She Is Woman: Hear Her Roar For MORE

I hate to say this, I really really do, and if I'm ever quoted I will have to strongly deny I ever said it, but Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer are starting to make Hillary Clinton look good to me. And you've gotta understand that I loathe Hillary Clinton. Actually I loathe both halves of the HillBilly Dynamic Duo, but that's material for another rant.

The subject for this one is Nancy Pelosi and her attempt to toss her weight around by demanding a bigger, badder jet than former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert had to chauffer her across country. She wants a jet that won't have to stop for refueling, and the reason for this is being chalked up to her personal security concerns. She is, after all, second in line to the Presidency. Never mind that no Speaker Of The House has ever had to step in and take over these duties; Nancy wants security and she aims to get it. Then too, there's also her desire to carry her family, lobbyists, and other lawmakers who may need a ride as she crosses the amber waves of grain toward her home.

The Washington Times has reported that the Pentagon recently denied a request made by Pelosi to fly her to a Democratic retreat in Williamsburg. This trip was a 2 hour drive from DC. A congressional source told the Washington Times that the Pentagon also informed Pelosi that:

"Non-governmental personnel, i.e. political supporters and contributors, may not fly. The plane may not ferry her to any political events and other members may only accompany her after approval by the House ethics committee, which means Republicans would have to OK it."
Immediate family members who fly with her must pay the U.S. Treasury for the flight.

As a result, Nancy is not a happy camper.

Which is why John Murtha decided to toss in his political weight. Murtha, who chairs the House Military Appropriations Subcommittee says he's spoken to Pentagon officials about supplying Pelosi with a bigger plane. Murtha denies that he's pressuring the Pentagon, though. Murtha said:

"I don't need to pressure them. I just tell them what they need to do."

Murtha went on to say that he believes the Pentagon is deliberately leaking information about this matter to the press to make Pelosi look bad. [I would just like to insert here that the Pentagon doesn't need to waste the time or effort on that. Pelosi can manage to look bad all on her own.] Murtha went on to say:

"They're making a mistake when they leak it because she decides on allocations for them."

Murtha is referring of course to who decides on the Pentagon budget. I guess I'd be considered out of line for suggesting that Murtha just made a somewhat veiled threat to the Pentagon, huh? But what else is it called when someone says give her the plane or we cut your purse-strings? On the other hand, is Murtha really dumb enough to threaten the Pentagon when they've got all those weapons? Well, of course, he is. The Cratz are in the Driver's Seat now, so they can do whatever they want.

Meanwhile, ABC News is reporting:

"Various Republican officials in recent days have claimed that Pelosi has requested a C-32 plane for her travels — a luxurious and specially configured version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial intercontinental airliner. The plane seats 45 passengers with business-class accommodations and a crew of up to 16, depending on the mission. It features a communications center, a fully enclosed stateroom for the primary passenger, a changing area, a conference facility, an entertainment system, and a convertible divan that seats three and folds out to a bed. The C-32 can cost as much as $22,000 an hour to operate. It's normally used by the first lady, the vice president, Cabinet officials and members of Congress upon request."

Here's the thing that bothers me. If Nancy Pelosi does not realize that by requesting a plane big enough so that it will not have to refuel as it takes her across the country, she is actually requesting transportation that exceeds what her predecessor needed to ensure his safety, and she's still bound and determined to get her way when it's clear she's also requesting a plane far more expensive to operate with luxuries she certainly doesn't need, then what is she doing in the House of Representatives in the first place? Because if this woman has no concept of size and cost, the LAST place on earth she should be is serving in a place that determines how tax dollars are spent.

I think everyone in the United States should get down on their knees tonight and pray to whatever Higher Being they respect to safeguard the life of George W Bush and Dick Cheney because the alternative is Nancy Pelosi in the White House. If that doesn't give you a case of the wild and wet snarkies, nothing will.