WASHINGTON – Before the announcement late last month, many thought Boeing was a sure thing for the US Air Force tanker contract award. At very minimum, they’d get at least half of it. But since EADS/Northrop Grumman partnership landed the total package, there have been threats of cutting off funding in Congress by both Democrats and Republicans – showing the issue of economic growth for one’s congressional district ignores party lines.
Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) along with Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) have been making the rounds against the Air Force’s decision. They’ve been playing on the protectionist sentiments of some Americans.
“Mr. President, the award of the KC-X Tanker contract to a subsidized foreign competitor has rightfully outraged Americans across our nation,” a letter to President George W. Bush, co-authored by Dicks and Tiahrt, said. “This competition was clearly unfair and heavily weighted in favor of a foreign manufacturer due in large part to the subsidies deemed illegal by your own USTR [United States Trade Representative (USTR), Robert B. Zoellick].”
Calls and e-mails to Dicks office have gone unreturned and Tiahrt’s office told Lagniappe he would be available for comment at a later date.
On the bright side, at least the discussion about this tanker decision has given the American people a break from Lou Dobbs bashing immigrants on his nightly TV show on CNN.
Novak Takes Aim at Bonner in Column
I was a little surprised to open The Washington Post’s editorial pages and see Rep. Jo Bonner mentioned in a column. But it was a little more surprising to see him bashed by conservative columnist Bob Novak, formerly of CNN’s “Crossfire” fame.
Many on the right are upset that Bonner was chosen over Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to be on the House Appropriations Committee. Novak was one of them.
“Instead, the Republicans picked Jo Bonner of Alabama, who spent 18 years as a House staffer before his election in 2002,” Novak wrote in his column published on March 11. “Bonner has voted against Flake in 49 out of 50 attempts to kill earmarks. He has promised his Mobile area constituents that they would get ‘fair value’ for their tax dollar – the justification for bringing home the bacon from Washington. Incredibly, Boehner hailed Bonner’s selection as a step toward earmark reform.”
But Bonner deserves some defense. To suggest Bonner is as bad as traditional earmark hog Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) (or even Sen. Richard Shelby for that matter) would be bit of a stretch. However, what isn’t getting much mention is what is worked against Flake in the contest for the seat on the committee.
Flake was seen by a lot of his Republican colleagues in the House as a political opportunist using a campaign against earmarks to elevate his standing in the GOP and also as someone that would be difficult for other members on the committee to work with.
Elsewhere Around the State…
It’s a little unusual for Alabama to have one hotly contested race for a seat in Congress, but this cycle there’s going to be two.
Nine-term Democratic Huntsville Congressman Bud Cramer announced he will retire when his term ends. He joined Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) and that has created some interesting scenarios for the 2008 election.
Although it’s not clear who is going to face-off for the seat yet, the loss of Cramer could make that race a heavy target for the national Republican Party. The GOP is looking for gains anyway they can get them, especially when conventional wisdom suggests they’re likely to suffer a net loss in House seats come Election Day in November.
With the presidential election being on the ballot in November also, that is expected to draw more Republican voters to the polls and that’s a cause for concern for Democrats who want to hold on to the long-time safe seat.
Other than previously announced attorney Ray McKee, who is vying for the GOP nomination, there have been no other formally announced candidates.
One familiar name mentioned as a possibility is Susan Parker, the public service commissioner who was the Democrats’ challenger to Sen. Jeff Sessions six years ago. However, after revealing her interest in the seat, Parker withdrew her name late last week, just days later.
Still Waiting on a Challenger for Bonner
After personally being admonished by a member of the Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee in the last issue, the Democrats are still seeking a challenger for Rep. Jo Bonner for the 2008 election.
I would have lent my name for the spot on the ballot, but there some crazy residency requirement. But, it wouldn’t have been like I had have moved in from Arizona or something, then just decided to be a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bonner has told Lagniappe previously he hates raising money for elections, but at this rate he may not have to.
Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.
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