What Price CAFTA?

It may take some time to find out exactly what CAFTA's passage cost the nation in the way of hand-outs for Yes-votes. Consider Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC), an absolute eleventh-hour convert for CAFTA after repeatedly vowing to oppose the trade pact. He says the GOP leadership promised him "any and everything" for his district in exchange for his crucial CAFTA vote.

House Speaker Denny Hastert recalls things differently, a mere pledge to "be there to help" Hayes and his district. Reading between the lines I surmise Hayes thinks he has absolutely insulated his sprawling district, which runs from the Charlotte burbs to Ft. Bragg, from any and all negative impacts of the Pentagon's base-closing plans.

We'll see.