We have heard the argument, from both Democrats and Republicans – but especially Republicans – that President Bush is punishing Maine with the possible closing of three military bases in the state.

Here are the two basic forms:

• Because Sen. John Kerry carried Maine, the state is expendable to the president. He has no need to try to garner favor or to protect the economic interests of the state.

• Because Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins sometimes buck the president and their own party, the base closures are political payback for disloyalty.

There’s no way to know for sure the political motivation of the president or the Department of Defense, but we give them both the benefit of the doubt on this one, and would certainly hope members of the president’s own party do the same. To suggest that the president would close military bases in Maine, that he would jeopardize national security, that he would risk the jobs of more than 12,000 people as payback for a disagreement about a handful of Circuit Court judges, is to accuse him of treason. In these partisan times, you might expect that from some Democrats, but from Republicans?

We do not agree with the rationale that the Pentagon has used politics to put Maine’s bases on the chopping block. The state’s representatives in Washington and the governor have made compelling arguments that, in our mind, debunk the DOD’s case. And besides, it was the Base Realignment and Closure Commission that added Brunswick to the possible closure list, not the president or Pentagon.

But we refuse to believe the mistake is intentional or meant to punish the state for its political choices. To think such says that the president does not consider the national interest and puts power politics above all else, even national security.