Earlier today on the NBC’s Today Show it was suggested that there was pretty much a consensus that the White House’s plan to do a publicity shot of Air Force One around the Statue of Library was a “bonehead idea.” What an understatement!
There are so many layers of boneheaded-ness to this that it is laughable and sad at the same time.
- Here was an opportunity to stage a patriotic celebration that could have generated even more positive feeling toward the White House…lost!
- What a show of complete insensitivity to the citizens of New York City.
But more to the point: what was the need for secretiveness in this case? No one of importance was in AFO, so:
- Why not make it a public event?
- Why have F16s flying so close in?
- Why ask the NYPD to keep quiet?
There is more than a little bit of “crying wolf” in this scenario for me: thinking or suggesting that there was any top-secret aspect of this stunt. In your dreams, Washington!
How are citizens of this country supposed to trust the level-headed judgment of those, in this case, in the White House and the military? We have long known about the $250 hammers and the lack of even a single military development acquisition not grossly over-budget. It would be one thing if only an opportunity were missed, but here harm was generated…and for no purpose whatsoever. They must be taking leads from the TSA…but I won’t go there today.
I’m sure that this sad event will, too, end in a simple apology and be forgotten amidst the swine flu hysteria and falling house prices.
