By now, we’ve all seen photos of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, being chaffeured away from his office, after having just resigned his position.
How many federal employees–exeuctive, legislative and judicial branches–receive daily chaffeured transportation to and from work? I’m guessing 3-4 dozen, but would like to know the actual number.
Any statistics on chauffered military officers? (I’m not talking about being driven in a Humvee, just limos, as part of their job.)
I can’t find anything saying the Secret Service is authorized to provide him with protection, and it’s not something the Federal Marshals seem authorized to do either. Maybe it comes out of his budget or is a personal espense.
The 4-star Admiral at a base I was stationed at in Italy was driven to and from work every day along with an armed transport.
Domestic or foreign? Because every Ambassador or Charge de Affaires and/or the principal officer at an embassy or consulate gets it; as do the heads of agencies and often the defense attache.
I had it when I hurt my foot last year, but I’m only a second secretary and it was temporary.
Mostly it is a security thing. Parking for the White House is very limited. Heck, a buddy of mine had to park at the Pentagon and an armored limo with bodyguard picked him up there.
(“If they were trying to impress me, they could have stopped right there.”)
So I would imagine the the government runs a fairly regular shuttle to and from key locations, including the VP’s offices.
Given the above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty work that has characterized the various Foreign Service personnel that I have known, I (speaking purely for myself as a US taxpayer) do not in the least begrudge you your in-country chauffer service – especially if you were of limited mobility. Good use of taxpayer dollars, IMHO.
Upon further reflection, Scooter does not have limo privileges. Some news story in the past few days noted the he shared a limo every morning with the Veep. The Veep (who of course lives at the Naval Observatory) would pick him up on the way to the office (at the WH).
Why, thank you, sir; I think that’s the first nice thing I’ve ever heard someone say about us striped-pants cookie pushers. Usually people complain that the U.S. isn’t helping enough.
And I might get chauffered around again, since like a putz I managed to sprain my ankle playing futbol yesterday. Same leg I had the glass in last year – maybe I just shouldn’t use the left leg at all.
Admit it, False_God, you just like being chauffeur-driven.
I just hope that your vehicle isn’t too imperialistic (e.g. black stretch limo with tinted windows, scattering locals in its path). Even better if you share the backseat with someone transporting chickens.
If your futbol-related ankle sprain was gained in a match with locals, then I’d say that your unfortunate loss was worth more in terms of improving US security than the deployment of an entire infantry platoon, and at a much lower cost.
At least you’re roughly at sea level! My good friend in the Foreign Service (together with family) spent a couple of years in Bolivia, and the US Embassy personnel routinely lost to the locals at most sporting endeavors, partly because they were generally gasping for breath after about 5 minutes’ exertion.
I rather like the phrase “striped-pants cookie-pusher”. Did you just coin this, or is it a Foreign Service injoke? [I owe my friend an e-mail, and would love to use it with your permission.]
Usually they just gave mne a sedan or a Landcruiser based on what’s available, here I share a van with some other folks, and no chickens. Lima is sea level, and the ankle gets xrayed tonight to see how bad it is. It was indeed gained on the field of battle with locals, most of who had been playing since they were five, but they tolerate the Americans if we stay out of their way and don’t mind playing defense (i.e., letting little speedy Peruvians bounce off us, since they haven’t mastered the European style of blocking.
Striped-pants cookie pusher is a well-worn FS phrase, and a variant on President Nixon’s “striped-pants f*ggots at Foggy Bottom.”
In re the OP, I would guess that domestically official transport is only provided to fairly high ranking people on a regular basis, Cabinet department heads and deputies, lots of people at the AG’s office and Justice, federal judges, etc.
