Red states gain, blue states lose, in BRAC?

[chaotic]

Found this article on article on Fark. Frank Lautenberg from NJ claims that the BRAC process got politicized, and so benefited the red states.

[Railroad (Premo)]

Krapola. Consult the JCS announcements.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by chaotic

Found this article on article on Fark. Frank Lautenberg from NJ claims that the BRAC process got politicized, and so benefited the red states.

Maryland will be disappointed to learn that.

Why are Democrats so obsessed with the differences between us? Aren't they the party that promotes unity? If so, why all of the constant Red/Blue comparisions? I thought our differences made us stronger???

[rraley]

Well if this was truly politicized, I highly doubt that the BRAC committee, which is composed of Democrats and Republicans, would not have proposed the closing of an air force base in South Dakota, which Republican Senator John Thune said he could save solely because he was a Republican (helped him to beat Tom Daschle in one of the most classless Senate races across the nation if you ask me). South Dakota is deepest, darkest red and that base is the second largest employer in the state...wouldn't make political sense for the BRAC to remove it.

This part of the process has not been political...the following politicizing will come when Congress gets its paws on it.

[FromTexas]

Its already been politicized Rraley. Thats what all the whiney red states got more news stories are about. Play it hard enough and get the American publics buy in, and then you may get some back for your constituents. At the least, you get one more thing to attack the Republicans with.

In the end, it matters not, because frankly, I believe a majority of the American public cares less about BRAC. It tends to matter more to the military, their families, and those who work for the military.

[rraley]

Originally Posted by FromTexas

Its already been politicized Rraley.

I agree with you in that regard; I was commenting on the assertion that this system was politicized already by Republicans, like many on the Democratic side would like to insinuate.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

...you find:

The most notable political losses in red states has largely been considered South Dakota. South Dakota will lose 3,797 jobs, a strange gift to Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who defeated former Democratic leader Sen. Tom Daschle last year.

And

The largest gains are in blue-state Maryland, with 9,293

...that Sen. Lautenburg is senile.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

....that Sen. Lautenburg is senile.

The party of 'No' doesn't expect anyone to check their math on these announcements. And in the end they're right to say these ridiculous (rediculous?) things because 16 months from now when the mid-term elections are held, the electorate will only remember that 'someone' asserted that blue states somehow lost more than red states in the process. They'll not remember that the math just wasn't there to support that assertion.

[SEABREEZE 1957]

I always thought that if your base was on the BRAC list, it was a gonner...not necessarily true. Quoted from:

http://www.defenselink.mil/brac/


• May 13, 2005, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld forwarded the department's recommendations to the BRAC Commission.
• The commission will then forward its report on the recommendations to the president by Sept. 8, 2005.
• The president will have until Sept. 23, 2005, to accept or reject the recommendations in their entirety. • If accepted, Congress will have 45 legislative days to reject the recommendations in their entirety or they become binding on the department.

For media and public inquiries to the BRAC Commision call 703-699-2950 or send your letter to: BRAC Commission 2521 South Clark Street, Suite 600 Arlington, Va. 22202. The BRAC Commission web site is www.brac.gov. The BRAC Commission is appointed by the President and Congress to provide an independent review and analysis of the recommendations made by the Defense Department.