charlie]

9. Not a word about corporate jets

He's been known to use those a few (dozen) times or so.

[BrightKnight]

46. Corporate jets create lots of very good American jobs. - n/t

[KamaAina]

10. I still think he should commute to the Capitol on the Orange Line

:P

[Ian David]

11. I hope he sits next to Marc Maron...

[Renew Deal]

13. Why does he hate the troops?

:D

This is such a non issue.

[pinboy3niner]

14. The Secret Service will convince him to change his mind

It would be the height of irresponsibility to put U.S. Presidential succession at risk.

[sharp_stick]

18. Oh I don't know

I for one would not mind if he removed himself from the line of succession by personal stupidity.

[Nye Bevan]

50. When the UK's David Cameron visited the US he flew British Airways Business Class

and traveled on Amtrak.

Flying commercial is pretty safe given the intensive security that everyone has to go through.

[marmar]

16. I hope the people sitting next to him bring their sunglasses.

nt

[lpbk2713]

19. Maybe I'll start flying again.

In hopes that I might get a seat next to Mr Oompa-Loompa.

I'd tell him what I think for the entire duration of the flight.

I don't look for him to live up to his word though. He's all bullshit. Orange bullshit.

[originalpckelly]

20. Is this an admission that he sells out to commercial interests?

:P

[Hawkeye-X]

21. Permanently assigned in a bulkhead seat by the bog

Eternally smelling people's crap. He earned that.

[PeaceNikki]

22. I pray he's seated next to Marc Maron

http://gawker.com/5642206/comedian-live+tweets-sitting-next-to-ken-mehlman-on-a-plane-exposes-nipple

[hayu_lol]

29. You know that he and his security/advisors/press will all...

fly first class. He probably would not be patted down/frisked/body scanned either.

[DainBramaged]

23. Bonner, I'll fly drunk as Speaker.

:puke:

[sally cat]

24. Big Sis and the TSA are gonna love groping him.

[political_Dem]

25. Is that Coach or First Class?

What Boner picks says a lot about him.

[liberal N proud]

27. I bet he flies first class only

And the tickets will not be advance purchase costing more than using a government plane.

[BeyondGeography]

28. And we'll still feel cheap the morning after

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. In other news, TSA to begin installing orange squeezers.

FFS, Boner could take the bus - he only lives in Ohio.

[Concordia]

31. Haha

First class commercial, what a sacrifice.

If he'd agree to flying coach, I might be impressed.

[TheCowsCameHome]

32. "Hey, Mr. Tangerine Man" will be barred from airline headsets until further notice.

[Champion Jack]

39. LOL! +10000000000000000

[Montauk6]

33. "...and was convinced that he could continue to fly on commercial planes."

Ah, so he had to be convinced, eh...?

[JVS]

34. I don't think it's fair to put the burden of supplying both him and the rest of a plane full of...

people with drinks on one flight crew. Give him his own jet.

[KittyWampus]

35. He should go without health insurance or pay for it out of his own salary.

[Dyler Turden]

37. And what class will you be flying, Agent Orange?

[pinboy3niner]

40. Shhh! That's his Secret Service code name.

[BurtWorm]

38. Good idea not to vet too comfortable in that seat, bone boy.

:applause:

[demigoddess]

41. ha ha, for about the first week! no longer

then he will 'let' them talk him out of it. remember he is too close to president line of succession to fly commercial.

[femrap]

45. I'm sure he flies First Class.

If a military flight is headed to SF, why not hitch a ride?

Oh hell, this isn't worth discussing. Why doesn't he just fucking walk or ride a bike??

[sally cat]

48. Good, he doesn't deserve Nancy's cool jet.

[DaveinJapan]

49. I say fine, give the plane to Daniel Inouye instead.

If I were in charge of security and a Speaker gave me a hard time about security, I would politely agree to his or her demands while making sure to get said demands clearly in writing, and then I would pass along the normal security measures to the next in line.

First of all, that would keep the costs the same which is important when speakers down the road might feel an obligation to compromise their security like this jackass is doing.

Secondly it would really burn his fucking britches.

Thirdly, he couldn't back out once arrangements were made.

I say it's the perfect plan. See ya on Delta, asswipe!

[RandySF]

51. Will he also have to pay for snacks?

Will they make him sit down before landing no matter how bad he needs to use the bathroom?

[The Backlash Cometh]

52. Yes, but will TSA grope him?