Friday, August 07, 2009

Let them fly coach.

So, in the middle of the biggest governmental fiscal crisis in the history of our republic, with everybody and their brother pissing and carping about the high pressure jet of red ink shooting out of the congressional fire hose, congress decides it needs three congressional Gulfstream luxo jets, to the tune of $200mil?

Guys, you're congressmen. There's, like, five-hundred-something of you interchangeable little cogs; you're barely more special than dogcatchers. You put those jets back where you found them right now, and you can darn well fly coach like the rest of us as long as you're flying on my dime.


(H/T to Sharp Stuff.)

16 comments:

Earl said...

But they aren't flying on your dime, they think they have earned their privilege - and once you give up your dime it is theirs.

Fuzzy Curmudgeon said...

Somebody needs to remind these people exactly who they work for.

Pitchforks, tar, and feathers might be a good memory enhancer.

Anonymous said...

Politicians, lamppost, rope.

Some assembly required

Shrimp said...

No, no, I like this idea. I've often said the best thing Congress could do was get on board a bus doomed for a high cliff.

This is a slightly more expensive upgrade to that idea, but if they'll all fit, and we can get them to go all at once, I say load 'em up.

And I'm sure the CIA knows of a few willing pilots in the Taliban to fly them. Either that or we give Teddy a few (more) toddies, put him behind the stick, and tell him that the Chappaquiddick is that way.

If history teaches us anything, he'll survive the crash, and leave all his fellows behind, so he can probably manage at least two flights.

NattyBumpo said...

I say we ban them from ALL air travel withing the continental US and make them ride on Amtrak. That way we can get "legitimate" subsidies into the system and maybe even upgrade the services. I say "Go by Train" and if I'm ever dumb enough to run for a US position, that would be how I would go back and forth.

wv: necks---as in what we should be ringing in congress right now--or what SkyNet considers us ;)

Old Grouch said...

Hey guys, it's not $200 million, it's $1/2 BILLION, and it's not two extra planes, it's FOUR. Per today's Wall Street Journal:

The Pentagon [had] sought to buy one Gulfstream V and one business-class equivalent of a Boeing 737 to replace aging planes. The Defense Department also asked to buy two additional 737s that were being leased.

Lawmakers in the House... added funds to buy a total of three Gulfstream planes and two additional 737s on top of the Pentagon's request.
...
The Pentagon press secretary said the Department of Defense didn't request the additional planes and doesn't need them.

theirritablearchitect said...

Hey, I've got a plan, and it's even got something the Libs are always harping about, compromise.

I say let those thieves have the planes. $200 million worth. Fly wherever you want, on the taxpayer dime.

The compromise? Don't touch anything else.

Not a damned thing.

Not ONE more piece of legislation.

Sounds good to me, anyway.

Anonymous said...

Tam; you're insulting the dogcatchers. Be nice.

"Pitchforks, tar, and feathers might be a good memory enhancer."

I think you can get all three here at the local outfitters. Now; just how do you go about that? I mean, do you have to dilute the tar with mineral spirits or something, or do you just slather it on right out of the bucket? Seems like a lot of work unless the tar were thinned down a bit. Or heated. This is of course a matter of national culture and historical significance. Seems tarring and feathering was quite effective back in the 1700s. -- Lyle

KurtP said...

Wasn't it just four months ago that private jet travel was,,,evil when private businessmen did it?

Or was that another plane of existance with another black socialist?




WV- IRSive?

Anonymous said...

Coach my !$$. Let them hitchhike. Without shoes.

Earl said...

Coach is too good for them, don't they have kennels for pampered pets?

Gewehr98 said...

Subtle hint from a retired Air Force flyboy who was intimate with the process:

If you want flying hours and airframes for the fighter wing, bomb wing, tanker wing and recce wing, you have to fund the pretty blue and white planes a Andrews AFB.

Just sayin'...

Tam said...

Yes, but do we have to smile about it?

Gewehr98 said...

No, no smiles required.

However, I'd rather have Nancy Pelosi throw a hissy fit on a USAF bizjet than let the innocent public witness such antics firsthand in the cabin of a commercial airliner.

We'd offered once to let her fly nonstop one-way to Kalifornia in the forward bomb bay of a B-52H. I was pretty sure she could be air-dropped into the Sacramento capitol building, if not darned close. She declined.

Tam said...

"We'd offered once to let her fly nonstop one-way to Kalifornia in the forward bomb bay of a B-52H. I was pretty sure she could be air-dropped into the Sacramento capitol building, if not darned close. She declined."

That was the happysmileycuddliest thing I've read all day.

I went back and read it again, twice, just to make sure I had the mental picture rubber-cemented firmly in my forebrain. :D

the pawnbroker said...

"you interchangeable little cogs"

man...all of them, everydamnone from the city council persons of bugtussle to the bobo hisself...needs to see, learn, understand, and know that that is what they are.

jtc