...for those interested. :D
the Long Knives, Are out for R.P.
Posted on 11/07/2010 2:06:31 PM PST by fabrizio
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen.-elect Rand Paul says GOP lawmakers must be open to cutting military spending as Congress tries to reduce government spending.
The tea party favorite from Kentucky says compromise with Democrats over where to cut spending must include the military as well as social programs. Paul says all government spending must be “on the table.”
Paul tells ABC’s “This Week” that he supports a constitutional amendment calling for a balanced budget.
I wonder if Rand is a Bircher. I know his father is a big name with the Birchers.
If you note, he didn’t say “military entitlements”. It was a followup question in regards to “entitlements” in general. Not specifically for members of the military.
Here is a later exchange in regards to military salary which is what I mentioned:
AMANPOUR: Pay for soldiers? Would you cut that?
PAUL: I think that’s something that you can’t do. I don’t think...
AMANPOUR: You cannot do?
PAUL: Right. I think that soldiers have to be paid. Now, can we say that gradually we don’t need as large of an Army if we’re not in two wars? Yes, I think you can say that. You can save money there. You can bring some troops home or have Europe pay more for their defense and Japan pay more and Korea pay more for their defense or bring those troops home and have savings there.
“There must be something in the defense budget that can and should be cut.”
Of course but you can’t say ahead of time that the defense budget should be cut by X percent to meet a goal and hope that we won’t cut too much.
“Of course but you can’t say ahead of time that the defense budget should be cut by X percent to meet a goal and hope that we won’t cut too much.”
agreed
I agree, as far as I am concerned we need to gut the federal government, leaving a strong Treasury Dept. and Defense. The rest can be canned.
The mantra of “we can’t afford to cut, X” is the root of the problem. If they money doesn’t exist because you decided to spend it over the previous 5 years because we couldn’t “afford” to cut something then too bad. Should have exercised some discipline when you had the chance.
Irresponsibility has consequences.....
It is my firm belief that Rand Paul wants to cut military pensions. I also believe the US could save money by cutting foreign aid, stopping all immigration (legal and illegal) for a few years until our economy becomes solvent; cut the bureaucrats in DC, take a hard look at medicaid and welfare, stop regulating the big corporations out of America and stop the ridiculous lawsuit against Arizona. The USA bails everyone out from Haiti to Africa to the Arab nations..time to stop. The environmental movement is costing us a mint too...we need to drill for oil, burn clean coal and utilize our natural resources. Do those things FIRST.
Privatize social security and stop Obamacare. Also, NO global taxes and take a better look at the UN and if it is worth our time to remain as a member.
I do think that our allies should contribute more to their own defense and rely less on the U.S.
Unfortunately, Military Pensions, along with Social Security Benefits will have to be cut to save our country.
Good list in your post 128, Katie.
I agree.
A lot of folks just don’t have a clue how much money the military wastes. I can agree with Paul, and it doesn’t mean cutting soldiers benefits, or pay, or even weapons. There is a lot of cutbacks that can and need to be made without jeopardizing our defense....
...for those interested. :D
the Long Knives, Are out for R.P.
Our funding of the military is probably the one thing the government has done mostly right. We have the best trained and equipped forces in the world and the proof is in the pudding. But the world hasn't gotten safer with the election of the 0bammessiah - only more dangerous. Until we can regroup and evaluate our condition the armed forces following Iraq and Afghanistan, it is too soon to even discuss 'cut' in the military budget. I was in the military of the Jimmy Carter and Bill Cllinton. It wasn't pretty and am outright thankful Reagan saw that a strong military - with associated spending- was necessary for our country to survive. I was stationed in Germany when the wall fell, when only a few years earlier they were still shooting at border crossers.
So where do they cut? the guy that has served 16 yrs of his life? cut him off now right before he retires? or cut the ones that served 24 yrs and fought in Korea or Vietnam? they are too old to find work in this economy ...give me your specifics on when, who and what? I believe they should get rid of the civillians working on base. A government janitor makes more than an enlisted man. Also, cut back on the pencil pushers in the pentagon and cut CONGRESS pay, perks, staffers.
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions on who to cut out of their military pension.
Thank you:) would rather hear a politician give more specifics before making such a statement.
And a great deal of that paperwork was put into place by Leftists in the Congress like Conyers and Dingell in an effort to hamstring procurement, and make it obviously wasteful.
This gave them a convenient bogeyman: they could criticise when the toilet seat wasn't made to spec ("evil contractor trying to force our boys to use substandard equipment!") and they could criticise the cost necessary to comply with the paperwork ("How can you charge $7000 for a toilet, Mr. L!").
All a scam to keep them in money and power.
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