Senator Blocks 850 Air Force Promotions

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

[tomball]

Remember this man in November.

[white trash redneck]

This is the kind of behavior one expects from DemocRATs. Craig should be ashamed of himself, and doubly ashamed because he is a Republican and should know better.

[JohnGalt]

Larry Craig is one of the few solid conservatives in the Senate and you want to dump him over a silly local issue?

[Radix]

Thanks for posting this. Holding back promotions for such venal reasons is a disgrace. Our Volunteers should not be subject to this sort of BS. Those Troops put their lives on the line for all of us and they should get what they deserve, wether it be a promotion, or just simple recognition.

Actions such as this are bad for morale and could possibly lead to individuals deciding to leave the Military just when we need them the most. I cannot understand this politician not recognizing this. It is even worse as we have so many thousands of our Troops on active duty and deployed into hazardous areas.

[Radix]

Sorry, but the morale of 850 Air Force Troops, or any branch of our military is simply not a local issue.

[kms61]

This is the furthest thing from a local issue. Regardless of his ideology, Craig has shown himself to the be the most craven of parochial politicians by his action.

[SwinneySwitch]

Wouldn't call it silly nor local!

[SJSAMPLE]

My Army promotion to Captain was held up in 1994 because of "EO concerns" by certain congress-critters. Six months lost with no back pay and I lost out on several key assignments and positions because I lacked the grade required. I've never liked these tactics and a Republican using them is even worse.

[JohnGalt]

And you are basing that on an article in the New York Times?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Larry Craig is one of the few solid conservatives in the Senate and you want to dump him over a silly local issue?

It WAS a silly local issue - until he took it national...

[CFC__VRWC]

Larry Craig is one of the few solid conservatives in the Senate and you want to dump him over a silly local issue?

Holding the careers of miltary personnel hostage over pork is hardly a "silly local issue." If we let Craig get away with this, what's to stop say, Sheets Byrd from pulling something similar when he wants his name on yet another piece of concrete in W. Virginia? Will it seem such a "silly local issue" then?

[Hodar]

Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho is blocking the promotions of more than 850 Air Force officers, including young pilots who fought in Iraq ...

Sorry, this is hardly a "silly local issue". It's blackmail, or extortion ... and it's below contempt. I'd expect this kind of moral bankrupt behavior from a Democrat, but not a Republican.

[Brian S]

Hehehe... This story is now making the top of the hour ABC Radio News rotation. Heard it twice this afternoon.

Me thinks Mr. Craig will be changing his position right shortly. :)

[JohnGalt]

So, 'dumping' Craig is a logical response?

Get real; Craig has been delivering military pork for years he just wants his own piece in an era of base closings. It stinks, but that is Washington DC for you and I do not advocate dumping a guy over such a minor issue.

[jriemer]

Remember this man in November.

There's already enough C-130s in the National Guard inventory to let you walk wing-to-wing from Maine to Ireland. If Senator Craig want his C-130's this bad, he can roast in the sun until Idaho gets an allocation of planes in the normal, annual Defense appropriations.

I would imagine that it's a safe bet that the DOD does not see that new C-130s for Idaho as necessary to their core mission. It's just a matter of playing chicken between seats of power. DOD with C-130s in one corner vs. the Senator with Promotions in the other.

[CholeraJoe]

In 1981, my promotion to major was held up the same way for nearly 8 months. I cursed the US Senate each morning as I still pinned on Captain's bars knowing full well my date of rank to major had already passed.

[Temple Owl]

What's his Email address? Let's FReep the B@$t@ard!!!

[hresources]

I am a conservative and normally back Craig, but I am also a retired Army Officer with three sons currently on active duty (One in Iraq), and this is just plain wrong. I am glad it was flushed out into the open. I sent Senator Craig an email today expressing my views. With this kind of news coverage, I think we will see him release this "hold" soon. This business of keeping the Senator's identity on these matters secret is a stinking idea. Sometimes, I think every member of the United States Senate is a "pig headed, egotistical idiot suffering from illusions of grandiosness like Julius Byrd (He probably did serve in the Roman Senate)".

[Labyrinthos]

Larry Craig is one of the few solid conservatives in the Senate and you want to dump him over a silly local issue?

You bet. I want him gone, and I don't care how conservative he is. If Sen. Byrd had pulled this stunt you would rightfully be livid.