The Pentagon has awarded a contract to begin development of the most expensive helicopters ever made.

Each helicopter will probably cost at least $400 million. The entire project, to build at least 23 helicopters, has been estimated to eventually cost between $10 billion to $17 billion. By comparison, the project could pay the combined defense budgets of Finland, Norway, and Sweden for one year ($16.9 billion).

The passengers for this enormously expensive helicopter fleet? The President of the United States and his entourage.

Pebble wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
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Pebble wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
OK, Pebs, since we know that Governor Christie uses helicopters waaaaaay less than previous Governors, and his usage has spiked a little bit because of the largest disaster in NJ history, and besides it doesn't add a penny to the cost of running the state-do you have a point?

"It is important to understand that State Police helicopters fly daily homeland security missions and use flight time for training purposes, more so lately as we acclimate our pilots to the new aircraft," State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said in a written statement.

"Therefore, there is no additional cost to taxpayers or the State Police budget, nor is there any interference with our daily mission by adding the state's chief executive to any of these trips," Fuentes said. "Any flights transporting the governor would be subordinated to priority needs for our aircraft including rescue and emergent law enforcement missions."

Seriously? So transporting the governor to a baseball field falls under "daily homeland security missions" and "flight training"...?

The argument makes no sense.

Yes, flying a helicopter is flying a helicopter, regardless of where it goes. Is that so hard to understand? Besides, that ride was paid for by the Governor.

And isn't it ironic that the State Police strongly recommended using helicopters MORE because of the near fatal accident that Democratic Governor Corzine had due to his speeding limo?

I'm glad that one of the fattest men in NJ is on a ride along during the "daily homeland security missions". This makes a lot of sense since if these people actually did find something, I'm sure Christie will come in great handy during the fight...

The best governor we've had in a long time was bounced out of office because it was claimed that the office of homeland security was super important in NJ and it shouldn't be used to hire any old nobody. Now, we have the governor using those homeland security missions as his helicopter rides... right.

Monroe wrote:
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Pebble wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
OK, Pebs, since we know that Governor Christie uses helicopters waaaaaay less than previous Governors, and his usage has spiked a little bit because of the largest disaster in NJ history, and besides it doesn't add a penny to the cost of running the state-do you have a point?

"It is important to understand that State Police helicopters fly daily homeland security missions and use flight time for training purposes, more so lately as we acclimate our pilots to the new aircraft," State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said in a written statement.

"Therefore, there is no additional cost to taxpayers or the State Police budget, nor is there any interference with our daily mission by adding the state's chief executive to any of these trips," Fuentes said. "Any flights transporting the governor would be subordinated to priority needs for our aircraft including rescue and emergent law enforcement missions."

Seriously? So transporting the governor to a baseball field falls under "daily homeland security missions" and "flight training"...?

The argument makes no sense.

Yes, flying a helicopter is flying a helicopter, regardless of where it goes. Is that so hard to understand? Besides, that ride was paid for by the Governor.

And isn't it ironic that the State Police strongly recommended using helicopters MORE because of the near fatal accident that Democratic Governor Corzine had due to his speeding limo?

Pebble wrote:
Quote:

Monroe wrote:
OK, Pebs, since we know that Governor Christie uses helicopters waaaaaay less than previous Governors, and his usage has spiked a little bit because of the largest disaster in NJ history, and besides it doesn't add a penny to the cost of running the state-do you have a point?

"It is important to understand that State Police helicopters fly daily homeland security missions and use flight time for training purposes, more so lately as we acclimate our pilots to the new aircraft," State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said in a written statement.

"Therefore, there is no additional cost to taxpayers or the State Police budget, nor is there any interference with our daily mission by adding the state's chief executive to any of these trips," Fuentes said. "Any flights transporting the governor would be subordinated to priority needs for our aircraft including rescue and emergent law enforcement missions."

Seriously? So transporting the governor to a baseball field falls under "daily homeland security missions" and "flight training"...?

The argument makes no sense.

Monroe wrote:
OK, Pebs, since we know that Governor Christie uses helicopters waaaaaay less than previous Governors, and his usage has spiked a little bit because of the largest disaster in NJ history, and besides it doesn't add a penny to the cost of running the state-do you have a point?

"It is important to understand that State Police helicopters fly daily homeland security missions and use flight time for training purposes, more so lately as we acclimate our pilots to the new aircraft," State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes said in a written statement.

"Therefore, there is no additional cost to taxpayers or the State Police budget, nor is there any interference with our daily mission by adding the state's chief executive to any of these trips," Fuentes said. "Any flights transporting the governor would be subordinated to priority needs for our aircraft including rescue and emergent law enforcement missions."

JCMan8 wrote:
I have been bashing on Christie as much as everyone but Monroe is right about this. What is the big deal?

The link neverleft quoted said Christie flew in the helicopter 23 times in 2010, then 66 and then 70. Meanwhile, Democrat McGreevy used it 277 times in his first year alone, while Democrat Florio flew 2,319 times.

How could one person possibly require 2,319 helicopter flights in one governor term? Was he flying to pick up nightly dinner?

Also I find it funny that a partisan hack here tried to cite to Christie's helicopter flights to somehow support unions, while not realizing that his Democrats used the helicopter exponentially more, lol.

Save your outrage for Christie for where it matters, such as him paying his attorneys $1 million of taxpayer money to write a "report" that failed to interview the key players in the whole scandal, Wildstein, Kelly, Stepien, or Samson. This whole thread is a red herring.

JCMan8 wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
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JCMan8 wrote:
I have been bashing on Christie as much as everyone but Monroe is right about this. What is the big deal?

The link neverleft quoted said Christie flew in the helicopter 23 times in 2010, then 66 and then 70. Meanwhile, Democrat McGreevy used it 277 times in his first year alone, while Democrat Florio flew 2,319 times.

How could one person possibly require 2,319 helicopter flights in one governor term? Was he flying to pick up nightly dinner?

Also I find it funny that a partisan hack here tried to cite to Christie's helicopter flights to somehow support unions, while not realizing that his Democrats used the helicopter exponentially more, lol.

Save your outrage for Christie for where it matters, such as him paying his attorneys $1 million of taxpayer money to write a "report" that failed to interview the key players in the whole scandal, Wildstein, Kelly, Stepien, or Samson. This whole thread is a red herring.

How much was spent by Whizzy and Whiney that has also failed to interview the same people earlier?

It was less. Also, unlike Christie's lawyers, they are actively trying to interview them and get their documents. And also unlike Christie's lawyers, they are making a big public deal about trying to get ahold of them, suing them in state court. They didn't just pretend to issue a "comprehensive" report and conveniently forget to tell everyone they didn't speak with the main players.

Monroe wrote:
Quote:

JCMan8 wrote:
I have been bashing on Christie as much as everyone but Monroe is right about this. What is the big deal?

The link neverleft quoted said Christie flew in the helicopter 23 times in 2010, then 66 and then 70. Meanwhile, Democrat McGreevy used it 277 times in his first year alone, while Democrat Florio flew 2,319 times.

How could one person possibly require 2,319 helicopter flights in one governor term? Was he flying to pick up nightly dinner?

Also I find it funny that a partisan hack here tried to cite to Christie's helicopter flights to somehow support unions, while not realizing that his Democrats used the helicopter exponentially more, lol.

Save your outrage for Christie for where it matters, such as him paying his attorneys $1 million of taxpayer money to write a "report" that failed to interview the key players in the whole scandal, Wildstein, Kelly, Stepien, or Samson. This whole thread is a red herring.

How much was spent by Whizzy and Whiney that has also failed to interview the same people earlier?

fat-ass-bike wrote:



A close look at the facial expression from the dude on the far right (suit) is saying "Damn, how are we going to get his fat ass into the helicopter?"




Sorry fat-ass ... I'm mean Christie, get your sorry ass out of the helicopter, you don't fit




The fat-ass walk of shame

JCMan8 wrote:
I have been bashing on Christie as much as everyone but Monroe is right about this. What is the big deal?

The link neverleft quoted said Christie flew in the helicopter 23 times in 2010, then 66 and then 70. Meanwhile, Democrat McGreevy used it 277 times in his first year alone, while Democrat Florio flew 2,319 times.

How could one person possibly require 2,319 helicopter flights in one governor term? Was he flying to pick up nightly dinner?

Also I find it funny that a partisan hack here tried to cite to Christie's helicopter flights to somehow support unions, while not realizing that his Democrats used the helicopter exponentially more, lol.

Save your outrage for Christie for where it matters, such as him paying his attorneys $1 million of taxpayer money to write a "report" that failed to interview the key players in the whole scandal, Wildstein, Kelly, Stepien, or Samson. This whole thread is a red herring.

Monroe wrote:
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neverleft wrote:
?The flights last year compare with 23 in 2010, his first year in office; 66 in 2012; and 70 in 2011, records show.?

** *

Gee lets thank Gov. Christie(R) for saving us taxpayers some money. Look at how many times these guys(D) flew.

nj.com 4/12/2012: ?Christie uses the helicopter less than many of his predecessors. Former Gov. James McGreevey used the helicopter 277 times in his first year in office, and Gov. Jim Florio flew 2,319 times during his four-year term. ?

B-b-b-b-b-but they're Democrats, it was ok! (Didn't McGreevey fly his wife to the shore when he broke his leg walking on the beach with his boyfriend??)

neverleft wrote:
?The flights last year compare with 23 in 2010, his first year in office; 66 in 2012; and 70 in 2011, records show.?

** *

Gee lets thank Gov. Christie(R) for saving us taxpayers some money. Look at how many times these guys(D) flew.

nj.com 4/12/2012: ?Christie uses the helicopter less than many of his predecessors. Former Gov. James McGreevey used the helicopter 277 times in his first year in office, and Gov. Jim Florio flew 2,319 times during his four-year term. ?

Pebble wrote:
$2,500 per hour to carry this man... But union contracts are bloated...

This state will be in such better shape when he's gone on to get the Fox News gig he's pretty much guaranteed.