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Tea Party: Defense Spending Not Exempt From Cuts
CBS News ^ | 1/24/2011 | CBS News

Posted on 01/23/2011 11:59:13 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld

Back home, supporters of the conservative tea party movement clamoring for the debt-ridden federal government to slash spending say nothing should be off limits. Tea party-backed lawmakers echo that argument, and they are not exempting the military's multibillion-dollar budget in a time of war.

That demand is creating hard choices for the newest members of Congress, especially Republicans who owe their elections and solid House majority to the influential grass-roots movement. Cutting defense and canceling weapons could mean deep spending reductions and high marks from tea partiers as the U.S. wrestles with a $1.3 trillion deficit. Yet it also could jeopardize thousands of jobs when unemployment is running high.

Proponents of the cuts could also face criticism that they're trying to weaken national security in a post-Sept. 11 world.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defensedepartment; dod; teaparty; uscongress
The DoD is a sacred cow.
1 posted on 01/23/2011 11:59:17 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Tea partiers are a mix of libertarians and more traditional conservatives, and would differ about the priority of national defenses. I think it is possible to see a more frugal military that is no less effective than the current wasteful one.


2 posted on 01/24/2011 12:14:17 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

I just think defense spending should come AFTER things like the NEA and the EPA.


3 posted on 01/24/2011 12:15:23 AM PST by HushTX
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IMHO,Defense spending should be raised to meet the threats of today. I would only cut programs that have the least chance of success and move other programs into “black budget”.


4 posted on 01/24/2011 12:20:18 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

This is the Mouth of Satan™ (MSM) trying to steer the agenda and divide the Tea Party. Ignore this.


5 posted on 01/24/2011 12:27:04 AM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Yet another indication that too many of our self-described “taxpayers” are getting their incomes either directly or indirectly from the government. We need a big default and general housecleaning of waste.


6 posted on 01/24/2011 12:29:14 AM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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To: familyop

I do not think the government will ever default because of bond ratings.


7 posted on 01/24/2011 12:30:02 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: familyop

However, waste like getting rid of the Department Of Education will go a long way.


8 posted on 01/24/2011 12:31:24 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

“No matter how much defense spending is trimmed, none of the cuts is likely to reduce the money that’s available to the military to spend on the war fronts.”

I hope that puts some minds to rest. However, if this report is anywhere close to the truth, I am concerned about R & D of new weapons systems.

“In an unusual political pairing, liberal Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a libertarian and former Republican presidential candidate, have joined forces in pushing for substantial reductions in the defense budget, including closing some of the 600-plus military bases overseas.”

/SeeBS frothing at the mouth...

Frankly, I don’t give much credence to this reporting. I think it’s mostly wishful thinking.


9 posted on 01/24/2011 12:37:40 AM PST by dixiechick2000 ("First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi)
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To: dixiechick2000

R & D of new weapons systems can be moved into “black budget” projects. The Department of Defense does not disclose how much they spend on “black budget” projects


10 posted on 01/24/2011 12:41:11 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: dixiechick2000

Black Budgets are kept secret for national security reasons


11 posted on 01/24/2011 12:48:20 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Just cut the rest of the government by the same percentage. Unfortunately, Democrats and Libertarians would just rather skin the DOD “sacred cow” alive and leave the rest of the government fat and happy.


12 posted on 01/24/2011 1:00:26 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (Florida - Give me your sick and tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe tax free!)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Everything should be on the table but you can’t make any real savings until you go after entitlements.


13 posted on 01/24/2011 2:14:13 AM PST by HarleyD
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Military waste = black projects.

Cut the miltary and lose the tech advantages. The China Option.

Cut DHSS and no further cuts needed for balanced budget. The Serious Option.

Pick one.


14 posted on 01/24/2011 3:15:51 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld
Here's the facts, pick your fat cats.

Notice that DHHS is larger than the DOD and SS.

Notice that DHHS has expanded and DOD has contracted.

Notice that the NASA budget is hardly noticeable...


15 posted on 01/24/2011 3:22:43 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld
There is a fantastic amount of waste at the DoD. The kind of stuff that defies reason. Retooling the force structure of the Army alone would save billions. Same goes for intelligence.

Yeah, this stuff is vital, but it needs to be managed better by Congress. Too often they're just pushing money at problems without asking really basic questions on what the money is going for, or if those tasks are redundant, obsolete, or even needed at all.

What is needed is someone who cares about defense to be given the Big Red Pen, and start slashing waste.

16 posted on 01/24/2011 4:36:01 AM PST by Steel Wolf ("There are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate." - Ibn Warraq)
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To: PIF

I’ve come to like that graph. I wish I could add a balanced budget bar which shows that to balance the budget we need 30% cuts in DoD, SS and Medicare and 50% across the board cuts everywhere else.


17 posted on 01/24/2011 4:44:37 AM PST by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: PIF

One more thing PIF.

To anyone who wants to, look at the “Treasury Dept” part of that graph. The exponential increase in the minimum payment on our debt is not something to ignore. It dipped down in 2010, in part due to the Fed’s QE but that can’t last very much longer (inflation is going up). We are that close to being forced into default and are just a few more Obama deficits and/or rising interest rates away. If we are forced into default, then there is only as much DoD, SS and Medicare as our debt holders think we should have.


18 posted on 01/24/2011 4:53:05 AM PST by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: MontaniSemperLiberi

Cut DOD, Watch Troops Die, Love Shiria.


19 posted on 01/24/2011 6:00:55 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: PIF

Don’t cut DOD, Watch Troops Die, Love Shiria.


20 posted on 01/24/2011 3:17:07 PM PST by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Let’s cut all programs that primarily give money to democrats.


21 posted on 01/24/2011 3:19:16 PM PST by GOPJ (How Liberal Journalists Think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3hbPtCttc)
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To: MontaniSemperLiberi

That was the thrust of what I was replying to people whoi claim to be tea party types and want to cut DOD. Cutting DOD is a very bad move.


22 posted on 01/24/2011 5:10:23 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: PIF

What year was that budget taken from and can you link it.


23 posted on 01/24/2011 7:06:05 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: PIF

I’m sorry but we have a series of bad choices ahead of us. The alternatives are worse choices. If we don’t get our debt under control in the next three to five years, sooner if interest rates spike, we will only have the military our debt holders think we should have.

No one is saying that we should gut the military but nothing can be sacred either.


24 posted on 01/24/2011 7:07:54 PM PST by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: PIF
This is mine. FY 2009
25 posted on 01/24/2011 7:11:44 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: PIF

You don’t think there is waste in DOD?


26 posted on 01/24/2011 7:18:45 PM PST by Minus_The_Bear
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To: Steel Wolf

No you are doing it the wrong the way. It is the job of the Inspector General to run audits of the various departments to find there is waste. He is not doing his job.National Defense is guaranteed by the US Constitution to the individual States under Article 1, Section 8


27 posted on 01/24/2011 7:20:40 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

“black budget”

That’s a term that I’ve not heard before so, okie dokie...I’ll take your word for it.

I sincerely hope that’s the case.


28 posted on 01/24/2011 11:44:24 PM PST by dixiechick2000 ("First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi)
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To: dixiechick2000

You never heard about it. I am a huge fan of black budget projects. I always hope that the US military use it often. The F-117,SR-71 and B-2 bomber were former black budget projects


29 posted on 01/24/2011 11:59:59 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Since it’s called “black budget”, I’m glad that I, and most of the public at large, haven’t heard about it. ;o)

Keep me informed of the latest black budget projects of which you are aware. They are fascinating...


30 posted on 01/25/2011 12:05:53 AM PST by dixiechick2000 ("First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi)
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To: dixiechick2000

I will


31 posted on 01/25/2011 12:07:06 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Thanks!


32 posted on 01/25/2011 12:07:44 AM PST by dixiechick2000 ("First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi)
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To: Minus_The_Bear

You don’t think there is waste in DOD?

DOD “Waste” = Black Projects.

Where do you image those funds come from? The Obama Stash?

Cutting DHHS back in line with other budgets would nearly ballance the books. Cut the to $15-20 billion, save $850 billion.


33 posted on 01/25/2011 2:56:04 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

Heh :)


34 posted on 01/25/2011 2:56:55 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: MontaniSemperLiberi
No one is saying that we should gut the military but nothing can be sacred either.

But since no one - not you either - will mention DHHS, then the conclusion must be that your and others priorities IS cutting DOD, while leaving DHHS untouched and in the hands of one of the most radical leftist in 0bama’s cabinet.

Cut DHHS to $15-20 billion, save $850 billion.

35 posted on 01/25/2011 3:01:16 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: PIF
"DOD “Waste” = Black Projects."

__________________________________________________

This is the same lie that the teachers union spouts when it's time to pass a school bond.

DOD has waste just like EVERY agency. We need to cut the bureaucratic fat. The money needs to go to fighting men... not to paper pushers.
36 posted on 01/25/2011 4:08:39 AM PST by Minus_The_Bear
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld
What a stupid thing to say. Defense spending is necessary.

Right now, Obama has already cut defense. He's also put a freeze on development.

As our enemies push on and discover new and better ways to defend themselves, let's let the U.S. lag behind in this area as well as every other area. We may as well start acting like the third world country we're becomming.

37 posted on 01/25/2011 4:16:04 AM PST by CAluvdubya (Don't retreat...reload!.....and no, I'm not changing my tagline! Pray for Sarah and her family)
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To: dixiechick2000
I am concerned about R & D of new weapons systems.

Bingo! Cutbacks and freezes are already happening.

38 posted on 01/25/2011 4:18:11 AM PST by CAluvdubya (Don't retreat...reload!.....and no, I'm not changing my tagline! Pray for Sarah and her family)
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To: PIF
FRiend! You have a kindred spirit in me. (At least when it comes to budget cuts) I do dare to propose cuts to DHHS. Follow the first link below. You're right though, if we all hold on to our sacred programs insisting other's programs go first, we will ruin this country beyond saving.

$0 Deficit Funding Levels

Current Federal Cash Flow

39 posted on 01/25/2011 4:29:39 AM PST by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: Minus_The_Bear

Oh good grief! It is impossible to eliminate bureaucratic waste, DOD certainly has that sort of waste, but, in the haste to elimiante it, multiple vital programs will be slashed and the bureaucratic waste will continue.

Always it is cut DOD or NASA, never is it cut the giant budget hog at DHHS. Why do you focus om the very people who are giving you the freedom to do as you do and not the people (DHHS) who are focused on telling you what to do?

Teachers are not defending our country, nor is their existance or funding a Constitutional mandate. DOD is.

We are at war for our very existance, in case you missed it, and other countries are either making preperations or are in the process of upgrading their mils. We have aging, destroyed, or obsolesent equipment which desperately need to be either replaced, upgraded, or repaired.

Gates and Obama will welcome your cuts...


40 posted on 01/25/2011 5:30:04 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
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To: CAluvdubya
What a stupid thing to say
I am glad you agreed with me then
41 posted on 01/25/2011 9:42:46 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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