As the "Washington Times" and ABC News first reported, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D. CA), has allegedly requested the equivalent of a 757 jet aircraft (we hear ya, Capt. Sensible!) to shuttle her to and from her home in San Francisco. This aircraft would cost $300,000 one way to make the trip, and -- for the environmentally conscious out there -- would expel 10,000 pounds more carbon dioxide than the plane used by former speaker Dennis "the Menace" Hastert.

Pelosi reportedly claimed that, as the first female Speaker, security demands dictated that she needed a plane that didn't have to re-fuel (as Hastert's C-20 would). Such a statement leaves many wondering what she means by that. Is it the distinction that she is the first female Speaker which makes it necessary to operate under a different security protocol? If this is the case, does this not patronize women, talk down to them, and tell them they need special treatment? Or is it a simple matter of fact, that, somehow, as the first female Speaker, Ms. Pelosi is in greater danger, is threatened by people who don't like her in her position of authority?

Rep. John Murtha has bristled at the idea that the Pentagon leaked the information about Pelosi's arrogant request, saying that the military was "making a mistake" doing so, because, as he threatened, "she decides on the allocations for the Department of Defense."

Nice. Nothing like reckless statements about the funding of our national defense to complicate things even further, John.

According to ABC: 'On Feb. 1, unnamed administration and congressional sources leaked to the Washington Times that Pelosi was "seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation. A knowledgeable source called the request 'carte blanche for an aircraft any time.'"

ABC also reports these stats about the plane: "The plane seats 45 passengers with business-class accommodations and a crew of up to 16, depending on the mission. It features a communications center, a fully enclosed stateroom for the primary passenger, a changing area, a conference facility, an entertainment system, and a convertible divan that seats three and folds out to a bed. The C-32 can cost as much as $22,000 an hour to operate."

Here is the report: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2858225&page=1

What do you think? Let people know, and then go listen to Captain Sensible and the Softies' "Jet Boy, Jet Girl"!