[FreeReign]

Just making the point that, amongst all the kudos Bush is getting for this decision, he's not shrinking the government. I'm happy he's put a brake on federal pay this year but it's window dressing compared to the expansion of government he's pushed. The Wall Street Journal referred to him as Lyndon Baines Bush a few months ago - for good reason.

(My Bold)

You can make the point by quantifying the, "expansion of government he's pushed".

Until you've done that, you've not made the point.

[FreeTheHostages]

I agree, Free: I don't see an expansion. Homeland Security is a consolidation which probably lead to an overall contraction when they rid of the duplciation. Elsewhere Bush's OPM is trying to contract out jobs where possible.

[caltrop]

Why don't you start with the Department of Education?

I don't have the number of federal employees at the beginning of Bush's term versus the number currently on the payroll handy. Maybe you do. Are you telling me it's gone down? If so, how about pointing out where the reductions are and the net change in overall federal government employment?