Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC

by BooMan
Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 01:23:32 PM EST

The more things change, the more they stay the same. President Obama and Defense Secretary Bob Gates both want to limit production of the F-22 Raptor to 187 units. The Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee begged to differ and offered an amendment to produce 12 more of the planes (a combined cost of $369 million). The amendment would not have passed if six Democrats had not crossed the aisle to vote for the planes. Six Democrats decided to buck the president and his Secretary of Defense.

Reps. Jim Marshall (GA), Joe Courtney (CT), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ), Eric Massa (NY), Bobby Bright (AL), and Mike McIntyre (NC).

Rep. Marshall has the excuse that the planes are assembled in his district. It's possible that parts are supplied in the others' districts, but I have no evidence for that either way. This is the second time Eric Massa has pissed me off. The first time was when he panicked during the swine-flu hoo-haw and asked the government to shut the border with Mexico. Massa has been a friend of the blogosphere, but he's losing my respect. I hope he learns to represent his constituents better. Right now, he's representing Lockheed-Martin. That's not change we can believe in.

Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

Just to pick a nit, but I'm pretty sure the F-22 is assembled in Fort Worth, not Marietta. Not that this has much to do with your point.

by lacerda on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 01:29:54 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 1)

The extra money would be a boost for Lockheed's Marietta, Ga., production facility and for suppliers who have to prepare well in advance of actual production by buying parts and materials. Yet the measure presents a particularly delicate situation for Lockheed, which has publicly pledged to not combat Mr. Gates's initiatives.
After Mr. Gates's April 6 budget announcement, Lockheed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Stevens told the firm's approximately 146,000 workers that the company would accept the budgetary decisions, as difficult as some were.
In an interview at the Paris Air Show on Monday, Mr. Stevens said the company had worked very hard to keep F-22 production going but once Mr. Gates made clear the program would stop at 187 jets, he felt he had to abide by the Obama administration's Pentagon priorities.
"Our role is not to fight the decisions that others make that do not align with our preferences," he said. "It's not who we are professionally."

WSJ

by BooMan on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 01:35:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 1)

My curiosity got ramped up after seeing your cite, and now I see from the official F-22 website (f-22raptor.com) that different parts of the craft are assembled in Connecticut, Seattle, Palmdale (CA), Fort Worth and Marietta. I don't know where Massa's district is, but if he has folks commuting to East Hartford to work on this thing, that may explain his vote.

by lacerda on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 02:04:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

I just looked up his district. Nevermind. His vote makes no sense at all as far as I can tell.

by lacerda on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 02:06:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

back scratching, probably.

by BooMan on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 02:16:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Lockheed to eliminate 130 jobs in Owego NY (none / 0)

.
Lockheed plant at Owego NY provides jobs for some 7,500 employees ...

Lockheed to lay off 130 workers due to DOD budget

Lockheed Martin Corp. said that it plans to eliminate 130 jobs because of Pentagon budget cuts that impacted its work on programs like a new helicopter for the president.

The cuts, which will be focused on Lockheed's systems integration unit in Owego, N.Y., will likely be followed by further layoffs, the company said in a statement.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

by Oui on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 03:35:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Lockheed to eliminate 130 jobs in Owego NY (none / 1)

make it twenty.

by BooMan on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 03:47:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The original 187 was... (none / 0)

187 more than we need. Just an incredible waste of money.

What's up with the 12 more? I guess they figured 199 expensive pieces of shit looked better than 200.

by Ed J on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 01:44:48 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 1)

They aren't "bucking" the president. They are f.....g the president! However, given the disgraceful performance of the dems in congress with regards to Health care, why should anyone expect anything else from this group of bastards?
And while I'm at it, the pres. ain't doin too much these days that I find myself able to support.
FISA, DOMA, DOADT, Guantanamo,- to name a few!

by billjpa (billjpa@aol.com) on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 01:50:13 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 1)

What kind of representative is Eric Massa anyway??

Depends

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

by brendan on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 02:07:25 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 1)

$369m...a mere trifle, haven't the time to worry over that, especially when you've got a health care bill to destroy.

chickenshits

the revolution will not be televised...

by dada on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 02:40:04 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

For the most part, "lame Democrats" is an oxymoron.

FDR's response to progressive demands: "I agree. Now go out and make me do it."

by DaveW on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 03:17:28 PM EST

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

i think you mean 'redundant.'

by BooMan on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 03:29:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

Damn -- I keep doing that. It gets harder and harder to navigate around the neurons that fry every time I watch the news.

But redundancy it is.

FDR's response to progressive demands: "I agree. Now go out and make me do it."

by DaveW on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 04:02:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC (none / 0)

As an aviation buff, I love the F-22 (but the YF-23 more). But as a realist, I know it's worse than useless. It's disappointing to see this project kept alive.

Recommended by Hideo Kojima

by robertdsc on Thu Jun 18th, 2009 at 04:17:21 PM EST

Six Lame Democrats Serve the MIC | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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