I don't think Boeing was ever really serious about staying.

For example, look at the logistics now in play.

The big announcement was made yesterday.

Today, Boeing says it'll be digging into the South Carolina dirt next week.

The company plans to have the Charleston assembly site up and running in about a year.

That tells me the architectural drawings have been long completed; contractors have already been hired; cement and steel already ordered.

To me, that makes it clear that Boeing's been going for quite a while.

As far as blaming the machinists union for pushing Boeing out the door, I think that's totally bogus.

The union was more than willing to make huge concessions, including an agreement of 10 years or more of strike-free labor here.

Look, no one but Boeing knows what, if anything, could have been put on the table in the way of state tax breaks and other financial incentives to keep the 787 assembly line here in Washington.

Bottom line: I think the dark suit guys in those corner Chicago offices concluded that cheap South Carolina wages and the keys to the state treasury were more than the company could pass up.

The bigger question is: What happens next?

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