@KEN HANSEN

From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17035721/

The Air Force transport plane decried by Republicans as an extravagance for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was requested by the House sergeant-at-arms as a matter of security, he said Thursday.

and

“I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue,” Bill Livingood said in a news release."

and

“This is a silly story, and I think it’s been unfair to the speaker,” White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

and, most importantly:

But Snow on Thursday said the negotiations over Pelosi’s transport have been conducted solely by the House sergeant-at-arms and the Pentagon, with no direct involvement by the speaker or her office — or the White House.

Again, Pelosi didn't request it. Quote the Moonie Times story all you want, but it will remain right-wing propaganda.

"Besides, is she really afraid of landing in America's Heartland (fly-over country) on her trips between CA and DC?"

If anyone is, it's the House Sergeant-at-Arms and the Pentagon. Unless you continue to believe a debunked story from an unethical rag.

Y'know, not everything having to do with government has to be taken as an opportunity for cheap shots against political rivals. Sometimes outrage can, and should, cross party lines--and only when the story is based in truth.

Which pretty much eliminates anything squirted out by the Washington Times.

@#7

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already got her ride taken care of..."

The House sergeant-at-arms ordered planes for Pelosi that could make the DC-California trip non-stop for security reasons, not comfort. Why spread right wing propaganda by the Moonie Times?

McMahon said he does not recall intervening on the leather color change, but said he was sure it was unrelated to the Air Force's color. He said that it was probably because blue would not show dirt as much as tan or brown would.

This has led to another Air Force program: Changing the color of dirt from tan or brown to blue.

"This is the gov't that thought there was extensive WMD in Iraq and missed 9/11 right?"

Uh, you're using the government's epic fail at WMD as a means to feel confident that it wouldn't epic fail you right into one way flight to Syria?

#21 & IMIPAK@#11

Thanks--I knew about TIA, but I was thinking of TIPS (somebody reminded me of it today).

http://www.dojgov.net/TIPS-01.htm

There are a few commenters that think this program is only in Colorado. Actually, these 'TLOs' were trained in Colorado, but are active there as well as Arizona, Illinois, California, Washington DC and plan to expand to "dozens" of states. It's a federal program (DOJ), not just a Colorado thing.

There was a program like this floated a few years back by Poindexter. When it was made public it was cancelled, well, supposedly. Anybody remember what it was called?

Also, a "CIV LIB" tag is warranted here, IMO.

@Sethum

Maybe somebody called

Skype? My increased interest in flying Virgin for WiFi is heavily outweighed by my fear that I'll be stuck next to some idiot yapping into a phone. I'll pass.

"I wonder if there's an easy way to make something like this from plastic that most people throw away"

The clips used on bread bags and maybe some doublestick tape FTW.

"That caused all sorts of problems and market distortions, so they started laying on regulation after regulation on the HMO's pushing prices higher and higher and now it sucks for everyone."

Yes, poor, poor HMOs, forced by big bad government regulation to make huge profits and provide crappy service.

@#21

straightdope spoke to the receptionist at a modeling agency, the manufacturer who has a vested interest in avoiding lawsuits and a single personal test. Not exactly ironclad evidence.

@#2

They look more like a row of robots designed to deliver punches to the groin. Which, in essence, they are.

@#3 - In-n-Out burgers are, indeed, good (their fries suck, though, IMO), but I think A-listers going there after the Oscars is more like prom couples taking the limo to the BK drive thru.

@#4 - You should see if there's a Guinness category for Most Years Driven Without Ever Violating A Traffic Law. You could get a certificate and maybe even a cookie.

Mmm...Norm's...

I might be wrong, but I think in California you have the right to know what you've been pulled over for before you turn over ID. Regardless, when it comes to traffic stops I have no problem kissing cop butt. Over the years, I figure I've saved around $1000 in traffic fines from ingratiating myself. I'm not proud, but I'm not $1000 lighter, either.

He's wearing it on the wrong wrist. I wonder if they made them for left-handed people, too.

@#3

Because, let's be honest, there are some very sick, disturbed people in decision-making positions.

@tavie

I think the real story is how your mom learned about the society's secret password...

Reminds me of a documentary I saw some years back about people in the US who build their own 'castles.' Some were pretty amazing.

'Course, others were pretty questionable as to whether they qualified as 'castles'. One looked like two mobile homes stacked on each other. I guess the big white wooden fence with crenellation qualified it.

@#43 OM

"That way, when they go to Hell, they can be one of the 57 virgins every terrorist gets as a "reward".

Timothy McVeigh got 57 virgins?

@peace love

The first one generated a lot of comments wondering if the VO was Dane Cook, so I wonder if a) it is Dane Cook, or 2) the guy is tweaking everybody who's wondering...