Big Ooops For Democrats in FL

[Bruzilla]

Looks like the Dems have stepped on their cran.... er, feet big time down here in Florida. The DoD is planning on stepping up the retirement of the USS Kennedy (CV-67) six years early to save some defense dollars. This is going to have a huge impact on the Jacksonville and surrounding areas as the ship has a crew of about 3,500, who will now be departing (with their incomes) to destinations unknown. Also, all of those people who support those 3,500 people and the carrier are going to be hitting the streets too. Plus all of the other people who supported those people will be out as well. In effect... one of the base members of the economic food chain is about to get chopped out of the loop.

Jeb Bush, our governor, went to DC to make a personal appeal to GWB to save the carrier, and came back to report that his pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Why? Because there's no way that GWB could possibly help out 1,000s of workers in north Florida and southern Georgia without being attacked by the Democrats for looking out for his brother. Even worse, by making a personal plea like that, it's now impossible for the Congress to reconsider the issue because they would be branded as helping the Bushes. So, thanks to the constant criticism and Bash Bush programs of the Democrats, several thousand people are going to be out of work.

I do hope that all of those unemployed people take a moment to thank the "Party of The People" on their way to the unemployment line.

 

[Voter2002]

...and that is EXACTLY how the Dems would have bellowed about it...it was a personal favor for his brother.

 

[tlatchaw]

All of this plays into the Dems hands. More unemployment to point out, sagging economy, Bush's fault! Plus there will be more people on social programs that can be threatened in order to secure their votes. It's just the Dems expanding their plantation, that's all.

Bru, all you need to do to save it is figure out how to employ those thousands of people to make it all better. Come up with the next great business idea and everything will work out fine.

 

[Tonio]

Stupid question--is DoD replacing the Kennedy with another carrier?

 

[ylexot]

Nope. They're reducing the fleet. Dumb move if you ask me.

 

[tlatchaw]

Possible stupid answer ('cause I really don't know): Maybe that's the Reagan's position within the fleet.

 

[Tonio]

I don't think the situation would be different if the parties were switched. The other party would still be screaming "Nepotism!"

 

[blacklabman]

I belive the Navy is limited by Congress to 12 carriers. But I guess this doesn't mean that they can't have less then 12. When Reagan came on line Constellation was decommissioned.

I think that Kennedy was not planned to be retired until 2018, so 6 years early would put it at 2012. Plenty of time for Mayport to prepare. They can either bring in more Navy surface ships or shut the place down. There is some great beach front there. maybe turn the harbor into a cruise ship destination.

 

[J.South]

Gov Bush made a personal appearance to his brother which as I understand is an out the ordinary thing right? Gee maybe he should've sent his LT instead?

 

[SamSpade]

Stupid question--is DoD replacing the Kennedy with another carrier?

They tried to replace it with the Ted Kennedy, but it sank on its maiden voyage.

 

[vraiblonde]

They tried to replace it with the Ted Kennedy, but it sank on its maiden voyage.

:zing:

I think Bush should treat Jeb like he would treat any other Governor and to hell with the screamers. They can cry "nepotism" all they want but Jeb doesn't get anything out of this besides employed constituents, which can't possibly be construed as a bad thing.

J. South, it's not out of the ordinary for a Governor to make a personal appeal to a President for something like this. Ever hear of a guy named Gray Davis?

 

[Tonio]

I think that Kennedy was not planned to be retired until 2018, so 6 years early would put it at 2012. Plenty of time for Mayport to prepare. They can either bring in more Navy surface ships or shut the place down. There is some great beach front there. maybe turn the harbor into a cruise ship destination.

Since Jeb was making a personal appeal, I had assumed that there was more urgency than that, like the carrier was going to be retired next year.