Incoming Speaker Takes Commercial Flight, but Skips the Pat-Down

[proud2BlibKansan]

WASHINGTON — Representative John A. Boehner, the soon-to-be Republican speaker, pledged recently that he would fly commercial airlines back home to Ohio, passing up the military plane used by the current speaker, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. But that does not mean he will endure the hassles of ordinary passengers, including pat-downs and other new security screenings.

As he left Washington on Friday, Mr. Boehner headed across the Potomac River to Ronald Reagan National Airport, which was bustling with afternoon travelers. There was no waiting for Mr. Boehner, who was escorted around the identification-checking agents, the metal detectors and the body scanners, and whisked directly to the gate.

The Republican leader, who will become the second person in line to assume the presidency after the new Congress convenes in January, took great pride after the midterm elections in declaring his man-of-the-people plans to travel home as other Americans do. In a time of economic difficulty, it was a not-so-subtle dig at Ms. Pelosi, who has access to a military jet large enough to avoid refueling for her flights home to San Francisco.

But he is not giving up all the perquisites of power.

more . . . http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/us/politics/20boehner.html?_r=1&ref=jeff_zeleny

[SpiralHawk]

1. Republicons are just so 'special'

Not at all like us little people.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. yeah, cause no Democrat would do anything like that

please...this is one of those situations that applies to ALL the powered elite...and that is part of the problem with our gubermint...

sP

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. The problem here is that Boner attacked Pelosi for using a military plane

and then said he would only fly commercial. Like he was being noble.

Show where a Democrat has done that.

[SpiralHawk]

4. You forgetting the mASSive republicon Hypocrisy Fudge Factor, Prod

You know: wagging your finger at someone, tut-tutting them for -- oh my -- sexual behavior, then sneaking off to have hot wide-stance, diaper sex with a faux lesbian rentboy luggage handling hooker (R) in a public restroom.

No one is is at all unsettled to learn that politicians use perks. But when you have spent the election season slamming others for perks, then ladle perks into your own life, it has a peculiarly republicon STINK to it.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. It's probably a cluserfuck for his secret service detail to fly commercial with him

If Boehner is serious about being "one of the people" he ought to propose changing the Presidential Succession Act and either removing himself from it completely or moving himself way down the line at least. As second in line, he has an obligation to the country to assume the presidency if the President and Vice President are incapacitated or worse and that means being properly protected by secret service. I wish he would prioritize that responsibility over trying to score cheap points.

[CanonRay]

6. I wonder if radiation bounces of the Orange.

Maybe that's why he does it...it's like a lead shield?