Why Lugar Declined That Air Force One Trip
Ben Smith raised an interesting question this morning: Why did Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), whom President Obama has singled out as a valuable mentor, pass up the chance to ride to Indiana on Air Force One today?
Lugar's absence looked a bit amiss to Mike Tomasky and other wise heads, particularly since Rep. Fred Upton (MI) -- another Republican whose vote on the final stimulus bill is still within reach for the president -- did join Obama on today's trip. But as a Lugar spokesman explained to me, the senator had a pretty good reason to decline the Air Force One invitation.
Lugar, the longtime senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, was previously committed to joining panel chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai at a conference on protecting the world's forests from the devastating effects of climate change.
Lugar also wanted to stay in town to study up on the stimulus compromise that was announced over the weekend, his spokesman explained. Sounds like reason enough to remain in Washington -- especially if Lugar ultimately votes for the recovery bill.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Elana,
I must say you're a very good addition to this wonderful TPM team, and that's my opinion from what I've read on this site for a month or so.
February 9, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally agree.
February 9, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me three. Elana's great.
February 10, 2009 4:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seconded. You are doing a great job of reporting Elana. Glad you're on the TPM team. :)
February 9, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Elana, I've had your picture made into shower curtains! OOPS!...did I go one too far?
February 9, 2009 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes.
February 10, 2009 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
So the auto execs run organizations that are billions of dollars in debt. When they get on a private jet they are publicly humiliated. Obama, Lugar, and Upton help run an organization trillions of dollars in debt. When they get on a private jet? crickets.
February 9, 2009 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're equating Air Force One with corporate Gulfstream Jets?
And furthermore, you're equating the impractical management style of the big 3 with the Stimulus?
Wow. That's possibly one of the more inane arguments I've heard in a while. Well done.
February 9, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
look, the big 3 executives took a public flogging. deserved? probably. Has their mismanagement been worse than that of their floggers (managers of the big 3 gov branches) (Or of their wall street buddies)? I'd say no.
This was not specifically aimed at obama, his administration or the stimulus.
February 9, 2009 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
On a practical matter, how does the Secret Service handle security on a commercial flight? How many passengers does the Secret Service bump in order to make room for themselves? How are reporters handled? How are the complex presidential communications handled in case of some sort of emergency? How are the flight crew vetted in order to ensure they are up to military and presidential standards? Finally, would President Obama have to forego using his Blackberry in the air?
C'mon storm, you really didn't think this through, did you?
February 9, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, shut up.
February 9, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
"When they get on a private jet they are publicly humiliated. "
Jets. Not jet. The Detroit execs took three separate planes to D.C.
February 9, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the words of Antonin Scalia, "GET OVER IT."
February 9, 2009 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they should just fly on paper airplanes from now on. Or, would you come out against Obama saying he is killing trees and has reneged on his commitment to the environment?
February 9, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right. We should restrict the President of the United States' travel options to electric car or bicycle.
February 9, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
H(uffy) Force One?
February 9, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job, Elana. Thanks.
February 9, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the follow-up, Elana.
February 9, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent reporting AND commentary!
Nicely done.
February 9, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have always liked Lugar - for a Republican.
I don't always agree with him but he isn't a right wing nut job either.
February 9, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign. He really doesn't come off like a nut job idealogue. I actually do believe that he will work with obama as well and won't be in lock step with the rest of the gop buffoons in the senate.
February 9, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since so many others have complemented Elana's reporting talents (to which I agree); I will simply mention that she is gorgeous.
February 9, 2009 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've never really care for Lugar either, but he has done some good work -- especially in the area of nonproliferation -- and I get the sense that a lot of people who actually know him think he's a decent guy. It's good to see reporting here to counter the non-so-subtle insinuation in other quarters that somehow his failure to fly with the President was some kind of snub. Things are bad enough in Washington without people stirring the pot unnecessarily.
February 9, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink