I'm glad President Obama is getting out of the White House...to places like South Africa, and likely, soon again, to his home turf in the great State of Hawaii

Not long ago, the History Channel has a special on Air Force One, the President's airplane.

There is Air Force One. There is Air Force Two. What I didn't know is that every time Air Force One flies, Air Force Two (and a huge redundant logistics and plane crew) also is in the air.  Just in case.

 

Along with additional planes, and loads of newspaper reporters, wanna-bees and hangers-on.

The costs for the two Air Force planes (plus 5 Marine One Helicopters) and thousands of people assigned to them....ought to be looked at.

I know.... we Americans stil LIKE to see that HUGE white and blue 747 landing on the tarmac -- especially other people's tarmac.  

The Chinese may have a 9 percent annual economic growth rate, but Americans know how to travel in style.  

It costs about $180,000 an hour to operate Air Force One.

 

And, reportedly, the plane is almost every new President's favorite White House Toy.

Still, at $180,000 an hour to operate Air Force One, President Obama could cut back a bit, don't you think?  Set a  good example.

He and Michele could book a couple of First Class seats on US Air.  Get one of those full reclining seats, have a nice fillet mignon and Cabarnet Savignon. 

 

He could ask Joe to maybe ride back in coach, with the other pretzel and pop people.  Or even take the Greyhound. At a minimum,  Joe could leave his own  Air Force Two back home in the White House hanger at Andrews..

Chump change savings, perhaps, when you have a $17 trillion national debt that will jump by $700 billion before the end of this month.