President Obama's Tour Bus

[erpowers]

Today, I noticed that at least one of the news anchor's at CNN, Brooke Baldwin, kept references the fact that President Obama's tour bus costs about $1.2 million. At one point she interviewed CNN's White House Correspondent who pointed out that there were actually two tour buses so the sum total of the two bus was actually $2.4 million. I am not trying to greatly defend President Obama or claim that the anchors have an anti-Obama bias. However, I think pointing out that the cost of each bus is $1.2 million is both irrelevant and misleading.

The anchors were, in my opinion, making it seem that it was so out of the norm for an RV/tour bus to cost $1.2 million. In reality that price is pretty much in line with the cost of any RV/tour bus of that size. A tour bus of that size can start at about $250,000 and go up to more than $1 million. I imagine the bus itself had a price tag of about $250,000-$500,000 and the Secret Service put anywhere between $250,000-$700,000 worth of upgrades in order for it to be used as a presidential vehicle.

Also, even though they did mention it, they may not have emphasized enough the fact that the buses were not built specifically for President Obama and that at least one of the buses would be used by other politicians in the future. The Secret Service said they had been thinking about buying a tour bus type vehicle for years in that the organization had been protecting politicians on buses for years. In the past the Secret Service had to lease buses and install all the needed equipment and then when the lease was over they had to strip the vehicles down before returning them.

[glowing]

1. Anyone ever hear how much Bush visits cost? Especially with all his free speech zones ahead of time

[rfranklin]

5. They never had a problem with all the upgrades that went into the pig farm in Crawford....

I heard it was a bazillion dollars.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. Tour buses for obama are a waste of money.

He doesn't even need to set foot in the blue states.

That leaves him with a half dozen or so swing states. And he needs to get out there and hit them often and hit them hard. A drive through on a stupid bus isn't going to do it.

[Obamanaut]

3. During the next 18 or so months, will the tour bus drop Obama at the White

House to do a little government business, or is it simply going to be 'seeking to remain employed' tour?

[pintobean]

9. I heard he was in the big race

[Tx4obama]

4. More info and photos on the link below

Excerpt:

The Secret Service won't reveal specifics on the high-tech monster buses but said that they have similar features to "the Beast," a tricked-out limo and the president's regular ride. That official Cadillac comes with thick, reinforced doors and reportedly is equipped with bulletproof glass that can withstand a rocket-propelled grenade or a chemical attack.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1747692

p.s. Photos in the comments on the link above.

[malaise]

6. Just keep him safe

Fuck the hacks

[blogslut]

7. Just point out Ashton Kutcher's bus

For being on a teevee show, the actor gets this:






$9,000 a week. Two stories. 1,200 Square feet. Leather, Oak, Marble.

link: http://www.zimbio.com/Ashton+Kutcher/articles/ek_aaHwbQ61/Check+Out+Ashton+Kutcher+Mansion+Like+Trailer

[demosincebirth]

8. I've seen RV's that cost almost that much. By the way, its a lot cheaper

than flying in Air Force one...by a long shot.