This is "Draining the Swamp" ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Tom Price the HHS Secretary has cost the taxpayers $400,000 in 6 months for private flights.  I guess it shouldn't be surprising, this is the same guy that profited "hugely" from insider stock trading while a Congressman. But, not to worry. He is going to reimburse the country for his "seat" to the tune of $50,000. 
 Seems more like hiring the "Creature from the Black Lagoon" than draining a swamp.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/09/28/tom-price-apologizes-for-private-charter-flights/?utm_term=.bea235391c0a

[John Schmidt]

I agree, he's wrong in doing that. However, I have to compare the cost of that with obama's wife going off on her "little" ventures with just the girls and usually some close friends. Not defending either case, just saying "hmmmm...."

[The emperor has no clothes]

I agree, he's wrong in doing that. However, I have to compare the cost of that with obama's wife going off on her "little" ventures with just the girls and usually some close friends. Not defending either case, just saying "hmmmm...."

John, I hear you the amount of money we spend on the Predidents and their families is crazy. But it's not limited to Obama. Look how much we've spent already in the last 7 months.

[Rams]

Agreed that this guy was wasting our tax dollars and abusing his position and us.

Where was the outrage with Pelosi's trips to CA using an Air Force Jet due to her security concerns?
Someone finally said something and that abuse was stopped but, there was no outrage.

The old saying about power corrupts is so true.   

[solo1]

People can always use the argument that government spends too much money on Presidents and I agree.

However, using that argument is useless no matter what president that we have.

I personally feel that Secret Service coverage should stop when the president leaves office.

That might give some presidents different thoughts as to what they say and do while in office.

[old2soon]

People can always use the argument that government spends too much money on Presidents and I agree.

However, using that argument is useless no matter what president that we have.

I personally feel that Secret Service coverage should stop when the president leaves office.

That might give some presidents different thoughts as to what they say and do while in office.

                     YUP-they want security after leaving office-all in gubmint service-hire it yerselves-no subsidies you can't afford it well neither can we-the citizens. ANYONE who has served the public has made some enemies. Sides-if you ARE in Fact a multi millionaire spend yer own cursed money-not ours. RIDE SAFE.

[Michvalk]

 It don't really matter what a president says or does while in office, someone will take exception to it

[Robert]

Why yes its draining the swap since one of the first ones that pointed it out and objected to it was Trump. Plus I have NEVER heard of any other admin taking this kind of proactive stance on cost and criticizing it and doing something about it. Wow that is a first, Go Trump.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Why yes its draining the swap since one of the first ones that pointed it out and objected to it was Trump. Plus I have NEVER heard of any other admin taking this kind of proactive stance on cost and criticizing it and doing something about it. Wow that is a first, Go Trump.

Wrong. It was Politico that brought this to light. 4 days later, Trumps response was "We are looking into it" 

[Pete]

The correct response is to fire Price. He knew better.
And any others also.

[The emperor has no clothes]

The correct response is to fire Price. He knew better.
And any others also.

Damn, first we agree on Budweiser now this ? 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Now it's come out that he took trips to Asia and Europe. Total cost up over 1 million in less than 6 months. 

[baldo]

Now it's come out that he took trips to Asia and Europe. Total cost up over 1 million in less than 6 months. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TnkJ8_BmSI

[Moonshot_1]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

[Serk]

And yet when Obama's cabinet members took government planes, even for personal travel, the main stream media said nothing...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/29/flight-furor-obama-officials-also-took-pricey-non-commercial-planes.html

Seems this is just another example of exposing how the media has an agenda, and their agenda ain't reporting the news anymore, unless it hurts Trump and/or helps his opponents...

Sad state of affairs.

[..]

http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/tom-price-resigns-health-secretary-after-tumultuous-eight-months/h3Sa6Eglo5wEuycSmOkplO/?ecmp=nofu

[baldo]

http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/tom-price-resigns-health-secretary-after-tumultuous-eight-months/h3Sa6Eglo5wEuycSmOkplO/?ecmp=nofu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

[The emperor has no clothes]

And yet when Obama's cabinet members took government planes, even for personal travel, the main stream media said nothing...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/29/flight-furor-obama-officials-also-took-pricey-non-commercial-planes.html

Seems this is just another example of exposing how the media has an agenda, and their agenda ain't reporting the news anymore, unless it hurts Trump and/or helps his opponents...

Sad state of affairs.

"Because of their jobs, these officials were required to take government planes for security and communications purposes. Still, critics questioned whether they could have found more cost-effective options."

But, you already knew this. 

[Romeo]

Well, he just went down the drain.

[baldo]

Well, he just went down the drain.

And the check is in the mail.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

I'm unclear which article and what protocols you are referring to. Can you elaborate ? The only thing I've found was Price said it was approved. I'm not sure I'd take his word at this point.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

[RP#62]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

[Alpha Dog]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

As usual you are well informed and spot on on the analysis.  I saw Trump briefly interviewed by a reporter yesterday and man was he pissed, and I mean pissed.   I think because this is not what he is about and has saved this gov't many billions thus far.  I think Trump felt betrayed.  However this practice has been rampant in previous administrations and is another part of the swamp.   Many more private flights conducted in the previous administration in the same time period.  Not making excuses but this should not be happening by any administration, and hopefully this will become a thing of the past.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

As usual you are well informed and spot on on the analysis.  I saw Trump briefly interviewed by a reporter yesterday and man was he pissed, and I mean pissed.   I think because this is not what he is about and has saved this gov't many billions thus far.  I think Trump felt betrayed.  However this practice has been rampant in previous administrations and is another part of the swamp.   Many more private flights conducted in the previous administration in the same time period.  Not making excuses but this should not be happening by any administration, and hopefully this will become a thing of the past.

BS ! Obama's HHS Secretary flew ONE private flight. That was in the Alaskan bush. If you have info to back up your claim, put it out there.

[scooperhsd]

There are times when this should be necessary and allowed. But not as a general rule. Don't cabinet secratarys get a priority on military Space A flights ? Otherwise - commercial (I can see 1st class most of the time). Some cabinet positions do require government flights (state, defense (and his service secrataries), homeland).

[The emperor has no clothes]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

[baldo]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A fact !       The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!!

[RP#62]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

I was aware of the article.  Its what prompted my comment.  Still waiting.

-RP

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A fact !       The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

I was aware of the article.  Its what prompted my comment.  Still waiting.

-RP

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A fact !       The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not really sure what you mean RP ? She took the same planes that her predecessor did.

[RP#62]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

I was aware of the article.  Its what prompted my comment.  Still waiting.

-RP

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A fact !       The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not really sure what you mean RP ? She took the same planes that her predecessor did.

Price was chided over the optics of taking government funded private jets rather than commercial, even though it had been cleared through ethics.  The article you posted was about Nancy's use of a government funded private jet.  The issue was about the optics, not about which jet.  The optics was bad for Price given that he was part of an administration that trying to cut government spending on such things, which is why he had to resign.  The fact that she took the same planes her predecessor did only means that they were suspect as well (part of the same swamp).  Such optics don't seem to matter for the Dems though, not enough that they would resign anyway.  They accept responsibility and then carry on as if nothing happened.

-RP

[The emperor has no clothes]

Newsflash !!! I think Trump did the right thing here. And I'm glad he was able to do it. 

Still waiting for Nancy to do the right thing.

-RP

I'm assuming you mean Pelosi ?

I was aware of the article.  Its what prompted my comment.  Still waiting.

-RP

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A fact !       The HORROR !!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not really sure what you mean RP ? She took the same planes that her predecessor did.

Price was chided over the optics of taking government funded private jets rather than commercial, even though it had been cleared through ethics.  The article you posted was about Nancy's use of a government funded private jet.  The issue was about the optics, not about which jet.  The optics was bad for Price given that he was part of an administration that trying to cut government spending on such things, which is why he had to resign.  The fact that she took the same planes her predecessor did only means that they were suspect as well (part of the same swamp).  Such optics don't seem to matter for the Dems though, not enough that they would resign anyway.  They accept responsibility and then carry on as if nothing happened.

-RP

Thanks for clarifying. I either don't understand the story or I was misinformed. I wasn't aware it was cleared properly.

[bagelboy]

Usually I sway toward conservative, although I'm considered independent. As far as I'm concerned, anyone, any party, should be fired and held accountable for spending gobs of money, regardless of whether they are President, Congressman, or whatever. No excuses! Price, you're fired, and you us taxpayers some money!

[Pappy!]

Didn't Pelosi have something like a $190.000+ alcohol expense in a single year while flying? She and her friends couldn't have gotten much productive business done........

[art]

Shocking isn't it? NO!  It doesn't surprise me one bit. They are all crooks in Gov. It makes no difference weather DC or LA or any other city or capitol in the country. Give a politician a chance and he/she will rip off the taxpayers. I really feel to be a politician you have to be somewhat crooked to start with. Nothing will change. It may get a little better but not for long. My opinion.

[baldo]

Didn't Pelosi have something like a $190.000+ alcohol expense in a single year while flying? She and her friends couldn't have gotten much productive business done........

No, I don't think so.

[Romeo]

So, Mr Baldo, was I right? Did Price resign his office? Did he go down the drain? Go ahead, admit you were wrong. It'll feel good. Our president did the right thing, didn't he?

[Alpha Dog]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

As usual you are well informed and spot on on the analysis.  I saw Trump briefly interviewed by a reporter yesterday and man was he pissed, and I mean pissed.   I think because this is not what he is about and has saved this gov't many billions thus far.  I think Trump felt betrayed.  However this practice has been rampant in previous administrations and is another part of the swamp.   Many more private flights conducted in the previous administration in the same time period.  Not making excuses but this should not be happening by any administration, and hopefully this will become a thing of the past.

BS ! Obama's HHS Secretary flew ONE private flight. That was in the Alaskan bush. If you have info to back up your claim, put it out there.

94 Secretary charter flights by past adm. in same period to current of 77 as reported by Fox on Brett Bairs 600 show.   This includes all cabinet posts.   At least this guy is doing something about cleaning this matter up and did the right thing by firing Price.  And all future travel has to go through Chief of Staff, General Kelly.  If you have a problem take you BS to Fox News.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Seems to me, from the article, that all the trips were approved according to current government protocol.
This isn't protocol established by the current administration but protocol established long ago. Perhaps many administrations ago.

I don't believe that Price has any obligation, legally anyway, to repay any costs for these trips as they were approved by the career government officials according to current protocol.

Should the protocol be changed? Yes. And dramatically so.

As to Politico "breaking" the story I view it as a political cheap shot. If they really were looking for the real story they would have dug into it and went back 10 or 12 years and made the story about the ridiculous protocol that have allowed this for decades.

I give the Trump administration kudos for not passing the buck on this and taking it on.  

Nobody seemed to give a damn before now.

As usual you are well informed and spot on on the analysis.  I saw Trump briefly interviewed by a reporter yesterday and man was he pissed, and I mean pissed.   I think because this is not what he is about and has saved this gov't many billions thus far.  I think Trump felt betrayed.  However this practice has been rampant in previous administrations and is another part of the swamp.   Many more private flights conducted in the previous administration in the same time period.  Not making excuses but this should not be happening by any administration, and hopefully this will become a thing of the past.

BS ! Obama's HHS Secretary flew ONE private flight. That was in the Alaskan bush. If you have info to back up your claim, put it out there.

94 Secretary charter flights by past adm. in same period to current of 77 as reported by Fox on Brett Bairs 600 show.   This includes all cabinet posts.   At least this guy is doing something about cleaning this matter up and did the right thing by firing Price.  And all future travel has to go through Chief of Staff, General Kelly.  If you have a problem take you BS to Fox News.

Come on, you've got to be kidding. Includes all cabinet posts ? Surely you know certain cabinet positions are required to ride secure flights. I never took you for a shill. You are better than that.

[baldo]

So, Mr Baldo, was I right? Did Price resign his office? Did he go down the drain? Go ahead, admit you were wrong. It'll feel good. Our president did the right thing, didn't he?

What are you talking about? What are you right and I'm wrong about?