Sarkozy orders plane to rival Air Force One

[JI7]

Source: argentina star

Nicolas Sarkozy's dream of having his own presidential aircraft to rival the US' Air Force One will soon come true as the French president has ordered an 'Air Sarko One', fitted with an air filter system so that he can smoke whenever he wants.

Sarkozy was reportedly unhappy with his Airbus A319s, which he said 'lacked the necessary presidential stature' and were smaller than the Boeing 747-200B used by US President Barack Obama to fly across the world.

The French president also wanted a full-sized bathtub on the plane but was told it could pose a problem, as under heavy turbulence water may overflow and cause short circuits.

But Sarkozy's extravagant purchase has come under criticism among austerity commentators.
British Prime Minister David Cameron decided to travel on commercial flights as part of the government's austerity drive.
Even Tony Blair's plans to purchase two private jets, at a cost of 100 million pounds, were scrapped by Gordon Brown soon after he came to power.


Read more: http://story.argentinastar.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/88176adfdf246af5/id/666912/cs/1/

[UndertheOcean]

1. This is satire , right ? right ?

[JI7]

2. i wasn't sure so i did a search and there are other sources reporting on this

[JI7]

3. Sarkozy Orders $230 Million Jet To Compete With Air Force One

Commons
If an effort to compete with his American counterpart, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered a 147 million pound ($230 million) jet to be his French Air Force One, according to The Telegraph (via Gawker).

Nicknamed Air Sarko One, the plane is set to have a wingspan 2 feet longer than U.S. President Barack Obama's Air Force One.

The plane is set to be finished by October and has already taken its first test flight.

It remains to be seen how the French public will react to the new plane that will be touring President Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni around the world. Sarkozy has been under increasing pressure for his alleged involvement in a campaign finance scandal.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sarkozy-orders-230-million-jet-to-compete-with-air-force-one-2010-7#ixzz0vQS9aLio

[Angry Dragon]

4. The elites are all the same around the world

they have no conception of what is right, they figure anything they want is okay because they deserve it

[naaman fletcher]

23. you summed it up nicely. /nt

[proteus_lives]

5. Dr. Freud might have had an option on this.

[Lasher]

6. Classy, right after France's catfood commission approved pension cuts.

And tax refunds for the wealthy.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8845197

[rpannier]

7. That's what I was thinking

The French need to slap this down and quickly
If he gets away with this he'll try similar stuff too

[Golden Raisin]

8. Sarkozy's is bigger!

And now the whole world will know it. The combo of penis size fetish with a heaping shovelful of Marie Antoinette-ism is a bit glaring.

[Blacksheep214]

9. Hey Boeing!

Would you have any extended size wingtips laying around? About 6 feet oughta piss off Sarkozy.

Can you scream DOOOHHHH!!!!!!?

[trusty elf]

10. 'lacked the necessary presidential stature'

[kirby]

21. They could call it Napoleon One n/t

[trusty elf]

11. whoops dupe!

[Kolesar]

12. He could race against Air Force One

Take bets and donate the profits to Haiti.

[MilesColtrane]

13. It will be powered by ennui and a casual attitude of rudeness.

[Turborama]

14. I wonder how this is being reported in French language papers such as Le Monde & Le Figaro

I can't see the French general public putting up with something like this, I really can't.

Any French speakers fancy having a look...?

http://www.lemonde.fr/

http://www.lefigaro.fr/

[blublu]

18. on radio

I heard it on the radio, with no response as yet.
nothing in the two newspapers that I could find.

Cant see the public accepting this tho' and Sarko is already very LOW in the polls now.

[Ticonderoga]

15. We all know it takes

a big plane to haul around a big ego.

[Jennicut]

16. He wanted a bathtub on a plane?

What a small little man with a big ego.

By the way, his approval rating is down to less then 30%. I doubt this will improve it.

[Lightning Count]

17. Both airforce one and this monstrosity should be scrapped.

There has to be more efficient ways of travel.

[nyy1998]

19. But with security measures, the only thing I could think that would be better

would be the new 787s. There's no way in hell the Secret Service would allow the President to fly commercially.

[hedgehog]

20. Reportedly, Sarkozy has also demanded body guards shorter than he is.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/08/sarkozy-short-bodyguards

[Brooklyns_Finest]

22. I think Presidents should have super secure personal planes

It is way too dangerous to have them fly any other way.

[Nye Bevan]

24. The UK's David Cameron flew British Airways Business Class when he came to the US

and got around on Amtrak while he was over here. A good example to set, both from a cost and environmental point of view.