In this image taken with a cell phone, the primary presidential aircraft, a Boeing 747 known as Air Force One when the president is aboard, flies low over New York Harbor, followed by an F-16 chase plane during a federal government photo op on Monday. A low-flying Boeing 747 escorted by two fighter jets as part of a federal government photo opportunity over lower Manhattan caused a brief panic among workers near ground zero on Monday.
(JASON MCLANE/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
Air Force One photo op panics NYC - finger-pointing begins
By Jimmy Orr | 04.27.09
Of course no one is taking responsibility for this. Who would want their name on this public relations fiasco?
Following an astonishing decision to let a Boeing 747 buzz the Manhattan skyline this morning without informing the public, you get what you typically expect from government when a mistake is made: not my fault.
9/11
Bringing back memories of September 11 to New York City residents, entire buildings were evacuated after — what turned out to be one of President Obama’s planes — swooped low over the Statue of Liberty into lower Manhattan on Monday morning. The 747 was escorted by two F-16 fighter jets.
Sounds somewhat similar to the hapless single engine pilot who accidentally strayed into restricted airspace in Washington, DC last Friday. Except that was an accident. This was an “approved activity.” Except no one told the public it was going to happen.
Panic
John Leitner, a floor trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange Building, told the Associated Press that about 1,000 people “went into a total panic” and ran out of the building around 10 a.m. after seeing the planes whiz by their building, near the World Trade Center site.
“Apparently, nobody in the building was informed that this was going to happen,” he said. “Everyone panicked, as you can certainly understand.”
It’s easy to understand why there would be panic. It’s astonishing that nobody thought the public ought to have a heads up.
A what?
So what kind of an approved activity was it? A photo op. A photo op involving one of the planes that serves as Air Force One.
Details on the photo shoot — except that it caused mass panic — aren’t known yet. What is known is that everyone, save the public, knew about it.
Approved
An FAA spokesman told the New York Times that “the photo op was approved and coordinated with everyone.”
He said the mayor’s office, the Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the US Park Police, and 911 were all aware of it.
Shhhhh
The NYPD acknowledged that they were aware of it but said the FAA told them not to talk about it.
“The flight of a VC-25 aircraft and F-16 fighters this morning was authorized by the F.A.A. for the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty with directives to local authorities not to disclose information about it but to direct any inquiries to the F.A.A. Air Traffic Security Coordinator,” the Police Department said in a statement.
What?
And the Department of Defense released a statement that could generously be called jibberish.
“In coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Presidential Airlift Group conducted a aerial photo mission in the New York City area on 27 Apr 2009. This mission, involving the VC-25 and an F-16, was conducted in conjunction with normally scheduled continuation training for assigned aircrew members. This mission was coordinated for the Upper New York Bay, south of the Holland Tunnel and in the Newark Bay north of the Staten Island Expressway between the hours of 1000L and 1030L.”
Downlow
Sources at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told the Wall Street Journal that they received a memo telling them to keep the mission quiet.
“Information in this document shall not be released to the public or media,” the memo instructed. “Public affairs posture for this effort is passive.”
Oh yeah…
And, not for nothing, the City sent out a statement after the event informing the media that the photo op was “part of an approved federal activity.”
Although part of the City was aware of it, the guy in charge was apparently kept in the dark. Mayor Bloomberg said he was “furious” that he wasn’t told about it.
“Why the Defense department wanted to do a photo op right around the World Trade Center catastrophe defies imagination,” he said.
New York Senator Chuck Shumer agreed. “This was a photo shoot. There was no need for surprise. There was no need to scare thousands of New Yorkers who still have the vivid memory of 9/11,” he said.
The president’s Press Secretary seemed to be taken off-guard when asked about the incident at his press briefing. Stammering through a response where he told reporters to call the FAA, Air Force, or the White House Military Office, MSNBC’s Chuck Todd told him it was “odd that he didn’t have a response as it was the president’s aircraft.”
“You might be surprised to know that I don’t know every movement of Air Force One, but I will ask…”
If you think New Yorkers are upset about it, you’d be correct. Look at some of the reaction on Twitter…
RositaCortez isn’t happy: This is not funny: We still remember 911 & this is not acceptable.
Jonsamsel wants some accountability. Air Force One Photo Opp Triggers Panic in Manhattan - Seem Terribly Irresponsible - Who Made This Stupid Decision?
Kevindepew asks: DoD surprised that two F-16s chasing Air Force One around Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan might startle us?
citycynic wonders: So why does Air Force One need to do a photoshoot anyway?
—–
Follow us on Twitter!
<< Obama’s teleprompter commits mutiny during major science speech | MainComments
2. JoanneOlsen | 04.27.09
I was HORRIFIED to see this this morning, so low over the Staten Island Expressway, and heading straight to lower Manhattan. Low, Loud, fighter jets, what I thought was Air Force One, it was absolutely panic inspiring. I am FURIOUS that no one told us to expect this. I was really scared, and now I’m really angry.
6. Tim J | 04.27.09
Where is the outrage at the cost of this stunt? When the execs of GM, Ford, and Chysler came flying into Washington on a teeny-tiny private jet they were derided as crooks for asking for taxpayer money while still financing their corporate excess. Well that was crooked, but how about Air Force One. I bet it takes a lot more money to get that bird off the ground than some Lear Jet that holds 12 people. Plus 2 F-16s, that is probably a lot of dough down the can. Not to mention all the “preparation” the DoD says it did for the shoot, alerting multiple bureacracies, who then didn’t even alert the people of New York to the plan. We are facing a hellish budget deficit and we have Air Force one in the air without its primary passenger? For shame.
7. Tim B | 04.27.09
One poorly-conceived publicity stunt
+
thousands of overreacting people who don’t appreciate the chance to get out of work for an hour
=
another news cycle pointlessly filled.
9. Joe Smith | 04.27.09
How is the statement “jibberish”? This says exactly what was going to happen - the Air Force was going to conduct an overflight of New York city with an F-16 and a VC-25 (or a fighter aircraft and a 747, if you need that translated) in the morning between 10:00am and 10:30am.
Quote from story - “And the Department of Defense released a statement that could generously be called jibberish.”
“In coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Presidential Airlift Group conducted a aerial photo mission in the New York City area on 27 Apr 2009. This mission, involving the VC-25 and an F-16, was conducted in conjunction with normally scheduled continuation training for assigned aircrew members. This mission was coordinated for the Upper New York Bay, south of the Holland Tunnel and in the Newark Bay north of the Staten Island Expressway between the hours of 1000L and 1030L.”
11. Terry | 04.27.09
Have they ever heard of Photoshop? If they don’t know what it is, I could have made a really nice picture of the plane flying across the skyline. Pretty inexpensive and the scare factor is zero.
Why was this necessary? And what what the photo FOR? That seems to be the key piece of information missing in all of these so-called news stories. Is it to do with the history of 911 or the re-writing of history?
Complete chaos reigns.
12. FireFederalWorkers | 04.27.09
President Obama recently announced that he’s looking for suggestions to trim the bloated federal budget. Firing–and I mean on-the-spot firing– of all the morons responsible for this act of wasteful stupidity would be a good start. Next, please obtain and publish the memos from FAA and others advising to keep this quiet–names and all.
13. Mike | 04.27.09
After 9-11 - everything changed. After Obama, everything changed back. Good luck NYC, you are going to need it.
14. moo | 04.27.09
I know in the end it’s “no big deal”, but even I felt my stomach drop when I saw the photo, and I was nowhere near NYC, either on 9/11 or today.
I can only imagine how it must have felt to people in the city today YIKES
Just bad decision making, plain and simple
15. Rick | 04.27.09
This just proves that you don’t need a “brain” to get a job in the Federal Government.
16. jburnett | 04.27.09
Just another stupid plan by the Obama administration. When is someone going to file for impeechment proceedings against this guy? Oh, but I guess it is ok to let him get away with terrifying people and fleecing the country.
18. Marcy | 04.27.09
Joe- You obviously are not from NYC - You have no idea the memories that lie within the very souls of those of us who lived through that horrific day in person.
It is a very big deal.
19. Bryant | 04.27.09
Another load of stupidity brought to you by the Obama administration. I’ll bet that it was done for a movie “coming to a theater near you”.
20. jburnett | 04.27.09
Well, I see this place only post items they read and sensor, so much for freedom of speech.
21. Mr. B. | 04.27.09
Looks like it was a drill to see if NYC is still on its toes! If it was hijacked, the F-16’s would have shot it down WAY before it got to Manhattan.
22. Just Saying | 04.27.09
I will say, that in this day and age it still puzzles me to no end, how uncoordinated groups in higher up places like the Goverment are when it comes to communication, coordination, and planning. Of course a low flying plane was going to cause a stir, of course hundreds of people (for whatever their reasons) were going to panic, or scatter into the streets, of course it was going to upset people (what doesn’t these days) and of course there is going to be finger pointing(probably not to the right people of course) and I don’t need to be employed by the Gov. to know that, I mean do the people that make decisions have any common sense? How sad it is when I set the bar, really sad.
23. avlisk | 04.27.09
Someone from each of the agencies/offices involved needs to be fired for this. Included are: mayor’s office, the Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the US Park Police, and 911. Each department included in this event has proven without a doubt that they are incompetent and utterly stupid. They aren’t representing me, and I don’t want them running my life any more. Has Obama ever thought about the phrase “The buck stops here.” Or is he out of the loop, too? Does anyone in charge remember Sept. 11, 2001. Memories are short, yes, so maybe we need to start including pictures of the 9-11 planes flying into the buildings on the nightly news opens instead of video of the happy, smiling anchors’ faces. And this is the same government “bailing us out” from the economic collapse. We are doomed, people. I never thought anyone could ever say it, but the George Bush administration is looking pretty good right now.
27. Just Saying | 04.27.09
Yes, blame Obama, he did it, he said “lets scare those people up in NY” Yeah that’s the ticket, it’s his fault, I knew it, the Reps. warned us and we didn’t listen, Yes blame Obama, its so much easier…..Please
(I’m not defending the guy, I’m just saying that people really simplify themselves when it comes to placing blame)
28. Jacob | 04.27.09
We’ll probably look back at this years from now and laugh….just like we laugh about people panicking due to a “news broadcast” detailing an invasion by alien tripods.
29. Patrick L | 04.27.09
They couldn’t do this on a Sunday? The stupidity is the most startling thing of all.
30. No Good | 04.27.09
I am sure Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda is having a field day about this and laughing it up. Nice..Go DoD…
31. JB | 04.27.09
Technically it’s not Air Force One without the president inside. This blog needs to get its facts straight.
33. mark | 04.27.09
This is a classic Obama admin move paying back hollywood for their campaign support. I guess some film maker wanted a new pic when Photoshop would have done the trick. Obama should never have permitted his back up plane to be used nor flown in complete disregard for New Yorkers and caring Americans.
34. Ridiculous | 04.27.09
confused- my building is right in the financial district and from our view (40 floors up) the 747 banked and was headed straight for the bulding with fighter jets behind it. Does this clear up how it was scary?
35. David N | 04.27.09
I think people are over-reacting to a minor issue. No one was put in danger and I think this story just feeds into New Yorkers’ need to whine and moan…
36. screwed taxpayer | 04.27.09
Assinine…I am not hearing anymore excuses, the buck stops at the oval office. I can not believe that this waste of our tax dollars was even allowed by a supposed: responsible, mature, moral, honorable, and ethical U.S. government leader. But that’s the difference between sissy office boys who do nothing but sit around and BS all day, versus real men who have sweat and bled everday for decades to build this country…who actually produce, rather than sitting around like sissy office boys and talking about it.
37. Ron | 04.27.09
Some of you actually believe this was a photo op?
I mean, seriously… you trust those guys to be honest with you?
38. nick | 04.27.09
We in New York want nothing, The people who think it’s not a big deal are too stupid to know what we went through. Or just from some S hole no one would bother.
40. fiendish avatar | 04.27.09
Flying Air Force One over Manhattan for a photo-op: $56800
Two F-16 escorts: $34 Million
Scary the living bejebus out of New Yorkers: Priceline
Some things in life you can’t buy. For everything else, there’s the American Tax Dollar.
41. Phillip, LA, CA | 04.27.09
Hey Confused,
It wouldn’t be scary if we didn’t have 9-11. Memory is still fresh, especially for people who witnessed that first hand, although some people forgot about that horrible event.
44. Rick Cain | 04.27.09
Psych!
They really should have informed NYC about it, after all Obama wasn’t even aboard the plane, and people would have gotten some good photos.
Of course the GOP would complain in any case, citing fuel costs, blah blah. The fuel we burn in iraq and afghanistan fighting the previous president’s wars of course are no concern.
45. Tina | 04.27.09
I can imagine what would have been said if it was the Bush administration. Keith Olbermann would have a a special comment on that.
46. John | 04.27.09
Just so we’re clear, this mission didn’t cost any money.
It was flown using “continuation training hours.” In other words, the pilots and crews of the F-16s and the 747 needed flight hours anyway, and they decided to use the flying time to get some pictures taken.
It’s how the vast majority of flyovers and public demonstrations are paid for. The pilot needs to fly anyway to stay current on his training requirements, and they just divert over a parade or NASCAR event or whatever.
47. Karl | 04.27.09
Why is everyone all the sudden concerned with tax dollars? Where were these people during the Bush Administrations…?
48. mondaynight | 04.27.09
I just don’t believe how stupid and out of touch bureaucrats are. I just don’t believe it.
49. Vanessa | 04.27.09
Apparently, this reprehensible stunt was to honor BHO on his first 100 happy days in the White House. I can hardly wait for what comes next from these geniuses in charge of our country.
50. HowObamafied | 04.27.09
It costs approx. $68,000.00 per hour to operate Air Force One. That’s fuel costs and I would imagine it costs about the same to fly the F-16’s. Chains You Can Believe In !!!!
51. craig | 04.27.09
When are democrats going to let go of the lame “Bush is dumb” meme?
He would have enough sense to know what the reaction to a low flying jumbo jet circling NY harbour would have. I mean, they should talk.
52. Lee | 04.27.09
Not much finger pointing.
Louis Caldera, the White House military office director took responsibility for this. He apologized in a statement today, but also noted that officials had notified local and state authorities in New York and New Jersey. The president was reported to be quite upset about the whole thing.
It’s actually quite refreshing to finally have an administration that acknowledges mistakes and takes responsibility as demonstrated here. It gives me faith that they can learn from experience.
55. Bruce Lonergan | 04.27.09
I cannot even imagine the fear this must have generated. If anyone in the the private sector orchestrated something like this we would be in jail by now. The forseeable consequences are equal to that of yelling fire in a crowded theatre, and therefore might realistically be considered a crime. How far does government immunity extend in this matter?
56. Catie | 04.27.09
What moron came up with this idiotic stunt. Par for the course for the Obama administration.
57. Coronella Keiper | 04.27.09
Louis Caldera stated that he takes responsibility? And does this mean that those who had heart attacks, and those who had traumatic flashbacks, and those who injured themselves while trying to run to “a safer place” are all to be financially recompensed for the bad effects of the first foolishness to come out of the White House in this administration? I hope so. I also hope that Louis Caldera and all who willfully and callously allowed so many people to be harmed, through heart attacks and traumatization and injuries, through neglectful disregard and a lack of complete vetting.. be promptly demoted and/or fired.
Coronella Keiper of The State of Rhode Island and Providence Farmlands.
58. Robert | 04.27.09
“Just another stupid plan by the Obama administration. When is someone going to file for impeechment proceedings against this guy? Oh, but I guess it is ok to let him get away with terrifying people and fleecing the country.”
Yes, it is OK, jburnett.
We learned it from watching your main man GWB for 8 years. Where was your righteous indignation and calls for impeachment. Obama is the one fleecing the country? Maybe the scraps that GW left behind, but it was your “fiscally conservative” buddy who managed to add more debt in 8 years that the previous 42 presidents combined.
And now you and those like you have suddenly woken up from a coma and demand to know where the change in the couch cushion is… Get real!
59. Just Saying | 04.27.09
Ok, if you’re in one of those buildings on a floor that places you at eye level with this plane, and its coming in your direction, thats one thing, but if your at a distance, or in the streets and this thing goes pass you…What are you freaking out about?
60. Catie | 04.27.09
I live in Arizona and immediately thought of how scary this would be for New Yorkers. The people who are making light of it are clueless and insensitive. 9-11 is as fresh in my memory as Pearl Harbor is in my father’s memory. This isn’t something to joke about or say people will laugh about it in a few years.
61. Rob | 04.27.09
Why is the cost of a training mission such a big deal? Readers should take a look at the budget that was just passed. Focus people, focus.
62. Bob | 04.27.09
Well, Obama did promise that he had plans to stimulate activity on Wall Street. I guess this must be it.
65. lisa | 04.27.09
Good God. No-one was hurt and it was clearly just a lapse in organisation that they didn’t make sure people were better prepared. And since when have right-wingers ever given a **** about New York?
66. Allison | 04.27.09
Does Barack Obama understand the people he leads? Do his aides?
These may seem cheeky questions to ask of a team that just won the presidency. But there is something in their cool, insouciant, blase demeanor, in the face of insults to their country, that suggests there yet exists a chasm — between them and us.
Obama may be popular today, but he will lose the country and his presidency if he lets the perception take hold that he, the personification of American sovereignty, does not take responsibility for this administration.
67. Media Scatter | 04.27.09
“Haven’t these DoD dimwits ever heard of PHOTOSHOP???”
Totally. And how much does it cost to have a photo doctored to look perfect by a computer Graphics student compared to paying for pilots, professional photographers, FAA coordination, jet fuel to fly to places like the grand canyon/NYC/Yosemite, jet mechanics, etc. in hopes of getting the perfect photo? Is this part of our multitrillion dollar stimulus package to keep arabians pumping oil for jet fuel and white house pilots flying? Or did Obama just play the best April prank since war of the worlds?
68. denise | 04.27.09
We want answers, what was the reason for a “photo op” and the people who coordinated and authorized it should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY- EVEN THE PRESIDENT IF HE KNOW ABOUT IT!! IT WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM!! AND OSAMA IS PROBABLY APPLAUDING OBAMA FOR DOING THIS TO US!
69. jim | 04.27.09
I live 2 blocks from ground zero, and was here on 911.
Caldera needs to be fired.
70. Tom | 04.27.09
Comment #32 by clay is the exact type of message I was looking for here. This is in fact VERY INTERESTING and everyone should THINK ABOUT IT. Whatever… Thanks Clay. At least I know there’s other people with their eyes opened out there.
71. Angie | 04.27.09
To all of you making light of this incident, do me a favor and smack your parents up along side their heads for doing such lousy jobs of raising you.
72. Charles | 04.27.09
RE: Angie. people making comments on this are disgusting un-educated idiots. Starting pointless arguments about Obama, Carbon footprints, and tax dollars. Sounds like a bunch of 10 year olds in an argument.
73. John | 04.27.09
Come on people. Stop talking about the money needed for the “photo-op” that could have been done in Photoshop. This is military training that just has a political purpose. The money on the planes and pilots would have been spent anyway, maybe for a different mission, they already have the budget. When the military says continuation training, it means training that has to occur for those airmen, pilots, and crew to meet monthly/bi-annual/annual training standards to either protect you or fulfill whatever mission objectives they are expected to perform for their country.
As to whether or not this was sensitive to or considerate of the people of New York and New Jersey is a different matter. The political decision to get a picture in this area is the only topic that is worth debate, not the money spent on the training. I think some Wall Streeter’s are getting a little sensitive to government appropriations, stick to what truly matters.
And that is whether the government basically yelled “fire” in a crowded theater.
74. MarkyMark | 04.27.09
Mr. B … you dumb? easy to say all that after the fact. If you;re watching that from a distance and cant see the presidential (a word I greatly question in this day and age from the president of the glee club to the once proud and strong US) markings and you see US war craft behind … you think they shoot the f’ing thing down over the city? In a hijack situation, if they get there late, do you really think they will shoot it down over the city … go ahead answer with your tiring all too prevalent democratic attitude that of course you have all the answers. Give it the completely unintelligent arrogance that you can and intend to control everything. This country is coming back to us, the smart ones, the ones that think things through,the ones that made this country what it is. The ironic thing about all this … demos keep spreading the propaganda that Republican part is dying when in fact, in 4 yrs, starting in 2, the exact opposite is going to happen. Leave my country !!!!
75. MarkyMark | 04.27.09
The depth of this is that we have a “president” that is out of touch with and does not care for this country. I would put money on that his first reaction was a chuckle …. money.
77. george | 04.28.09
Stupid, and the secrecy of this foolishness. Is someone making money on this photo op or whatever? Sounds like a certain bunch of individuals got their way and need to be fired. Just goes to show you what still can happen. This is not joke time out there.
79. E.L. | 04.28.09
By and large, the hysteria and lack of perspective by the Obama bashers on these pages is astounding. Odds are that most are pro-war Republican Bush supporters, who had no qualms sending our troops into harm’s way, while they were sitting comfortably in front of their TVs at home, but who now rattle with their bones when a plane flies over.
What a shining example of courage!
I sincerely hope the rest of America can do better.
Bin Laden could not ask for better amusement.
80. nicholas | 04.28.09
I have not read all of the posts here but I do get the feeling that most of them address common sense and not “Obama bashing”.Or are the two mutually exclusive?
81. wonder | 04.28.09
We won’t be told the truth by this “transparent” presidident and his band.
Arrogance for the people he serves-
82. Joe Smith | 04.28.09
In case you bashers are not aware - the Air Force flys training missions EVERY day, get a clue. That’s exactly what this was. The statement said that this was continuation training using normal flight crews. I will agree that there should have been some publicity done beforehand to let New Yorkers know that it was going to take place. Someone in the chain should have caught that.
83. victoria | 04.28.09
None of it adds up.
I live in Chicago, and I am shocked by what New Yorkers had to endure yesterday (today, tomorrow = PTSD)
They should have been informed. Period.
The fact that they were not is both infuriating and confusing.
I am hardly an alarmist, but there is no other excuse that makes any sense, or is at all acceptable - other than a “cover up” (sad to say).
Meanwhile, reports of those who were injured while evacuating have already begun to filter though.
We’ll see how this pans out..
84. Diana | 04.28.09
The photo-op could have easily been PhotoShopped. Not only was it a public relations fiasco, scaring the bejeezus out of New Yorkers, it was a colossal waste of money. It may have been one bonehead’s brilliant idea but was there ANYONE in the FAA that said “this is stupid - don’t do it”. Mind boggling to say the least.
85. Fred | 04.28.09
Were there VIP passengers on that plane enjoying the views of Manhattan while everyone on the ground below was rightfully freaking out? If so the next few days should be interesting.
86. Annelies | 04.28.09
@82 Joe Smith: Whether it was a training mission or not is completely irrelevant. Planes are not allowed in that airspace. To see a huge jet being “chased” by fighters where NO PLANES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE was scary in itself. To do so in an area, over people who already lived through one of the most horrific days in our nation’s history, WITHOUT A WORD OF WARNING should have been unthinkable.
And I’m not buying the “photo up” thing either. You want to schedule a photo op over lower Manhattan, you do it on Sunday morning, when those office towers are not occupied.
And before some fool says any of the following:
a) I don’t care if you live next to an AFB and go through this all the time. This wasn’t folks living next to JFK or LaGuardia, this was Ground Zero. I live near a fireworks factory; I know the schedule of explosions I hear. Something outside that frame is going to be taken seriously — “If you see something, say something.”
b) people WERE hurt when they panicked and evacuated. Going down 40 flights of stairs is not easy at the best of times.
c) NYC has been at orange alert since 9/11. The rest of the country went back to business as usual within weeks; we were finding and burying the dead for months. Some of these posters really have no clue what people there went through, or how long it lasted.
88. ralphie | 05.06.09
who has the power to send Air froce one up .. ??? and why would not the commander of the U S know the were abouts of one of the only 2 of this kind of plane just for the presadent ,, is at just because it our tax payer plane all so.. and he not awere that it gone . ??maybe a post a note would give him a hint.!!!!!! he dosn,t have to pay for it . he may need a lapel tellapromter . does he know were his kids our . he is not a leader in any way shape or form, god help us .
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
2. Twitter Trackbacks for Air Force One photo op panics NYC - finger-pointing begins | csmonitor.com [csmonitor.com] on Topsy.com | 08.28.09
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. just saying | 04.27.09
so what does everyone want? money, to beat someone up, firing, or just the chance to vent