Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Limousine Liberals

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exits a limousine in this AP photo

It’s one small data point but it says so much about the aggrandizement of the political class under the Obama presidency: According to General Services Administration data, the number of limousines in the federal fleet increased from 238 in fiscal 2008, the last year of the Bush administration, to 412 in 2010. Read the details at the Center for Public Integrity website.

The people can’t afford to buy cars? Let them drive limousines?

— James A. Bacon

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7 responses to “Limousine Liberals”

  1. Peter Galuszka Avatar
    Peter Galuszka

    Limousine Liberals?

    Reminds me of Republican banking CEOs using their corporate jets to fly to Washington and beg for a bailout.

    Peter Galuszka

  2. Hydra Avatar
    Hydra

    But, Jim, the limosines are shared vehicles.

  3. Waldo Jaquith Avatar
    Waldo Jaquith

    After reading the article, I don’t understand how this is waste. The article also explains that “limo” simply means “a vehicle that carries a VIP or ‘other protectee’”—it has nothing to do with the length or luxury of the vehicle. Who’s to say it’s not a cost-cutting move? As Hydra points out, these are shared vehicles. I can’t see that it would be better to be acquiring cars for these VIPs to drive themselves—those can be used by just one person at a time, losing their value when parked, and then it’s necessary to pay for parking as well. A vehicle and a driver can be in use constantly, making that vehicle significantly more effective.

    It’s entirely possible that this is wasteful, but the article’s claims that this is the case are in no way backed up by the facts that they provide. And the fact that it “looks bad” is BS—it’s not the job of the State Department it “look good,” it’s to get shit done. If having vehicles with drivers facilitates that, then alright.

  4. Richard Avatar
    Richard

    Another recycled Fox news/Washington Times headline. A closer examination of the facts shows 1. most of the vehicles were ordered during the Bush years, and 2. most of the vehicles are necessary for security reasons – most of them are for foreign service personnel. Give me some examples of inappropriate use and maybe the story will mean something.

  5. James Bacon Avatar
    James Bacon

    Waldo and Richard raise some fair points: (1) Some of the limos (we don’t know how many) had been approved by the Bush administration, and (2) some of the limos may have legitimate security functions. The article did not provide specifics on either point, therefore, I concede that the case is unproven. However, I would say that the raw numbers look suspicious and warrant a closer look.

    If the Bushies had jacked up the number of limousines by a comparable amount, liberals would have happily used the fact to portary the Bushies as out-of-touch plutocrats.

  6. Waldo Jaquith Avatar
    Waldo Jaquith

    If the Bushies had jacked up the number of limousines by a comparable amount, liberals would have happily used the fact to portary the Bushies as out-of-touch plutocrats.

    I think it’s best to be cautious with such statements. What I assume you’re saying is that some liberals would have done so, not that all liberals would have done so; or, worse still, that I would have done so. Because you’re—inadvertently, I assume!—accusing me of hypocrisy.

  7. James Bacon Avatar
    James Bacon

    You are correct, Waldo, I meant “some” liberals. I wasn’t thinking of you when I made that statement.

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