President Barack Obama burned roughly 9,000 of jet fuel yesterday, Earth Day, and that only to deliver one speech in Iowa, reports CBS News's Mark Knoller in an April 22 Political Hotsheet blog post.
As if that weren't amusing enough, Knoller notes that the Air Force and the White House wouldn't disclose to Knoller how much fuel the president's plane burns on an average flight, so he had to consult with the manufacturer of the 747, Boeing:
In flying to and from Iowa today, President Obama took two flights on Air Force One and four on Marine One.
The press office at Andrews AFB wouldn’t give me the fuel consumption numbers for the 747 that serves as Air Force One without the approval of the White House Press Office, which as I write this has yet to be given.
But Boeing says its 747 burns about 5 gallons of fuel per mile. It’s 895 miles from Washington to Des Moines, so a round trip brings the fuel consumption for the fixed-wing portion of the President’s trip to 8,950 gallons.
Knoller went on to detail Obama's fuel consumption on Marine One:
The trip also put President Obama on Marine One for round-trip flights between the White House and Andrews AFB and between Des Moines International Airport and Newton, Iowa, site of his Earth Day speech. It totaled about an hour of flight time. The VH-3D that serves as Marine One consumes about 1200 pounds of fuel per hour which comes out to about 166 gallons consumed flying the President today.
Not included in these calculations are the presidential vehicles that took him the short distance from the landing zone in Newton to the event site at the Trinity Structural Towers Manufacturing Plant.
In closing, however, Knoller arguably gave Obama a pass for the waste of gas, pitting the cost of the flight with the imagined benefits of the president plugging alternative energy:
President Obama could have saved at least 9,116 gallons of fuel by giving his speech at the White House – but no wind turbines are manufactured here.
While this is true, couldn't the president have killed two birds with one stone by doing a teleconferenced speech that was beamed by satellite to the plant in Iowa but filmed at the White House? In doing so, the president could have heralded the fuel and time-saving promise of telecommuting while also plugging alternative energy.
Of course doing so wouldn't mean the White House press corps getting a fun field trip with a president whose agenda they generally support, nor would it have yielded the still photos that the Obama White House communications shop would covet.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Do as I say
April 23, 2009 - 11:28 ET by QueenMumHA! HA! HA!
Pres. Obama could just as well have spouted his environmental propoganda from the White House. The liberal press is more than willing to give him airtime anytime and anywhere he chooses. More proof that the Dear Leader is smitten with the perks that come with being POTUS.
Note to Pres. Obama: You're going to be outta there in 4 years. Better reconsider how you want to live your life once the American taxpayer is no longer footing the bill.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Some ideas
April 23, 2009 - 12:33 ET by Joe BlogsObama should mothball Airforce One and use one of those 50s era jet packs to fly around the country. He could be fueled in flight. Or touch down occasionally at Citgo stations, where he could get a fuel discount by saying he is a friend of Hugo Chavez.
Or he could use those pedal powered ultralights designed at MIT. Again, he could be fueled in flight with MetRx bars lobbed at him from the ground.
Joe B.: How about a beanie
April 23, 2009 - 13:02 ET by QueenMumJoe B.: How about a beanie with a propeller on top?
BTW, whenever I see video of wind farms I think of "Teletubbies". I always suspected "Teletubbies" was a way to indoctrinate young children. Here's an interesting take on the subject.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Note to Pres. Obama: You're
April 23, 2009 - 12:45 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsNote to Pres. Obama: You're going to be outta there in 4 years. Better
reconsider how you want to live your life once the American taxpayer is
no longer footing the bill.
I was thinking that too, and then I thought:
Who is the RNC going to pit against this man? I see no shining light out there, I have my own faves, but, BUT, who made the choice last time? The MSM picked the last Republican choice, and who will they pick in 2012? Another RINO.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Obama is an Environmental Hypocrite
April 23, 2009 - 19:25 ET by PopularTech2009 Inauguration: More Than A HALF-BILLION POUNDS of CO2 (PDF) (The Institute for Liberty)
Obama Condemns Big and Fast Gas Guzzlers, But Drives Hemi V8 Sedan (NewsBusters)
Obama Cranks Up the Thermostat (The Heartland Institute)
Obama Earth Day Flights Burned More Than 9,000 Gallons Of Fuel (CBS News)
Obamas fly in chef 860 miles... just to make pizza (Daily Mail, UK)
Obama Inauguration Sets Record for Private Jets (The Wall Street Journal)
Obama: "Cap & Trade Will Cause Electricity Rates To Skyrocket"
At least he got to pander
April 23, 2009 - 11:29 ET by kgAt least he got to pander to the very un-green ethanol crowd.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
CEO Credits
April 23, 2009 - 11:34 ET by ThisnThatThat's ok. Obama can come back and help bash another set of CEOs somewhere and make them drive their cars instead of taking private planes to their meetings. Then Obama can clear his concience by claiming "I have CEO credits I use to justify my extravegant use of energy".
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
So much for the government holding....
April 23, 2009 - 11:34 ET by Prester John...teleconferences to save money.
Two things...
April 23, 2009 - 11:51 ET by Sick-n-Tired1. Knoller can kiss his job good-bye (and will probably be on DHS's watchlist).
and
2. CBS can now expect to get the same kind of treatment Fox News gets from this administration (I can't believe they bit the hand that feeds them).
Don't EVER question the messiah.
"Controlling carbon is a bureaucrat's dream. If you control carbon, you control life," Richard Lindzen - March 2007.
9,000 gallons
April 23, 2009 - 12:06 ET by BDelaneyIt would take the average America years to burn that kind of gas and he did it one day, now that is change!
The wind turbine jobs are subsidized by the Feds.
April 23, 2009 - 12:06 ET by sevenMolding the fiberglass blades creates a lot of methyethyketone peroxide polution in the air. It is very toxic. Where is the EPA?
Am I missing something??
April 23, 2009 - 12:08 ET by joesrantWhere is the liberal news bias in this story?
If you asked, then it's
April 23, 2009 - 12:14 ET by Chris NormanIf you asked, then it's obvious you don't want to see it.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Brilliant answer
April 23, 2009 - 12:29 ET by joesrantWow, it's obvious where you lean, but it doesn't answer the question.
Exception
April 23, 2009 - 12:50 ET by aakaakaakYour answer:
This is identifying the exception to the rule. It's not often a disciple strays from the Obama flock like this, thus making it newsworthy.
http://www.americanw...
Wow. You really don't see
April 23, 2009 - 12:50 ET by Chris NormanWow. You really don't see it? Okay, see below or I'll try to explain if you really need it: the hypocricy of this trip is apparent, yet it appears only on one reporter's blog and not on air. Even this reporter can't bring himself to blame Obama and instead tries the flimsy excuse of Obama needing a wind turbine backdrop. There, I've explained it to you - however, I can't understand it for you.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
The point
April 23, 2009 - 13:13 ET by joesrantOf course it's hypocrisy. Of course the liberal media will ignore it. The story should have been the lack of coverage and not to nit-pick half of one sentence that may or may not be bias.
(a) but no wind turbines
April 23, 2009 - 12:17 ET by ThisnThat(a) but no wind turbines are manufactured at the White House -- showing, of course, that Obama was justified, but not pointing out his hypocracy in telling us that the world will continue to hate us if we normal Americans keep driving our SUVs, and
(b) later on today -- will Couric tout this story, or will it be ignored?
___________________________________
The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech
A stretch
April 23, 2009 - 12:32 ET by joesrantThe liberal news bias would have been to IGNORE the story. There is enough real liberal bias out there that we don't need to be so nit-picky.
Obama, and more
April 23, 2009 - 12:21 ET by NL207Obama, and more particularly, his minions Carol Browner and Salazar, are preaching fuel conservation, lowering the carbon footprint, etc., etc. Yet Acting President Obama profligately wastes taxpayer money unecessarily flying a 747 to Iowa to give a speech he could just have effectively delivered via television from Washington.
Some people would call this blatant hypocrisy. Had a republican done this, the MSM would likely have pointed out this hypocrisy. Obama does it and we hear nary a peep about hypocrisy. Many people think the MSM should have called Obama, or any Republican or Democrat on this regardless of party affiliation.
That is media bias.
Anyone want to bet that
April 23, 2009 - 12:20 ET by Chris NormanAnyone want to bet against this item definitely not making David Shuster's "Hypocricy Watch"?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
First campaign visit of 2012
April 23, 2009 - 12:16 ET by nkviking75While this is true, couldn't the president have killed two birds with one stone by doing a teleconferenced speech that was beamed by satellite to the plant in Iowa but filmed at the White House?
Yes, he could have done that. However, in all likelihood this is the first campaign visit for the Iowa Caucuses in 2012.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
He Helped the Economy
April 23, 2009 - 12:23 ET by Mitchell BlattHe actually helped the enviornment with his flight, because he increased awareness.
It's not actually a problem of emiting CO2, it's just that no enough people are aware of global warming, and if we make everyone aware of it, it will stop.
I'm sure he paid his carbon credits
April 23, 2009 - 12:23 ET by katainkentAl Gore says thank you.
I love to help the helpless but I'm not gonna help the clueless ~Dennis Miller
To be fair lets do a grand total of fuel use
April 23, 2009 - 12:37 ET by upcountrywaterOnce Air Force One is in the air, a number of F16 fighter jets often flank the aircraft for added protection.
Toxic Cash
I forgot that
April 23, 2009 - 12:48 ET by GrammyIf you don't mind I would like everyone to combine both of our comments.
Tip of the iceberg
April 23, 2009 - 12:45 ET by GrammyCalculating the fuel used for each unique trip using the above method is not even close to the total fuel used.
Marine One has, what is it, four or six decoys as an added protective measure.
The same with Air Force One. An exact duplicate goes everywhere eith the President as both a decoy and a backup to prevent our President from being stranded anywhere where his total sphere of protection can be implemented.
His limousine was exempted from the calculation but how much fuel does it take to fly a transport plane with all the main and auxillary vehicles.
Let's not forget the hundreds of people who comprise the total package of a traveling President traveling and how much fuel they consume.
Having gone through the above I am AOK with it all for WHOEVER the POTUS is and wherever he wants to go. GWB was criticized unmercifully for everything from fuel consumption, vacations, trips etc.
I didn't like or apporove of it then and still think that the POTUS is entitled by his mantle of office to the most extraordinary things as a routine matter.
That said, the self proclaimed keeper of all that is holy and good should have a tighter hold on his naricisim. BHO is all show and no go!
Hot air
April 23, 2009 - 12:48 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI could heat my house for 30 years with that much fuel.
30 years.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
But as His Holiness passed over the Earth in Air Force One
April 23, 2009 - 12:56 ET by dark_dsBut as His Holiness passed over the Earth in Air Force One he healed the planet directly underneath him. Flowers bloomed, birds sang, squirrels danced ..... it was beautiful .. it was just like a Disney movie. This easily balanced out the 9000 gallons of fuel he used
"_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on"
Shame
April 23, 2009 - 13:23 ET by GrammyDark, I am ashamed to have put my feeble effort up with yours.:)
No effort is feeble .. I just have a good imagination :)
April 23, 2009 - 13:32 ET by dark_dsNo effort is feeble .. I just have a good imagination :)
Your post was excellant
_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on
Zip a Dee Do Da
April 23, 2009 - 14:34 ET by BuffNBonedark_ds,
Great word picture that causes the song Zip a Dee Do Da to come to mind.
Dontcha know, the press would have sprung into action if there was a "Mission Accomplished" banner behind him.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Don't forget
April 23, 2009 - 16:10 ET by Jack Hermanthe flights to preposition Marine One to Iowa.
I heard on Limbaugh that Big
April 23, 2009 - 16:30 ET by GrannyGrump42I heard on Limbaugh that Big O's staff forgot to bring proper footwear for the tree planting ceremony, causing Big O to get his fine leather muddy.
You have to TRIPLE the
April 23, 2009 - 18:28 ET by DRTNYou have to TRIPLE the fuel. The C-5 to carry Marine 1, and the C-5 to carry the ground vehicles. If the other information is correct, then you have to quadruple (taking into consideration the sister AF-1 which travels as well).
4x9000= 36,000 gallons.
Or roughly 40,000 people commuting "to and from" work without carpooling (like he did).
A little ot
April 23, 2009 - 19:40 ET by general companyBut I keep telling the liberals, that they need to hurry up and have the electric Co cut off their power. Have them come and pull the meter, hurry, and quit driving your dagone car. And leave me the heck alone. If all of you thoughtful and green liberals hurry and do this you wont need us to help you save the planet.
What do you mean you didnt mean it that way? What did you mean you didnt mean,,, you?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
I can't believe no one
April 23, 2009 - 21:57 ET by d4manI can't believe no one pointed out the fact that the Presidents travel with a primary Air Force One and a Backup Air Force One...same with all the choppers...
I'm a science teacher and I
April 23, 2009 - 22:11 ET by RR GOPI'm a science teacher and I overheard one of my kids ask another today: "Yesterday was Earth Day?!"
LOL
I've had students in the past ask me, "Are we going to anything special for Earth Day?" and I always say, "Why every day is Earth Day!"
Then there's the light-hearted complaints about too many handouts, etc. and how I'm killing trees...my two responses: "Paper's a renewable resource" and "Trees are nothing more than big weeds."
Oh, and sometimes I have them read selections from Rachel Carson's Silent Spring prefaced with "Rachel Carson was a very famous tree-hugger" and then there's my preface to Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac with "Mr. Leopold is another well-known tree hugger."
Then there's the oblique digs against the ozone layer and global warming scams cloaked in faux concern and "That's what some scientists think...dunno..."
I feel like such a subversive.
Actually, I do address issues concerning the environment, pollution, resources, energy, etc., but try to do it in a sane fashion, present the situations/data and get them to think about it. I'm not going to go eco-Fascist on them like many teachers do...and if I didn't think they'd profit from reading a little Carson and Leopold, I of course wouldn't bother in the first place.
A lot of them are shocked at first because they automatically assume that all teachers are Libs and that science teachers are definitely 'Green' wannabes.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
What about the backup Air Force One
April 24, 2009 - 13:05 ET by johnnyatlantaI thought the backup Air Force One always followed with the president in case the primary plane failed. I also thought a cargo plane flew ahead with his car and other supplies. If that is true, what about the fuel used by these planes? Certainly Obama's huge entourage adds to his fuel consumption too!