List of proposed changes

nj.com ^ | 6/6/02

[Reagan Man]

I hear ya.

But Rudi's aged, like a fine wine. Yet, he can still kick butt. OTOH, it's probably Ridge's job for the taking.

[mlibertarianj]

Sorry for the double post, Mea Culpa!

[Pistias]

this thing can grow into a very frightening organization, unless there are some Constitutional protections attached to them

Given the scrupulous adherence to the "living document" in the recent past, I'm sure that won't be anything to be concerned about.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Which is why I think at some point soon(maybe in the fall campaigns, or certainly afterwards) he will use defense as one argument for reigning in entitlements and other garbage. But he needs too things: a cooperative Senate, and a deep and solid trust of a broad spectrum of the public. He's building that trust right now, but I don't think they believe that can make shifts that are too dramatic, since many would right him off using their old stereotypes. Control of the Senate changes a great deal, but I think the administration is also preparing for if it doesn't. Then all they can rely on is public support, and if its fragile you can't take drastic measures. So I think they are trying to deepen support by showing that they move carefully and deliberately.

While that certainly could be construed as simply babble to cover a move to the left, I think he has already signaled his intent, with the stated goal of reforming social security. Without it there is no way to reign in entitlement spending, thus I take it(and other signals) as a sign that he plans on reigning in the size of govt. But saying it and pulling it off are two different things, and they are seeking the best way to accomplish this, its not like snapping one's fingers. Timing is everything.

[mlibertarianj]

Amen to that!

[browardchad]

Excellent work -- and, yes, it is scary.

[brewcrew]

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions. Personally, the best things happen at home, so why not stay here? Right now, pilots are like sharks without teeth.

[seenenuf]

Nah, there is a big diff between the 'UN-great society' and getting the last dance with those that brung ya,, the country is just getting ripe for fancy foot work.

[Michael Barnes]

I agree with what you say in post #105. Which is why I ask my question. What is to stop this from becoming (in later years) that "special case" "unit"? The dumping ground for thugs and cases run amuck? I guess what I am really asking is, is the administration thinking about safeguards to prevent the corruption of this new agency and it's sub-departments (I guess another question is, "Is there anyway to prevent such?"). Again, I believe in what Bush is doing. I would be willing to bet he has thought about this as well.

Call me jaded, but you know as well as I do that anything Gov't can be corrupted.

[browardchad]

You do NOT slam the gas pedal down in reverse then shift the car into drive, nor does any President propose huge social spending increases then turn around and ask that "entitlements be reigned in".

Good point, and I don't believe there will be a significant shift forward, as you say.

This is from a 5/31 AP story entitled "Bush Strong With Base" --

Conservative loyalty to Bush could give Republicans added leeway to move to the center on some domestic issues -- excluding top GOP issues like taxes and abortion, said conservative analyst Marshall Wittmann of the Hudson Institute.

While we may consider current social spending programs left of center, it appears from this observation that the policy makers perceive support (perhaps blissful ignorance) among conservatives, and will continue to push the envelope.

[anniegetyourgun]

Heck, the last guy didn't even micromanage. He only pretended to work - all smoke and no fire. He was too busy with job #1 - self-gratification.

[anniegetyourgun]

Never trust anyone from the Hudson Institute.

[bybybill]

Did they forget your meds tonite? You are really flying high. But I do have some bad news for you. Tomorrow, and you can take it to the bank, the Sun will come up, birds will be singing, and you will find something else Bush did/didn`t do that will heat your teakettle.

[Grampa Dave]

The personnel cuts and shifts from bad departments to departments of potential good will come.

Unfortunately, our federal government nor any of our state governments behave in a responsible manner to the stock holders, we tax payers.

GW prefers to do these things in the stealth mode. Accomplishments get announced on Fridays or amazingly in foreign news lines. The left wing mediots don't have any reporters, so while they are out try to make news instead of finding it and reporting on it. GW's people work in the back ground in a stealth mode.

The most loyal voters the rats have when they are up for re election are the federal employees. Do you think that they would tolerate a 5 to 10 % loss in voter/employees. We will see those reductions that you and I want announced after the election. Even then it will not be via big announcements.

[leadpenny]

The INS, FEMA and a couple others are a start. But until the FBI, ATF, and Border Patrol (probably a few more) are pulled out of their respective departments by the roots and placed under Homeland, all that will be done is to create more duplication while growing the bureaucracy.

[goldstategop]

I'll make one prediction every one can agree with: this new department will never die.

[leadpenny]

Isn't that the truth? Probably not die like a half-dozen other useless departments have not died. Postmaster General, Surgeon General, Dept of Education, HUD, DOE, Labor, Commerce, etc.