^^^

I figured they probably had the room filled with lots of champaign, hookers and REAL cheese!

This. In other words, not US politicians, but VIPs from other countries. "Protocol Offices" are typically Ministry-of-Foreign-Affairs stuff.

At airports that lack a Protocol Office, you end up with the club's "conference room" being taken over by Secret Service or Bureau of Diplomatic Security for the VIP to use, and lots of linebacker-sized guys in suits with earpieces and lapel pins (the kind of lapel pins that are inconspicuous unless you know what they are, in which case they're very conspicuous) hanging around the club making small talk.

(I was in the EWR WorldClub a couple years back, at the same time as the King of Sweden.)

I hate to defend politicians, but...

Have you ever been a celebrity?

Most of the time, I get to be your average schmuck. But, a few weeks a year, I operate in an environment where everyone around knows who I am. The only way I can get ANYTHING done is to hide somewhere outside the view of the general public.

So yes, the politicians do have a practical reason to have a separate lounge.

Elected officials <> "celebrities". These folks are "servants of the people". I don't care of Rihanna or Madonna or Jay Leno or whoever spend whatever amount of their own money (or their sponsors money) they want on private lounges filled with champagne, crack, hookers, whatever.

Politicians, who are paid by me, shouldn't be wasting my money on their privacy, especially in this environment.

A final note, almost all politicians a the federal level are multi-millionaires in their own right. If they need "privacy", they can pay for it out of their own pocket (see my comment about "celebrities" above).

By the way, I would not want to be, nor have I ever had any interest in being, either a politician or a celebrity.

I don't vote for, or pay for any of these guys, so if the king of Sweden needs a private room overflowing with coke and hookers - rock on! :D :D :D

Actually, as a (hopefully) good host, I would like to think that, in an official capacity, our government does try to provide a warm, welcoming environment for foreign dignitaries, that both honors their status and respects our culture, customs, and tradition. (I make this last comment because I recall an incident many years ago, when the king of Saudi Arabia, who was a prince at the time, was visiting the United States. Apparently, the FAA ordered that only male flight controllers interact with his flight, so that his pilots weren't offended by having to professionally interact with women. I considered this to be extremely insulting to the United States).

Yes they do; and they have their own special guard to keep out the riff raff. Their exclusive parking lot is located under the Metro viaduct south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station.

Delta pays rent for that room, and for their protocol staff, which is part of their government relations operation in DC, which, whether we like it or not, they've got to have as an outfit which is regulated virtually from head to toe by the feds. I've personally witnessed a middle aged lady who has worked for Delta for quite a while personally escort military flag officers through security.

As far as politicians are concerned, the late Ted Kennedy personally intervened with the CEO of US Scare to save the job of their DCA protocol person and to save their version of the "Protocol Office", which US Scare was going to axe in order to save some money. So, Teddy could continue his tradition of drinking other people's scotch.

That's where the REAL cheese went! :D :D :D

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear in my original post. Military <> Elected Official. On a personal level, I have no problems with businesses deciding whether or not they extend courtesies to military personnel, regardless of rank. They serve our country and do an honorable job of it, despite the circumstances.

Let me be clear - If I vote for it, whether it be Warren E. Kampf or Harry Reid (points to anyone who recognizes the first elected official), it had better be in cattle zone C on SouthWest and sitting in the same crappy terminal chairs, enjoying the same overpriced airport food that I enjoy, unless they choose to spring for more out of their own pockets.

If I don't vote for it, or it is an employee of the government, I don't care, except that I believe government employees should be entitled to the same travel policies as are offered by major US corporations (for example, keeping frequent flyer miles/points and being able to take advantage of frequent flyer perks, business class travel for any OCONUS travel (except AK and HI) and so on).

The example you cite of Senator Kennedy is sad, and why these clowns need to be reined in somehow (and no, I'm not a "tea bagger").

Chairman of the Tredyffrin Township Board in Pennsylvania.

Most airports large enough to have a club will have USO lounges for the armed forces folks. I would wager that the USO volunteers do a better job providing amenities compared to the staff at a stuffy protocol lounge. I'd also point out that the USO is always looking for volunteers for their various activities.

The USO Club is along the walkway between terminal B and terminal A.