As gas tops $4 a gallon and many American families are having to cut back on vacations or not even take a vacation it might be of interest to know how much the President spends and takes with him when he is on tour. Digging around, there is some very enlightening information tucked away in the August 25-26, 2007 issue of Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald. The newspaper was covering Pres. Bush's visit there and had a rather lengthy article complete with very well conceived artwork depicting George's traveling circus - and what a circus it was! How would you like to go on holiday with 250 Secret Service agents, 200 representatives from U.S. states, 150 National Security advisors, 50 White House political aids, 15 sniffer dog teams, one personal chef and four cooks, a specially designed Cadillac DeVille Touring Sedan (mpg not given), a second armoured Cadillac, a "communications vehicle", eight or nine SUVs (mpg not given), a couple of staff cars, a SWAT van, press and VIP guest vans and an ambulance. In the air is Air Force One (two identical 747-2008s and a third chartered plane), a Black Hawk surveillance helicopter, Marine One helicopter and two or three C-17 Globmaster III air transport planes to haul Bush's parade from country to country. The Sydney Morning Herald noted, "energy efficiency may be on the agenda . . . , but not in practice when Mr. Bush hits the road." They add, "A normal Cadillac DTS sedan consumes 13 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres (3 gallons) in the city , and 8.7 litres (2 gallon) on the highway. But that is before it is stretched, fitted with bullet-proof glass and armour plating. "The Chevy Suburbans are even less thrifty, consuming nearly 16 litres per 100 kilometers (3.5 gallons) in the city and that again is before they are modified." Protesters are kept away in "free speech zones" leaving Bush "oblivious to any protests." So, as you ponder whether to spend that next $4 on a gallon of gas, a half-handful of groceries or one pill of medication down at your pharmacy - think of George and where the rest of your paycheck went.
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