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Bill Clinton's Plane Aborts Take-Off in Africa; Fmr Prez 'Livin' on a Prayer' in Bon Jovi Press Plane
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ShareAugust 01, 2008 9:10 AM
ABC News' Kate Snow and Dana Hughes Report: It's becoming a running joke except it's not that funny. For the seventh time, mechanical failures are holding up former President Clinton's tour of Africa.
At first we were reluctant to write about it, after all it was only the press corps suffering. For more than 48 hours -- from Monday at 4pm until Thursday at 1:02am -- the small group of press who had signed up to cover Mr. Clinton's annual trip to the continent to visit the work of his Clinton Foundation was stranded in Newark, New Jersey. The former president was already safely overseas, having flown on a 767 reportedly owned by several Google executives.
The 727 that was to ferry the press to Ethiopia had breakdown after breakdown -- a broken air conditioner, a problem with the fuel tanks that led to an aborted take-off, a shattered cockpit window involving a small fire, a broken fuel valve. One of Clinton's advisors took to listing the problems on the back of his hand. He ran out of room and had to use his middle finger.
Finally, Bon Jovi came to the rescue.
An old war horse of a 707 used by the rockers was finally brought in from the Bahamas to get the press back on track and safely to Addas Ababa. On Friday, in a frantic, now abbreviated schedule, there was a single event in Ethiopia covered by reporters. Then it was back to the planes -- the press 707 and the Clinton 767 -- to dash to Rwanda. But an hour after the press plane took off, a Clinton foundation aide came to our cabin looking sheepish.
"This comes from the category of you can't make this up," he said.
President Clinton's beautiful plane -- the one reporters had been so jealous of just days before -- is now grounded. Apparently, as the 767 sped down the runway in Addas Ababa, the take off was aborted -- engine problems. Everyone on board is fine but the plane is not. Clinton will now join the press plane, which had to turn around in mid-air to retrieve the grounded president.
If there's any silver lining at all, a Clinton aide said, Ethiopia is considered one of the top places in the world for repairing Boeing engines. Let's hope it doesn't take long as space is getting a little cramped on the 707 -- with four legs left on the trip.
August 1, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (131)
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Give me a freaking break... Get a real job or suck it up itn the cramped 707. I'd trade you my problems I have to solve today for your cramped 707. PLUS who really cares about Clinton's trip anyway. Again give me a freaking break
Posted by: leo | Aug 1, 2008 9:30:52 AM
Better to be "livin' on a prayer" than "shot down, in a blaze of glory"
Posted by: Brent | Aug 1, 2008 9:35:31 AM
Brent-
You are the BOMB!!!! Comment of the day.
Posted by: Anthony | Aug 1, 2008 9:41:47 AM
Clinton goes to Africa every year? He has a foundation? Wow, what did the reporters assigned to this do to #### of their editors?
Posted by: Sma | Aug 1, 2008 9:42:13 AM
leo said....Give me a freaking break... Get a real job or suck it up itn the cramped 707. I'd trade you my problems I have to solve today for your cramped 707. PLUS who really cares about Clinton's trip anyway. Again give me a freaking break..........
.
Those problems must not be all that pressing or you wouldn't be taking time to read AND comment on an article that you say doesn't interest you. For myself, I like Bill Clinton. He was a very good president who left this country in great shape.
Posted by: Charlie35 | Aug 1, 2008 9:43:27 AM
Perhaps you haven't noticed that nobody cares what Clinton is doing...save your company some money and come home and write glowing stories about the RockObama Tour going on in America.
Posted by: James Dahl | Aug 1, 2008 9:44:20 AM
Why does the liberal media continue to cover Bill? There is no news here. I would think that with media outlets making serious cuts and losing ratings, they would focus on real news. And I guess there is some symbolism that their plane broke down. Someone is trying to tell you all, "Stop covering senseless activities. Cover real news."
Posted by: Me | Aug 1, 2008 9:44:52 AM
Almost makes one believe in karma.
Posted by: Don | Aug 1, 2008 9:44:57 AM
JON BON JOVI FOR PRESIDENT!!
Posted by: MGinTXlvsJBJ | Aug 1, 2008 9:46:26 AM
It is nice to see Clinton quickly fading back into obscurity after his partner-in-crime's failed campaign.
Posted by: Skepticus | Aug 1, 2008 9:53:40 AM
Interesting comments on this story. Bill Clinton has his issues just as any person running or acting as president might, but overall he did an outstanding job while in office and I am amazed that you cannot credit him for his work out of office with his foundation. He doesn't have to do this work, he chooses to, dedicating much of his time to helping others still to this day. How about some kudos instead of judgement? How much have you done for your fellow man today???
Posted by: Melissa Seals | Aug 1, 2008 9:54:28 AM
Just think,Bill Clinton one of the most crooked presidents since Grant. Has his plane break down in a country that is famous for repairing plane engines. Now lets see why that is, hmmm. Could it be because so many planes that are either stolen or used to ship guns, drugs, and slaves to various parts of Africa, the Middle east,and Southern Europe run through there. Talk about the right person in the right place, maybe Clinton should stick around and become another thuggish warlord.
Posted by: Schurch2050 | Aug 1, 2008 10:04:00 AM
Lets face it, the only reason bc stays with his donation (others) work was his hopes of getting back in the wh. He is still the lost soul who made very wrong decisions during his tenure and had very little to do with the economic successes of the USA. Bc will be remembered for the buck never gets to him and he surronded himself with very weak personnel.
Posted by: kassie | Aug 1, 2008 10:08:42 AM
To all these glowing comments about Clinton. I'll add mine, he is a boorish thug.
Posted by: KansasGirl | Aug 1, 2008 10:11:27 AM
They flew in a 707 from the Bahamas to continue the excursion? Where is al Gore? What about the carbon footprints from all of this aircraft jockeying? Is this not news for the elitists in this report or the secular-progressive obama-biased media?
Posted by: LoneMountain | Aug 1, 2008 10:25:38 AM
The creepy Clinton thugs flying standby - I love it. I can see him standing there, red faced, trying to look regal, biting his lip. Maybe he could have his thugs beat up a woman or sell some section of the American people out to a group with money to add top the $109 he has already stashed away.
Posted by: disambiguates | Aug 1, 2008 10:33:04 AM
Not very green flying a 767 all the way to Africa. Wonder what Al Gore would say?
Posted by: Ray Prescott | Aug 1, 2008 10:35:56 AM
I wonder what's bigger, the carbon foot print of all these planes flying around or the hot air coming out of Clinton's mouth.
Posted by: Zippy | Aug 1, 2008 10:38:53 AM
On second thought...... maybe it's karma trying to catch up.. Weren't there 40 or so people associated with the Clintons that had 'problems' with their aircraft?
Posted by: Zippy | Aug 1, 2008 10:49:13 AM
Umm... Aren't they screaming at us to cut our carbon footprint but the clintons are running around in a 767 while they have a press trail using a 707? two private LARGE airliners being used to ferry WHO around the world doing WHAT exactly???
Give me a BREAK!!!!
Posted by: Raja | Aug 1, 2008 10:49:40 AM
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