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View Full Version : The web wants to know why Obama's 28 helicopters will cost $11.2 billion.



whatever
02-24-2009, 05:09 PM
They want to know. H*ll I want to know!?!:getyou

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92303?fp=1
President Obama has talked tough about the need to shed wasteful spending. But will he practice what he preaches? His one-time rival, Sen. John McCain, brought up a pricey presidential project that seems a bit unnecessary — a fleet of 28 new Marine One helicopters that will cost taxpayers around $11.2 billion.

At a recent summit to cut the federal deficit, Sen. McCain suggested that if President Obama wants to help the economy, perhaps he should consider canceling the order. Obama replied that he's already looking into it. Obama then joked that perhaps he's been unknowingly deprived all his life, but his current Marine One chopper seems just fine to him. CNN is reporting that the new helicopters, which were originally ordered by President George W. Bush not long after 9/11, are now on hold (though not officially cancelled...yet).

Naturally, all this talk of gazillion-dollar equipment has people searching. Folks are desperate to know more about the fancy helicopters, what they can do, and why they cost such an exorbitant sum of cash. Queries immediately surged on "marine one photos" and "why is it called marine one." Regarding the second inquiry: It's called Marine One only when the president is aboard.

As for why the president needs 28 of them — apparently, it's a safety precaution. When flying in Marine One, identical choppers travel next to the president's ride. Trickery throws off the bad guys.

But why in the world do these contraptions cost $400 million each? After all, isn't a helicopter just a helicopter? Apparently not. The Washington Post explains that the proposed fleet would be outfitted with "cutting-edge communications equipment, antimissile defenses and hardened hulls." Oh, and a kitchen. You can't forget that.
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Okay If only ONE flys the freaking guy why do they all need a freaking kitchen?? And when will Ol mighty start practicing what he preaches and living on a budget. He may not have ordered them. But he has the power to cancel. I guess its just the rest of us who Have to "give"!!:getyou
And i'm not just talking about some freaking helicopters.

bears984
02-24-2009, 05:23 PM
I say if he wants to take the money out of his own pocket then let him have them otherwise I think these are not needed.

Mini
02-24-2009, 05:36 PM
Why are they calling them HIS helicopters when Bush was the one who ordered them in the first place? Because he hasnt canceled them yet? Unless Im missing something.

But anyways yeah they should be canceled, hopefully he will do it.

freeby4me
02-24-2009, 05:55 PM
Why are they calling them HIS helicopters when Bush was the one who ordered them in the first place? Because he hasnt canceled them yet? Unless Im missing something.

But anyways yeah they should be canceled, hopefully he will do it.

Why, you so ......un-American you!

*sarcasm*

whatever
02-24-2009, 06:15 PM
Why are they calling them HIS helicopters when Bush was the one who ordered them in the first place? Because he hasnt canceled them yet? Unless Im missing something.

But anyways yeah they should be canceled, hopefully he will do it.

Yes I think because he has had the op. to cancel them and has not done so.
With his comment on saying app. he has not missed out on the good life. ( not his exact quote)
I don't understand why If they were ordered in 2001 why are the just now being put into production. Maybe that is why they are calling them his. Because they are just now being put into production.

ahippiechic
02-24-2009, 06:23 PM
I can't seem to find the thread here where everyone bytched at Bush for ordering the helicopters...

freeby4me
02-25-2009, 05:06 AM
I can't seem to find the thread here where everyone bytched at Bush for ordering the helicopters...

Of course you cant because there never was one nor would there be one RIGHT NOW if he was still President and ordered them.
And you can bet your sweet bippy that if McCain was President and ordered these right now, he'd be getting pats on the back for what a wonderful President he is and how he really has "national security" on his priority list.

nothing but BS.

whatever
02-25-2009, 11:41 AM
Of course you cant because there never was one nor would there be one RIGHT NOW if he was still President and ordered them.
And you can bet your sweet bippy that if McCain was President and ordered these right now, he'd be getting pats on the back for what a wonderful President he is and how he really has "national security" on his priority list.

nothing but BS.

You can bet your sweet bippy I would be complaining if McCain was prez and it was the same scenario I would still be compaining!!!!!! I don't think this is the time to be spending money on crap they don't need! No matter who the prez is!! But at least the Rep. are not the ones wanting to pass trillion dollar stimulus packages ( that for one include paying for other peoples mortagages).
If they are going to give those people thousands of dollars for buying a home they could NOT afford (and I know not every situation is probably like that, but alot of them are) where is my thousands of dollars?

gmyers
02-25-2009, 11:47 AM
Nope we'd be complaining no matter who ordered them. They're an unnecessary expense.
Maybe the reason no one complained when Bush ordered them is because we didn't know about it.

freeby4me
02-25-2009, 12:04 PM
Nope we'd be complaining no matter who ordered them. They're an unnecessary expense.
Maybe the reason no one complained when Bush ordered them is because we didn't know about it.

and yet no complaint about not knowing about it.....surprise surprise.

ahippiechic
02-25-2009, 12:06 PM
Bush shouldn't have ordered them to start with, but when they went over deadline and WAY over budget he most definitely should have canceled them then. Just like Obama should now.

freeby4me
02-25-2009, 12:24 PM
and now that the work is done, who pays for it? Oh wait, lets just sell them to a country who hates us, like all the surplus army weapons we do with right.

gmyers
02-25-2009, 12:28 PM
Sell them to a movie star or millionaire.

pepperpot
02-25-2009, 12:29 PM
Nope we'd be complaining no matter who ordered them. They're an unnecessary expense.
Maybe the reason no one complained when Bush ordered them is because we didn't know about it.


Bush shouldn't have ordered them to start with, but when they went over deadline and WAY over budget he most definitely should have canceled them then. Just like Obama should now.

In 2001, we were in a different economy.....:shrug

Spending for something like this might not have been such an issue....apparently it wasn't. :shrug

And within the last year or so and being that they were/are past due date....they should've been cancelled...unless there's a real need for them that we are not aware of....:shrug

If we could do without them now, why were they ordered in the first place? :shrug