[Captain Kirk]

I don't think history is on your side if you think you can compartmentalize the domestic and the foreign. It is hackneyed phrase but, like it or not, every war in American history illustrates this truth: "war is the health of the state." Freepers underestimate the corrupting nature of the national security/world policing state. The spread of big government attitudes among conservatives can be seen everywhere. Ten years ago, for example, "militias" used to be against big government (as conservatives defended liberty at Waco), now they are junior G men for the Feds.

Actually, your other statement is not quite right. The size of government, in terms of spending, actually fell under none other than Bill Clinton. It has skyrocketed under George Bush.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Freepers underestimate the corrupting nature of the national security/world policing state.

And what should the US have done after 9/11?

[Reagan Man]

With all due respect, I get a whiff of isolationism in your last post. I think domestic and foreign policy do influence each other, but defending America is the job of the President. We all know that Bush has a globalist vision for America's future. The conservatives I know don't support a globalist policy that has the US involved in the affairs of all nations. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

>>>>Actually, your other statement is not quite right. The size of government, in terms of spending, actually fell under none other than Bill Clinton. It has skyrocketed under George Bush.

Let me compartmentalize one more time for ya. When I talk about federal spending, I take national defense off the table. The Feds are required to meet their Constitutional obligations and defending America is priority #1. Its a dangerous world and keeping America with a strong military is an expensive objective. So be it.

What's left in the federal budget is all other spending and that falls under the budget line item called, "Human Resources", AKA. welfare entitlements. While the Feds did spend less as a percentage of the GDP under Clinton, defense spending as a part of the budget went down 5% and HR spending went up 9% under Clinton. The GOP Congress may have held Clinton's feet to the fire and while they did have some success with the Contract With America, the social welfare state was really wasn't reduced in the 1990`s, like it was under Reagan in the 1980`s.

In the last five years, Bush has expanded the social welfare state like no one since LBJ. Social spending has gone up under Bush. The trillion dollar prescription drug entitlement, an 86% increase in the education budget and increases in pork barrel discretionary programs like transportation, energy and farm, all have made Bush the buiggest spender in history. Look at the data at OMB.gove. The facts don't lie.