Speaker Under Fire

This is from the Republican National Committee, so take it with as many grains of salt as necessary. You might also want to pay attention to the citations, mainly The Washington Times, FOX News, and Tucker Carlson (is he still wearing bow ties?)

"Non-Stop" Nancy Seeks Flight Of Fancy

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Wants Non-Stop Military Aircraft For Herself, Staff, Family, And Other Members In California Delegation:

"The Office Of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Is Pressing The Bush Administration For Routine Access To Military Aircraft For Domestic Flights, Such As Trips Back To Her San Francisco District, According To Sources Familiar With The Discussions." (Rowan Scarborough, "Speaker Pursues Military Flights," The Washington Times, 2/1/07)

"The Sources, Who Include Those In Congress And In The Administration, Said The Democrat Is Seeking Regular Military Flights Not Only For Herself And Her Staff, But Also For Relatives And For Other Members Of The California Delegation." (Rowan Scarborough, "Speaker Pursues Military Flights," The Washington Times, 2/1/07)

"A Knowledgeable Source Called The Request 'Carte Blanche For An Aircraft Any Time.'" (Rowan Scarborough, "Speaker Pursues Military Flights," The Washington Times, 2/1/07)

Fox News' Brit Hume: "[P]elosi is said by military sources to be interested in more, a larger plane capable of carrying more people non-stop to the West Coast ..." (Fox News' "Special Report," 2/5/07)

Speaker Pelosi: "We want an aircraft that can reach California." (Jim Kuhnhenn, "GOP Bristles At Pelosi Plane Request," The Associated Press, 2/8/07)

Pelosi Plane Includes Private Bed, Entertainment Center, And Costs $22,000 Per Hour To Operate:

"The Craft She Has Reportedly Requested, The Air Force's C-32, Seats An Entourage Of 42, Business Class, With A State Room, Entertainment Center, Private Bed And A Fully Operational Communications Center." (Editorial, "Pelosi's Hard Landing," The Washington Times, 2/8/07)

"It Costs Taxpayers $22,000 An Hour To Operate, According To Military And Congressional Sources." (Niles Lathem, "Air-Ogant Nancy," New York Post, 2/8/07)

Pelosi Request Goes Beyond What Prior Speakers Requested:

"Sources Said Mrs. Pelosi's Request Goes Beyond What Mr. Hastert Received." (Rowan Scarborough, "Speaker Pursues Military Flights," The Washington Times, 2/1/07)

"For Comparison, The Jet Mr. Hastert Settled For Is Much Smaller -- It Seats 16 ..." (Editorial,"Pelosi's Hard Landing," The Washington Times, 2/8/07)

And Plane Rep. Hastert Used Could Fly Coast To Coast Non-Stop. "Critics wondered why Pelosi couldn't use the planes her predecessor, Republican Dennis Hastert, had used, the smaller C-37A or C-20. Both planes are capable of flying coast to coast without refueling under optimal conditions." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 2/7/07)

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) Hints Of Cuts In Pentagon Funding Over Plane Flap:

"Murtha Said He Is Convinced The Pentagon Has Been Leaking Information About The Possibility That Pelosi Would Use Large Military Planes To Make Her Look Bad." (Edward Epstein, "GOP Makes Much Ado About The Size Of Pelosi's Plane," San Francisco Chronicle, 2/8/07)

Rep. Murtha: "They're making a mistake when they leak it because she decides on allocations for them." (Edward Epstein, "GOP Makes Much Ado About The Size Of Pelosi's Plane," San Francisco Chronicle, 2/8/07)

MSNBC's Tucker Carlson Said Murtha's Action Was "Skirting The Edge Of Appropriate." Tucker Carlson: "[A]pparently Jack Murtha, the guy who's in control of the military budget, called over to the White House and said Nancy Pelosi wants a bigger plane. Now it seems to me that's skirting the edge of appropriate, having the guy in charge of the military budget demand a military aircraft for one of his closest political allies. Don't they have anything better to do?" (MSNBC's "Tucker," 2/7/07)