BRAC voting on CSPAN now

[MaineDem]

http://www.cspan.org/watch/cspan2_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

Yikes, so far it's been unanimous in favor of all recommendations.

[calico1]

1. I am waiting for the bomb to be dropped

regarding the subbase here in Groton. I do not expect it to be saved. This is all about politics. New England is being hit hard with closures.

[ticapnews]

2. See my response in the Maine thread ;)

The easy decisions are being made first. Controversial ones will be the last...

[MaineDem]

3. Thanks!

That makes sense.

In fact, now they're opposing things.

I have to go out for a few hours. I hope I can get home before they get to the Maine bases.

[ticapnews]

5. I don't expect to get to BNAS until around 2pm...

There are a couple of bases before BNAS, then another base, then PNSY. I wish I could remember where I saw the schedule... :(

[ticapnews]

13. Brunswick is up already...

I was only three hours off. :P

The army portion was much shorter than expected this morning.

[alkaline9]

4. I'm waiting to hear about Fort Monmouth (NJ)

I have been working here as a contractor for 8 years now, and it just seems fitting that I will lose this job with BushCo in power. They have definitely targeted north-east bases.

Fort Monmouth was a big support system for Sept 11th. I believe that the high tech development that goes on here will not be up to par anywhere else. The north-east draws the brightest engineers because people want to live here (at least this is my feeling). I know people who work at the fort who will have to take pay cuts just to keep their jobs and relocate to another base in the south should this base close. It just sucks!

[MaineDem]

6. They're discussing that right now (nt)

[ticapnews]

7. I think we know where Coyle stands....

You need four more votes...Good luck!

[alkaline9]

8. oh well, time to post my resume on monster.com. nt

[ticapnews]

9. Did I just see that?

Coyle raised his hand to agree with the recommendation. He hesitated, then raised his hand. The only "no" vote was the guy at the end of the table, next to Coyle. The vote was 7-1 with one abstention.

That's the second time he screwed up during the voting. Does he know how this is supposed to work?

Sorry about your job. We here in Maine share your pain.

[ticapnews]

10. The Army portion has concluded...

The hearing is now in recess.

The Commission agreed to close everything on the recommendation list, including Fort Gillem (GA), Fort Monmouth (NJ) and Red River Army Depot (TX). At 10AM the hearings on Navy bases will commence. This is happening very quickly.

Jebby is on the screen right now :puke:

[Catchawave]

11. Jeb wants Virginia's Oceana jet base in Florida !

Personally, I think it's terrible timing to have a BRAC while we're at war. Stupid, stupid BushCo once again. It's affecting our community (Oceana) very negatively, the loss of jobs and city revenue will be devastating.

[aaronbees]

25. Actually...

Red River was just realigned, not closed. (Though we did lose Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, which is right next door to Red River.)

RRAD will lose some of its work (about 350 positions) but keep about 4,000 jobs here. Locals here in Texarkana really put on a nonstop effort to save it; I think it paid off very well, all things considered. Amazing that Red River has survived BRAC twice -- both times on unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

I was surprised at how swiftly the Commission moved this morning.

[ticapnews]

12. NEW LONDON IS REMAINING OPEN!!!!

http://www.brac.gov/Motions.aspx?Group_st=All%20Groups

The Commission just moved that New London should remain open!

Atlanta is up now, then New Orleans and then my base, BNAS in Maine. Fingers crossed.

I believe Portsmouth is two after BNAS.

[Catchawave]

14. I didn't know Jeb wanted Maine's base too?

Sending Bruswick to JAX ?

[ticapnews]

15. Yep

The planes that have flown over my house all my life are now off to Jebbyland.

[ticapnews]

16. Brunswick is closed, Portsmouth is saved.

I am happy for southern Maine and New Hampshire, but this is a very difficult to pill to swallow here in the mid-coast.

[ticapnews]

19. Governor Baldacci, Tom Allen and others will be in Brunswick at 2PM...

Not sure about Collins and Snowe.

They will be at the old Brunswick High School on McKeen Street to meet with local officials and residents to discuss what happens next. I plan to be there.

[jpak]

21. At least ME has all those BIW DDX contracts - right????

ChimpCo would NEVER send all that work to Mississippi....

and NH electoral votes in 2008 were NEVER a consideration in these decisions...

(cynicsm off)

[ticapnews]

22. Actually...

...the guy across the street works at BIW. He was told last week that his job is not guaranteed past March of 2006. It isn't a matter of moving contracts to Mississippi, it's that there is less work to go around, period. Trent Lott was right (ouch, that hurt) when he talked about the lack of Navy construction needed during a war in the desert.

Now, if we attack a country with lots of coastline, there would be plenty of work to go around.






But that doesn't seem very likely...

[Catchawave]

17. After lunch break voting order...?

I can't access the list on Cspan....where does Oceana fall in the lineup (pun intended!) ? Thanks.

[ticapnews]

18. 1PM: San Diego, then Oceana...

We have always been at war with Oceana...

(sorry, I've been resisting that line all week but couldn't stop it any longer :P )

[Catchawave]

20. Thanks!!!!!!! n/t

[ticapnews]

23. San Diego axed, Oceana up now...

I'd give an update, but Principi is proposing an amendment longer than the freakin' Iliad. I have no idea at this point what the hell he is talking about...

And now Skinner is now making a motion to amend Principi's amendment...

:wtf:

[Catchawave]

24. We're going to Jebbyland too ! Oceana is cooked.....

No surprise, the local and state gov's have ignored the warnings about Oceana since the '93 BRAC, they even allowed a luxury hotel be built in the no-no zone, despite the voters nixing that idea 5-1 !

Virginia Beach is the home of Republican Developer *donating* (thank you George Allen and Thelma Drake!) encroachment and Pat Robertson !

All the conditions Principi slapped on the table will never, EVER be fulfilled by these Jesus loving greed monsters. Plans for a Disney-like theme park are already being discussed after the Oceana funeral.



:banghead:

[Sgent]

26. Trent Lott

Lost his Pascagola Naval Station (home to 5 ships), and Kay Baily lost the Naval Station in Texas.

Just like the people on the east cost, I'm concerned there is no naval station in the Gulf of Mexico. Although air protection for 400 miles or so should be reasonable combined with the USCG, no naval assets could be trouble.

More shipping goes through NOLA & Texas than just about anywhere other than Los Angeles. On top of that, almost all oil for the midwest, the south, and the east coast goes through that area. One or two strikes at the right place could be a lot of trouble.