While the Democrats appease Senator Lieberman, they still have to worry about other recalcitrant Democrats including Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson. Though Lieberman has been out front in the fight against the public option and the Medicare buy-in, Nelson was critical of both. Now that those provisions appear to have been stripped from the bill, Lieberman may get on board, but Nelson's demand that taxpayer money not be used to fund abortion has still not been met. According to a Senate aide, the White House is now threatening to put Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base on the BRAC list if Nelson doesn't fall into line.KSM to Manhattan for trial. Gitmo Al-Qaeda terrorists to rural Illinois for federal incarceration. Terrorist interrogation techniques released to the media. Unredacted TSA passenger screening manual posted on the internet. Now Rahm Emmanuel is trying to strong-arm a United States senator into voting for the unconstitutional, freedom-destroying, economy-wrecking health care bill by threatening to close the Air Force base that houses the headquarters for U.S. Strategic Command?
Offutt Air Force Base employs some 10,000 military and federal employees in Southeastern Nebraska. As our source put it, this is a "naked effort by Rahm Emanuel and the White House to extort Nelson's vote." They are "threatening to close a base vital to national security for what?" asked the Senate staffer.
Indeed, Offutt is the headquarters for US Strategic Command, the successor to Strategic Air Command, and not by accident. STRATCOM was located in the middle of the country for strategic reasons. Its closure would be a massive blow to the economy of the state of Nebraska, but it would also be another example of this administration playing politics with our national security.
What country is this? Our land of the free and the home of the brave is turning into the land of tyranny and the home of the cowering right before our eyes.
Its very scary. At this rate, we'll eventually all be reprimanded for voicing our opposing opinions via the internet. It will be the Red Scare all over again, except BACKWARDS.
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