[Eternal_Bear]

If there is a war going on, why not drastically reduce domestic spending? I don't get it. Where is the conservatism?

[Ed_in_NJ]

"Where is the conservatism?"

Being overwhelmed by the "compassion."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

If there is a war going on, why not drastically reduce domestic spending? I don't get it. Where is the conservatism?

Well said! If taxpayers and private businesses had to sacrifice after 9/11, then surely big government depts like Dept of Ed, Housing, and Commerce should have been abolished.

There is no justification for the farm bill, the education bill, and a homeland security dept. Bush is a big-government Republican, and I hope conservatives hold his feet to the fire in 2004.