Today's post is actually written from the road. I'm up in Boston (jetBlue E190 in case you were wondering). In a previous life I used to work in politics, and with today's democratic (small d) festivities in 25 states and territories across America, I felt it was appropriate to do a little crossover post.
If you happen to be in one of those 25 states and territories, get out and vote. One of the six candidates will be the President of the United States. Don't you want to have your say?
If you live in:
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
Then take 20 minutes on your lunch break or after work (stop reading the blog, you have my permission) and go vote!
Okay, I made my pitch for your civic participation. Now to the planes.
One aircraft in particular caught my eye at the Reagan Library debate. It was the centerpiece of the last Republican debate. The Boeing 707 that first flew as Air Force One with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Bush.
Both Governor Romney and Governor Huckabee chartered an Express Jet Embraer E145 earlier in the campaign. Rumor has it that they didn't share the same plane.
Senator McCain has been flying a jetBlue Airbus A320. 10 pts to anyone who can spot the irony.
UPDATE: According to the NBC Nightly News on Feb. 6, Senator McCain had chartered a jetBlue Airbus A320 N658JB. Otherwise known as "WooHoo jetBlue!" the promotional A320 used to market the Simpson's Movie this past summer.
Congressman Paul's supporters have hired a blimp to orbit cities all over America.
Governor Romney was spotted flying a Boeing 737-400 (N42XA) around the south yesterday.
Both Senator Obama (N319TZ) and Senator Clinton (N310TZ) have been flying around on ATA Boeing 737-800s. A definite size upgrade for Senator Obama who had been previously been flying on a Gulfstream II (N747NB).
Winner gets the best ride of them all:
on February 5, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply
McCain is running for US president flying a French airplane. (I suppose that might be fitting considering his Boeing-bashing over the tanker.) I also know that his campaign was warned about chartering an A320 and instead was recommended that he charter a 737 from US Airways.
on February 5, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply
That the french started the Vietnam War that he subsequently fought in and was a POW?
on February 5, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply
Blue is the color of the democratic party while red is thought of as republican. He should be flying jetred (if it existed)
on February 5, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply
is its name voteblue? just a guess....
on February 6, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply
JetBlue CEO David Neeleman has contributed to the Romney campaign, but not the McCain campaign.
I'm not sure how that's ironic, but is probably what you're going for.
on February 6, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply
This is typical McCain. I have thought that he had something personal against Boeing for a while and this is just one more piece of evidence.
No candidate for president should be flying around in a foreign made airplane, especially when there is a competitive alternative.
Go look at the transcripts when the fines were leveled against Boeing, he seems to think that Boeing is scum.
on February 6, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply
Actually, McCain has been using a JetBlue E190 and not an A320
on February 6, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply
Actually, McCain has been using a Jetblue E190 and not an A320
on February 6, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply
Go McCain and the A320, maybe we can bring the A380 (a nice and needed upgrade) for your next ride!
on February 7, 2008 9:27 AM | Reply
Quote:
"One aircraft in particular caught my eye at the Reagan Library debate. It was the centerpiece of the last Republican debate. The Boeing 707 that first flew as Air Force One with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Bush".
Actually, and for obvious resons; VC-137C SAM 27000 (Air Force One) never carried JFK or LBJ. They flew on VC-137C SAM 26000 (pronounced: ''two, six-thousand'').
on February 7, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply
Quote:
This is typical McCain. I have thought that he had something personal against Boeing for a while and this is just one more piece of evidence.
I think he has something against aviation in America in general... he supports user fees for General Aviation, which is one reason why it will be a cold day in Hell before he gets my vote.
Quote:
Actually, McCain has been using a Jetblue E190 and not an A320
Okay, so Brazilian, not French - still not supporting the US Economy and the people that he'd like to get to vote for him.