Skelton's Loss Has Some Worried About Future of Whiteman AFB

[proud2BlibKansan]

WARRENSBURG, MO — The election is over, and now reality is setting in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, where 17-term Democratic congressman Ike Skelton was defeated by Republican Vicky Hartzler. Now, some residents are worried that Skelton's defeat means the end to support for the military bases that make up such a large part of the district's economy.

With little military experience, Hartzler, a former state lawmaker who had been out of politics for a decade, has big shoes to fill. Not only had Ike Skelton held the 4th congressional district seat for 34 years, he was also the top man in the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, and was instrumental in bringing the B-2 Stealth bomber to Whiteman Air Force Base.

"It's huge, to the whole area," said Tammy Long, president of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce. "It's like a $6 billion industry they put out every year that goes back into the state of Missouri."

If it's lost, Long says it would truly hurt the whole state's economy.

"Any mission can go anywhere," said Long. "Everybody would love to have the B-2 in their backyard, and everybody would love to have the economy it brings with them."

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-skelton-hartzler-folo-110310,0,5812222.story

[FarPoint]

1. I hope they loose the base...

Republicans need no economical support....free enterprise I say.......let them eat cake.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I don't

It would devastate a huge portion of MO.

[FarPoint]

9. Well this may be the

learning curve for voters and non voters who feed the hand that beats and robs them.

[Telly Savalas]

11. So you advocate loyal Democrats who live in that area losing their jobs.

How is that not being an asshole?

[kooljerk666]

5. Good Bye to bad rubbish..........

he was a member of the "family" a cabal of xtian freaks.

shutdown 80 percent of the DOD and create a real jobs & tax cuts program.

military spending is a waste & self reliant GOPer's can get off the federal teet.

BTW i am in PA & all 4 of the guys I voted for lost (all Dem's).

[LWolf]

15. Where will the base go if they set it loose? nt

[ingac70]

3. Wouldn't that be a laugh?

:popcorn:

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. No

There are good Dems in that district too.

[babylonsister]

4. This is the first I'd heard he lost. Wow. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. It's a mind blower

[DrDan]

6. it's more the the B-2 (I think) - aren't all those missile controllers still there?

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Not sure

There is another base in this district though. Fort Leonard Wood.

[DrDan]

14. that's U.S. Army - the U.S.A.F has control of those missiles

played the golf course at Ft LW once - years ago. There used to be (still might be there) a monster 600+ yd par 5. It was a killer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Skelton has saved both bases from being closed several times

I'm wondering if the teabagger lady who replaces him will do the same.

[DrDan]

18. Skelton has been a friend of the military for years and years

[ellisonz]

12. Those B-2s would look great in Nevada or California.

:evilgrin:

[MadHound]

13. I doubt that is going to happen,

Unless Obama undertakes a base cutting program like Clinton did. But outside of that, it's a pain to up and move a specific group from one military base to another, especially a large group like the B-2.

[Loki]

16. I'm a born and raised Missourian now in Texas for 10 years

and I've been struggling with my feelings since Bush wasn't elected. I think the people in Missouri who elected a Repuke to represent that district (even tho I think Ike Skelton was a blue dog that needed to go a long time ago) will have to deal with the consequences of their vote. I'm sad in my heart that my great state that produced Harry Truman is voting like Oklahoma, Kentucky and Texas. Maybe losing Whiteman AFB will bring them to their senses, I thought that having Bond and Blunt as Senator and Governor would make people wake up, but it's going to take a tsunami of hard, hard times to make people realize just what a pox the Republican Party is to their welfare and our country.