New Mexico takes a hit--Cannon AFB to close.

[LandOLincoln]

Dammit, I knew it! When I saw the BRAC had relented and taken Ellis off the hit list, I knew Cannon was doomed.

Anyway, there's a live news conference on KOB-TV right now.

On edit: Okay, they cut away from the news conference, and Nelson Martinez just said all planes will be removed from the base, but it will remain open as an "enclave"--whatever that means--until the end of 2009.
***
Now the phrase they're using is that for the time being Cannon will be "re-aligned," meaning the 27th Fighter Wing will be removed, and the base will be in "enclave" status until 12/31/09, then closed.

[rkc3]

1. Sadly, that probably means Santorum gets a win in PA later today.

And by waiting until later in the day, Santorum will get a chance to look like he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

[LandOLincoln]

2. I'm not familiar with the Pennsylvania situation,

but it certainly means that THUNE gets to claim he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

[rkc3]

4. The 911th AirRefueling Wing is on the chopping block.

It's at the old Pittsburgh Int'l Airport.

The media keeps telling us the base should not even be on the list. That there is some issue over the amount of available land for the base - the base has more than the commission initially thought.

On Edit:

http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_238093107.html

Et Voila! Santorum comes to the rescue of Western PA.

I hope the prick chokes on his own vomit.

[fighttheevilempire]

3. Bases closing: Translation:

Democratic states, prepare to lose your bases. Repubs, if you are loyal, get to keep them. Unless we don't like you.