CATO Institute lambastes President Bush

CATO Institute ^ | July 31, 2003 | Veronique de Rugy and Tad DeHaven

[AntiGuv]

What on earth are you trying to say? If you're trying to say that the Bush budget has increased due to heightened military spending, both Reagan and Bush had to increase military spending about 22%. The figures above show how Bush is increasing discretionary pork and welfare which hasn't even the dimmest relation to the WoT. Why don't you explain how crashing airliners induce prescription drug entitlements, bloated farm subsidies, massive federal education funding, and so on.

PS. If you are suggesting that the threat from terrorists lurking in caves is greater than the threat from 7000 ICBMs and an evil ideology, then I won't respond to that because I'd get myself banned...

How old are you anyhow? 15?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Did I say that you should leave the forum?

This is a forum, this is not political reality.

But if you can't stand FOR someone, then sit down and we will carry on.

[AntiGuv]

What is it?

[CWOJackson]

15, heavens no. Although I'm sure I seems so to an 8 year old. But I must remember, I'm on a CATO thread.

[habs4ever]

Big Gov't is here to stay and will never go away, so why can't you try to face that fact and work to ameliorate its effects at the margins? Tax cuts, sunseting regulations and having sensible tort reform coupled with a centrist based judiciary is the best you can expect.The nirvanna of a Goldwater rollback in government is, well, foolish.

That fight was lost decades ago.Lost, it's over.But cutting taxes goes on...

[AntiGuv]

Oh, how ever so delightfully witty of you! Now, are you ready to answer the question of how crashing airliners induce prescription drug entitlements, bloated farm subsidies, massive federal education funding, and so on?

[CWOJackson]

"If you are suggesting that the threat from terrorists lurking in caves is greater than the threat from 7000 ICBMs and an evil ideology, then I won't respond to that because I'd get myself banned..."

Here's your chance Bucky. How many American citizens were killed in American citizens by those ICBMs? How many were killed by what you term terrorists lurking in caves?

Should I put up a chart for you?

[CWOJackson]

Hmmm, during the cold war you equate to the terrorists today we actual deployed tactical nuclear weapons in NATO nations, we had the full and complete support of NATO. And how much NATO support have we received in Iraq?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Reagan came into power after one of the most embarrasing Democrats in the history of the DNC, a president who had been held by the short hairs by Iran and Cuba, not in the shadow of one of the most popular leftists in years.

Reagan did not have to contend to the sort of stark reality of what our world has become in the aftermath of 9/11.

Reagan lived in a much cleare world, with a clearly defined enemy.

That was then, this is now.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, you've just been approached by one of the two stupidest people on this forum.

Reagan took over a budget in a complete shambles.  The prime rate was in excess of 20%.  The military had been gutted by Carter.  His little raid into Iran was aborted because of equipment failure.  We couldn't even field a small contingent.

Reagan rebuilt the military to a 600 ship Navy and a military superpower whose existance convinced Moscow it could never prevail.

Regan had extreme budgetary problems.  When he cut taxes, people on both sides of the isle chastized him.  Despite their concerns, revenues doubled under Reagan.  Sadly expenditures more than doubled.

Don't let this nincompoop bother you.

[Harlequin]

Stand your ground. I think this kind of irresponsible spending is ... well, not good.

[Mudbug]

Reagan's budgets were being compared versus Bush's budgets. I don't understand what you're failing to understand about that....

I don't think so. This seems to be some meaningless statistic comparing Reagans%change from Carter with some sort of projected GWB's%change from Clinton when it comes to "discretionary" spending. To me, this is a meaningless statistic, unless it is presented with a great deal more context.

[CWOJackson]

"Don't let this nincompoop bother you."

Good advice, I never let the nincompoops bother me.

[DoughtyOne]

I'll be more than happy to support a conservative when one is eventually lofted for us to support again. Until then I'll keep reminding you that leftists are not conservative.

[habs4ever]

If you can't spot that Bush is a superb leader, you never will spot in anyone else.He is a giant, the best leader to come down the pipe since Reagan, and no lightweight could have accomplished what he has in two years without an exceptional talent to lead.

Your issues are irrelevant in today's world, chum.They don't count when waging a global war on terror, and that's what these times are about.Bush cut your taxes and for that you ought to be a Bushbot.HE CUT TAXES!! But, but, he's...not doing enough....

[AntiGuv]

Korean War: 33,651
Vietnam War: 58,168

WTC 9/11: 2,792

[DoughtyOne]

Small wonder. Compared to you there are no nincompoops.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The plan is what it always has been, neutralize the enemy, so that you can rule the field.

How is the DNC doing these days?

[paulk]

third parties

What do you mean third party - that would suggest that there is some difference between the Dems and Republicans bigger than a 15 year time shift.

The Republican Party no longer stands for restraining the growth of government, nor fiscal responsibility.

The Republicans voted (minus 2) to call a welfare grant of taxpayer money a tax refund.

They are now getting ready to socialize retirement drug care.

The majority of the excessive government growth has not been in defense or anti terrorism (hey, but what a good excuse).

Tell me honestly – did we move towards Socialism as fast under Clinton as we are under GWB? (And I think Clinton should probably be in jail).

The problem is that the rank and file Republicans want hand-outs and when the government starts handing it out, we all lose. We are losing ground pretty fast for controlling the house – Senate and Executive.

[CWOJackson]

Wow, Reagan was President for both the Korean War and Vietnam?

You might want to try a little remedical history.