Obama's Air Force One flight to Chicago and back Monday to cost $236,000

[Chris_]

Obama's Air Force One flight to Chicago and back Monday to cost $236,000

As President Barack Obama flies Monday to Chicago for a midday speech on health-care reform, the round trip on Air Force One will run about $236,000, according to government estimates of the operating costs for one of the top symbols, and perks, of the presidency.

But that does not include such expenses as Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports.

After landing at O'Hare International Airport, Obama is scheduled to spend about 2 1/2 hours here. To avoid snarling traffic on the Kennedy Expressway, he likely will be taken from the airport by helicopter to a location near the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

*snip*

The cost of Air Force One recently made national news after a backup aircraft that sometimes carries the president made a controversial, low-altitude flight over New York City as part of a government photo opportunity, panicking workers and prompting complaints from local officials. That flight cost more than $300,000, according to Air Force estimates.

*snip*

His flights to Chicago also are cheap by comparison with those President Ronald Reagan made to his Western White House, in Santa Barbara County, Calif., a cross-country trip that was roughly 4,700 miles round trip.

But Obama could shatter that cost with a trip to Hawaii if he decides to go there for his family's annual vacation between Christmas and New Year's. The round-trip cost of a flight from Washington to Honolulu on Air Force One would be roughly $1 million, according to the GAO estimates.

Gettin' all he can while he can....   

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Better watch out when he leaves the WH.  There won't be any china or sliver left in the place.

[djones520]

He's been in office 6 months.  And I can say without a doubt that he's easily already cost the Air Force hundres of millions of dollars in expenses in all the flying that he's done.  Not to mention hundreds of sorties that could be going towards supporting the war effort, instead ferrying everything around for him.

[Celtic Rose]

Honestly, it doesn't matter to me all that much how much he flies.  I figure, every president does his share of flying around.  However, the hypocrisy is what bugs me. He talks about sacrifice in his inauguration speech, he's pushing to legislate what cars are permissible, he is pushing green technology, and yet planes have an extraordinarily high carbon footprint.  Another example of having one standard for us, and another for himself. 

[Chris_]

Honestly, it doesn't matter to me all that much how much he flies.  I figure, every president does his share of flying around.  However, the hypocrisy is what bugs me. He talks about sacrifice in his inauguration speech, he's pushing to legislate what cars are permissible, he is pushing green technology, and yet planes have an extraordinarily high carbon footprint.  Another example of having one standard for us, and another for himself. 

That's the liberal way.