Feds knew ‘photo-op’ would cause panic, but did it anyway
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Photo Credit: AP/Jason McLane
What is one supposed to think upon hearing something like this? A fiction writer couldn’t come up with something so ridiculous. It simply makes no sense.
Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.
In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration’s James Johnston said the agency was aware of “the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes” in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor’s office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.
Chuck Schumer was put in a bind, you know, since it’s his guy’s White House that was behind it. But he has to dance with the ones that brung him, so to speak.
“To say that it should not be made public knowing that it might scare people it’s just confounding,” Sen. Charles Schumer said. “It’s what gives Washington and government a bad name. It’s sheer stupidity.”
For once Schumer’s right. It was sheer stupidity. But if it was ordered by the White House why was Obama surprised? Isn’t Team Obama supposed the be the most competent group of bureaucrats in all of history?
The flyover — apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background — had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.
“It was a mistake. It will never happen again,” President Obama said.
Allahpundit has a possible explanation for the White House spending over $300,000 to scare the crap out of New Yorkers.
Think of it as a stimulus: The amount of booze, smokes, and anti-anxiety meds alone that New Yorkers must have consumed in the aftermath of this mass panic attack was probably worth $10-20 mil to the city.
Knowing that this gang of fools is running our country is sure to stimulate the smokes, booze and anxiety-meds business for at least the next four years.
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Surely they didn’t think this would cause a stir!
“Don’t call me Shirley……What’s the vector Victor?”
And we all thought Gore & Kerry were clowns…. “Roger, Roger.”
Over, under!
I think it’s time to STOP making fun of this administration and START screaming the scary TRUTH about how this “leadesrhip” is really screwing our country up. Call me sour grapes if you want… but I am definately ’sour’ on this guy as the pretended leader of MY country. Where is a leader in the scheme of things if he doesnt even KNOW where AF-1 is at ANY GIVEN HOUR OF THE DANG DAY!! Do you trust this man to know where your life is headed? I sure the HELL don’t. I don’t even live anywhere NEAR NY City, and I am SCAAAARED to DEATH!!! I don’t have to see the plane. I can feel it’s screeeeaaaming, crasssshhhing engines in my ears every night. Arrogance and insensitivity is a terrible thing to waste, and this administration has not wasted an ounce of it.