Himes 2020? Beyond a long shot

Rep. Jim Himes dropped a tantalizing hint in a tweet about President Trump declaring a national emergency in order to build his border wall.

Trump, he said, “can do whatever the heck he wants by declaring national emergency, well ... maybe I need to swing by Iowa and New Hampshire this weekend . ... Darn near everyone else is.”

What, wait, did Himes just declare his interest in joining the already-crowded Democratic field for 2020? It wouldn’t be as totally farfetched as it seems. He’s 52, reasonably telegenic, quick on his feet with verbal repartee (ask Maria Bartiromo of Fox). His Spanish is better than Julian Castro’s. He’s served in Congress longer than Beto O’Rourke. And he’s done more cable news interviews than John Delaney (Congressman from Maryland, the long shot’s long shot).

His centrist “New Democrat Coalition” positioning could go either way. If Dems decide to go left for 2020, it’ll be Bernie, Elizabeth Warren or one of the other darlings of progressivism. But if the flirtation crumbles and Dems veer back to the center, Himes could be in the mix.

Alas, there evidently is no “there” there. “We certainly see our share of ‘Himes 2020’’ comments on our Twitter and Facebook accounts,” said Himes spokesman Patrick Malone. “He’s going to continue (his) service in the House this cycle, working to pass meaningful legislation for the American people. After all, someone has to stay in Congress and keep the lights on.”

We’ll get back to you if there’s ever a lilt of Himes 2024. ===================== There’s been a fair amount of nail-biting in Connecticut and elsewhere over President Trump’s emergency declaration, which might result in $3.6 billion in military-construction money getting diverted to fund the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Whether it comes to pass or not is, of course, up in the air. Connecticut has joined 15 other states in challenging the end-run around Congress

in court.

But if it does pan out in Trump’s favor, what does that mean for Connecticut military bases, posts and defense contractors?

Well, employees of Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney, Electric Boat and scores of defense subcontractors can breathe easy. The White House’s $3.6 billion figure applies only to construction on military installations.

Connecticut does not have a lot of those. It’s largest facility by far is the 680-acre Naval Submarine Base New London, with a complement of 15 nuclear subs.

The sub base is not on any of the congressional appropriations lists circulating in and around Capitol Hill this week.

The closest thing to a potential target in Connecticut is the Air National Guard base adjacent Bradley airport in Hartford. It is

home to the 103rd Airlift Wing, which as the name implies is all about moving military goods and people from place to place.

Money for a new main gate and a structure listed as “Building 18” appears to be safe. But about $2 million for a vehicle-maintenance “complex” and a de-icing facility could theoretically be at risk.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that while diverting military-construction money to the wall would be “damaging and dangerous” to national security, he has few concerns about Connecticut.

“I would be concerned certainly if any projects (at Bradley) were in jeopardy,” he said. “But the focus of the Pentagon seems to be elsewhere.”