Posted on 12/15/2009 4:07:05 PM PST by American Dream 246
Quite an explosive leak! I wonder how this will affect things? It is certainly a thuggish and dangerous thing for Obama to play with National Security over this craptacular idea of socialized medicine. Quite a desperate move.
According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn’t fall into line. Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a “naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson’s vote.” They are “threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?” asked the Senate staffer.
Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident. STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security.
So much for the idea of Obama trying to save jobs and improve the economy!
Without Nelson’s vote, since all Republicans are still in line to oppose this, Reid is still left with 59 votes. So, some arm twisting is taking place. Nelson doesn’t want this bill to fund abortions so he is now being threatened, and national security along with him. How shameful this would be if Democrats felt shame.
Ed Morrissey:
The Obama administration has little left to use for leverage. Why not national security? After all, if we’re going to bring terrorists into Illinois, what does it matter if we put the US Strategic Command on wheels for a few years?
What a nightmare!
I just called...box is full.
You have the Weekly Standard link?
Hannity was talking about it today. He probably wouldn’t have if it wasn’t true.
I wouldn't doubt it in the least.....and they'll keep right at it until (yeah, I know......) the network media jumps on 'em.
The underground technology there is unbelievable.
This damned Nigerian, to use the “N” word, is over the line and has not been in office a year. Impeach the unconsititutional bastard. (All words used in proper context.)
I've had MORE than enough of this guy. Let's start the impeachment process NOW.
Sounds kinda like the tactics John Thune used during the Bolton nomination (play politics with national security to get your way on your little pet issue), except in reverse mode (Thune promised to vote down Bolton unless his state's air force base was kept OPEN after the pentagon had decided they didn't need it)
Of course when Bolton played held national security hostage to get his way a bunch of freepers tell us there's nothing to be concerned about, Thune is a great conservative and deserves a promotion on a presidential ticket.
Makes you go hmmmm.
Found the Standard link:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/12/source_dems_threaten_nelson_in_1.asp
I'd like to know the source on this.
The POTUS cannot close ANY military installation unilaterally. It requires the consent of the US Congress.
Excuse me, the idiots forgot there has to be a study and then a study of the study and then public comment events.
OR
Do they not have to follow the proceedures (rhetorical)
Senator Nelson should go before the cameras with this one.
Can Nelson match the testicular fortitude of Sarah Palin?
Ain't gonna happen.....he's a loyal "D" and just holding out for some porcular goodies.
That's the way the game is played.
yup, just heard this on Mark Levin, Levin is stating this threatened closure is coming from Rahm AND his brother Ezekiel Emmanuel. I don’t see how Ezekiel Emmanuel fits into this puzzle but that’s what Levin is saying.
What disgusting pukes these Chicago thugs are! I hope they really feel the hurt in 2010!
Hmmm, threatening our national defense in order to push through his agenda. Nothing is beneath Obama and his Chicago Thugocracy. This is how business is done in the windy city and now how it’s being done on the national level. This is nothing short of treason.
These kinds of things play well with Obama’s base. They hate the military and love Communism. However, given his other shortcomings with Gitmo, the KSM trial, his mishandling of the Iranian nuke situation and his dithering on Afghanistan, this furthers mainstream perception that Obama is not only weak on defense but simply Anti-American.
Obama’s loyalties are not with America. Obama’s loyalties are with the International Left. Whenever a Liberal Progressive Commie tells you that Obama had to apologize for America overseas to regain our stature with allies, the ‘overseas allies’ they are actually referring to are the International Left and right now, they are running a circus in Copenhagen if that tells you what they’re worth.
Obama does not have the power to change the list.
Obama doesn’t understand the BRAC process — the three rounds have already been completed and any new round of BRAC closures has to be approved by Congress. There is a whole process you go through with the BRAC — know it well as that is how we ended up in Oklahoma from San Antonio area.
That said, this is treasonous to threaten closure of Offutt for a vote on healthcare. If I were Ben Nelson, I would switch parties effective immediately and tell Obama to take it and shove it. He would win reelection in a heartbeat.
Obama and his Chicago thug tactics will not work this time and are being exposed.
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