Michelle Malkin » ‘I feel the need, the need to freak out New Yorkers!’ — Update: Wouldn’t ‘Photoshop’ have been cheaper?

‘I feel the need, the need to freak out New Yorkers!’ — Update: Wouldn’t ‘Photoshop’ have been cheaper?

By Doug Powers • April 27, 2009 03:37 PM

The Obama administration is doing their best to keep New Yorkers on their toes:

An Air Force fighter jet and one of President Barack Obama’s official planes on Monday flew low over the Statue of Liberty in an approved photo opportunity that startled some New Yorkers who have memories of the September 11 attacks.

New York City officials notified some businesses but not all city agencies or the general public. People in New York remain sensitive to such incidents in lower Manhattan, site of the 2001 attacks involving hijacked airliners that destroyed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

Many people left their buildings, and stock prices extended losses at the time.

The U.S. Air Force, which operates the president’s plane, said the “aerial photo mission” involved an F-16 fighter jet escort and one of the Boeing 747s designated as Air Force One when the president is aboard. Obama was not on board.

Police said federal authorities told them not to disclose the information ahead of time but to direct inquiries to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mayor Bloomberg is reported to be “furious” — either because most people weren’t informed of the fly-by, or that he found out the plane was carrying foods loaded with trans fats.

Look for Obama’s people to claim it was a selfless gesture on the part of the president to take New Yorkers minds off the swine flu.

Click the pic below to watch the CBS 2 story on the ill-timed buzz of Lady Liberty:

As for the environmental impact of this photo-op, we’ll have to consult the “carbon footprint calculator” — though it can’t be nearly as bad as “Hurricane Latrina” that blew through DC on Inauguration Day.

What’s going to be the next Obama administration photo op? My money is on lighting firecrackers next to a group of napping D-Day veterans.

Update:

An administration official says a presidential Boeing 747 and a fighter jet flew low near ground zero in New York City Monday because the White House Military Office wanted to update its file photo of the president’s plane near the Statue of Liberty.

Seems to me that a little thing called “Photoshop” could have saved a ton of fuel, not to mention spared a few nerves.

The White House has apologized, and this report says Obama was also “furious” — and this is a president who sat through an anti-American diatribe by Daniel Ortega without batting an eye.

Posted in: 9/11, Barack Obama, Homeland Security

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#688389

On April 28th, 2009 at 1:37 am, prendad said:

I am beginning to believe that there are no limits to the utter stupidity of the Obama administration. Will the person in charge of this circus please stand up and be identified, for the record. And, oh by the way, WHERE IS THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE????
#688396

On April 28th, 2009 at 2:05 am, frontierguy said:

Joy said:
And with all due respect, I don’t think it matters if they voted for hussein or not.

I get what you are saying, but the truth is that people get the government they deserve. I’ll try not to be vendictive, but first I got to say, na na na na na na!! Liberal New Yorkers….
There, got it off my chest. Any New Yorkers who need a hug….here is a virtual one
#688407

On April 28th, 2009 at 4:37 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

I get what you are saying, but the truth is that people get the government they deserve.

The truth can be ugly. I must agree that the people of New York City did NOT overreact-Mayor Bloomberg over reached in moral indignation but that is who Mayor Bloomberg is. But then the people of NYC did vote for the twit. But then the American people voted for the other twit.

I am interested and we shall see how far this story goes–how long before they blame President Bush.
#688412

On April 28th, 2009 at 5:26 am, graysonret said:

I am interested and we shall see how far this story goes–how long before they blame President Bush.

Because of Bush’s policies, we had the 9/11 disaster. If Bush had done what the Left wanted, it would have never occurred. Today, the planes could have buzzed NYC without anyone getting upset. Therefore, it’s all Bush’s fault.

There…the WH excuse, supported by the MSM.
#688422

On April 28th, 2009 at 6:22 am, bansharia said:

DJ,
As expected we both got the same alert,
it was AFTER the fact. Am glad you made it thru 9/11 and were not reminded of that yesterday like so many others were. for clarification: I am sticking by my extensive alert system my butt comment which is a swipe at the company you work for NOT you
#688448

On April 28th, 2009 at 7:52 am, rambler said:

Any more stunts like this by the ONE and he’ll find out just what a mean country we can be. This was beyond stupid and showed no sensitivity towards New Yorkers.
#688451

On April 28th, 2009 at 8:03 am, jones said:

Will someone finally be fired from this Klown Kollege? They said Bush was in a bubble.
#688456

On April 28th, 2009 at 8:28 am, beachmom said:

Obama is furious?
Nothing is ever this guy’s fault.
He doesn’t take responsibility for anything that his administration screws up on.

Other Presidents with more class would most likely have issued a statement apologizing to the city of New York for his oversight. Of course, other Presidents probably would have issued an announcement to at least the local NYC media.
#688458

On April 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am, jangar said:

On April 28th, 2009 at 8:28 am, beachmom said:
Obama is furious?
Nothing is ever this guy’s fault.

I thought he said the buck stopped at his desk…

…oh, I get it…MY MONEY stops at his desk, not government clown tricks.

I suspect there will be a head or two roll over at the Pentagon over this fiasco.
#688462

On April 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am, babiesgrandma said:

Joy said:
I’ve seen the YouTubes and I can’t imagine that ANYONE would be able to tell that plane was Air Force One!

Joy – you are so right. I was a former Air Traffic Controller, and I MIGHT be able to tell it’s a 747, but I MIGHT NOT be able to see what’s painted on its side.

Besides, the deep rumblings are what people probably heard, and trying to look up with tall buildings around, how could you see The ODoobie Logo on the side?

I would have been right there trying to evacuate – I was trained to respond efficiently and effectively – which would mean to get out of Harm’s Way.
#688475

On April 28th, 2009 at 9:12 am, Atlanta Media Guy said:

Question:
Could the photos taken of Air Force One over Lower Manhattan yesterday be considered torture photos?

Seeing how the people reacted they should be. Will Prompterbama release these torture photos like the 200 he is intending to release to embarrass the Bush Administration?

I wonder what the TOTUS thinks?
#688487

On April 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am, jamesrileyjr said:

From one of the CGI guys behind Battlestar Galactica

Good stuff. Scare the pants off the country. Maybe now people will wake up to just how stupid this man really is.
#688489

On April 28th, 2009 at 9:30 am, corona said:

So, what was the “carbon footprint” or whatever the hell the global pseudo-warming alarmists call it?
#688493

On April 28th, 2009 at 9:39 am, Danceswithdachshunds said:

For the first time in my life I’m beginning to be ashamed that the people (MSM) who foisted this MORON onto us and into the White House have the audacity to call themselves Americans. I don’t see things looking any better in the future over the next ~3.7 years either.
#688537

On April 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am, HotWeaver said:

The King’s entourage was unaware of the panic which the King’s Coach can cause in some parts of the kingdom.
#688655

On April 28th, 2009 at 11:57 am, BruceB said:

The birth certificate people are doing it wrong. They are trying to prove where he wasn’t instead of trying to prove where he was.
#688792

On April 28th, 2009 at 12:39 pm, dan708 said:

Good lord, my neck hurts from shaking my head! I’m not sure whether to laugh at the administration’s stupidity or cry over their inexperience and insensitivity. And to think, they lampooned Bush for the “Mission Accomplished” banner!
#689218

On April 28th, 2009 at 4:42 pm, thetoysurgeon said:

So will the President pay a carbon tax on his frivolous excursions in US1?

I am the President, I can do anything I want..Remember “I WON”
#689221

On April 28th, 2009 at 4:44 pm, thetoysurgeon said:

You can start calling Obama “Teflon”. Nothing is ever his fault. You can also tell he is not linked to whatever the Dem Congress wants and votes on like if it fails , its not my fault.
#689746

On April 29th, 2009 at 8:23 am, 4USA said:

I find it impossible to believe Obama didn’t know about this lunacy. Of course, he’s blaming someone else and ‘we found out about it at the same time as you.’

They expect us to believe there’s someone in government that can just independently decide the POTUS can’t use this mode of transportation today?

He or she, alone, can decide to spend at least half a million dollars of tax-payer money (counting the Fighter jet escort), to get a neat picture?

While, at the same time, having the juice to order the people responsible for defense and security to keep it a secret?

I know there’s alot of (good) jokes being posted about the stupidity of this truly insensitive (arrogant) event. But, secondarily to my disgust over what this did to New Yorkers, I’m furious that this lying POS-POTUS is getting another pass.

Some poor slob is going to have to fall his sword for Obamessiah. And we’re going to be told to believe this low-level grunt had the ability to do all these things on his own.