A favorite game of politicians in battle is to parse votes that may cast a bad light on their opponent's candidacy. They also like to take decisions made years ago, and pull them out of the context of the time, and apply them to today. Here, let's try some examples:
After completing 20 planes for which we have begun procurement, we will shut down further production of the B-2 bomber. We will cancel the small ICBM program. We will cease production of new warheads for our sea-based ballistic missiles. We will stop all new production of the Peacekeeper [MX] missile. And we will not purchase any more advanced cruise missiles. … The reductions I have approved will save us an additional $50 billion over the next five years. By 1997 we will have cut defense by 30 percent since I took office.
Hmmmm . . would you believe that is George41 in his 1992 State of the Union Speech.
Oh, this one made me chuckle, too:
Congress has let me cancel a few programs. But you've squabbled and sometimes bickered and horse-traded and ended up forcing me to spend money on weapons that don't fill a vital need in these times of tight budgets and new requirements. … You've directed me to buy more M-1s, F-14s, and F-16s—all great systems … but we have enough of them.
You guessed it, Our current Vice President, then Defense Secretary whining about the Democratically controlled congress.
Even Dizzy Gillespie (Ooops, sorry, no name calling week) claimed that Kerry voted to cut 1.5 billion from the intelligence budget. Technically, correct, but in reality, it was rescinding the appropriation of money to operate a spy satellite that was never launched. Sounds more like fiscal responsibility to me, something this current administration could take a class or two on.
So be leery of the Cherry Pickers. The GOP will be marching out votes on defense cuts that THEY THEMSELVES proposed and supported. The DNC played dead on this tactic four years ago, they best not drop the ball again.
Although, the way things are going now, they wouldn't even have to run a campaign, GW is doing a fine job in raising the White Flag all on his own.
Read the whole article here, courtesy of Slate
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