Well, at least he isn’t using it for silly things like monitoring volcanoes.
Over five months, Jindal took more than three dozen helicopter trips. Fourteen were to attend church services, according to state records.
He worshipped in Hornbeck, Many, Logansport, Angie, Elizabeth, Harrisonburg, Columbia, Winnsboro, Coushatta, Robeline and Anacoco.
At least two aides usually accompanied him along with his security detail and State Police pilots. The public pays their salaries as well as the fuel and upkeep for the helicopter.
The helicopter that the governor uses the most costs $1,200 an hour to operate — about $45,000 for five months of church visits.
In other words, 1/7th the cost of this picture.
In
Kenneth the Page’sLi’l Bobby’s defense, some of those church services were for exorcisms. That’s how he rolls. Really. No kidding.Whenever Edwin Edwards was asked if he was using the Governor’s plane to fly to Vegas, he would reply, “Yes, I’m the Governor.” I don’t think you’re going to generate much of a scandal in La. over someone using State funds to go to church.
SaveFarris: In other words, 1/7th the cost of this picture.
Translation: Look, over there!
Folks of all stripes here said the AF1 photo op was a really stupid, wasteful idea. Are you completely incapable of acknowledging Jindal’s use of the helicopter was also wrong? Or is it only wrong when it’s a Democrat?
An actual answer, please.
“All Stripes” doesn’t include our gracious host. He was unsuprisingly silent on the issue.
Louisiana is 1/50th of the country. What’s your point, Farris?
I’m sure there are plenty of folk who won’t take kindly to this story for the simple fact that Bobby went to the wrong churches.
Jindal was proving that government officials are a waste of taxpayer money. Or that Americans Can Do Anything. Or that politics is show business for stupid people. Or something. Who the hell knows anymore with these kooky wingnuts.
SaveFarris: “All Stripes” doesn’t include our gracious host. He was unsuprisingly silent on the issue.
Still “look, over there”ing, I see. Who said “folks of all stripes” included everyone who posted here or any particular poster? Whether Oliver in particular gave an opinion or not is utterly beside the point that the AF1 photo op was criticized by people on the left as well as the right.
Now, going to stop dancing and answer the question? Was Jindal wrong to use the helicopter?
Two strikes on you so far.
This is “fiscal conservatism” in action
Good job, Sean. Don’t hold your breath for a serious answer though. And while “it IS only wrong when it’s a Democrat” wouldn’t be a very satisfactory answer for most decent people, it seems that it’s perfectly acceptable to a lot of wingnuts.
How many of you really believe he just showed up at those churches just to worship? I am placing my bets on ’state bankrolled campaigning trips’.
Whether Oliver in particular gave an opinion or not is utterly beside the point
No, it’s the entire point. If Oliver thinks that air travel spending is such a big issue, he would have raised it during the AF1 flyover fracas. That he didn’t shows that he doesn’t actually care, so why should I?
If Oliver thinks that air travel spending is such a big issue, he would have raised it during the AF1 flyover fracas.
Hunh?
No one was traveling on AF1 during the shoot. That was an Air Force operation from the start.
As for the topic of the original post? A governor uses an official helicopter to travel to various places in his own state?
A 100 percent chance of darkness tonight with increasing lightness at dawn.
Kenneth the Intern is blazing a trail towards 2012, I tell ya.
Who’s “Kenneth the Intern?”
Oh dear, I’m glad you asked:
http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/02/26/kenneth-the-intern-responds-to-bobby-jindal/
While this is another Savefarris classic “look over there”, I should note I was in a bus on my way back from the draft when this vital moment of right-wing outrage broke out and unable to give the desired opinion. The operation was silly, but it was not at the behest of the president or for his personal travel, like Jindal’s Junkets are.
or for his personal travel, like Jindal’s Junkets are.
Do you get brownie points from your liberal blog readers when you’re dishonest like this? The article you linked to clearly states that Jindal meets with public officials during these trips and that is backed up by people in the story. He planned that alongside the trips to the churches to talk with voters.
I don’t support his actions as he can conduct business and meet with constituents during the week, but this was not “personal travel.”
PRO
State Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, sat with congregations for several of the governor’s trips to churches.
Walsworth said he hasn’t had any complaints about the governor’s use of a state helicopter to attend the services.
CON
State Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, questions the necessity of Sunday meetings with officials.
Adley, a lay minister and a frequent critic of the Jindal administration, said he does not call police jurors and ask them to meet him after church so he can seek reimbursement for his expenses.
“I’m glad he goes to church, but I don’t think we ought to be paying his way there,” Adley said.
PRAGMATIC
State Sen. Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth, said Jindal is the most accessible governor in modern history. He said taxpayers must decide whether the trips are worth their expense.
Personally, if I was a politician selling state and national fiscal conservatism, I’d try to err on the side of state fiscal conservatism, and not what can so easily be percieved as my own personal fiscal conservatism.
SaveFarris: No, it’s the entire point.
No, it is not.
The issue isn’t whether Oliver in particular thought the AF1 photo was inappropriate and wrong. It’s clear it was, as rational, responsible people (including such prominent Democrats as Obama) have already said in no uncertain terms.
The issue her is whether Jindal’s use of the helicopter for personal matters was inappropriate and wrong. And you’re transparently dancing all over the place to avoid answering that.
“Jindal shouldn’t have used the helicopter for personal errands.”
“Look, they wasted money on an AF1 photo op!”
“Yes, they did. That was bad. Weren’t Jindal’s actions wrong?”
“But, but, but.. Oliver never commented on the AF1 incident.”
“No, he didn’t. But wasn’t it wrong for Jindal to use the copter for personal purposes?”
“The whole issue is Oliver’s opinion on AF1.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Strike three, Farris. Is it really that impossible for you to aver admit a Republican screwed up?
Quaker in a B: As for the topic of the original post? A governor uses an official helicopter to travel to various places in his own state?
But not on official business. Would it be okay with him to use the copter to visit his cousins, as long as he didn’t travel out of state?
But not on official business.
Visiting the people of Louisiana? I’ve heard rumors about intersecting branches of the gene pool in the Bayou State, but they can’t all be his cousins, can they?
If you want to pursue this line of reductio ad absurdum, would the governor be out of line to ride in a state-owned limo to these places? What if he took a small, fuel-efficient car? Is it OK if he walks there?
The state provides a helicopter for the governor’s use. If they feel he’s using it frivilously, well OK. However, I don’t Jindal’s use of the helicopter as an egeregious abuse.
Given the roads, flying’s probably safer.
I lived there for 20 years, so I’m entitled.
But not on official business. Would it be okay with him to use the copter to visit his cousins, as long as he didn’t travel out of state?
Well, now, if he was governor of South Carolina….
Quaker iaB: I’ve heard rumors about intersecting branches of the gene pool in the Bayou State, but they can’t all be his cousins, can they?
It isn’t like you to intentionally miss the point, Q. My point is, Jindal (or any politico) shouldn’t be using the company car for personal business. And masking it by having meetings on Sunday that could otherwise, and would more normally, be held during regular business hours doesn’t excuse that he’s spending taxpayer money on personal travel.
It isn’t like you to intentionally miss the point, Q.
You also, Mr. Martin. That cousin thing was pure japery.
My point is, Jindal (or any politico) shouldn’t be using the company car for personal business.
Given the number and variety of destinations, I doubt that Mr. Jindal’s purpose is strictly personal. It sounds to me as if the governor is visiting citizens at their places of worship.
Hi, first time caller. Say, what if he were using a state helicopter to visit a different mosque every Friday? Let’s think about that for a while.
Iamspartacus: Say, what if he were using a state helicopter to visit a different mosque every Friday?
What difference would that make? It’s still personal use of the company car.