Much ado has been made by Congress and the media about the extravagance of corporate jets.
I would like to note that ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox have corporate jets.
Also, the government has a fleet of jets for government business, including congressional business. So, have you seen a story from the media about these jets? I haven't.
Sure, the media is not taking taxpayer money for stimulus or rescue, but the government uses taxpayer money exclusively to maintain a fleet of jets (not including the military).
10 comments:
Yup....I think you are right. The government and news media are hipocritical. On a twist of that thoguht....Leonardo is crazy with recent events at work. Senator Clinton is coming to Brussels next week. Her enterage is double the size of former secretary Condelezza Rice and Colin Powell. As part of the Embassy management team, he has been involved with planning visits for both of them and having all the local personnal in place for various roles that the secretary requires while on the ground. He is now finding out that with Clintons visit next week, not only is her accompanying enterage double the size of her predecessors, but she is requiring that some of local personnal that help out with specific roles to be doubled as well. He says it isn't at all necessary to have two people doing the job of one...but her enterage is requiring it of them. It's an example of pork spending. The extra isn't neccessy...but I guess that is the democrat idea of big governement, needing to spend in a big way. It's a bit pompus if you ask me. Surely they could save a bundle of tax payer money by trimming her traveling anterage and cutting back on "on-ground" needs as well. It's too bad. She is holding a reception next week for the families of the embassy to go meet her(customary...we met Colin Powell that way too)...but we don't think we will go....we aren't crazy about her. Would you go????
Why doesn't she just go, meet with whatever Belgian government officials she is supposed to meet with and come home? I view govenement officials as businessmen. Go, get your business done and get back to the office. Also, maybe it's cultures but can't they jsut make a simple phone/conference call? I am sure the governemnt can do video conferencing! Wishful thinking.
Teresa: That's an interesting bit of information that not very many other people know. However, I might go meet her just to see what all the pomp and fuss is about.
Deric: Travel. That's exactly why Mrs. Clinton took the gig. I would much prefer to be a senator than S of State. The S of S gig lasts only 4 to 8 years at best. As a Dem Senator from NY, one is guaranteed a seat for life. Seems like a no-brainer to me. (Snide comment suppressed here.)
Sec of State is the face of the President abroad even though there are diplomats out here doing the job on a daily basis. This just allows for the pomp and circumstance of it. But...they do have a job to do...and most cultures are big on pagentry and wouldn't understand video conferencing for big world affairs issues...so her need to travel is justified and expected. It also brings to light in the eyes of the world what America deems as important. If their country warrents a visit...there are some important issues going on that need to be discussed and brought to light. But...it can be done with less money.
I am not defending the doubling of the entourage. However, this action may well be defensible. Much depends on the purpose of her trip as compared those of her predecessors.
Is she going just to meet Belgian officials? Doubtful.
Is she going to meet and work with EU representatives? Most likely.
It is very possible that the scope of her visit is dramatically more extended than those of her predecessors given the nature of the world today:
the economic crisis (Brussels is financial HQ of the EU), the first official visits by the new administration, the possible expansion of European nations' involvement in Afghanistan etc. The entourage may well have a variety of newlings who have to connect with their new European counterparts in a face-to-face way. They may be taking one large trip because it may be cheaper than a bunch of shorter ones, who knows?
Bush's first visit 8 years ago may have been just as pompous, Leo was not there for that, although he could ask.
I would definitely go see her, but I'm a Dem and I am interested, though I would have gone to see CR or CP too.
This is just one stop on many that she is making...which is no different than her predecessors. Usually when they go out...they do a whirlwind tour of several countries. They always have an advance team and a team traveling with. The advance team mostly consists of people there to support her and her needs/wants. Although she does have her advisers with and that's necessary. The advance team goes ahead of her to tell the local diplmats what she wants doesn't want. ie...I want 2 protocal specialists to cover a 24 hour shift at my hotel, I want 3 logistic personnel to cover xyz. I want 2 officers taking official gifts and logging them in etc....
What Leonardo is saying that she wants double the people doing those things, that can easily and has easily been done with half the people. Instead, he has to pay two people overtime to cover a 24 hour shift at the hotel, when she really needs only one for 16 hours. (Covereage, even when she sleeps.) Not necessary...the others didn't have it or need it or ask for it.
and....her enterage travling with her is also double the people the embassy is used to having to host.
This morning Dad saw a hug amount of Police on motorcycles riding on the roads, and this noon just out of our office there were 8 together. It looks like no one in the Belgian Police is having a day off this week-end. She will be well protected because they are all over!
Interesting, thank you, Teresa.
It's that darn Belgian chocolate that they are all after. The more people she brings the more they get to buy that chocolate. By the way, I would love a Cote d or. (spelling)
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