"We're the Federal Government. We'll fly what we like where we like and you'll LIKE IT!"

The best part: "NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said typically a flight like this would be publicized to avoid causing a panic, but they were under orders not to in this case." Maybe they thought they'd secretly fly low over the Statue of Liberty in daylight without anyone noticing.

Perhaps we should ask Messrs. Barnum and Sturgeon, about people and ideas, respectively.

I understand that The Guy At The Top Of The Food Chain is pissed, implying that he hadn't heard about it until after it scared the crap out of downtown office workers. I do hope to see crania doing bowling-ball imitations.

I just shook my head in disgust when I read about this.

It also bought to mind that some folks have said that people have forgotten 9/11.... I'm guessing yesterday morning snuffed that out and quick.

I just feel so sorry for the folks who relived their fright and panic. This was idiocy of the highest rank.

Sigh. Stupid government trips.

Er, Stupid government tricks.

Well, hey, it was a stupid government trip, too!

If you think people shouldnt know until the last second because youre afraid some local terrorist cell has a stinger on hand, you should definitely be using photoshop instead.

The only semi-rational explanation I can think of is that the bureaucrats never examined their default assumption (that the comings and goings of the presidential jet should be kept secret) to consider the reasons it didn't really apply to this situation.

(I've also seen criticisms of the cost of the flight. To be fair, the pilots charged with flying Air Force One and escort jets need to train and test the equipment anyway.)


Edited at 2009-04-28 08:28 pm (UTC)