Obama’s Dog Flies Separately To Family’s Vacation Aboard Military Aircraft…

[Forever_frost]

When President Barack Obama goes on holiday to the seaside things can get complicated.

Rooms have to be found for dozens of Secret Service agents, someone has to carry a selection of presidential basketballs, and of course the family dog needs his own state-of-the-art aircraft.

Arriving in the idyllic coastal retreat of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Mr Obama left behind him in Washington DC high profile debates over the budget, government surveillance and his health care reforms. Instead, he will spend the next eight days playing golf, going to the beach, and buying books from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.

In the air he swapped his suit and tie for khakis and a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, while Mrs Obama wore a yellow-and-white summer dress.

Bo, the president’s Portuguese Water Dog, arrived separately on one of two MV-22 Ospreys, a hybrid aircraft which takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane.

http://weaselzippers.us/2013/08/11/no-joke-obamas-dog-flies-separately-to-familys-vacation-aboard-military-aircraft/

[likeitfast55]

Q: Did President Obama have his dog, Bo, flown to Maine in his own private jet for the family vacation?
A: No. The family and staff took two small jets because the airport couldn’t accommodate the usual presidential plane. Bo flew with several staffers.

http://www.factcheck.org/2010/09/bos-private-plane/

[Forever_frost]

Not the same issue. That was 2010. This is 2013. That was a small jet, this is a pair of Ospreys.

Except this story is from Aug 11.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/10236302/First-dog-Bo-is-airlifted-to-Obama-holiday-home.html

More than 70 hotel rooms, each costing up to $345 (£220) a night, have been booked out for Secret Service agents, who took charge of luggage including two large mesh bags full of basketballs.
The Obamas are staying in Chilmark on the western tip of the island, an area that is dotted with multi-million dollar homes. The neighbours include actor Ted Danson and the singer Carly Simon.
On several previous visits the Obamas had stayed at the 28-acre Blue Heron Farm, but it has since been sold to Britain's most celebrated architect, Baron Foster of Thames Bank.
The president has therefore had to downsize to a $7.6 million, 5,000-square foot retreat on nine acres which is owned by a businessman friend from Chicago. It includes a basketball court.
As a result Mr Obama will be staying closer to public roads which will have to be closed as his motorcade heads for the golf course of bookshop.
The Martha's Vineyard Times newspaper warned residents to expect "extraordinary and lengthy up-island detours". Local officials also emailed residents, saying: "Anyone aggrieved by this closing should email or call the White House."
Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said: "Obviously, when you're President of the United States, you carry a little baggage when you travel. And that's true whether it's on a summit, international meeting, a domestic trip, or for a vacation. I know he's looking forward very much to some down time with his family. I'm sure he'll see some friends."

[helosailor]

Apparently, it's good to be the king.

[Gargamel]

Apparently, it's good to be the king.

[BP]

This doesn't really bother me. I seriously doubt they made a special mission just to fly his dog around. The Marines have been giving tours on the V-22s for several months now, showing them off so they can hopefully get the budget to buy more of them.

That and it's a whole lot cheaper than sending Air Force One back or trying to use one of the helicopters. You can't exactly put the president's dog on commercial airlines. They have to be secured, it's something that'll have more access to the POTUS than any civilian. Imagine what could happen if some sort of listening device or virus were injected into the animal, that sits next to the president regularly.

[Baron Von Crowder]

If I was the President, my dog would be flying with me.

[GrayStangGT]

This is not a news story, like BP said there is no way the plane was just for the dog. It was probably already going that directions with gear and people.

[Forever_frost]

This is not a news story, like BP said there is no way the plane was just for the dog. It was probably already going that directions with gear and people.

It couldn't be flown in on AF1 why again? I mean, it's only a huge ass jet.

[BP]

It couldn't be flown in on AF1 why again? I mean, it's only a huge ass jet.

He could have been hosting someone that has pet allergies. It's not usually just the president on the plane, he can bring any guests he wants along with tons of media. Heck the dog could have had bad gas and Obama didn't want to smell farts, who knows.

I despise wasteful government spending as much as anyone else but the POTUS gets to do what he wants when it comes to transportation. At least he's not jet setting off to Ireland again.

[helosailor]

Exactly what I was thinking of.

Oh, and he must not like anyone or anything that he relegated to flying in an Osprey (Oh Shit, Props Raining EverYwhere).

[mightyp]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAqq11HYMsk[/ame]

[dcs13]

If I was the President, my dog would be flying with me.

Mine would be with me and it sure as hell wouldn't be a Portuguese water dog... These people have no clue.

[Forever_frost]

Evidently his ambulance ran out of gas.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/08/president-obama-s-ambulance-runs-out-of-gas-on-his-birthday-sparks-criticism-92663.html

WASHINGTON (WJLA) -- As President Obama travels to and from the White House in his motorcade, the number one concern is keeping him safe. A critical constant is a DC Fire and EMS ambulance, typically Medic 1, that trails behind in the event of a medical emergency.
Continue reading
But on August 8, as the President and First Lady were leaving the White House to celebrate Mr. Obama’s 52nd birthday at the restaurant Rasika in West End, Medic 1 ran out of gas.
Fire officials confirm that the vehicle was towed away and is now being repaired off-site. Fire officials say that as per policy, the crew should have but did not fill up the tank that day. Sources say the bigger issue is that the vehicle’s fuel gauge had been broken for months and not been repaired.
For months, D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells has been critical of the fire department for not quickly addressing a fleet in despair. He says all District residents, including those in the White House, deserve better:
"This is just an example that highlights the fact that we are not where we need to be."
According to the official Press Pool report, the motorcade left the White House around 6:40 p.m. A fire department spokesperson says another ambulance, Medic 7, was dispatched and arrived at the White House at approximately 6:59 p.m. – nearly 20 minutes later.
But by then, the motorcade was long gone as the restaurant is only a couple of miles away.
What we also know according to a video is that when the motorcade left Rasika, Medic 7 was parked off to the left. Multiple sources familiar with protocol say since Medic 7 was not in the motorcade, it likely had not gone through a security sweep and therefore could not have been used by the president anyway if something had happened.
There are plenty of D.C. residents who can't believe that something as simple as not fueling up could potentially jeopardize the First Family’s safety.


Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/08...#ixzz2bohJjptK
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[BP]

That's not as bad as putting gasoline in the presidential limo's tank, which is powered by a Duramax. The worse part though is that they fly in their own fuel for security reasons. Good job! This was on the Ireland visit.