[Dane]

Uh, homeland security and defense are not unecessary items, IMO, as the eggheads at Cato think.

[Stew Padasso]

I wonder what the non-discretionary spending numbers look like for Bush?

[HitmanLV]

The thing is that Bush is fighting a war, much like LBJ was, and Bush also has to deal with a destroyed american city, as well as the direct & indirect impact of kamikazie bombers in downtown manhattan.

Some people seem to think being 'principled' means turning off their brains at the door. A shame.

[Rodney King]

Uh, homeland security and defense are not unecessary items, IMO, as the eggheads at Cato think.

Straw man. Did they say they were unneccessary? Anyway, lets you forget, Johnson was also fighting a war. One that involved more troops than the Iraq war, and he did so while the Cold War was raging.

[billbears]

Uh, homeland security and defense are not unecessary items, IMO, as the eggheads at Cato think.

Uh, if you bothered to read the report (which by your post you didn't), homeland security (whatever that is) and defense are not the issue necessarily. Of course, I'm sure you'll try to explain how a trillion dollars in wasteful programs (healthcare, education, etc) are somehow tied to defense too.

[bad company]

Uh, homeland security and defense are not unecessary items, IMO, as the eggheads at Cato think.

That's what I don't get. I'm not under the illusion that Bush is some great conservative hero but when these "conservatives" complain about his spending and then include defense spending in their figures I've gotta see that as dishonest. Something is not adding up here.