Unlike the big announcement back in May, I won't be live blogging the Rapid City BRAC hearing and the resulting news coverage.

I have two main reasons:

First, I have a busy day being a lawyer today.  I'm in Salem, SD for a county zoning meeting this afternoon.

Second, I don't think the hearing will be anything more than a futile attempt at changing the BRAC commissioners' minds.  I don't see how a pep rally atmosphere is going to change their analysis, particularly in light of President George Bush's comments about the need to modernize the military and save money.

Again, I hope Ellsworth does not close.  But if that is going to happen, it is going to take place behind closed doors with the major players hasing it out and not on the basketball court at the Rapid City Civic Center.