I can’t work up any outrage over the expense of the Governor’s plane ride, dubbed “The Governor’s Very Expensive Plane Ride” by the Indianapolis Star. Mainly, I’m just glad he and those aboard took safety precautions when they made an unscheduled landing after the windshield cracked.
But, the question is, should I get worked up about the trip? Apparently the private plane cost about $1,000 per hour to operate with about 2 hours each way so the Governor could go to a National Governor’s Association meeting. I don’t know if/how much the airplane use cost for the time it would be waiting around between trips. But I did hear an awful lot about what bad people the executives of the automobile companies were because they didn’t fly commercial during these austere times. And, during these times of cutting the budget to the bone, is the National Governor’s Association (and, I believe concurrent appearance on one of the Sunday television shows) really a necessary expense? Probably not. But, like I said, I can’t work up any real emotion over the issue.
Update Paul Ogden offers his thoughts on the matter.
I had similar feelings myself. I finally reached the conclusion that he could pack a laptop and cell phone and work mobile.
Then, he could buy a spot at a Holiday Inn and fly there on Southwest like the rest of us.
I have no problem with asking Mitch to fly coach or cut back on travel expenses, however, fiscal responsibility starts at the top, does it not? Keep in mind how much it costs to fire up Air Force One and fly to Colorado, Elkhart, etc to make LIVE TELEVISED speeches which obviously could have been made from anywhere, like maybe Washington D.C. where the President works?
Seems a tad disingenous to talk about “belt tightening” and “we’re all in this together” while throwing thousands of dollars out the window of Air Force One.
Tim – I agree that it does seem a bit much to pay for a trip out to Elkhart – at the same time, I can’t help wondering how much money the local hotels, restaurants, etc. made from taking care of the media who traipsed out there to cover the event. Pretty as parts of Elkhart are, I somehow doubt that Obama’s trip did much to encourage tourism.
Do any of the governor’s detractors think that minor “outrages” like this dilute more substantive criticisms?
Depends on the audience, I guess. For me, yes, probably. But I suppose there is the possibility that one “outrage” builds on another, making the cumulative effect more substantial.
I’m just glad nobody got hurt – as to the trip, it seems like it was a reasonable thing.
(He didn’t bring pimps, and hookers, and circus clowns, and midgets, and jugglers, and stewardesses, did he?)
[‘Cuz then I would have been envious. For a meeting of governors, not so much…]