Senator concerned politics played role in base closings; Pentagon denies

[johnfunk]

Frank Lautenberg fires the big guns at the Department of Megacorporate Welfa... er, Defense

Senator concerned politics played role in base closings; Pentagon denies any outside role
By John Byrne | RAW STORY

A Democratic senator has raised questions on whether politics played a role in a Pentagon proposal to close and transfer jobs from U.S. military bases in a report analyzing the net job loss/gains, RAW STORY has learned.

In a carefully worded statement, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) questioned why states that supported President Bush's reelection (red states) had a net job gain of 11,000, while states that opposed Bush (blue states) lost nearly 25,000 positions.

"My hope was that decisions were completely removed from politics but the total numbers do raise some questions," Lautenberg said.

...

The heaviest hemorrhaging of service jobs—8,586—are in Connecticut, home of Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd.

ON EDIT: link fix

[kaygore]

1. Also leverage

Look at those Republican senators who lost. Verrrry interesting.

But more to the point, after five years of this administration, why would anyone be so naive to think that anything they do is NOT political??!!!

Duh!

[ladjf]

2. Lautenberg isn't naive. He was just getting the question before

the public, a good idea. Of course it's political.

[kaygore]

4. Wouldn't that be tit for tat?

[Zorra]

3. Of course Commander Cuckoo Bananas is punishing the blue states

by these actions.

Would we expect anything else from our glorious fascist dictator?

[kcass1954]

5. It's always been about politics and punishment.

I figured that Florida would be up to lose some bases, since we have a (semi) Dem senator up for re-election next year. I was totally wrong - I forgot to factor in how important Jebbie's been in both of junior's (s)elections.

[Straight Shooter]

6. I guess bush kissing Lieberman was the kiss of Judas. n/t

[damntexdem]

7. You mean there could be base closings ...

that DIDN'T play politics?

Next thing: someone will claim that there can be nonpartisan government publications.

[rodeodance]

8. so Joe--all that sucking up really did not help CT

The heaviest hemorrhaging of service jobs—8,586—are in Connecticut, home of Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd..

[kskiska]

10. CT is also *'s birthplace

He must really, really wish he had been born in Texas. But wishes won't make it so.

[geckosfeet]

9. adhering to the strict father model,,,

Punishing blue states follows the strict father model that George Lakoff describes in his book "Don't Think of an Elephant".

Of course it is political but the respuds can not admit to it since they do not see it that way. The respuds feel like it's for the good for the country to preserve their power, exercise their authority and that the sadly misinformed blue states must be made to respect their power as well.

The only solution is to kick the bums out.

[wschalle]

11. It's not about punishment at all.

The gov't is attempting to consolidate military assets to areas that are in agreement with the current regime. They're getting ready for something nasty.