Sure, why not cut national defense? Just because it’s one of the few legitimate spending programs in place (as opposed to the massive entitlement programs which don’t appear to be mentioned in the Constitution as something the Fed can do) doesn’t mean it can’t be cut even more. The U.S. is too powerful anyway. We need to take ourselves down a notch or three. That way everyone else will love us. Look how much good will we’ve received already after Obama’s apology tour.
Although the intellectually nuanced view to take is that believing such is so much bosh — province of the nutters who parade their populist racism around at Tea Parties.
The idea seems to be one looks smarter when one keeps one’s eyes wide shut.
For years folks have calmly said that debt isn’t a big deal because “well, if you look at it as a percentage of GDP…” And now reality is setting in and yes…it really is a big deal.
Another favorite was “Well look at Europe’s policies. They haven’t gone to hell in a handbasket…so we should be like them with policy [XYZ]”
Slowly but surely our debt fueled, delusional chickens are coming home to roost.
This is coming in the near future, I believe. When no one else can figure out which chicken-in-every-pot program to cut, it’ll be the ever diminishing Defense budget.
Or if the VAT is met with too much public opposition.
Art Laffer’s prediction comes true. Bob Reich things we’re into the beginning of a double-dip now; I guess it’ll be a full blown depression when the Boooooooooosh! tax cuts expire and the capital and stock markets tank…
Although the intellectually nuanced view to take is that believing such is so much bosh — province of the nutters who parade their populist racism around at Tea Parties.
of course defense has to be cut… kick-ass militaries are for superpowers… which our loser failshit country is not… and the last thing we want is to be one of those loser impoverished dirty socialist failshit countries what keeps pouring money into a privileged elite military I don’t think.
Flies completely in the face of that data. I mean, we all know that Wiki is no good for things that may need to be slanted in favor of the proggy agenda; such as AGW, US political topics, and various other facets of dogma.
once military salaries and benefits become flagrantly higher than comparable civilian compensation we will be in a very different country than we were before… and that’s exactly what will happen as the dirty socialists and their ruinous debts fuck the private sector up the ass ad infinitum… it’s exactly what Bob’s WSJ article implies.
some animals are more equaler than others, but when those animals are the military…
If that becomes the case, ‘feets, it’s then only one of a thousand problems. And, I’ll probably not care much one way or the other because I’ll be off on the highways hunting for human flesh and gasoline.
Better, perhaps, to focus on turning it all around rather than on managing the decline or deciding on exactly what sort of 3rd world country we’d most like to be. They all suck. I have no preference.
but you are deciding when you have the military budget be, if not sancrosanct, then first among equals when it comes to the cuttings what are imperative
Of course, all that said, I’m sure there is plenty of wasteful spending all over the place. I’d be curious if anyone had a link to a conservative examination of the military budget that identified what’s what.
there was a sci fi show called
lost in space..
and i’d give a trillion ducats to interview penny///
cuz i.m startinng a new internet thing!
u must drink
a;ot!
Whatever happens we can pretty much say buh-bye to that whole “policing the world” concept. Some genius is going to be talking about rapid, measured response with paint ball guns or some such. However, free cell phones for low income families will continue apace.
I’ve reached a point where every time someone comes on the air to pimp money for PBS … I just want to beat them with a 2X4 … with bent nails.
Let’s be honest, bh. Cutting Defense spending is not the solution. Profligate growth in the Federal Budget rests, in large percentages, in entitlements. I expect that some cuts in Defense will be inevitable but without draconian, drastic cuts in Medicare, Social Security and Welfare, those cuts will be a piss in the ocean by a two year old.
Couldn’t agree more, BJTexs. If you look through Ryan’s roadmap that I linked at #12, he’s working almost entirely by changing the entitlement payout details.
Means testing is probably the hill we’ll die on one way or the other.
Defense should be able to come down a bit. The pay raises have been too much (at least for field grade officers and above – I’d take a freeze next year no problem, and maybe the year after too). Some of the pork could go – and wasteful bureaucratic Pentagon rubbish too.
But does anyne think that will happen, or will it just be “have fewer aircraft, ships and brigades”?
Line up DoD vs. Medicare and Soc Sec. – wherein lies the bankrupting of America? I suspect the Marine Corps costs less than farm subsidies…
I can’t help but link this piece on Mitch Daniels again given this thread’s context. If we like governors because they have actual executive experience, then Daniels really deserves a strong look based on what he’s been able to do in Indiana.
I’d take a hard look at Daniels for sure, especially if he were intimating he’s figured out how to bring Ferguson on as press secretary (which would be quite a feat, I’d think).
Daniel’s gets a look. I’m sorely tempted to say the same about Chris Christie in NJ (if for nothing else that the exploding heads he would engender from Main Street Republicans.) (Yea, I’m petty like that!) Given a choice I’d probably be most enthusiastic about Paul Ryan because, quite frankly, he seems to be the smartest one of the bunch, can handle the minutia and is willing to speak his mind and tell me the cold, hard, ugly truth..
“I suspect the Marine Corps costs less than farm subsidies…”
I concur Colonel John. IMHO, there is far less fat in the DOD budget than in any of the entitlements, or even the dramatic increase last year in discretionary spending.
For instance, I think that 100 too few F-22’s are being purchased, at least for my taste. I know it has dramatic capabilities, SAM technology has inreased dramatically, laser systems will begin to come on-line very soon, and DARPA and the JCS are in sweaty, monkey-sex, lurv with UAVs and UCAVS. But, I don’t think actual pilots will be replaced anytime soon. Also, while aircraft like the JSF are touted as filling all roles adequately, I believe that it’s too early to declare the need for a fleet of robust air-superiority fighters as passe.
But, you know, I’m biased. And smarter guys than I believe my opinion is BS. But, replacing 500 F-15s with less than 200 F-22 makes me a bit squemish; especially since the Navy is going to be going JSF all the way…Until they start slingin’ UCAVs off the decks instead.
So far the JSF is a disappointment, and much more costly than predicted. I had high hopes for the plane, as I thought the idea of it was fantastic. For now, though, we probably need to make some more F-15s and A-10s, as well as more F-22s. I see nothing wrong with staying with proven technology that is less costly if it is still viable. Really, if you want a jobs program, make some more airplanes and bombs. That’s a stimulus I can get behind.
The only short-term safe haven is investing in Kimberly-Clarke. Because once people see what this is going to do to their futures, not to mention their portfolios, they’re going to rush out and buy Depends.
Milk subsidies do not keep milk prices down, but underwrite inefficient producers against more efficient producers who would bring lower prices the inefficient cannot match (and as a result, would likely be forced out of business, hence, the subsidy).
Bob, if I have a bias it would be in favor of A-10s myself. You cannot imagine how safe you feel with a pair of them circling about at your beck and call…
I hear ya Colonel,
I’m sure that those babies were the most bee-yoo-tee-ful Warthogs anyone had ever seen, when the timing is right.
I personally agree with cranky on the notion that more of those should be manufactured. They are the pre-eminent close air support aircraft in the world; at least amongst fixed wing models.
Those are probably F-111’s sdferr. At least the last time I admired the hardware there. They have variable geometry wings as well, but have a much pointier nose, less pronounced intakes, and a single rudder instead of 2.
one time i made a ramp and took my tricycle
to the top of the
hill and
i was really ready to let go
and let gravity take me down the hill and maybe if i hit the ramp just right
i thoght i could maybe fly but
then my mom called me home for supper and/ after all
it is hot dog night
Darn if those aren’t F-14’s sdferr. I don’t know how I missed them before. I thought they were all supposed to be gone by now. I wonder how often google earth updates the images?
Dunno. Help me out Bob, there’s a couple of dart like thingers I haven’t a clue on, a pair at 32 09 12 96 N, 110 50 29 26 W and another pair of what seems to be the same thing at 32 10 09 79 N, 110 51 59 89 W ?
i took two wire coathangers and made like these creepy like wings
and like totally rang my neieghbors dorrbell
and said trick or treat!
but it’s like june and shit and she sprayed me with a hose but
we’re cool now..
Where ya been dude. So much has changed. My kids have moved to a different grade, I have a new dog, Bob’s running out of vowels and O’bama’s taken to blaming Bush.
What? er disregard my last.
Great to have ya back, Now back to the front lines.
A-10s are also awesome from a survivability standpoint. The darn things can be shot up all the heck and they will still get the pilot home alive. That is cool.
Perhaps the F-14s you see in the pictures are completely gutted, or the pictures are old and they are gone by now. My understanding was with what Bob said, that they were going to be destroyed. However, I really don’t know for sure.
sdferr, I really can’t recognize anything from the image. But the closest thing I’d speculate is some kind of test aircraft, like one of the NASA lifting body configurations. But, I would have though all of those would be at museaums.
I concur on the lifting body shape Bob, but how weird that would be. I put a tape on ’em and they rough out at 41-42′ nose to tail and 19-20′ wingspan. Been tryin’ to imagine some outer wing portion removed but haven’t come up with anything striking as yet.
Sure, why not cut national defense? Just because it’s one of the few legitimate spending programs in place (as opposed to the massive entitlement programs which don’t appear to be mentioned in the Constitution as something the Fed can do) doesn’t mean it can’t be cut even more. The U.S. is too powerful anyway. We need to take ourselves down a notch or three. That way everyone else will love us. Look how much good will we’ve received already after Obama’s apology tour.
I’m so glad we were able to put someone in the White House with some fiscal discipline.
Cloward Piven.
Although the intellectually nuanced view to take is that believing such is so much bosh — province of the nutters who parade their populist racism around at Tea Parties.
The idea seems to be one looks smarter when one keeps one’s eyes wide shut.
For years folks have calmly said that debt isn’t a big deal because “well, if you look at it as a percentage of GDP…” And now reality is setting in and yes…it really is a big deal.
Another favorite was “Well look at Europe’s policies. They haven’t gone to hell in a handbasket…so we should be like them with policy [XYZ]”
Slowly but surely our debt fueled, delusional chickens are coming home to roost.
This is coming in the near future, I believe. When no one else can figure out which chicken-in-every-pot program to cut, it’ll be the ever diminishing Defense budget.
Or if the VAT is met with too much public opposition.
Now the howling will be gin when;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704113504575264513748386610.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
Art Laffer’s prediction comes true. Bob Reich things we’re into the beginning of a double-dip now; I guess it’ll be a full blown depression when the Boooooooooosh! tax cuts expire and the capital and stock markets tank…
Thanks for the link, Jeff.
We used to call it math.
of course defense has to be cut… kick-ass militaries are for superpowers… which our loser failshit country is not… and the last thing we want is to be one of those loser impoverished dirty socialist failshit countries what keeps pouring money into a privileged elite military I don’t think.
elections have consequences
So wait a minute…Cloward Piven is a fairy tale? B-B-But I thought they were academics from Columbia; the Vatican of progressivism.
Oh, wait…I forgot…Glenn Beck has mentioned this over the last 18 months.
I guess this puts me in the tin-foil hat nutters category with the rest of the tea-partiers.
Personally, I expect the printing presses to get fired up real soon.
That’s not going to make the Chinese very happy.
I found this
http://www.truthandpolitics.org/military-relative-size.php and
http://home.comcast.net/~andy_dunn/budget_main.html
But am looking for more data. Of course, Wiki says defense spending was 29% of the federal budget last year. I’m not inclined to believe that when
http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/obama-budget-defense-spending
Flies completely in the face of that data. I mean, we all know that Wiki is no good for things that may need to be slanted in favor of the proggy agenda; such as AGW, US political topics, and various other facets of dogma.
Here’s some options we should consider before gutting the military.
Of course, we need to elect those willing to do so in Nov.
once military salaries and benefits become flagrantly higher than comparable civilian compensation we will be in a very different country than we were before… and that’s exactly what will happen as the dirty socialists and their ruinous debts fuck the private sector up the ass ad infinitum… it’s exactly what Bob’s WSJ article implies.
some animals are more equaler than others, but when those animals are the military…
that’s just gross.
If that becomes the case, ‘feets, it’s then only one of a thousand problems. And, I’ll probably not care much one way or the other because I’ll be off on the highways hunting for human flesh and gasoline.
Better, perhaps, to focus on turning it all around rather than on managing the decline or deciding on exactly what sort of 3rd world country we’d most like to be. They all suck. I have no preference.
one time a gave a homeless person
who i refer to as DAD..
a not so like clinky money and i told him it
was like 14 billion
and he pised on my shoes..
but we talked about futbol and got close,,
emotionally
WE got close..
but he kinda stunk..
a penny saved is a penny earnd..
aside
a penny!
puh lease!
but you are deciding when you have the military budget be, if not sancrosanct, then first among equals when it comes to the cuttings what are imperative
Of course, all that said, I’m sure there is plenty of wasteful spending all over the place. I’d be curious if anyone had a link to a conservative examination of the military budget that identified what’s what.
oh. Yes.
okey doke
“…a conservative examination of the military budget…”
I haven’t a link as yet, but don’t doubt that Rep Ryan, among others, has given this a thorough going over.
Point taken. (I didn’t type #19 quickly enough.)
there was a sci fi show called
lost in space..
and i’d give a trillion ducats to interview penny///
cuz i.m startinng a new internet thing!
u must drink
a;ot!
Looking around, I find references to this comment but that’s about it. If anyone sees any specifics, please link, thanks.
Whatever happens we can pretty much say buh-bye to that whole “policing the world” concept. Some genius is going to be talking about rapid, measured response with paint ball guns or some such. However, free cell phones for low income families will continue apace.
I’ve reached a point where every time someone comes on the air to pimp money for PBS … I just want to beat them with a 2X4 … with bent nails.
Let’s be honest, bh. Cutting Defense spending is not the solution. Profligate growth in the Federal Budget rests, in large percentages, in entitlements. I expect that some cuts in Defense will be inevitable but without draconian, drastic cuts in Medicare, Social Security and Welfare, those cuts will be a piss in the ocean by a two year old.
Couldn’t agree more, BJTexs. If you look through Ryan’s roadmap that I linked at #12, he’s working almost entirely by changing the entitlement payout details.
Means testing is probably the hill we’ll die on one way or the other.
“Some genius is going to be talking about rapid, measured response with paint ball guns or some such. ”
Someone else will step up, primarily in their own interests, most likely. h/t Insty
Defense should be able to come down a bit. The pay raises have been too much (at least for field grade officers and above – I’d take a freeze next year no problem, and maybe the year after too). Some of the pork could go – and wasteful bureaucratic Pentagon rubbish too.
But does anyne think that will happen, or will it just be “have fewer aircraft, ships and brigades”?
Line up DoD vs. Medicare and Soc Sec. – wherein lies the bankrupting of America? I suspect the Marine Corps costs less than farm subsidies…
tag
ur it!
I can’t help but link this piece on Mitch Daniels again given this thread’s context. If we like governors because they have actual executive experience, then Daniels really deserves a strong look based on what he’s been able to do in Indiana.
/ sales pitch off
I’d take a hard look at Daniels for sure, especially if he were intimating he’s figured out how to bring Ferguson on as press secretary (which would be quite a feat, I’d think).
Heh, it is a rather remarkably positive piece.
Daniel’s gets a look. I’m sorely tempted to say the same about Chris Christie in NJ (if for nothing else that the exploding heads he would engender from Main Street Republicans.) (Yea, I’m petty like that!) Given a choice I’d probably be most enthusiastic about Paul Ryan because, quite frankly, he seems to be the smartest one of the bunch, can handle the minutia and is willing to speak his mind and tell me the cold, hard, ugly truth..
film at 11.
Better Ryan should rise to Speaker of the House, no?
Works for me, sdferr.
Ryan is one of a handful I would trust to run the House.
Paul Ryan is a powerful argument in favor of human cloning.
officer ryan let me off
with a scoff
“I suspect the Marine Corps costs less than farm subsidies…”
I concur Colonel John. IMHO, there is far less fat in the DOD budget than in any of the entitlements, or even the dramatic increase last year in discretionary spending.
For instance, I think that 100 too few F-22’s are being purchased, at least for my taste. I know it has dramatic capabilities, SAM technology has inreased dramatically, laser systems will begin to come on-line very soon, and DARPA and the JCS are in sweaty, monkey-sex, lurv with UAVs and UCAVS. But, I don’t think actual pilots will be replaced anytime soon. Also, while aircraft like the JSF are touted as filling all roles adequately, I believe that it’s too early to declare the need for a fleet of robust air-superiority fighters as passe.
But, you know, I’m biased. And smarter guys than I believe my opinion is BS. But, replacing 500 F-15s with less than 200 F-22 makes me a bit squemish; especially since the Navy is going to be going JSF all the way…Until they start slingin’ UCAVs off the decks instead.
So far the JSF is a disappointment, and much more costly than predicted. I had high hopes for the plane, as I thought the idea of it was fantastic. For now, though, we probably need to make some more F-15s and A-10s, as well as more F-22s. I see nothing wrong with staying with proven technology that is less costly if it is still viable. Really, if you want a jobs program, make some more airplanes and bombs. That’s a stimulus I can get behind.
The only short-term safe haven is investing in Kimberly-Clarke. Because once people see what this is going to do to their futures, not to mention their portfolios, they’re going to rush out and buy Depends.
farm subsidies are gay
all subsidies
hi happyfeet.
I agree in principle that farm subsidies are bad, but the arguments in their favor are that they keep food cheap and plentiful.
by turning corn into ethanol?
we’ll subsidize the corn to subsidize the ethanol
oh with ethanol we have the epa to make you use it
Hi Mr. Makewi. Less cheap plentiful food more cheap plentiful energy I think.
Yes, we should get rid of the subsidies for ethanol and any requirements that it be used.
Milk subsidies do not keep milk prices down, but underwrite inefficient producers against more efficient producers who would bring lower prices the inefficient cannot match (and as a result, would likely be forced out of business, hence, the subsidy).
market meddlers like gov’t out
Here‘s your goto guy on ag subsidies, Daniel Sumner. And here‘s a fairly short .pdf from him on the topic.
Bob, if I have a bias it would be in favor of A-10s myself. You cannot imagine how safe you feel with a pair of them circling about at your beck and call…
I hear ya Colonel,
I’m sure that those babies were the most bee-yoo-tee-ful Warthogs anyone had ever seen, when the timing is right.
I personally agree with cranky on the notion that more of those should be manufactured. They are the pre-eminent close air support aircraft in the world; at least amongst fixed wing models.
I’m all for A-10’s in great numbers too, LTC, but first the air has to be made safe for their lollygaggin’ carcasses.
Speaking of which (greater numbers of A-10’s) the overheads of Davis-Monthan on GoogleEarth are a trip.
I stay away from Google Earth for the most part – I zoomed in on a place where I almost got blowed up … too freaky.
Oh, and anything that makes the skies safe for A-10s, AC-130 and Apaches is fine by me!
“…Apaches is fine…”
About which, a nabbing. And cheers from the peanut gallery.
You won’t find any Tomcats at the boneyard. Those that weren’t sent to museaums were shredded to avoid spare parts getting to Iran.
You do what you’ve gotta do.
I’m seeing F-14’s there right now Bob, at least I think that’s what they are.
Those are probably F-111’s sdferr. At least the last time I admired the hardware there. They have variable geometry wings as well, but have a much pointier nose, less pronounced intakes, and a single rudder instead of 2.
Though so far, only 8 of them, and the photo date is Nov. ’09
Look at 32 09 03 N, 110 50 01 W
There are indeed a ton of F-111’s in various states of discomposure, but these aren’t those.
one time i made a ramp and took my tricycle
to the top of the
hill and
i was really ready to let go
and let gravity take me down the hill and maybe if i hit the ramp just right
i thoght i could maybe fly but
then my mom called me home for supper and/ after all
it is hot dog night
Darn if those aren’t F-14’s sdferr. I don’t know how I missed them before. I thought they were all supposed to be gone by now. I wonder how often google earth updates the images?
Dunno. Help me out Bob, there’s a couple of dart like thingers I haven’t a clue on, a pair at 32 09 12 96 N, 110 50 29 26 W and another pair of what seems to be the same thing at 32 10 09 79 N, 110 51 59 89 W ?
i took two wire coathangers and made like these creepy like wings
and like totally rang my neieghbors dorrbell
and said trick or treat!
but it’s like june and shit and she sprayed me with a hose but
we’re cool now..
Pee Dee’s Back!
Where ya been dude. So much has changed. My kids have moved to a different grade, I have a new dog, Bob’s running out of vowels and O’bama’s taken to blaming Bush.
What? er disregard my last.
Great to have ya back, Now back to the front lines.
A-10s are also awesome from a survivability standpoint. The darn things can be shot up all the heck and they will still get the pilot home alive. That is cool.
Perhaps the F-14s you see in the pictures are completely gutted, or the pictures are old and they are gone by now. My understanding was with what Bob said, that they were going to be destroyed. However, I really don’t know for sure.
Oops, you had the picture date there. Oh well. Still, that’s over six months ago.
sdferr, I really can’t recognize anything from the image. But the closest thing I’d speculate is some kind of test aircraft, like one of the NASA lifting body configurations. But, I would have though all of those would be at museaums.
thanks danger!
all u
shitheads fighters in this war thank u i
can’t name u all
but thanks
im just funning but i
arrgh..
respect and truly thank u all
1
and that was the booze talking!
military haiku!
thunder rains deep..
umbrellas are so shady..
pinpoint my love girl
twice i tried for a boy scout badge,,
it was called empathy u poor bastards
I concur on the lifting body shape Bob, but how weird that would be. I put a tape on ’em and they rough out at 41-42′ nose to tail and 19-20′ wingspan. Been tryin’ to imagine some outer wing portion removed but haven’t come up with anything striking as yet.
if u assholes
aka
nice guys could u wind down and like
bend low
sweet chariot.
i woukd appreciate it
no big deal!
lov ya anyhoo!
i just do not
know about flying stuff
but i can funyums!
assholes
said aasshoke three times,,
asshole,,
three
times!
thats nit lke me..
maybe i/m an..asshole!
2
bobby orr
blame game
bannana fo fanna
me my fo fanna.
idont know how it goes
my pride is inside,,
if anyne knows
letttuce share!
sdferr,
The dimensions and the shape seem pretty reminiscent of the X-24B. I can’t get a handle on how many were built; maybe If I dug more…
Although the imaging is impressive, I wish it were more clear so we could tell. Now I’m wondering if it’s some exotic area 51 ship!
I’m assuming these are in degrees, minutes, seconds and decimal seconds? If so, that part of the boneyard doesn’t resolve well, in my Google Earth.
Everyone’s aware that A-10s are still in use, and have been outfitted with some more advanced avionics, yes?
Me likey the Warthog. A lot.
X-24b looks right Bob, I gotta say. Nice pick up.
Those planes at the first set of coordinates look to me like miniature Imperial Star Destroyers. Tucson does kinda resemble Tatooine, no?
And so do the ones at the other set, and one even has the bright white paint job.
Thanks GW!!