View Full Version : "Times" Apprently Not So Tough In Washington
soonercruiser
5/31/2011, 09:13 PM
In the face of the current economic woes, and American families struggling, here is another piece of evidence that the government IS THE PROBLEM!
'Limousine Liberals' Report Shows Government Limo Fleet Swelling
Reuters
President Obama's motorcade travels along the Mall as it leaves Buckingham Palace to go to Downing Street in central London May 25.
Obama administration officials are riding in style.
A new report from a watchdog group shows that the number of limousines owned by the federal government rose by 73 percent during the first two years of President Obama's administration. The State Department was the recipient of most the new luxury vehicles.
The "Limousine Liberals?" report from iWatch News, part of the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, showed that government data pegged the number of limos in the federal fleet at 412 in fiscal 2010, up from 238 in fiscal 2008.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/31/limousine-liberals-report-shows-government-limo-fleet-swelling/
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/05/31/4765/limousine-liberals-number-government-owned-limos-has-soared-under-obama
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/05/limousine-government-number-of.html
GKeeper316
5/31/2011, 09:37 PM
whatever happened to the days of government vehicles being stripped down base models with a solid white or blue paint job, steel rims and no A/C?
I don't know why anyone would try and defend this. Unless they were a complete partisan shill.
Chuck Bao
6/1/2011, 02:47 AM
One of my good friends used to manage the fleet maintenance at the US embassy in Bangkok. He was very, very critical of the waste at taxpayers expense. The cars had to be special ordered in the US to include things like bullet proof glass and extra reinforced steel sides and underside. Then, they had to be shipped to Thailand with security.
He said that it takes around two years between the order and shipment delivery. So, maybe some of these limousines were ordered in 2008 and the last year of the Bush administration.
But yeah, I do agree with all of the posts in this thread. By the same token, there really shouldn't be any outrage if state department and executive branch officials are chauffeured around in non-US manufactured cars.
jk the sooner fan
6/1/2011, 07:51 AM
GSA routinely upgrades its fleet - they turn over vehicles - replace the old with the new - and then sell the old ones at auction
the story is devoid of critical facts in my opinion before i can come to any conclusions.......i.e. - what are the plans (if any) for the fleet already in existence?
C&CDean
6/1/2011, 08:13 AM
If you wanna see the waste first hand, spend a couple weeks in DC.
I've seen three separate motorcades for three different presidents. Clinton, GWB, and Obama. The number of limos/security vehicles has risen exponentially - plus some.
I saw Clinton jogging on the mall with maybe 5-6 security agents with him. I've seen him motorcade to a dinner with a few police cars/motorcyces, one limo, and maybe 3-4 black SUVs for security.
I've seen GWB motorcade a couple times to different events. Each time there was a limo, and a half-dozen black SUVs and maybe 8-10 police cruisers for escort.
I watched Obama motorcade this past winter. Pennsylvania Avenue was completely shut down. Helecopters hovered up and down the street. There were police cars/cops on every side street leading to Pennsylvania Ave. After a while about 15 motorcycle cops go by, followed by maybe 20 police cruisers. After this came maybe 10-12 black SUVs/vans, followed by 3 identical limos staggered in formation all flying the president's flag and an American flag on the front fenders. These were followed by another 10-15 black SUVs/vans which were followed by another 20 or so cruisers and then more motorcycles. Seriously, the motorcade was at least 50 vehicles long.
That night I was watching the news and this giant display of government waste was so Obama and the girls could go to a middle school and paint an apple in the cafeteria so kids would know to eat healthier. Meh.
When I complained to my uber-liberal co-workers up there they said "well no other president has been threatened like Obama has. He has to have the extra security." I said "really, he's been threatened more than GWB or Clinton?" They go "of course, it's because he's black." I go "meh."
KantoSooner
6/1/2011, 10:31 AM
Dean, while I'm largely on your side in this, you must admit that Obama has both foreign and domestic crazies to worry about. Bush had only foreign crazies.
and Bill? He only had dumped girlfriends after his ***.
soonercruiser
6/1/2011, 10:32 AM
maybe W liked SUVs?
"W" like his pickup!
:rolleyes:
soonercruiser
6/1/2011, 10:35 AM
If you wanna see the waste first hand, spend a couple weeks in DC.
I've seen three separate motorcades for three different presidents. Clinton, GWB, and Obama. The number of limos/security vehicles has risen exponentially - plus some.
I saw Clinton jogging on the mall with maybe 5-6 security agents with him. I've seen him motorcade to a dinner with a few police cars/motorcyces, one limo, and maybe 3-4 black SUVs for security.
I've seen GWB motorcade a couple times to different events. Each time there was a limo, and a half-dozen black SUVs and maybe 8-10 police cruisers for escort.
I watched Obama motorcade this past winter. Pennsylvania Avenue was completely shut down. Helecopters hovered up and down the street. There were police cars/cops on every side street leading to Pennsylvania Ave. After a while about 15 motorcycle cops go by, followed by maybe 20 police cruisers. After this came maybe 10-12 black SUVs/vans, followed by 3 identical limos staggered in formation all flying the president's flag and an American flag on the front fenders. These were followed by another 10-15 black SUVs/vans which were followed by another 20 or so cruisers and then more motorcycles. Seriously, the motorcade was at least 50 vehicles long.
That night I was watching the news and this giant display of government waste was so Obama and the girls could go to a middle school and paint an apple in the cafeteria so kids would know to eat healthier. Meh.
When I complained to my uber-liberal co-workers up there they said "well no other president has been threatened like Obama has. He has to have the extra security." I said "really, he's been threatened more than GWB or Clinton?" They go "of course, it's because he's black." I go "meh."
The answer is he11 NO!
The facts are that Obama has been threatened no more than any other President, i.e GW!
A Secret Service official even admitted this on TV a year ago!
Jammin'
6/1/2011, 10:39 AM
It's math:
brother's posse > whitey's posse
It's the same for pro athletes. Lebron rolls with a lot more people than Steve Nash.
As to the waste factor: you don't have to go all the way to DC to find gov't waste. Look around pretty much anywhere. I worked grounds at a Vo-Tech during the summers during HS and early college. One summer they ripped up the south entrance/road because it was black asphalt and didn't match the rest of the "grey" concrete used in the park lots and north entrance. We owned a street sweeper and snow plow. In 5 summer of working there, I used the street sweeper twice. We removed carpet out of there every other year, some it couldn't have been walked on more than 3 or 4 times. And on and one and on....
Why? Because if they didn't spend it this year, they wouldn't get it from the gov't next year. So they had to spend HUGE amounts of money every year or lose it for good. Brilliant!
sappstuf
6/1/2011, 10:46 AM
whatever happened to the days of government vehicles being stripped down base models with a solid white or blue paint job, steel rims and no A/C?
I used to drive a Ford Ranger that met that description.. In the Republic of Panama.. When it rained, which was often, that thing felt like a deathtrap because everything would fog up and I couldn't see chit plus it was still about 100 degrees inside..
Probably cost the government $3500.. Which would have been too much.
pphilfran
6/1/2011, 10:54 AM
Hastings, Ok has all new downtown sidewalks...population of less than 200...
I know the postal service is a different type of animal...but...
Addington Station, Ok has a post office with a population of 110...Comanche, Ok, population less than 1500, is 9 miles north of Addington and it too has a post office...Waurika, Ok, pop 2000, is 13 miles to the south and it also has a post office....
jk the sooner fan
6/1/2011, 10:55 AM
dean - how many vehicles should they use in a motorcade to protect the President? if not how many you saw - how many is appropriate?
jk the sooner fan
6/1/2011, 10:56 AM
I used to drive a Ford Ranger that met that description.. In the Republic of Panama.. When it rained, which was often, that thing felt like a deathtrap because everything would fog up and I couldn't see chit plus it was still about 100 degrees inside..
Probably cost the government $3500.. Which would have been too much.
when I was an MP at Fort Sill - some of our patrol vehicles were those Ford Rangers......complete POS
JohnnyMack
6/1/2011, 11:00 AM
1. I have not been to Drudge today.
2. I will bet mountains of cash that you copy and pasted this from Drudge.
pphilfran
6/1/2011, 11:09 AM
1. I have not been to Drudge today.
2. I will bet mountains of cash that you copy and pasted this from Drudge.
I think you lose...tracking it back I find this link...article seems to be much more to the center...
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/05/31/4765/limousine-liberals-number-government-owned-limos-has-soared-under-obama
Most of the increase was recorded in Hillary Clinton’s State Department.
Obama administration officials said most of the increase reflects an enhanced effort to protect diplomats and other government officials in a dangerous world. But a watchdog group says the abundance of limos sends the wrong message in the midst of a budget crisis. The increase in limos comes to light on the heels of an executive order from President Obama last week that charges agencies to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets.
According to General Services Administration data , the number of limousines in the federal fleet increased from 238 in fiscal 2008, the last year of the George W. Bush administration, to 412 in 2010. Much of the 73 percent increase—111 of the 174 additional limos—took place in fiscal 2009, more than eight months of which corresponded with Obama’s first year in office. However, some of those purchases could reflect requests made by the Bush administration during an appropriations process that would have begun in the spring of 2008.
Although the overall limo numbers in the fleet report were up in 2010, federal agencies and departments did not benefit equally. The State Department, with 259, had more limos than any other agency in 2010 and has gained 194 limos just since fiscal 2008. Of those new limos, 98 were defined as “law enforcement,” which the GSA said means they are equipped with sirens or lights, high-performance drivetrains, or are used for surveillance or undercover operations.
OutlandTrophy
6/1/2011, 11:14 AM
dean - how many vehicles should they use in a motorcade to protect the President? if not how many you saw - how many is appropriate?
no more than 10, not including no more than 6 motorcycle cops.
JohnnyMack
6/1/2011, 11:30 AM
I think you lose...tracking it back I find this link...article seems to be much more to the center...
It's on the left column, about 6 stories down.
"W" like his pickup!
:rolleyes:
jk pretty much got what i was saying:
GSA routinely upgrades its fleet - they turn over vehicles - replace the old with the new - and then sell the old ones at auction
the story is devoid of critical facts in my opinion before i can come to any conclusions.......i.e. - what are the plans (if any) for the fleet already in existence?
Gandalf_The_Grey
6/1/2011, 12:30 PM
dean - how many vehicles should they use in a motorcade to protect the President? if not how many you saw - how many is appropriate?
None...If they can't "Andrew Jackson" up and protect themselves...I don't want them as Presidents. I want a Clint Eastwood President not a Richard Simmons President!
3rdgensooner
6/1/2011, 12:36 PM
I'm not sure if I should be markedly outraged or just typically outraged.
StoopTroup
6/1/2011, 12:39 PM
This is a funny ****ing thread....
Bottom line....if you lose a President....guess what happens?
OutlandTrophy
6/1/2011, 12:42 PM
you get another one!!
OULenexaman
6/1/2011, 12:50 PM
you have a new dead president...
StoopTroup
6/1/2011, 01:00 PM
Replacements are available. Wonderful system we have.
dude, when the President can't get new limos, then you really need to start worrying about the state of the country
StoopTroup
6/1/2011, 01:13 PM
dude, when the President can't get new limos, then you really need to start worrying about the state of the country
Not only that....
Does it make sense to lower your guard when you have invaded Pakistan and assisted NATO in taking out yet again...another Muslim leader?
I think some folks really need to quit with the hate of the POTUS and start finding someone who can replace him?
soonercruiser
6/1/2011, 01:20 PM
You guys have been puffin' the weed, and are waaaaayyy off topic!
A 75% increase in the number since 2008!
:rolleyes:
And what percentage do you think that accounts for in the budget? How does it compare to the war on drugs? Iraq? Afghanistan? Obamacare? Bailouts?
At least get riled over something big, geez.
soonercruiser
6/1/2011, 10:33 PM
OK! Let's just dismiss it as an isolated, one time blip in the Demoncratic Administration's spending habits.
Everything is fine now!
Thanks!
Le's all join hands, share the weed, and sing "Kumbaya"!
:D
SoCaliSooner
6/1/2011, 10:36 PM
Must be Halliburtons fault.
soonercruiser
6/2/2011, 12:43 PM
Harry Reid says "everything is just fine"!
:rolleyes:
(So, it must be so.)
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