I guess Bob Novak was wrong- Thune did save Ellsworth:
The independent commission reviewing the Pentagon’s plan to close or reorient hundreds of military bases voted today to keep open Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, rejecting the Defense Department’s recommendation.
The 8-to-1 vote is a big victory for Senator John Thune, the Republican who last fall defeated Tom Daschle, then the Senate’s Democratic leader, on a promise to use his clout to spare the base.
The decision on Ellsworth, South Dakota’s second-largest employer, was one of the most politically sensitive to come before the panel in its three days of hearings this week. Shortly after the vote on Ellsworth, the panel began deliberating whether to close Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, N.M., a decision that some commissioners described as their most difficult.
Lieberman and company managed to save Groton, too.
Don Surber
Bob Novak wrong. Not news. Just ask Rehnquist. Wake me when he gets something right …
Mike
“Lieberman and company managed to save Groton, too.”
Which is a shame since moving the Subs to Norfolk and King’s Bay made a ton of sense in my view.
Blue Neponset
I wonder how much Thune had to do with this?
We may never really know but I bet is an interesting story.
He is getting too much of the credit for this IMO. I also think he would have gotten too much of the blame if they closed it. Not that it would bother me too much if he got too much of the blame.
Mr Furious
I don’t know much about the specifics of this or any other base closings. Much as I wanted thune to go down in flames, it seemed pretty harsh to eliminate a state’s second-largest employer…
Here in Michigan, Granholm and the local Republican Rep are fighting to keep a base (ANG?) in Battle Creek. The Commision wants consolidate several bases in Michigan. I say, fine. Costs need to be cut somewhere.
Oh, we’ll actually gain jobs as a result of the consolidation. This is posturing by politicians for the benefit of local constituencies. Which is fine, it is their jobs, but I hope the BRAC Commision goes ahead anyway.
Mr Furious
I agree that Thune proabably doesn’t deserve very much credit here. He claim it, but I wonder if he’ll be given much. He did campaign strongly on the issue, so if it did close he would have reaped what he had sown as far as blame…
jobiuspublius
This sounds like such a setup to me. Of course he’s going to “save” that base. Base closings are the Tom Delaying of the congress by Rove and Dicks.
Another Jeff
Wow, they just announced that they’re closing the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, which is right outside Philly.
I actually thought it was gonna be saved, and Santorum was gonna take credit for it (even though Rendell has been doing most of the leg work) and that was gonna be one of his smoking guns that he’d use in his re-election campaign.
I figured he had to have had at least five things up his sleeve, and that would explain why a guy up for re-election would be doing and saying so many nutty things, but i was obviously wrong about this one.
Of course, another explanation for why he’s saying so many nutty things could be because he’s nuts.
jobiuspublius
Rendell is a democrat? He’s doing most of the leg work? Santorum is sinking in the poll’s? There is your answer right there. Santorum has to go. He’s an embarassment not even the Wingnuts can salvage. Rendell needs to be embarassed and have his cookies taken away from him.
If Dear Leader can replace Lieberman or Dodd with a friend, then, he will take away thier bases to make them look useless to their constituents. If it seems that turn-coat “Smooches” Lieberman will get replaced by a real Democrat, then LIEberman gets to keep his bases.
Mike
“If Dear Leader can replace Lieberman or Dodd with a friend, then, he will take away thier bases to make them look useless to their constituents. If it seems that turn-coat “Smooches” Lieberman will get replaced by a real Democrat, then LIEberman gets to keep his bases.”
So what exactly is a “real” Democrat?
Mike
Let’s not forget, Bush could still screw Thune (hopefully), by vetoing the closing bill. Personally, I wish west river South Dakota was a seperate state from east river SD.
jobiuspublius
LOL, good question, I knew that phrase would get noticed. Ah, better Democrat, there now try to give me a hard time. hehehe. Yes, I’m evasive because I don’t have a complete answer, yet.
Don Surber
jobiuspublius, just curious, is there anything in your universe that is NOT a creature of Karl Rove?
jobiuspublius
Me, for starters, Don. Why do you ask?
Brian
Karl Roves strikes again. He concocted all of this since before Thune was elected. It is all part of his master plan. Soon, the Evil Genius will unleash his plan for Rick Santorum.
jobiuspublius
ROFLMAO, yes, Karl is a good student of history, creative too.