Air Force One photo op disturbs Manhattan badly

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by red55, Apr 28, 2009.

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  1. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    White House Apologizes for Air Force Flyover

    This guy Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, who served in the Clinton administration as secretary of the Army, should have known better. He's in a position too important to make decisions as bad as this one. Neither the President nor the Mayor were informed and both are described as angry about it.

    I think he's toast.

    [​IMG]

    "Francis Townsend, a CNN security contributor, called the fly-over "crass insensitivity" Tuesday on CNN's American Morning. "And, frankly, as I would say as a former prosecutor, I would call this felony stupidity."
     
    red55, Apr 28, 2009
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  2. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    "Felony stupidity"? OK, that's a new one.

    Quick thoughts...I know some will probably try to point a finger directly at POTUS, and others will rush to his defense, saying they're making a mountain out of a molehill. But....when you foolishly scare the bejesus out of thousands of people, that's a pretty big deal. Someone screwed up bigtime.

    Now I doubt the President personally is involved in this, but I find Robert Gibbs' position a little disingenuous. Someone in the White House, close to the President, had to know this was happening. The Air Force does not randomly spool up the principle Air Force One aircraft and take it out for a photo op. It would have had to have been scheduled some time in advance to avoid conflicts with the President's schedule. So someone (the Chief of Staff, perhaps?) knew about it.
     
    mctiger, Apr 28, 2009
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  3. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    The White House Military Office did it. Their job is to coordinate the Air Force jets and Marine helicopters that get the President out of danger in an emergency. So Caldera knew what the aircraft schedule was. It was a bad decision to fly over New York. He could have flown it over the Grand Canyon or the Golden Gate or the Grand Tetons, but not Manhattan after 9/11. He should have gotten permission from the President and the Mayor. I expect a resignation within 24 hours. If not, a quick firing is in order.
     
    red55, Apr 28, 2009
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  4. SabanFan

    SabanFan The voice of reason

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    Obama knew but he had completely forgotten about 9/11.










    Just kidding.:hihi:

    It was the A.F One back up plane. I know a lot of people who work in Downtown Manhattan with all too vivid memories of a low flying 757 headed up Pearl Street. This was a bonehead move.
     
    SabanFan, Apr 28, 2009
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  5. saltyone

    saltyone So Mote It Be

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    FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic

    Threatened Federal Sanctions Against NYPD, Secret Service, FBI & Mayor's Office If Secret Ever Got Out


    FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic - wcbstv.com
     
    saltyone, Apr 28, 2009
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  6. StaceyO

    StaceyO Football Turns Me On

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    It's almost like they were trying to terrorize New Yorkers. Who would think this was possibly a good idea? And why were they spending so much $ in this economy for souvenir shots?

    Moronic on every single level.
     
    StaceyO, Apr 29, 2009
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  7. shane0911

    shane0911 Helping lost idiots find their village

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    He didn't know huh :rolleye33:

    He is the prez, that is his ride, I'm pretty sure he knows if its going up and for what reason. Of course since he wasn't "on board" it was just a plane as they get the AF1 designation when he is actually inside. I am pretty sure he knew and this tantrum is all just eyewash and lip service until he can weasel out of it. As for that military fella, I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the authority to send up the POTUS's ride as he wants to.
     
    shane0911, Apr 29, 2009
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  8. mctiger

    mctiger RIP, and thanks for the music Staff Member

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    And has no one in the White House ever heard of PhotoShop? You take a picture of the Statue of Liberty, and a picture of Air Force One....and you jam 'em together!
     
    mctiger, Apr 29, 2009
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    2 people like this.
  9. mobius481

    mobius481 Registered Member

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    The picture was a bargain at $328k. Seriously, wtf? Everyone's pinching pennies and the prez sends his new ride out for a 328k picture for a website. Now that's change I can believe in.
     
    mobius481, Apr 29, 2009
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  10. gumborue

    gumborue Throwin Ched

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    im sure this will sound crass, but why were all the people running? im sure i would have crapped my pants but where do you go? being 100 ft in any direction from where you are wont help. i guess if they had 5 min or something they could get into a basement, but if that plane was going to hit them it would have hit them in 30 sec.
     
    gumborue, Apr 29, 2009
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