Good morning . . .
The issue that is providing the most interesting battle so far are the judicial nominees of the president. This battle may become small in nature when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission makes it recommendations to the Pentagon.
Until recently the Pentagon was anticipating closing between 20 and 25% of military bases in the US an abroad. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has announced the cuts may not be that deep.
With the return of 70,000 troops from Europe many bases will remain open.
Some bases that will be given close scrutiny include Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Ellsworth was a pivotal base during the Cold War. Now it could be closed or realigned with other bases in North and South Dakota.
The number of military bases in a state or Congressional district is a point of pride for members of Congress. A military base generates many jobs and tons of federal dollars. The loss of a base in a community with the military as its only business is devastating. The loss of hundreds sometimes thousands of civilian jobs, the loss of tax revenue and federal dollars can close a town, as well as, its military base.
During previous rounds of base closures, Congress had held endless hearings on the base closing and often offers its own version of what bases should be closed or realigned.
The Department of Defense will deliver its list of closings to the BRAC commission on May 16. The commission has until September to provide the president with its final list.
If the president approves the list it will go to Congress on Nov. 7. Congress has 45 days to pass a motion of disapproval. If it does not, the list becomes law.
This will be an interesting summer and fall.
ONN. Ohio News Now: Timeline for the upcoming round of military base closings
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As failed presidential candidate John Kerry travels across the country (on taxpayer dollars), he is positioning himself for another run at the presidential nomination in 2008.
His rhetoric, according to the Boston Globe, is that of a Washington outsider.
What? Kerry a Washington outsider? The only way Kerry could consider himself an outsider is due to the amount of time he spends away from Washington and away from his job as Senator. The fact is Kerry has been a Washington "insider" for more than 20 years and plans to continue.
This proves once again that John Kerry will say anything to get elected. Painting himself as a Washington "outsider" will not work either.
CNSNews.com -- News This Hour
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An Ohio jury was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of highway shooter Charles McCoy.
McCoy, 29, is charged with 12 shootings that terrified the Columbus area in 2003 and 2004. The defense acknowledges McCoy is the shooter, but is innocent by reason of insanity.
According to a note sent to Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Charles Schneider, the jury voted on Friday and Sunday without reaching unanimous decision on the insanity plea. "we have no indication at this time that this will change," the not said.
With that information, Judge Schneider declared a hung jury Sunday after four days of deliberations.
Judge Schneider will meet with prosecutors and the defense on Tuesday to decide what to do next.
County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said he will retry McCoy until he gets a favorable outcome.
Mistrial Declared in Ohio Shootings Case - Yahoo! News
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More later.
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