Date Night

So, should Barack and Michelle have boarded Air Force One and flown with a few other government planes to NYC to see a show and have a really nice dinner?

From CNN.com:

“Republicans have … questioned the cost to tax-payers for the brief excursion — which included three Gulfstream-size planes to transport the preside[n]t's security detail, staff, and White House reporters.

“'If President Obama wants to go to the theater, isn't the presidential box at the Kennedy Center good enough?’ RNC Press Secretary Gail Gitcho said Saturday.”

From the wonderful world of Google, via Media Matters:

“[F]ormer President George W. Bush, for example, reportedly used Air Force One for trips to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, which he reportedly visited 77 times over the course of his eight years in office.”

From a perhaps more mainstream source, U.S. News & News Report:

“For many years, presidents have used government transportation, and spent taxpayers' money, for personal trips. George W. Bush, for example, traveled frequently to his Texas ranch for vacations and R&R. Bill Clinton went to Martha's Vineyard for vacations in the summer. George H.W. Bush often traveled to his retreat in Kennebunkport, Maine, for breaks from Washington.”

So, I’m wondering what the over and under’s on W’s and Barack’s getting laid during the flight, on arrival or during the layover when the big plane is being used. My question is just as inappropriate, but no more than the GOP’s carping. Do they really want him flying the D.C./NYC shuttle? I don’t remember them carping that American or someone else has regular flights from D.C. to Texas.

My money is on Barack on the sex thing.