Comments on: Thune is Saved!

Thune is Saved!

three blind mice — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 10:39:58 -0800

Robert Novak gets it wrong again. Predicting that Ellsworth Air Force Base in North Dakota would fall victim to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BARC) thus damaging the political career of Republican John Thune, Novak argued that the White House was "ignoring Thune" contradicting "the image of a White House that puts politics first. Instead, the Bush team looked like tone-deaf, old-fashioned Republicans interested more in going by the book than winning elections." Thune promised that only a Republican senator could save Ellsworth, South Dakota's largest employer, from closure. That promise played a prominent role in his campaign. In defeating senate minority leader Tom Daschle, Thune's victory marked the first time since 1952 that a party leader in the senate was defeated. When Ellsworth was nevertheless put on the list for closure, Thune's politcal future appeared doomed. As promised, Thune went into action. Yesterday, Thune announced Ellsworth is saved! Contrary to Novak's opinion, the image of a White House that puts politics first is as strong as ever.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:00:50 -0800

So... Thune was right and Novak was scaremongering? I don't mean to be a dick, but how is this anything out of the ordinary? Novak's never one to put credibility before sycophantic dissemination of talking points, and the Republicans are working hard to become America's PRI. But most Americans like clientelism...

By: nathan_teske

nathan_teske — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:02:59 -0800

Ellsworth is in Rapid City, SD, not North Dakota.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:05:56 -0800

Novak really isn't right that often, and usually is floating whatever trial balloons he's fed by Rove or Mehlman and their predecessors.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:08:51 -0800

This post is why God invented blogger. Or something. Seven posts from tbm in twelve days, almost all of them newsfilter and editorializing. But hey, they include lots of fantalicious links like the wikipedia page on Tom Daschle...so why look a gift horse in the mouth, eh?

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:27:01 -0800

"you said feed me Jack and I fed you" -from "Dr. Strangelove" come on, we wouldn't close Ellsworth, to close to Nat'l security. On the list for appearences thats all.

By: moonbird

moonbird — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 12:22:14 -0800

I wouldn't doubt that this whole on-again, off-again thing was designed from the start to benefit Thune, a darling or Rove and associates. I call shenanigans; this secures what once was a Dem seat for the GOP for the next few elections.

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 12:50:57 -0800

I'm totally confused by the wording of this post.

By: flaterik

flaterik — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 13:31:51 -0800

It's already been pointed out, but north and south dakota ARE different states. And despite the fact that it's a "red" state, ND's reps are usually D. And surpringly sane, even.

By: [expletive deleted]

[expletive deleted] — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 14:52:26 -0800

Douchebag.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:18:48 -0800

Maybe it was all a ruse, you know, we'll say the army put Ellsworth on the chopping block and then the heroic Thune can step in and save it, proving how great it is that the South Dekotans vote him in.

By: cpchester

cpchester — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:21:15 -0800

You try to be so smart on this post yet don't even know what you are talking about. South Dakota is not North Dakota.

By: cpchester

cpchester — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:21:15 -0800

You try to be so smart on this post yet don't even know what you are talking about. South Dakota is not North Dakota.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:29:22 -0800

South? North? It's one of those gay-bashing states where you can't get good coffee and they have that presidents face monument thingy.

By: dhoyt

dhoyt — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 16:03:36 -0800

The subsequent occupants of Ellsworth would have been screwed over by the decimated greenhouses left behind by the Air Force anyway.

By: furtive

furtive — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 16:32:51 -0800

You mean people don't get things right the first time and every time? Noooooooooooooooooooooo!

By: WestCoaster

WestCoaster — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:29:14 -0800

Contrary to Novak's opinion, the image of a White House that puts politics first is as strong as ever. Ahem .. it was the BRAC [which you wrote as "BARC"], an independent commission, that made the decision, not the "White House". Do you information that the Commission indeed does the bidding of the White House? And, if so, would you also explain why the BRAC rejected various recommendations of the Secretary of Defense (who DOES report to the President) ... or do you think this was to give the appearance of independence?

By: nathan_teske

nathan_teske — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:34:21 -0800

And despite the fact that it's a "red" state, ND's reps are usually D. And surpringly sane, even. Hey --- that's D-NPL to you, pal.

By: brandz

brandz — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 19:16:26 -0800

north dakota? south dakota? all politics is local.

By: bardic

bardic — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 20:49:21 -0800

Stupid.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 22:17:47 -0800

Who cares what that douchebag Novak says anyway?

By: graventy

graventy — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:15:54 -0800

Fuck South Dakota. Stupid rednecks.