Thune is Saved!

August 27, 2005 10:39 AM

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.
posted by three blind mice (21 comments total)

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...
posted by klangklangston at 11:00 AM on August 27, 2005

Ellsworth is in Rapid City, SD, not North Dakota.
posted by nathan_teske at 11:02 AM on August 27, 2005

Novak really isn't right that often, and usually is floating whatever trial balloons he's fed by Rove or Mehlman and their predecessors.
posted by amberglow at 11:05 AM on August 27, 2005

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?
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:08 AM on August 27, 2005

"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.
posted by clavdivs at 11:27 AM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by moonbird at 12:22 PM on August 27, 2005

I'm totally confused by the wording of this post.
posted by papakwanz at 12:50 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by flaterik at 1:31 PM on August 27, 2005

Douchebag.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 2:52 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by delmoi at 3:18 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by cpchester at 3:21 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by cpchester at 3:21 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by tkchrist at 3:29 PM on August 27, 2005

The subsequent occupants of Ellsworth would have been screwed over by the decimated greenhouses left behind by the Air Force anyway.
posted by dhoyt at 4:03 PM on August 27, 2005

You mean people don't get things right the first time and every time? Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
posted by furtive at 4:32 PM on August 27, 2005

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?
posted by WestCoaster at 5:29 PM on August 27, 2005

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.
posted by nathan_teske at 5:34 PM on August 27, 2005

north dakota? south dakota? all politics is local.
posted by brandz at 7:16 PM on August 27, 2005

Stupid.
posted by bardic at 8:49 PM on August 27, 2005

Who cares what that douchebag Novak says anyway?
posted by clevershark at 10:17 PM on August 27, 2005

Fuck South Dakota. Stupid rednecks.
posted by graventy at 8:15 PM on August 29, 2005