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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Obama Faces Costly Choice on $11B Marine One Fleet

Project for more secure fleet has already doubled in cost

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(Newser) – President Obama has to decide whether to continue a Pentagon contract that pits wartime security against his principles of government accountability and frugality, the New York Times reports. The 2003 project to replace the decades-old Marine One fleet has nearly doubled in price to $11 billion, pushing the cost of each VH-71 helicopter to almost that of Air Force One. Marine One is most often used to shuttle the president to Camp David or Andrews Air Force Base.

Under the current contract, 28 new copters would be designed to deflect missile attacks and wage war from the air—which could prove useful in a terrorist attack.  But now, in the face of a staggering economy, the administration is "prepared to make some hard choices" on the fleet's future, said a Pentagon spokesman.

President Barack Obama arrives with his family on Marine One in Chicago. A contract to replace the fleet has doubled in cost to $11 billion.
President Barack Obama arrives with his family on Marine One in Chicago. A contract to replace the fleet has doubled in cost to $11 billion.   (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Marine One is most often used to shuttle the president from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base.
Marine One is most often used to shuttle the president from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The VH-71 helicopter is designed to carry 14 passengers and thousands of pounds of secure communications equipment.
The VH-71 helicopter is designed to carry 14 passengers and thousands of pounds of secure communications equipment.   (PRNewsFoto/AgustaWestland)
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Timinator2K
Feb 16, 09 9:41 AM CST
"President Obama has to decide whether to continue a Pentagon contract that pits wartime security against his principles of government accountability and frugality,..." HIS principles of government accountability and frugality? PUUUUHHLEASE, NYT, we're not ALL FOOLS. And, I take it that HIS Porkulus Bill is in-line with his principles of government accountability and frugality? Obama has ZERO interest in either principle, morons. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
AClotfelter
Feb 16, 09 1:46 PM CST
What, exactly, is "pork"? How do you separate"pork" from other government spending? Or are you one of those who sees all government spending as "pork"?
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IN RESPONSE:
PaleRider
Feb 17, 09 1:57 AM CST
"Pork" is anything that does not contribute to the purpose of the bill, which in this case is about 87% of the bill.
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Forderon
Feb 17, 09 3:22 PM CST
Republicans screaming bloody pork! Lol, it's a talking point they came up with to grandstand and pitch a fit, nothing else. Why, because pork is in the eye of the beholder. There is 0 money in this bill for "earmarks"--money meant for a specific purpose and place. So since they can't hyperventilate about earmarks, they go to the next best thing, "pork", which apparently can be ANYTHING that someone disagrees with. If I don't like tax cuts, I can call them pork too. By the way Feragola, if 87% of the bill is pork, then doesn't that mean some of your precious tax cuts (33% of the bill) is also pork? Reply
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radnip
Feb 18, 09 2:39 AM CST
My new favorite line: It's spending, not stimulus! It replaces: Democracy at the point of a gun. Reply
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