Today's Bush Photo Ops will be in Beaumont TX & Lake Charles LA

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

"We can all pitch in by using — by being better conservers of energy," Bush said. "People just need to recognize that the storms have caused disruption and that if they're able to maybe not drive . . . on a trip that's not essential, that would be helpful." - George W. Bush, September 27, 2005

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=af.UCtMciT40&refer=us

Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will travel to Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, today to survey damage to the region hardest hit by Hurricane Rita, as officials worked to clear downed trees and restore power to the coastal towns after floodwaters receded.

The smaller towns on the border between the two states were slammed when Rita came ashore Sept. 24. Many of these rural fishing and agricultural towns along the Gulf of Mexico were wiped out by the storm's 120 mph winds and the storm surge that followed.

Refineries near the region may be closed for a month, heightening the threat of shortages in the oil industry, which hasn't fully recovered from last month's Hurricane Katrina. Both storms have disrupted oil supply along the U.S. Gulf Coast, home to 44 percent of U.S. refining capacity and 30 percent of production. Crude oil fell for a third day in four.

``There's pretty much utter devastation along the coastline down there,'' Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen, who is in charge of the federal Katrina relief operation, said during a briefing yesterday. Katrina killed more than 1,000 people from Louisiana to Florida when it devastated the Gulf Coast last month.

[Fenris]

1. The White House insists his trip is "essential"

:eyes:

An after-the-storm visit to the region...real essential.

[cyberpj]

2. Boston Globe: Of All Gas Consumers, Bush May Be Biggest:

snip..
Taxpayers still foot the bill.

Almost every vehicle Bush uses is custom-made to add security and communications capabilities, and the heavier weight of these guzzlers further drives up gas and jet fuel costs.

The White House declines to discuss travel costs related to the presidential entourage, and did not respond to a request for the overall effect of higher fuel prices on its budget.

snip...
Elsewhere, whether in Washington, Des Moines, Iowa, or the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Bush is driven in a large motorcade. The typical presidential caravan has well over a dozen vehicles, including Bush's limousine and an identical limo put in as a decoy.

The motorcade generally doesn't cruise placidly at fuel-efficient speeds, but rather hurries along its route as fast as possible. It also often idles outside while Bush is at an event, burning up fuel but ready to depart at a moment's notice.

snip...
Starting with his inaugural in January, Bush began tooling around in new 2006 Cadillac DTS limos.

Air Force One fleet
In the air, Bush most often flies on a Boeing 747-200B laden with, among other things, an anti-missile system. Like gas for cars, fuel costs for the largest plane in the Air Force One fleet have gone up dramatically -- from $3,974 an hour in fiscal 2004 to $6,029 per hour now, according to the Air Force.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/08/24/of_all_gas_consumers_bush_may_be_most/


===

(snip...)

Q If I can just follow up on what Kelly was asking. What the President did for the vast majority of the weekend was get briefings, many of them via videoconference, that he could have easily done here at the White House. Why is that not something -- why is that not the kind of -- just the kind of travel that could be curtailed?

MR. McCLELLAN: For the very reasons that I talked about this weekend, and that the President talked about. It's important for the President to get a firsthand look at the operations that were underway. It's important for the President to see how those operations are being carried out from the federal government's standpoint; how the coordination is going. The President made it clear that we are going to do what we can to learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina, and do everything we can to prevent something like the response that we saw at all levels of government from happening again. That's why he talked about the role of the military today, and how that's one lesson learned from a major catastrophe like Hurricane Katrina. And there are a number of lessons learned.

I think that you all -- some of you were there on the trip and able to see the discussions that took place. It was very important for the President to be there and be able to get a firsthand account of how those operations are being carried out and to hear firsthand some of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, as well.

Q And what's he doing tomorrow that makes it necessary travel?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we'll be updating you on the schedule later today, but the President has typically gone to the affected regions when you've had major hurricanes to assess -- to look at some of the damage, himself, as well as visit with victims or those affected, and to provide support or encouragement, to lift the spirits of all those who have been working round-the-clock to help people in need. There are more than 70,000 federal officials that are working with state and local officials and first responders to provide important relief to people in need. And I know the President's visit yesterday to the joint field office in Baton Rouge was very much appreciated. You saw the enthusiasm from all those who have been working 24/7 to help the people of the region rebuild their lives and recover.

(snip...)

Q Scott, beyond the President's travel tomorrow, what is the President going to do to conserve his own gas use and energy use here by White House staff?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the directive will go out to the entire federal government, and it will be going out later today. And I highlighted some ways that people can take steps to conserve energy. So that's what we'll be looking to do here at the White House, as well.

Q Will you consider fewer cars in the motorcade? We've asked you previously how much gas the motorcade uses and you guys won't tell us. So I'm curious, can you tell us how much gas the motorcade --

MR. McCLELLAN: We will take steps here at the White House, as well. And I'll keep you posted, once the directive goes out.

Q Will you tell us how much gas the motorcade uses?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q How much gas the motorcade uses?

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me take your question. I'll look into it.