VC-25 (AF One) and F-16s do some sightseeing...

[JarheadBoom]

I hate people.

EDIT: By people I mean John Q. Public...especially A-hole [i]<any state> drivers who don't give you "the wave" when you let them merge into traffic, people who can't tell an M-1 Abrams from an F-22, people who think banning guns will do a fncking thing to stop crime, or people that don't use their turn signal - EVER. WTF do they think that little lever is for?!? You know...People? Get the idea?

Preach it!

[brickhistory]

White House declines to release photos

The White House is refusing to release the controversial photos of Air Force One flying over the Manhattan skyline last week that triggered panic among New Yorkers and an internal review in the Obama administration.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that there was no need to release them.

[Horns05]

White House declines to release photos

Apparently CIA memos are okay...VC-25 pictures are not.

[Vertigo]

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that there was no need to release them.

Then there was no need to take them as well! Why take a picture of something no one will ever see?

[Hacker]

Change we can believe in.

[war007afa]

It was the RTB leg of a DACT sortie. Heard it from my crew chief's sisters husbands uncle who saw it on the local news...

[Guest EverettP]

Props to Obama for being man enough to admit a mistake, but wow. A low flyover by a jumbo jet over New York City. Really? I wonder if they are planning another photo op over the Pentagon soon.

He didn't really admit a mistake on his part...

"Besides calling it a mistake, Obama said Tuesday, 'It was something we found out about along with all of you. And it will not happen again.'"

Source: https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30435336

(Found many places but I figured MSNBC would be the most credible in this case since they lean so far to the left)

Doesn't the POTUS always have both AF1's with him wherever he goes? He would had to have known that he couldn't fly that day if one was gone. Either he's a poor manager or he is lying.

[Vertigo]

Doesn't the POTUS always have both AF1's with him wherever he goes? He would had to have known that he couldn't fly that day if one was gone. Either he's a poor manager or he is lying.

I'm sure he was briefed that it was going to be unavailable that day for a training mission/photo op. Was he briefed on the specifics... dunno.

I'll use this analogy- say you have to turn in the Squadron CC's car in for scheduled maintenance. Are you going to brief "Hey boss, you won't have your car today Veh MX has some scheduled maintenance to do on it."?

Or are you going to brief "Hey boss, no car today. Veh MX has to change the oil, gap the sparkplugs, check the timing, rotate the tires, replace the air filter, turn the drums, and replace the brake pads."?

I'm guessing you're going to go with brevity. Now if the car is getting routing MX done that includes getting the roof painted with the dixie flag then you may want to go ahead and brief that detail. Just like the detail that the aircraft will be doing low levels over lower Manhattan. What may seem minor and inconsequential to you may not be so inconsequential to others.

Edited May 6, 2009 by Vertigo

[C130GuardBum]

Doesn't the POTUS always have both AF1's with him wherever he goes? He would had to have known that he couldn't fly that day if one was gone. Either he's a poor manager or he is lying.

I thought they only took both when they went OCONUS. Only one for stateside.

[brickhistory]

I also really, really doubt that He gets a status briefing on where His ride is if he's not fragged to be on it.

He (and any President) just expects it to be ready when He wants it.

And major kudos to the bros and sisters who make that happen. Every time, on time.

Now about the entourage He takes...

[Batman]

I also really, really doubt that He gets a status briefing on where His ride is if he's not fragged to be on it.

He (and any President) just expects it to be ready when He wants it.

And major kudos to the bros and sisters who make that happen. Every time, on time.

Now about the entourage He takes...

All 100% correct.

Batman

[Guest Hueypilot812]

It's probably true that Obama didn't know the exact whereabouts of AF1. But it was his WHMO director that ordered the flight. What's very interesting (and I said it before, I'll say it again) is that with the Bush administration, every minor glitch, problem and scandal was laid on the doorstep of the President. Somehow, no matter how minor the players involved, people blamed Bush. Had this occured while Bush was in office, people would have been screaming from the rooftops about how irresponsible HIS administration was.

But curiously, that hasn't happened with Obama. He has played the "I wasn't aware" card many, many times since he's been in office, just like he did when he was running for president. With Obama, he plays a sort of game where he'll say "I accept responsibility" but then he'll point to someone on his staff and say "but it was his fault and I didn't know".

Imagine if an airplane from an airlift squadron went out and totally screwed something up in a spectacular way. Now imagine the commander of that unit saying "yes, I am the CC, and I take responsibility", and then points at the DO and says "but he's the one that signed the flight orders, so I wasn't aware and it's his fault". Think that would fly?

[Vertigo]

every minor glitch, problem and scandal was laid on the doorstep of the President. Somehow, no matter how minor the players involved, people blamed Bush.

Is that why Scooter Libby was convicted? Because Bush was blamed or because Libby was blamed?

Is that why Rumsfeld resigned? Because Bush got blamed or because he got blamed?

Oh sorry... those weren't minor glitches. I guess it's okay to lay blame off on major glitches but not minor ones.

[brickhistory]

Is that why Scooter Libby was convicted? Because Bush was blamed or because Libby was blamed?

Is that why Rumsfeld resigned? Because Bush got blamed or because he got blamed?

Oh sorry... those weren't minor glitches. I guess it's okay to lay blame off on major glitches but not minor ones.

1. Yes. Even though it was Richard Armitage, Deputy SECSTATE that leaked Plame's name, he was part of the Powell crowd and thus not a 'bad' man. Libby was as close as you could get to GWB. (also goes to show don't lie to the man because that's what gets you in trouble, i.e., he was convicted for misleading a federal agent, not doing anything illegal regarding a CIA officer.)

2. Rumsfeld resigned as a result of the 2006 mid-term elections. Since Bush couldn't resign, practically speaking, he had to go to appease the party.

As to the topic, look at the bad press GWB got for flying AF 1 over the Katrina area - "doesn't care," "interfered with recovery efforts to make a political photo op," etc, etc. Hueypilot is spot on in his analysis about Him and His teflon pass from the media.

Eventually, it will be His fault, but not according to the press.

[Vertigo]

Eventually, it will be His fault, but not according to the press.

Just a question... When you think of the press or the media do you think of newspapers (NY, WSJ, USAtoday + locals), talk radio, television (Fox, CNN, MSNBC), or internet news sources? Or all of them?

Which one of these news outlets is probably the most influential in your opinion?

For me I rank them from most influential to least in this order:

1) TV

2) Internet

3) Talk radio

4) Hard copy newsprint

Would you agree? If not how do you rank them?

[LockheedFix]

Just a question... When you think of the press or the media do you think of newspapers (NY, WSJ, USAtoday + locals), talk radio, television (Fox, CNN, MSNBC), or internet news sources? Or all of them?

Which one of these news outlets is probably the most influential in your opinion?

For me I rank them from most influential to least in this order:

1) TV

2) Internet

3) Talk radio

4) Hard copy newsprint

Would you agree? If not how do you rank them?

1) Talk radio

2) Internet

3) TV

4) Hard copy newsprint

Here's why:

1) On talk radio, you actually get pretty in depth analysis and commentary from people who actually know what they're talking about because they have done actual research. If you don't believe me, listen to Andrew Wilkow. That guy is brilliant, and has actually read silly little things that are relevant to the way the country should be run, such as the Constitution, and how it should not be run, like the Communist Manifesto.

2) Internet because I can easily do my own research and form my own opinion based on facts, not feelings.

3) TV is lower because it shows 2 minute blurbs on where the President ate a hamburger, drools over how great Michelle is, and then throws in a quick "oh by the way, the deficit this year will be 3 trillion dollars, blame George Bush" before cutting to 7 hours of coverage of the latest rich white girl that has been kidnapped.

4) The newspaper sucks because it has the same news I read yesterday on the internet, except it's only from one source. It is only good for getting local news, and I have no way to check on how biased its political reporting is.

Edited May 7, 2009 by LockheedFix

[Guest EverettP]

1) Talk radio

2) Internet

3) TV

4) Hard copy newsprint

Here's why:

1) On talk radio, you actually get pretty in depth analysis and commentary from people who actually know what they're talking about because they have done actual research. If you don't believe me, listen to Andrew Wilkow. That guy is brilliant, and has actually read silly little things that are relevant to the way the country should be run, such as the Constitution, and how it should not be run, like the Communist Manifesto.

2) Internet because I can easily do my own research and form my own opinion based on facts, not feelings.

3) TV is lower because it shows 2 minute blurbs on where the President ate a hamburger, drools over how great Michelle is, and then throws in a quick "oh by the way, the deficit this year will be 3 trillion dollars, blame George Bush" before cutting to 7 hours of coverage of the latest rich white girl that has been kidnapped.

4) The newspaper sucks because it has the same news I read yesterday on the internet, except it's only from one source. It is only good for getting local news, and I have no way to check on how biased its political reporting is.

Agreed 100%, but he was listing what media was the most influential. The list you have is what should be the most influential but it isn't. Fact is the majority of people get their news from the major broadcast networks.

[Right Seat Driver]

I thought they only took both when they went OCONUS. Only one for stateside.

The times I have seen the POTUS fly into the DTW area he had one AF1 with him except once. I think it was Clinton that flew into DTW with two.

[JarheadBoom]

As if you couldn't see this coming...

By Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 6 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A top White House aide resigned Friday for his role in Air Force One's $328,835 photo-op flyover above New York City that sparked panic and flashbacks to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Louis Caldera said the controversy had made it impossible for him to effectively lead the White House Military Office. "Moreover, it has become a distraction in the important work you are doing as president," Caldera said in his resignation letter to President Barack Obama.

The sight of the huge passenger jet and an F-16 fighter plane flying past the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan financial district sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets on April 27. Obama said it would not happen again.

Caldera's office approved the photo-op, which cost $35,000 in fuel alone for the plane and two jet fighter escorts. The Air Force estimated the photo shoot cost taxpayers $328,835.

White House officials said the flight was designed to update the official photo of the plane, known as Air Force One when the president is aboard. The White House released a photo of the blue-and-white plane high above the Statue of Liberty, with New Jersey in the background.

The White House released the report late Friday afternoon via e-mail, with a short written statement from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. There was no statement about the matter from Obama, who last month declared the embarrassment a "mistake" and vowed it would not be repeated.

Gibbs said Obama has ordered a review of how the White House Military Office is set up, and how it reports to the White House and the Air Force.

That review, to be conducted by Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will also offer recommendations to Obama designed to ensure that such an incident will not happen again, Gibbs said.

Caldera, a former Army secretary, has headed the office that coordinates presidential travel on Air Force jets.

When Obama appointed Caldera to the job during the presidential transition, the then president-elect hailed Caldera as having a resume that was second-to-none. Obama said then: "I know he'll bring to the White House the same dedication and integrity that have earned him the highest praise in every post."

His resignation takes effect May 22, but he is done at the White House Military Office now — not just as director, but in any part of the office's work. He said he will use the two weeks of his employment to complete the necessary steps to leave the White House.

[AEWingsMN]

how many people does a potus appoint?

how many have resigned/declined the appointment, and how many have been heavily critsized since their appointment?

[Duck]

If only Gates would have been behind this!

[ChkHandleDn]

I got something else in the e-mail that was interesting. The latest theory is that the flyover will be used to promote the new movie "Red Tails" about the Tuskegee Airmen. Interesting indeed. Red Tails

[Steve Davies]

Well, they released the image.

Too bad it has a massive reflection, a slanted horizon, and the Viper's canopy bow at the bottom of the frame. I wonder who the numpty was that they asked to take the photos, as this isn't what I would call 'White House' quality photography.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Steve Davies

[Hacker]

Well, they released the image.

Too bad it has a massive reflection, a slanted horizon, and the Viper's canopy bow at the bottom of the frame. I wonder who the numpty was that they asked to take the photos, as this isn't what I would call 'White House' quality photography.

Jesus, what a terrible photo. You'd think that they would at least have the sense to clean it up a little in photoshop before releasing it. Or, hell, maybe their shutter-actuator is so lousy that this IS the corrected image...

[Steve Davies]

Jesus, what a terrible photo. You'd think that they would at least have the sense to clean it up a little in photoshop before releasing it.

Yeah, I thought exactly the same.

It would not have taken long to get rid of the reflection and remove the canopy bow.