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I agree with the sentiments expressed by the delegation that this was a team victory, not a partisan or personal one. I would disassociate myself from any attempt to score short-term political points off of this. That said, we at...

A letter to the editor from the Rapid City Journal:During his impeachment for perjury, President Clinton taught us that personal attacks never fed a hungry child. Our good friends on the left have obviously forgotten this lesson. Recently, there have...

Got this email today:Mr. Schaff,I read your piece entitled Who's Imposing on southdakotapolitics. I've read many conservative viewpoints on abortion and very very few ever consider the woman who has to carry the fetus to term, or the ramifications for...

On the scent of Africa's landmines

Here's a great use for the large rodents. Abundant, and expendible, they're also cheaper than other candidates for this task, such as dogs and lawyers.

...scientists have shown that rats can be trained to be a safe, fast, reliable and cheap method of locating mines of all kinds, according to this month's issue of BBC Wildlife, published today.

You just KNOW that PETA won't be happy about this!

F.E.T.E.

When it comes to a choice between the high road and the low road, I say just make sure there's at least one SOB lower than you are. Now that the news of Ellsworth's rescue has been splashed across monitors...

Malaysia Targets 2020 for Possible Manned Moon Mission

FOr crying out loud! If MALAYSIA is planning this, why haven't we been back up there yet?

With the decision this morning by an 8-1 vote, South dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base was removed from the list of recommended closures by the BRAC Commissioners.

Some coverage on the facts of the decision in the Rapid City Journal...
Ellsworth saved

Like the phoenix from the ashes, the status of Ellsworth Air Force base rose from expendable to essential in a matter of seconds when the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, or BRAC, voted Friday to save the base.

South Dakota's top lawmakers and the head of the Ellsworth Task Force were at the edge of their seats in the suburban Washington, D.C., hearing room when BRAC commissioner Samuel Skinner made a motion to reject the Pentagon's recommendation to close Ellsworth and move its 29 B-1B Lancer bombers to Dyess Air Force Base.

Looking for at least five commissioners to raise their hands in support of Skinner's motion, the South Dakotans instead saw all but one of the nine-member panel vote to save Ellsworth.

...and in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader:

ELLSWORTH SPARED

Ellsworth Air Force Base was taken off the Pentagon?s recommended list of closures this morning, a decision that sent jubilant Rapid City residents leaping to their feet as they watched the proceedings on live TV.

The nine-member independent commission voted 8 to 1 to reject the Pentagon?s recommendation to close the base as part of the Defense Department?s plan to restructure the military.

Meanwhile, some of the politics of the situation which provide a boost to Sen. Thune's position were not lost on others:

Base Closing Choices Impact Politics

When the Pentagon announced that it wanted to shut down Ellsworth Air Force Base, it was an enormous setback for Sen. John Thune. The Republican got elected in part by repeatedly telling voters he could save the base because of his close ties to President Bush.

Thune responded to the Ellsworth news by going on the offensive: He and fellow South Dakota leaders from both parties launched an intense lobbying effort. He also stopped fund-raising for the Republican Party and opposed the Bush administration on a few important Senate votes.

On Friday, Thune's political future got a big boost when a federal commission decided to save Ellsworth, home to B-1B bombers and a major player in the Cold War. He and other South Dakota politicians hailed the decision as the result of an extraordinary bipartisan campaign that convinced the commission that the military and nation need Ellsworth.

All in all, a very good day for South Dakota!

A bit of dialogue I had today: Person: They should shoot all of those looters in New Orleans in the head. Me: All of them? What if they're just looking for something to eat? Person: Shoot 'em all. Me: You're...

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