Senator Blocks 850 Promotions in the Air Force

The New York Times ^ | 06/09/03 | ERIC SCHMITT

[Bedford Forrest]

Consider the source.

[TopQuark]

If true, this is indeed blackmail. Regardless of legality, it's truly unbecoming to see this in our government.

And the worst part is, no other senators give a d--n.

[FairWitness]

The Senate is really one screwed up organization, what with this and filibusters.

[gcruse]

Good Gawd. Do you have custom blinders or do you get new ones each time articles come you don't want to deal with?

[deport]

FYI..... What's the talk within the Air Force or have you heard anything?

[Dave S]

Time for Bush to cut him off at the knees. Eliminate all pork for his state and make sure he dont get Jack Shit.

Either that or activate all Idaho National Guard units and send them overseas UNTIL Craig relents. Maybe after 2 or 3 years of overseas duty he will want his people back rather than a few planes.

[deport]

Consider the source....

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What does the source have to do with Sen. Craig's holds? Did the source manufacture them for him? Craig seems to admit that he has placed them.....

......Mr. Craig's price to free the frozen promotions now awaiting final Senate approval? Four C-130 cargo planes for the Idaho Air National Guard.

[Drango]

Senator Craig has no right to take his beef out on the men and women of the Air Force. Shame on him, and more shame on the Senate that allows this BS.

[Jhoffa_]

I don't think this is right.. Even if the AF did go back on their word, that's not the fault of those men who earned their promotions.

They earned it, so give them their damn promotions already and stop punishing them for the sins of their superiors..

[McGavin999]

I'm going to wait before I pass judgement on Senator Craig, but if it turns out to be true, it's beyond disgraceful, it's absolutely reprehensable.

[Jhoffa_]

Either that or activate all Idaho National Guard units and send them overseas UNTIL Craig relents. Maybe after 2 or 3 years of overseas duty he will want his people back rather than a few planes.

I don't like that idea..

Again, it's punishing the wrong people.

These are good men who shouldn't be abused like this. This is a battle that should be fought between the senator and the AF PTB's.

[Teacher317]

Oh joy. Now the GOP has discovered the wonders of obstructionism to further individual goals.

[thegreatbeast]

A number of things:
The Air Force today has nothing to do with the Air Force extant seven years ago, thank God! Craig is presenting a bill to a new management that has no responsibility for the bill.
Craig should be spoken to quietly. I don't doubt that Secretary Rumsfeld can make this guy an offer he can't refuse. Hopefully, it will be behind closed doors as you don't want the kids to see this!
Geez Louise, how many times are we going to have these base reductions? Where did this idea of having 5 or 6 companies(AOLTIMEWARNERSEARSSONYTARGETCOKE.com) or 5 or 6 bases is the best way to go? This base closing process has been going on for an awful long time.
A lot of analysis is still going on regarding the War in Iraq. We are hardly over the first blush of a campaign well executed. A little time might serve while we digest who did what over ther and over here. I don't see rushing to give high brass more brass. It'll keep.

[Chu Gary]

Orders are orders. A set of orders could be cut, 4 130's land and the crew unpacks, etc. Two days later after this idiot changes his stance, the 130's get TAD orders to another location or PCS orders depending on the status of the moron's position.

[Cicero]

This strikes me as really bizarre. He may have some reason for doing this that the NY Times isn't reporting, but I can't imagine what it is.

I usually say "consider the source," but this kind of conduct just won't wash.

[FairOpinion]

"Under a Senate practice intended to encourage consensus, any senator can block action indefinitely and anonymously on a nomination, promotion or legislation."

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This is preposterous. ONE Senator can hold up the entire Senate INDEFINITELY, and anonymously, yet!!!

It's time to change the rules.

[Lucy Lake]

Ping

[CFC__VRWC]

Oh joy. Now the GOP has discovered the wonders of obstructionism to further individual goals.

True, but I think there's a more basic problem here, that being a Senate that seems to think that it is the only part of the US government that matters. I for one am getting real sick and tired of this body's "too big for their britches" attitude, an attitude that crosses the aisle.

[FreeReign]

What does the source have to do with Sen. Craig's holds? Did the source manufacture them for him? Craig seems to admit that he has placed them.....

The establishment in this article of a Sen. Craig "hold" is based solely on the credibility of the source. The source in this case is the NY Times quoting anonymous sources.

NYTIMES: Pentagon officials express outrage that for more than a month Mr. Craig has single-handedly delayed the careers of hundreds of officers and stymied important Air Force business for a handful of parochial planes. They are vowing not to give in to his pressure. Calling the move blackmail, one senior military official said, "If we say yes to this, Katie bar the door." The official, like others contacted for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution from the senator.