And the citizens didn't hold the loss against Hollings or Thurmond, both of whom retired from the senate after both being reelected to more terms.

Like I said, I can understand Thune being angry, and I can understand him fighting to keep it open, but at least take your fight to things that are pertinent to the fight, and the UN appointment isn't anywhere near pertinent.

New S. Dakota Obstructionist Sings Old I-ThUNE - BrickBRACs to Bush

The big question was which baskets the eggs should go in. We may all have our opinions, but in the end I don't think it is a bad idea to consolidate some bases together. Now if the closure plan was truly a "let's put all the bases in three or four cities" sure you could make that argument, but there are still tons of bases across the US that are remaining open.

You never want to place all your eggs into a single basket. It may look great on paper, but History has many examples of why its best to spread out Military bases, even duplicating what they do at other sites.

BTW, Consolidating Military bases to save money..? You think that the 300 Odd Billion we are spending in Iraq may have anything to do with this? If this Administration continues on its present course, we will have more Military in Iraq than we do in the United States.

At some point i hope the American Public begins to see through the ineptitude.

I guess you only fight in warm climes and the atmosphere is warm as Florida.

I can list a few.

Saves money, because you don't have to duplicate services in two different places.

Because the bases in Texas are larger, they can better accomodate absorbing a smaller base, than shutting down the one in Texas and moving it to SD (although if I remember right there are some Texas bases on the list, but I won't swear to it).

Another one is weather. Weather in Texas is warm most of the year, verses SD. YOu can get more training time in without as many weather related problems.

There may be others, but one that quickly comes to mind is that better than 50% of military volunteers come from the South, keeping the bases closer to their homes, may be in the end more likely to keep them in the military than moving them to places like SD or NE.

Downsizing military bases is a painful but crucial step in the process of transforming the U.S. military into the kind of fighting force especially suited for this age of terror, President Bush told Naval Academy graduates Friday.

"We have more bases than we need," Bush said in a commencement address to the academy's Class of 2005. "Supporting these facilities wastes billions of taxpayer dollars - money that can be better spent on giving you the tools to fight terrorists and confront 21st-century threats."

So if you oppose a base's closing, you're with the terrorists.

I totally understand him being mad, and I can totally understand him trying to do what he can to change the decision, but throwing a temper tantrum and voting against the administration in a fit over something totally unrelated is rediculous and childish. It is like somebody kicking their dog, because their boss yelled at them.

Somebody needs to give Thune a time out.