Fletcher and Abramson took two separate planes to Detroit's Metro Airport. They were going to the same place, same meeting. So why did they fly two separate planes, apparently wasting taxpayer money on jet fuel?
Well, here's the story: Fletcher flew from Frankfort on the state's King Air jet. He was originally supposed to go from Frankfort (10 a.m.) to Michigan (!2 p.m.) to Owensboro (4:30 p.m.) Abramson flew with GLI President Joe Reagan from Louisville to Michigan and back to Louisville. The original reasoning for taking two jets is that Fletcher wasn't going to stop in Louisville on his way to Owensboro for a public appearance. That's right, Fletcher wasn't going to stop and talk to the news media in Louisville after the Ford meeting was over (more on that in a minute). But once the decision was made to have an Abramson/Fletcher news conference in Louisville after the meeting, the separate planes idea seemed foolish. Abramson could have driven to Frankfort to board with Fletcher or Fletcher could have flown to Louisville, picked up Abramson and headed to Michigan. It may be picky, but it looked a little foolish and expensive.

As I stated above, Fletcher originally didn't consider the idea of having a joint news conference after the important meeting with Ford officials. Thankfully for him, someone, perhaps Abramson, put a bug in his ear telling the guv he should look gubernatorial and look like he was taking charge of the Commonwealth's efforts to keep the two Louisville Ford plants in business.

Abramson and Reagan got a ride from Detroit Metro Airport to the meeting with Ford officials in some sort of sedan made by Mercury. That's a Ford product. Fletcher, Gene Strong and one of the Governor's aides left from the same executive jet terminal in a Chevy Suburban. That's the same kind of vehicle Fletcher uses in Kentucky. To be fair, Fletcher's State Police security team usually makes the travel arrangements, not Fletcher. But driving up in a Ford Explorer, like the one WHAS-TV drove to Michigan, might have left a better impression.

Lastly, I know many of you think Ernie Fletcher is into petty politics, based on some of his recent actions. I've never viewed him that way. I think he can put aside partisan politics for the greater good. But taking a separate plane and a separate car to the meeting with Ford executives looked petty. I know Jerry Abramson is a Democrat who's considering a run for Governor, but presenting a united state/city front to save 9000 high paying jobs in Louisville is alot more important than avoiding a couple of hours with a potential political rival.