Government

Tea Partiers Say Keep Defense in Mix for Budget Cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tea party supporters clamoring for the government to slash spending say nothing should be off limits. Tea party-backed lawmakers echo that argument, and they‘re not exempting the military’s multibillion-dollar budget.

That’s creating hard choices for the new Republicans in Congress who owe their elections to the influential grass-roots movement. Cutting defense and canceling weapons could mean spending reductions and high marks from tea partiers. It also could jeopardize jobs.

Proponents of the cuts could face criticism they’re weakening national security.

House Republican leaders specifically exempted defense, homeland security and veterans’ programs from spending cuts in their “Pledge to America” campaign manifesto. The defense budget is about $700 billion annually. Few in Congress have been willing to make cuts as U.S. troops fight two wars.

Comments (135)

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  • shorthanded12
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:26am

    Heres some examples of why the Government is out of control.
    As of 2009, the Forest Service has a total budget authority of $5.5 billion, of which 42% is spent fighting fires. The Forest Service employs 34,250 employees in 750 locations, including 10,050 firefighters, 737 law enforcement personnel, and 500 scientists.

    US Dept Health Human Services : 3400 plus employees
    US Dept of Education : 4100 with a request to hire 400 plus more
    IRS: According to the IRS 2009 Data Book, IRS workforce counts up 93,337 employees – 91,082 of which being full-time permanent. IRS personnel distributes into 9 activity branches: examinations and collections, filing and account services, information services, prefiling taxpayer assistance and education, shared services and support, investigations, regulatory activities, business systems modernization and health insurance tax credit administration.

    Report Post »  
    • shorthanded12
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:44am

      Correction to the number of employees at the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS).
      How many HHS employees are there?

      64,750 employees

      There are currently 64,750 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These are the full time equivalent workers employed at the HHS as of 2008. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the US government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves

      Report Post »  
  • Libertyship46
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:23am

    It’s not always a question of how much Congress spends on defense, but HOW it spends its money. All branches of the armed services MUST get a better handle on what exactly (and realistically) they want out of a weapon system. The classic example of a major Pentagon nightmare is the current Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This is a perfect example of the US Navy trying to have one small ship do too many missions and have too many very expensive weapons systems placed on it. What did we get? A small ship that was supposed to cost around $200 milllion each now costing an amazing $600 million each and still climbing. The whole program is a disaster and we may still have to go through with it simply because we already have too much money invested in the project. But it’s a clear example of the Pentagon having unrealistic expectations from a warship and trying to have a small hull do to many things.

    Have clear and simple idea of what a weapon system needs to do and make sure you have achievable goals that can be obtained in a reasonable amount of time. Don’t try to have every gold-plated technology placed on board one ship, or one jet, or one tank. By keeping the procurement process simple and realistic, you will inevitable reduce costs.

    Report Post » Libertyship46  
  • WTH is up with our government
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:58am

    That is not a good thing….I go with the Tea Party until then….China is amping up, we have to watch our own backs. There is no one to come to our rescue. Everyone is in financial distress……and couldn’t even if they were willing to.

    Report Post »  
    • WTH is up with our government
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:02am

      I do think they need to spend their military budget more effectively….and find ways not to pay out the wazoo for everyday items…to be financially responsible yes, to make cuts in training, gear, their salaries, no.

      Report Post »  
  • C. Schwehr
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:38am

    Look, it’s very obvious that we have waaaay too many assets overseas that need to be eliminated as either redundant, or outright not necessary due to the end of the cold war. It’s time we let the Europeans, the Japanese, the S. Koreans etc do their own defense instead of being the worlds policeman. We can no longer afford to wipe the world’s nose! Every empire (and yes, we ARE an empire) that has bitten off too much has eventually fallen into second world status like the former British Empire which caused so much damage and death around the world to statisfy it’s economic rulers. Rein in the military and bring our troops back to our own shores! We have been the worlds cop for better than 70 years…time to look to our own!

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  • MaggieRose
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:34am

    To save money in the budget? Pay Congress what an Army private makes. Stop sending another dime to our enemies. No more free lunches/houses/airplanes to those elected. Let all our elected officials live like a “real” American lives… on a budget, on time, on “real” money — unable to print any more if we run out before the end of the month.

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    • EqualJustice
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:41am

      The part about sending money to our enemies always bothers me. Why would WE be asked to pay MORE taxes just to borrow from China at high interest rates, to give to Pakistan? LET CHINA send them the money! It really gets me angry that we just HAND OUT money all over the world, and then we are told we are GREEDY for wanting a small raise or cut in taxes! I just don’t get it. STOP the funding of the rest of the world and maybe we could get our OWN house in order! Screw this global crap. haha

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • VTPatriot44
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:32am

    Please don’t fall into the trap that the progressives have set around national defense. The progressive left will be more than happy to make wholesale type cuts to defense and that will damage national defense. That is far from common ground with the Tea Party Patriots as it pertains to the specifics. While there is a broad sense of reverance for the brave men and women of the armed forces from conservatives, we all know that the clumsy bureacracies that plague government in general are also in place in the Pentegan. That is where the savings can be found without putting our nation or the members of it’s armed forces at further risk. It will be hard work, but it must be done.

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  • skimmer57
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:26am

    We spend more on the military than all other countries combined! Be smart. But cut we must!

    Report Post »  
  • Silat
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:22am

    Defense spending is the one thing that has kept our adversaries at bay since the Second World War. Leave the military alone, period! We suffer largely when the left cut military spending and give it to their lazy ass unions, and social agendas.

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  • alcarfl
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:22am

    Ten percent cuts, across the board. Suck it up, big gov. Get rid of EPA, HEA and Big Sis’s bunch, Obamacare and its namesake signer. . That‘s Congress’ assignment for 2011. Then, in 2012, a flat tax to put the lawyers and bean counters on the unemployment rolls and balance the budget, pay off the Chicoms and let us begin to again enjoy the American dream. Term limits, torte reform and it will be a good couple of years for America.

    When is someone going to step up and disect GE and its vast, entangling alliances and political influence? Who stands to benefit more from POTUS game plan (Cap&Tax, Obamacare, global energy, controlled media and now job creation), than GE? Can you smell it?

    Report Post »  
  • PA PATRIOT
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:20am

    The following is a short list of on US Army Bases worldwide.
    Not to incite fury, but could we put a few of these to bed?

    Bulgaria
    • Bezmer Air Base
    • Novo Selo Range
    • Aitos Logistics Center
    • Graf Ignatievo Air Base
    Germany
    • Artillery Kaserne, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
    • Bamberg Local Training Area, Bamberg
    • Barton Barracks, Ansbach
    • Benjamin Franklin Village, Mannheim
    • Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg
    • Coleman Barracks, Mannheim
    • Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt
    • Dagger Complex, Darmstadt Training Center Griesheim
    • Funari Barracks, Mannheim
    • Germersheim Army Depot, Germersheim
    • Grafenwöhr Training Area, Grafenwöhr/Vilseck
    • Hammonds Barracks, Mannheim
    • Heidelberg Army Airfield, Heidelberg
    • Hohenfels Training Area/Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels (Upper Palatinate)
    • Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens
    • Kaiserslautern Military Community
    • Katterbach Kaserne, Ansbach
    • Kelley Barracks/Nathan Hale Depot, Darmstadt
    • Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart
    • Kilbourne Kaserne, Schwetzingen
    • Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern Military Community
    • Lampertheim Training Area, Lampertheim
    • Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl
    • Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt
    • Mark Twain Village, Heidelberg
    • McCully Barracks, Wackernheim
    • Miesau Army Depot, Miesau
    • Nachrichten Kaserne, Heidelberg
    • Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart
    • Patch Barracks, Stuttgart
    • Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern
    • Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg
    • Patton Barracks, Heidelberg
    • Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern
    • Robinson Barracks, Stuttgart
    • Rose Barracks, Vilseck
    • Shipton Kaserne, Ansbach
    • Smith Barracks, Baumholder
    • Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim
    • Storck Barracks, Illesheim
    • Stuttgart Army Airfield, Stuttgart
    • Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim
    • Taylor Barracks, Mannheim
    • Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen
    • Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden
    • Storage Station, Mainz-Kastel
    • Warner Barracks, Bamberg
    • USAG Wiesbaden Military Training Area, Mainz Gonsenheim/Mombach
    • USAG Wiesbaden Training Area, Mainz Finthen
    • USAG Wiesbaden Radar Station, Mainz Finthen
    • Anderson Barracks, Dexheim (will reopen)

    Iraq
    The US Armed Forces has many military bases in Iraq:
    • FOB Abu Ghraib, located 32 kilometres (20 mi) west of Baghdad, Iraq
    • Joint Base Balad, also known as Logistics Support Area Anaconda
    • Camp Bucca
    • Camp Cropper, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • Camp Dreamland, primarily occupied by United States Marine Corps forces in Fallujah, Iraq
    • Camp Dublin, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • Camp Fallujah
    • FOB Grizzly
    • Camp Justice, renamed Camp Banzai in 2004.
    • Camp Nama (closed 2004), operations moved to LSA Anaconda
    • Camp Liberty, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • Sather Air Base, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • Camp Slayer, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • COP Shocker, located in Zurbatiyah, Iraq
    • Camp Striker, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghbad
    • Logistics Base Seitz, part of the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad
    • COB Speicher, located near Tikrit, Iraq
    • FOB Sykes
    • Camp Taji, near Taji, Iraq
    • Victory Base Complex, a cluster of U.S. military installations surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The primary component of the VBC is Camp Victory, and is the location of the Al-Faw Palace, which serves as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps Iraq.[1]
    • Camp Victory

    Israel
    • The Dimona Radar Facility
    Italy
    • Caserma Ederle, Vicenza
    • Camp Darby, Pisa-Livorno
    Japan
    • Camp Zama, Tokyo
    • Torii Station, Okinawa
    • Fort Buckner, Okinawa
    Kuwait
    Current bases:
    • Camp Ali Al Salem
    • Camp Arifjan
    • Camp Buehring (formerly Camp Udairi)
    • “K” Crossing
    • Camp Patriot (located on Kuwait Navy Base)
    • Camp Spearhead (SPOD at Ash Shuaybah)
    • Camp Virginia
    This is a list of U.S. Army posts in South Korea:
    • Camp Ames
    • Camp Carroll
    • Camp Casey
    • Camp Castle
    • Camp Colbern
    • Camp Coiner
    • USAG Daegu
    • Camp Essayons
    • Camp George
    • Hannam Village
    • Camp Henry
    • Camp Hialeah
    • Camp Hovey
    • USAG Humphreys
    • Camp Jackson
    • Camp Kwangsa Ri
    • Camp Kyle
    • Camp Long
    • Camp Market
    • Camp Nimble
    • Camp Red Cloud
    • Camp Sears
    • Camp Stanley
    • Camp Walker
    • Camp Yongin
    • Far East Dist Engr
    • H220 Heliport
    • K-16 Air Base
    • Kunsan Pol Terminal Site
    • Madison Site
    • Masan Ammunition Depot
    • Pier #8
    • Sungnam Golf Course
    • Swiss and Swed Camp Mac HQ
    • Tango (U.S. Army)
    • Watkins Range
    • Yong Pyong
    • USAG Yongsan

    Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:37am

      YES!! And maybe put some of that money toward HOMELAND SECURITY along our OWN border! :)

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • WTH is up with our government
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:16am

      @ Equal….As long as the Progressives are wanting Canamerico (To connect Canada, US and Mexico as one) they will not want to secure the boarders. As long as there is a progressive in the Whitehouse, we will have this problem. Clinton, Bush and Obama……all progressives….

      Report Post »  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:38pm

      @PA PATRIOT

      That’s the short list?

      Closing a lot of those would save a huge amount of money, as I’m sure we pay rent for use of those facilities. Not to mention the expense of keeping them supplied, which includes transport costs. Most of those bases are multiply redundant especially in Europe; I see little need for NATO any more. Certain bases like Rhamstein AFB are needed, along with its supporting facilities. Most of the rest, I think, can go. A massive presence of American ground forces there seems so unnecessary at this point.

      No one is going to invade Japan any time soon, so we need only one or two air bases there and a naval port. It’s our Navy that needs the most support, so I would choose carefully about where those ports might be cut. We strike anywhere in the world from bases here in the US as well as with carrier groups, so a reduced ‘presence’ isn’t all that much of a problem. We may be ‘absent’ but we’re not far away.

      Besides, I‘m tired of my country being the world’s policeman. George Washington said it best, that we should be very careful about the treaties we make.

      However this whole debate works out, I strongly believe you can take 10% off the top of anything and not feel a pinch.

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • PA PATRIOT
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:51pm

      @ UpstateNYConservative
      Sorry about the use of the term “short list”. What freaked me out that this was only those bases listed for the US Army. What about US Naval bases…Marine Corps posts, …..US Air Force Bases worldwide? It is quite amazing.

      Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 5:34pm

      I think all bases in Europe could go. They‘re our allies and that’s not bound to change. They have well-equipped bases themselves that we can use should we have to project force somewhere in the vicinity for some reason.

      Report Post »  
  • Texas woman56
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:17am

    There are many cuts in Education that can be made without cutting the classroom teacher or increasing the size of the classroom. My idea is: if you are sick and can not go to work, if you do not need to call in a sub, then education does not need your job. If it is okay for you to be out without a sub. then you can just not come back and it will not matter to the students learning.

    Report Post »  
  • Helldogger
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:16am

    We have KB&R delivering the mail & running KP duty at $26/plate/ Yes we can cut the military! The military industrial complex is a nessessary evil, but we can pull it’s horns in without destroying the military. The homos will do that.

    Report Post » Helldogger  
    • Deutscher
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:33am

      If you have any military experience at all you know “homos” are there risking life and limb like everyone else. No one wants to, or is going to destroy our military.
      I know thinking through complex issues is difficult, but give it try. You might surprise yourself.

      Report Post »  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 5:30pm

      The issue isn’t really complex. Homosexuals have been fighting in our armed forces since their inception and yet somehow, the world doesn’t speak German (no offense, Deutscher). Our armed forces are as effective as they’ve ever been, with or without homosexual soldiers.

      Report Post »  
  • IntrepidSI
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:15am

    RE: tifosa
    “This is an area that the TeaPartiers and Dems have in common.”

    First, the only thing Tea Partiers have in common with Democrats is that we both post here. The only difference, TIFOSA, is that you get paid for it.

    Second, there is nothing wrong with cutting WASTE from every portion of Government. Find the waste, then take that money and spend it on what you actually do need, such a Veterans Programs, the V.A. and equipment that actually saves lives or helps our soldiers.

    The notion that Tea Party folks want NO government is absurd. We just want a SMALL government, one that is EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE. The only people who think the opposite are people like TIFOSA who no doubt get their talking points from UberJackwad Bill Mahr and the now, soon to be working at a McDonalds near you, Olbermann.

    Report Post » IntrepidSI  
    • tifosa
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 5:05pm

      Seriously, paid? Are you going to send some money? No thanks, keep it kiddo, walking-around change, you know… :)

      Report Post » tifosa  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:12am

    Every department/branch of the government could cut 10% if they just eliminated waste and duplication of effort. Not to mention that several whole departments – education for one – could be done away with resulting in little or no ill effects whatsoever.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • missy8s
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:04am

    The problem is the office of military procurement and congress!

    The Army pays 500 bucks for hammers and 1000 bucks for toilet seat because the procurement office plays “middle man” between congress and civilian vendors and suppliers.

    Somewhere in that relationship between civilian suppliers and the procurement office a high quality hammer jumps to 500 bucks and a plain white toilet seat jumps to 1000 bucks.

    If we cut any military spending it should start in the US Office of Military Procurement with a full audit of spending and a congressional investigation into price fixing by vendors and suppliers.

    Report Post » missy8s  
  • BrandyWilson
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:02am

    Cut cut…cut cut..then cut some more…We don’t need to be wasting billions on two loosing operations…Afghanistan and Iraq…nor do we need to COP to the world….Billions in military pay would be spent here if our many unnecessary, dead-weight bases and unnecessary personnel around the world are recalled home! IMHOP!

    Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:01am

    Everything should be on the table EXCEPT, military pay and benefits.

    Report Post »  
    • JSHarvey
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:10am

      I hope you’re including veterans benifits when you say “benifits”. After seeing some V.A. Medcial Centers that is one of very few areas I could go along with an increase in the budget for. Like the military or not, those guys and gals were made promises when they signed up to defend our freedoms and they shouldn’t be tossed to the wolves.

      Report Post » JSHarvey  
    • PA PATRIOT
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:01am

      The first item to be cut should be our Representatives salaries!
      I am with GB on this. Members of Congress should not be paid more than the soldiers that protect their butts. PERIOD

      Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • TheBMT
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:26pm

      well of course. To cut military pay and benefits, even vet benefits is a ridiculous notion for even the left. IF they are smart they can cut in so many areas in the military budget and be able to fund Veteran Benefits better.

      Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Do you even know what President Obama has done for the military and their families? It includes:
      -Provide travel expenses for families to Dover AFB to meet the bodies of their fallen soldiers
      -Signed WSARA-Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act (stops fraud/waste in defense procurement/contract’g system)
      -Added 4.6 billion USD to the Veterans Administration budget to recruit/hire more mental health providers

      Report Post » tifosa  
  • teammommy
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:57am

    I am a tea party follower and I dont agree…do not cut military!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 5:27pm

      Do we REALLY have to pay as much in military expenditures as the rest of the world combined? Cut 75% of the damn military. We’re fighting people with 70 year old guns that live in caves. We don‘t need to spend billions for new stealth fighters to fight people who don’t even HAVE radar at their disposal.

      Report Post »  
  • stoned.on.freedom
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:57am

    I say, cut every department, agency and program across the board within the federal government by 10%. Having fewer dollars to burn through, it will force them to tighten their belts and become more efficient.

    Report Post »  
  • koyettsu
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:56am

    I am all for the military, but I personally think there are things that can be trimmed down in every part of the Government.

    Report Post »  
  • evilbert
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:56am

    Let the Afghanistan people take responsibility as well as the people of Iraq and end the war and bring home the troops, cut the budget in half and reduce DHS to a fraction of the size, and completely eliminate Welfare, Social Security, and Medicare. The average person over their working lifetime will put $30,000 into Social Security. That same person will collect around $2,000 per month, and by the middle of the second year, they will have used up all $30,000 they put into the system. It is unsustainable unless they force people to put 10x the amount. I hope China says no more to the U.S. and forces us to make those hard decisions. The Republicans do not have the balls, nor do the TP backed Republicans, to do what is necessary. The American people will re-elect BHO, Pelosi, et al. They will regain power and we will continue down this spiral. The GOP is sterile.

    China, please, please stop lending us money. You will never, ever get it back.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:13am

      We shall see about the tea-party and the new conservatives. We shall see, the times are changing and now are the opportunities to make change happen, instead of waiting for it to occur and groaning about the past ‘I want the old days back…’ mentality.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • S_Malc13
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:07am

      My concern then, about the Tea-Party reps would be if they were to adhere to our standards, how would they fare with a RINO for Prez? Or a progressive Bush-type (Newt)? People have to hold their feet to the fire no matter what. It gets dicey from here.

      Report Post » S_Malc13  
  • vajaro
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:54am

    I work for the DOD and there are enough cases of waste and abuse they can cut some off Defence.. But like they do they will prune the tree from the trunk up. They will cut the working base and leave the overhead. There really are working people in the defence depots..

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:59am

      Then we need to put the push on the republicans and other political gurus to trim away the overhead that is not absolutely needed and leave a lean, mean, core trunk that is healthy and strong.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • tifosa
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:03am

      You work for the DOD and you spell defense with a “c”?

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • hifi74
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:11am

      Vajaro, I also work in the working force of the DOD and I am with you 100%, There is a myriad of areas where wastes run rampant and can be reduced without even touching the military so far. Those should be hit first and it should start from the top down not the other way around.

      Report Post » hifi74  
    • S_Malc13
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:42am

      Having been in the military, preventing fraud, waste, and abuse is an ongoing practice. I’ve been on a base and heard about others where they would build a structure, only to tear it down a year later. Towards the end of each fiscal year, it was encouraged to spend the money remaining on something, anything or risk losing it, but at the same token, it lowers the allocated budget of units who don’t use it all for the following fiscal year and they may very well need it. Better planning is prudent, but I wasn’t involved with the process so I have little room to criticize but observed enough to point out a few errors.

      Report Post » S_Malc13  
    • ksagpilot
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:51am

      This brings to mind $400 bolts and $1,000 toilet seats. This is the kind of cuts in defense we need.

      Report Post » ksagpilot  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:19pm

      I have no problem with Defense cuts .. as long as they are done right .. outdated equipment and arms should be cut … I bet you could ask those in charge of that and get a number of things that are very expensive and very unnecessary We should spend the money on what the troops really want and really need and keep up with new technologies .. .and delete the old!

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:23pm

      That would be a BIG Cut .. allow them to carry over any savings without risking a cut in the next year .. encouage it … they could use that money for NEW technologies and keep us on the cutting edge. Also just because something is allocated for one thing .. as technology changes allow for it to be spent on more efficient and up to date defense and not the old.

      Report Post »  
  • byehlik
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:54am

    Add your comments

    Report Post » byehlik  
    • DUMBASPELOSI
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:59pm

      Thanks for the chance to add . . .
      Politically speaking we will probably have to cut military spending. Currently our military spending is at near historic lows as a percent of GDP and as a percent of the Federal Budget – but political realities will call for some reductions. Keep in mind that with China pursuing equality with the USA in terms of military capability – that if we stand pat for more than 2-4 years – we run the risk of being vulnerable to political blackmail (see liberal handwringing over China’s suggestions that it may reduce use of USA debt and dollars).

      I would suggest a wise approach would be to cut the overall Federal Budget by 10% (including entitlements) but only cutting defense 5%. The real role that military superiority plays in protecting our freedoms and way of life is greatly under appreciated by the left and is taken for granted by the right.

      God Bless our military and God Bless America (especially those victimized by 48 million abortions over the past 42 years .. . .mothers and unviable tissue mass folks).

      Report Post » DUMBASPELOSI  
  • rightwingheroes
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:52am

    If the tea partiers dismantle our military resolve there will be a price to pay

    Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:03am

      They did say WASTEFUL cuts in ALL government departments. How does that “dismantle” the military?

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:11am

      @Equal justice

      Agreed, there is enough wastefull stuff across the board in ALL of the Fed to start with; streamline downward all the overhead not needed, and slim down the tree to the parts only essential and as minimal as needed.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:33am

      I’ll offer a very small example of military waste: In the Infantry we would use live ammunition very sparingly so as to not run out (for training purposes.) Towards the end of the fiscal year we would discover that we had thousands upon thousands upon thousands of rounds still available. If we had too many leftovers we would get a smaller allotment the following year. American troops being the intelligent, resourceful adaptable folks we are know that the more rounds you fire the filthier the weapon gets. That results in hours of cleaning, maintenance & inspection. Solution? -> At the end of every “Live Fire Exercise” you simply bury any leftovers!

      If there is ever a major forest fire at Ft. Bragg or Ft. Benning it’s gonna be one heck of a fireworks display!!

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:57am

      Good point equal.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:05pm

      This year’s defense bill has 1,720 earmarks worth a total $4.2 billion. Eliminate spending for politicians home-state pet projects “political pork” !

      Who’s going to pay the price if you cut military spending? The politicians!

      Report Post »  
    • Caffeinated Texan
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:10pm

      When civilians go through tough times, they have to tighten their belts, look closely at their budgets and figure out which of life’s NON-essentials they can live without. In these tough times, yes, the military needs to do that too. I have no major problem with cuts to non-essential items in the military budget. That being said, the military is only one small part of the federal government’s overall budget. Other agencies and/or programs will need to feel the pinch of the cuts as well.

      Report Post »  
    • docvet
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:46pm

      No sense im repeating what EQUAL JUSTICE said so well. Amen (as long as it applies to all departments in the govt.)

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:49pm

      We don’t seek to dismantle the military, but cut wasteful spending is a must. I saw waste every day during my years of service. Did you know that a single tube for a night vision goggle is about $3000? How about the fact that we throw those things in the trash daily because they have a couple of burn spots that are a couple thousandths of an inch in diameter? How much do you think a person would be willing to pay for one of those “burnt up” night vision tubes? A couple hundred maybe, possibly more if they were sold to a company that provided the lenses necessary to actually use them. I personally had to throw away alot of things that had value to the civilian market but not to the government. We need to go back to the old saying of waste not, want not. It is always true.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • click4cheapandeasyweb
      Posted on January 24, 2011 at 12:35am

      “dismantle our military resolve”

      No way! I have yet to meet any Tea-Partier that wants to weaken our resolve, not one person.

      In the late 70‘ to early 80’s I lived and worked just outside a large Army base on our East Coast. I was in the construction biz at the time and got a friend on the base get me into the base garbage dump so I could dump some of my building materials without having to pay. While my guys were unloading my truck in the dump I looked around at some of the piles of other stuff that the Army was tossing out. I WAS AMAZED! Without my friends knowledge, I went back to that dump that day 3 more times to load-up on brand new 5 gallon buckets of paint. Brand new storm doors. Brand new sink fixtures. Brand new vinyl siding. Brand new roof shingles. Brand new Carrier window air conditioners,etc, etc. All of this stuff was still in their original packaging materials and none of it had never been used. There was so much stuff that on our last trip of the day I went and rented 3 large U-Hauls and used my Dump Truck and large Pick-up to haul everything we could get our hands on. On my last trip out I asked the guy at the gate how often stuff like this gets dumped and he said almost daily. He also told me that if anyone from the base was caught taking anything from the dump that they would be court-martialed. I only got away with it because I had a pass from one of his superiors and I was a civilian. Plus the guy at the gate got a new air conditioner dropped off in the bushes next to his car in the parking lot.

      That was years ago, but something tells me that not much has changed over the years. So please don’t tell me that what we are talking about is “dismantl(ing) our military resolve”. I’m sure there are many cost savings we could find without harming anyones resolve!

      Report Post »  
  • tifosa
    Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:50am

    This is an area that the TeaPartiers and Dems have in common.

    Report Post » tifosa  
    • byehlik
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:54am

      Spending cuts need to include all areas of government, although, defense cuts should be last on the list. Start with all the excessive discretionary spending, then cut the entitlement programs, then redundant and wasteful EPA, FCC, and the like, then cut all the czars, then look at the military. That is on the spending side. Next cut taxes by either going to a flat tax or eliminate all corporate taxes to make the US the best place to do business. There, all problems solved.

      Report Post » byehlik  
    • Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:57am

      We can still have a strong military and a secure country while cutting out any unneeded fat from the defense department and many other areas of the government; even in his book “Broke” Glenn has stated the department of defense (his sacred cow, and mine as well) can be trimmed down. There are levels of waste, of unneeded items, projects, departments, and areas across the board of the fed’s that can go without any loss.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • hickoryrat
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:35am

      They better think about dismantling homeland security,fema and other secret police.

      Report Post »  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:37am

      I think the American people will make sure they stick to their promises. Unlike what they say in the mainstream media, the Tea Party is not going away anytime soon. If promises are broken I think they will become even stronger.

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – Great site for Tea Party news

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • LibertarianRight
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:37am

      The military needs to be cut. But it needs to be cut properly. In the past, all the cuts to the military did was weaken it by reducing personnel and equipment, but still requiring the same worldwide presence. What needs to be cut is our foreign military influence. Europe doesn’t like us anyway, let’s let them dangle on the vine. Stop meddling in Latin America’s drug trade – it isn’t even working (and why are we destroying something that is legal in other countries just because we don’t like it, and therefore banned it, here anyway?). The only real area we need a foreign military presence in is around China – and only then because of the stupidity of the Allies-Japanese treaties from the end of WWII that prevent Japan from defending itself, and the weakness of South Korea. Everything else can be covered with long-range bombers, missiles, and the occasional patrolling fleet (there really doesn’t need to be one everywhere though).

      Report Post »  
    • teddieandkaylee
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:53am

      There are more than 100,000 American troops in Germany and Japan. Why? Somehow I doubt that their daily duties in those countries are producing results vital to the American People. There is probably more than 100,000 troops in other countries as well not including Iraq and Afghanistan. I expect they can reduce the defense budget by eliminating waste and without endangering the country. Bought any $1,400 toilet seats lately?

      Report Post »  
    • teddieandkaylee
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:19am

      If I were the leader of the congress and the senate. I would direct that until the budget is balanced there will be a moratorium on bills that require expenditures and insist that every member, every week present a bill that will result in spending cuts with a minimum of $1,000,000 per year.
      This would, of course, change the attitudes from the need to spend, spend, spend to cut, cut cut. Many of the bills that would be presented would undoubtedly produce spending cuts far in excess of $1M per year which would easily meet the objective of a total spending reduction of over one trillion dollars. I would continue with the program until such time as the principal on the $14 trillion debt was paid of and the daily interest of $350 billion is saved.
      Having balanced the budget paid of the debt a law stipulating that they could not exceed the budget in future would be established which would necessarily require that any spending bill would require an offsetting budget reducing bill so that lawmakers would never, ever again forget about reducing waste, fraud, abuse and stupidity with respect to the spending of taxpayer dollars.

      Report Post »  
    • exdem
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:01pm

      Yes cut defense!! Stop rebuilding Muslim countries that are going to attack us again in the future. Get our troops home and use them to protect our borders. How did the people with no common sense or morals become our leaders? We need to get back to the Constitution and stop letting the progressives use race baiting, imagined civil rights violations and hand outs as a way of governing our Nation into communism!They are taking our freedom as well as our money and I am FED UP!!!
      These frickin trolls on this site are paid to write hateful things so it can be shown on ******* sites as proof that the Tea Party is racist and hateful. I hope all of you are expressing true conservative views on their sites such as HuffyPo. I am . Their is strength in numbers and we need to chase these revolutionary rats back into their holes.

      Report Post »  
    • TheBMT
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:22pm

      Of course there are going to be jobs lost. When you have a Big govt, giving out Big contracts, then when you go smaller and more smarter, then of course there will be losses.

      About time the Tea Party voiced Defense spending as an area that can be cut too. We can defend ourselves and still cut properly. Not doing so would only embolden the left in saying they don’t need to cut entitlements. IF we lead by example, the country will take note.

      Report Post »  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:34pm

      I disagree with the general direction of the comments. It is a government’s primary function to protect its people.

      A recent leftwing Prime Minister of ours wiped out our Air Force in a single stroke saying it was expensive and not required. It’s along and complicated story, but the short version is that the polititians were astounded when this action turned out to cost our country a truckload of money (a truckload for us, anyway) and left us embarressingly dependent on our allies for air defense.

      Great Britain slashed it’s defence budget after WW1 and was caught without a modern army and navy when they most needed it. Peacetime is by far the most economic time to equip and maintain a military force and, as history has shown time and again, you never know when you are going to need it.

      Report Post »  
    • KnowingTheFuture
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:34pm

      Honestly? $700 Billion. How mwny wars and police states should we set up?

      Wake Up!

      NWO is being funded by the USA!

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:41pm

      I imagine, like all areas of government, there is waste that can be eliminated. The defense of this country is paramount, especially with Iran, North Korea and others playing with nuclear capabilities.

      Report Post »  
    • Large Eagle
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:43pm

      How about foreign aid cuts???????????????????????
      Bush tells all in his book about nation building and seemed proud of it???????

      Report Post »  
    • davuf
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:45pm

      except the tea party will also add medicare and medicad to the list. There are no sacred cows.

      Report Post »  
    • Large Eagle
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:46pm

      The wealthy are brave enough to take their business overseas and have lobby for the US Military for security. Let them supply their own security like Ross Perot…………

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:18pm

      repubs don’t like that stuff… military contractors are a huge lobby, tons of money.
      agree though. it needs to be cut.

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:40pm

      Wrong, the tea party may acknowledge that our military is part of the gov’t and as such is a bureaucracy and is overly wasteful, but we do not want to diminish our ability to protect the sovereignty of this nation that we call home. Trust me, there are alot of ways that we could cut spending in the military that would actually lead to better service members, better training, and better national preparedness. For starters, have you ever seen a person get an award for spending 50 grand because if they didn’t spend it before oct. 1 the next years budget would “shrink”? I have. This is a common practice and it only serves to drive up the cost of national defense. Have you ever seen MASH? Think about how Cpl Clinger was always getting the hook up and trading for supplies that he didn’t need just so he could have material to barder with when he did need something. Sorry to say this, but that IS how our current logistics system works in the military. Our meals are provided by the French company Sodexho too. In the past we had service members trained to fight and feed the troops. Now we pay even more people to provide meals. I‘m not saying that I didn’t enjoy the Baskin Robins ice cream everyday in Iraq, or the surf and turf wednesday’s, or the pancake sunday, but it wasn’t necessary and it increased the expense of the war. I understand that some will say it is good to keep the troops happy and well fed, but the reality is that we didn’t join to eat cake in Iraq, we joined to defend our nation. It is all of the extras that need to be cut. Conversely, we need to spend more on training. I was in a unit that only got to train with our weapons for a week out of the year. During that week we were expected to meet certain standards to qualify. What we did was not master the art of self defense and prepare for real life combat situations, but just marksmanship. We can do far better in this respect while still cutting spending across the board.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • gman46
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:56pm

      I agree with most of the posters, We need to cut any part of government, within proper degree’s.
      @cnsrvtvj;
      Agreed, the Tea Party isn’t going anywhere; Only time we will go is when we are no longer needed!

      Report Post » JohnGalt  
    • AmericanSoldier
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:40pm

      Defense budget accounts for nearly 50% of the national budget, doesn’t it? That’s where the big cuts should come from. If that means bring the troops home, EVEN BETTER!

      Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • leftiesaredangerous
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 4:23pm

      I was a Tea Party person before it was popular and I say the military budget should be at the bottom of the list of cuts. There are countless other government agencies (ie – Homeland Security – FDA – BOE – EPA, etc.) that need overspending weeded out or completely dismantled.

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 5:05pm

      There is waste in every part of government. Let the chips fall where thy may.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • MisterB
      Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:40pm

      The difference between Dems wanting defense cuts, and Tea Party members, is that Tea Party members will cut wisely, instead of the nonsense we saw with Carter and Clinton’s administrations.

      There is plenty of places to shave money in defense and still remain the strongest nation, with the best equipped soldiers. Start with the same problem we have in the federal government… bureaucracy.

      Report Post » MisterB  
    • click4cheapandeasyweb
      Posted on January 24, 2011 at 12:15am

      We Tea-Partiers may want cuts in the Defense budgets but I would be a pile of money that our ideas would not sit well with the Democrats.

      Here’s one excellent idea I could really get behind…

      Close all of our military bases around the world with a few exceptions. Bring home all the military personnell and all useable equipment. This alone would be savings in the tens of billions of dollars. But not end this journey there. Take some of money saved by this move to build and establish 10 Mini-Military bases stretched all along our southern border. These bases would be built in areas where there is almost no coverage by the Border Patrol. The base property lines could stretch along the border for so many miles in both directions (basically east to west) so the military has the responsiblitiy of patrolling the property lines. This would just about seal our southern border keeping out Drugs and Humans, and it would NOT go against any Constitutional concerns. It also allows the Border Patrol to do more targeted patrolling in their own concentrated areas.

      I personally like the idea of having our military here at home where I’m afraid they will be needed in the near future.

      Report Post »  
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