Cruising Argentinian Gay Bars on the U.S. Taxpayer Tab

If this expenditure doesn't raise the ire of taxpayers, let alone provide endless comic fodder, then we're doomed.

Seriously, WTF?

Government researchers are spending more than $400,000 in taxpayer money to hit the bars in Argentina.

The National Institutes of Health are paying researchers to cruise six bars in Buenos Aires to find out why gay men engage in risky sexual behavior while drunk -- and just what can be done about it.

Uhhh, it's not as if this isn't going on in American gay bars. Why the need to go to Argentina? Let's see now, maybe being drunk has something to do with it?

Though public health officials say that HIV/AIDS rates are higher in Washington, D.C., than in some parts of West Africa, U.S. government funds are going to help curb dangerous liaisons in Argentina's capital.

The study began in September 2008, according to an online abstract, and has already cost taxpayers $198,776, NIH documents show.

"Targeting public venues in Buenos Aires where men meet, alcohol is consumed and sexual behavior occurs," the project's overview explains, "the goal of this 2-year exploratory study is to understand the various factors that contribute to the creation of a high risk sexual space."

Hmm, what could those factors be?

That means NIH researchers will have as many as 730 nights on the town for careful observation and interaction.

I bet they're very excited.

Remarkably, they're actually spending more money to glean information that could easily be found with a 10-minute interview with Jim McGreevey or Barney Frank than the White spent on Scare Force One, for which Louis Caldera is now playing the patsy.

Can you say Friday night news dump, boys and girls?

A top White House aide resigned today for his role in Air Force One's $328,835 photo-op flyover above New York City that sparked panic and flashbacks to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. His resignation was made public at the same time the photo of the flyover was released by the White House.

Louis Caldera said the controversy had made it impossible for him to effectively lead the White House Military Office. "Moreover, it has become a distraction in the important work you are doing as president," Caldera said in his resignation letter to President Barack Obama.

The sight of the huge passenger jet and an F-16 fighter plane flying past the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan financial district sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets on April 27. Obama said it would not happen again.

Caldera's office approved the photo-op, which cost $35,000 in fuel alone for the plane and two jet fighter escorts. The Air Force estimated the photo shoot cost taxpayers $328,835.

Obama Classifies Photos of Air Farce One Day of Terror

More effective use of government money. Rack up a $329,000 tab terrifying New Yorkers, and now we don't even get to see the photos of the little people running for their lives.

The $328,835 snapshots of an Air Force One backup plane buzzing lower Manhattan last week will not be shown to the public, the White House said yesterday.

"We have no plans to release them," an aide to President Obama told The Post, refusing to comment further.

The sole purpose of the secret photo-op, which sent thousands of New Yorkers running for cover, was to take new publicity shots of the presidential jet over the city.

"The photos . . . are classified -- that's ridiculous," Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., said.

The photos have not technically been "classified," a White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view.

Oh, thanks for clearing that up.

Good thing for Obama his enchanted media quickly buried the story. I doubt they'll follow up with any relevant questions, such as why is Louis Caldera still employed?

Wonderful: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic, Proceeded Anyway

One of those rare times I'm in agreement with Chuckie Schumer.

Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

"To say that it should not be made public knowing that it might scare people it's just confounding," Sen. Charles Schumer said. "It's what gives Washington and government a bad name. It's sheer stupidity."

The flyover -- apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background -- had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.

The idea Obama had no knowledge of what was happening with his own plane is nonsense. It's just not plausible.

He deliberately allowed this to happen. Probably figures those chumps in New York love him so much already that he can just take a dump on them.

Now, where is the manifest for who was on that plane, Mr. Transparency?

Update: Thanks to Ace, Hot Air for the links.

The tab for this fiasco? How about $328,835?

I just got this info sent to me about the photo op / flyover yesterday with Air Force One ….the one that sent people running in NYC…yes, scared them to death! They now say it was a training mission…hhm….they needed training? and the cost? see (by the way, how much flu vaccination can you get for $325,000+? ) (by the way, I am 100 per cent in favor of the President having well trained pilots flying AF 1 — I am just not convinced on this one…I would like to know more about it.)

Instapundit links. Thanks!

Update: Very interesting, a tape of New York approach controllers and pilots of the presidential VC-25 (Boeing 747-200). (Link fixed)

Flyover Fallout: Obama Orders Review Of His Own Incompetence

After weakly pretending he had no knowledge of Monday's terrifying flyover of lower Manhattan, the grossly incompetent Barack Obama will now compound the error by wasting more taxpayer money on a "review" of this man-caused disaster.

President Barack Obama has ordered an internal review to determine how the decision was made to send of one of his official airplanes on a low-flying photo op past the New York City skyline.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that deputy chief of staff Jim Messina will lead the review. Gibbs said the point is to determine "why that decision was made and to ensure that it never happens again."

So after wasting an untold sum of money on this vanity photo-op we're now going to see some whitewash review likely claiming Obama had no knowledge of anything.

Memo to Louis Caldera: Update your resume.

First order of business from this fiasco: When will we see an accounting of who was on board during this flyover? Were there any compaign contributors getting a joyride?

C'mon, Mr. Transparency, the public wants to know.

Thanks to Ace for the link.

Gateway Pundit also links. Thanks!

Oh, It's OK Now: White House Was Just Updating File Photo While Terrorizing New Yorkers

Sure, I can see Obama and his wife combing through White House files photos, making sure everything is all up to date lest nobody confuse them with all the tragically unhip people that came before them. They happen upon a file photo of Air Force One and figure, what the heck, this one needs updating.

What could possibly go wrong?

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.

Doesn't anyone in this most tech-savvy White House have Photoshop skills?

Updating file photos is really that important?

This official said the White House Military Office told the Federal Aviation Administration that it periodically updates file photos of Air Force One near national landmarks, like the statute in New York harbor and the Grand Canyon.

The official requested anonymity to give more details than the official White House announcement that took the blame.

Anonymity? What happened to openness and transparency?

The 100 Daze Celebration: Bumbling Submorons Apologize for NYC Flyover

The incompetents at the Obama White House today apologized for the incredibly idiotic flyover stunt that scared the daylights out of lower Manhattan.

Just imagine the wailing had the Bush White House, or any other for that matter, had ever done something like this there'd be mass firings, Congressional hearings and years of mockery.

Obama? Eh, he'll get a pass.

President Obama's White House was forced to issue an apology Monday after a photo opportunity gone wrong — an Air Force 747 plane did a low flyover lower Manhattan, prompting terrified citizens to flee from their offices and high-profile accusations of government insensitivity.

White House Military Office director Louis Caldera issued a brief statement.

"Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision," he said. "While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, its clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused."

I though the buck stopped with Dear Leader? Who the hell is Louis Caldera and why the hell is he taking responsibility?

Will anyone in the slobbering media dare ask Obama's TelePrompter about this Wednesday?

The panic started Monday morning when a backup 747 used as Air Force One flew by lower Manhattan with a fighter jet closely following, rattling windows and causing some limited evacuations.

The late afternoon statement came as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — an Obama ally so far — said he was outraged.

A few hours earlier, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had dodged questions about the incident, saying he hadn't followed it closely.

Some video, via Hot Air.

Savor the panic, Mr. Presidunce.