Remember when the Big Three automakers originally were begging for bailouts? The executives flew private jets to Washington, D.C., which they were promptly excoriated for, especially by lawmakers. Their next trip to D.C. made them laughingstocks, because, aware of the way their prior trip made them look to the public, they all drove a few thousand miles to see Congressional lawmakers about getting that precious bailout.

Also, remember how liberals have been freaking out about the so-called manmade global warming? We’re all supposed to drive more fuel efficient cars, used less energy in our homes, and avoid anything that could be considered a “gas-guzzler”, like SUVs or big gulfstream jets. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi continued to tool around the country in her Gulfstream jet, and Al Gore continued to use enough energy in his home to power a small third world country.

And of course, no one can forget the economic state the country is in right now. The unemployment rate, for example, is at a 26-year high and the deficit is over $11 trillion.

Keep the above three points in mind when you read this story:

Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies.

But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress.

… But the House Appropriations Committee, at its own initiative, added to the 2010 Defense appropriations bill another $132 million for two more airplanes and specified that they be assigned to the D.C.-area units that carry Members of Congress, military brass and top government officials.

Because the Appropriations Committee viewed the additional aircraft as an expansion of an existing Defense Department program, it did not treat the money for two more planes as an earmark, and the legislation does not disclose which Member had requested the additional money.

An Appropriations Committee staffer said the military was already planning to replace its passenger fleet, and the committee “looked at the request and decided they should speed up the replacement.”

The Gulfstream G550 is a luxury business jet, which the company advertises as featuring long-range flight capacity that “easily links Washington, D.C., with Dubai, London with Singapore and Tokyo with Paris.” The company’s promotional materials say, “The cabin aboard the G550 combines productivity with exceptional comfort. It features up to four distinct living areas, three temperature zones, a choice of 12 floor plan configurations with seating for up to 18 passengers.”

The ones that Gulfstream sells to the military for government use are apparently not as fancy as ones sold to the general public, but it’s still a freakin’ Gulfstream private jet! I mean, come on… with “four distinct living areas”, “three temperature zones”, and I’m sure all kinds of other great things, I’m pretty sure that it’s still pretty luxurious even without the “luxury” accomodations for private buyers.
Check out this picture to get an idea:

So, we’re spending $132 million for two more private jets for our Marie Antoinettes in Congress, even as we’re halting production on the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Spending money on our national defense is apparently unreasonable, even though one of the benefits to the F-22 Raptor was the many manufacturing jobs it created. And on top of that, again, consider the three points I made above.

Tells you where our bureaucrats’ priorities are, huh? The entire country is tightening their collective belts. Families are losing their entire retirements, their life savings. People are losing jobs, small businesses are closing. Yet in Washington, they’re ordering up another round of private luxury jets for themselves to enjoy.

Nice.

Hat Tip: Right Wing News