Bush Campaigns Heavily Via Air Force One

President Bush (news - web sites) is using Air Force One for re-election travel more heavily than any predecessor, wringing maximum political mileage from a perk of office paid for by taxpayers.

While Democratic rival John Kerry (news - web sites) digs into his campaign bank account to charter a plane to roam the country, Bush often travels at no cost to his campaign simply by declaring a trip "official" travel rather than "political."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040530/ap_on_el_pr/bush_travel_costs

eom

Gee... what a surprise...

It is an advantage that Bush and other presidents before him have enjoyed. President Clinton frequently was criticized by Republicans for his record-setting use of Air Force One in the campaign season, and Bush is exceeding Clinton's pace.

We didn't really expect it to be otherwise, did we?

:bounce:

By Peter Wallsten Times Staff Writer

NASHVILLE — Sitting on a stool, microphone in hand, President Bush (news - web sites) shared a stage Thursday with a doctor, a patient and the mother of a sick child as he hosted a discussion on medical technology. The images were tailor-made for TV: a concerned leader engaged on an important matter of public policy.


But Bush soon left the cameras for a private residence nearby and the event that brought him to town in the first place — a fundraiser that netted $1.7 million for the Republican National Committee (news - web sites).


Such is life these days for Bush, who stopped raising money for his own campaign last month but now is aggressively helping his party beef up its bank account to orchestrate what GOP officials say will be the most sophisticated and expansive get-out-the-vote effort in history this November.


In the last month, Bush often has attended GOP events and conducted taxpayer-financed business while on the same trips outside of Washington. He delivered the commencement address at Louisiana State University before raising $2 million near New Orleans, spoke to graduates of a Wisconsin college shortly after taking in $2.2 million in nearby St. Louis, and hailed his commitment to the environment near a Florida bay before pulling in more than $4 million for the Republican National Committee in Naples and Miami.

~snip~
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=716&e=27&u=/...

Although he was just across the street from the VA Hospital AND it was the eve of Memorial Day Celebrations - he couldn't bother with a visit to any of the hospitalized vetrans! Whatta guy!:grr:

:eyes:

And Clinton didn't take half as many of these junkets as our Commander-in-thief, Bush. Why aren't Dems raising hell?

Can you say... hypocrites?

:bounce:

And I'm speaking generically of all future Preseidents: If he/she is going to campaign or raise money, make their campaign pay the entire cost equivalent to what chartering a commercial plane for the same trip would cost (less essentially SS security).... Then we might have some chance that some attention would have to be paid to work for the people and not just blatant campaigning 24/7.

The fact is, if the President travels he HAS to use Air Force One. I don't like the frequency of his travel. But that's that.

Frankly, I am more concerned with the amount of VACATION this man takes on his Ranch.

I don't think this man ACTS like President. He's been campaigning for re-election since he entered office. EVERY action they take is aimed FIRST for political reasons and SECOND for the good of their chronies, THIRD for the benefit of Republicans, FOURTH for the good of the nation.

All of the righties used to bitch that Clinton got an office in the Bronx and secret service officers for life. But there isn't a peep about this. Good ol' partisan politics.

the same.

I am sorry to say, but that is the way it is.

When I think of where else that money could be spent,and put to use for the good of all people in the country, instead of using tax money and raising obscene amounts for a man to be elected, it makes me see red.

the president's campaign (Dem or Repug) was required to reimburse us, the taxpayers, for any campaign trips that were made? That would at least force them to declare separate usage--pack as many campaign appearances into one trip, which they pay for, and then use AFO as usual for official trips.

I know, never gonna happen in a million years, but wouldn't it be more fair?

They're too busy yammering about Kerry's new plane and its luxurious bar, etc. Novak can tell you the exact cost and how many toilets are on board.

No shame.

* being a known incompentent, and this administration being known for hiring incompetents (supposedly so they'll be sure to have true believers, but possibly so as not to make the others look bad), the darned plane ought to crash soon.

Hey, maybe he'll insist on flying it himself, to show off his pilot training. Take cover!

:kick:

some Democrat President doing something they never raised an eyebrow when GWB did it.

My young stepdaughter told me that Channel One was "following Bush's bus tour" this week. I corrected her. Bush doesn't travel on that bus. He flys to his destinations, and limos or helicopters to the bus before they arrive. It's a stunt.

bus, btw.

He's still dropping in the polls, even with Air Force One ferrying his butt everywhere free.

He circled Arkansas like some frightened vulture, stopping in every surrounding state to squawk about how Clinton and Gore were "crazy ozone bozos."

Like father, like son. Little George is now flying all over the country, grubbing money for what he KNOWS in his heart (two sizes too small) is a lost cause.

Exxxxxxxxcellent!

:evilgrin:
dbt

And welcome to DU, ColdWarZoomie!