October 7th, 2001

I just want to make a point about that invasion date. We have now been at war in Afghanistan longer then we were in the Civil War, WWI, and WWII combined. This is the result when you do not get a commitment to total war - you get unending war.

Speaking of big fights, on the political front, 2 points:

1.) I think the public at large is growing very weary of public sector unions. Not only are the stats on early retirement, sick days, vacation days, and generous health/retirement packages making the rounds on news outlets - causing the jaws of private sector workers to drop; but it's becoming clear how fundamentally corrupt the political donation cycle of these public unions are. In short, public union X donates millions of dollars to candidate Z, getting him elected. Candidate Z (now government official Z) then "negotiates" how much public union X will be paid. In other words the politician grants generous wages to the union, the union then collects dues based on those wages and gives them back to the candidate to be reelected. The union is hiring the person responsible for "negotiating" on the tax payer's behalf! You might say, "well corporations lobby and elect candidates all the time." True. But they do so with private dollars (unless you're GM). Even FDR warned against allowing public sector workers to unionize. This unholy alliance must come to an end, and as one state after another nears bankruptcy, I believe the political will (as demonstrated in NJ, WI, OH, and IN) necessary to drive a stake through its' heart will materialize.

2.) The next BIG political fight is nearing - the US debt ceiling is rapidly being reached, and Tea Party acolytes are threatening to filibuster its raising. This has never been done (denying the government the ability to borrow at a higher level). Currently the US debt ceiling is at $14.294 Trillion. As of January 31st we were within $279 Billion of reaching it (sources HERE). Then came February. It was the most debt-costly month in US history according to the CBO (SOURCE). The US government took in $110 Billion, and spent $333 Billion, borrowing $223 Billion to cover the difference. Think about that. There were only 28 days in February. That's nearly $100 Billion borrowed, per day (let alone spent). This is simply unsustainable. And now, by my math, that leaves us $56 Billion of room before we hit our legally prescribed limit. Enter the various "debt solutions" offered by the current congress ...

The President's proposed budget is $3.1 Trillion (which he says cuts the fed deficit 1.1 Trillion over 10 years - ya' and I'll sell you Biloxi bridge for a good price too). Bare that number in mind, 3.1 Trillion. Senate Democrats are proposing cuts, hold on to your hat now, of a whopping $6 Billion. And the likes of Durbin and Kerry are predicting a recession relapse if we cut any more. I mean, are they living in bizarro world with the bad Superman or what? House Republicans are proposing nearly 10xs that, at $56 Billion (source for all of this HERE). And this battle - $6 Billion versus $60 Billion, is why at 65 days into fiscal year 2011, we don't yet have a budget, only "continuing resolutions" (the most recent of which expires on March 18th). So my question for the House GOP is simple - are YOU living in bizarro world too? 60-ish billion dollars? That's your Tea Party mandate? Dear Speaker Boehner, I must protest. It's time to STOP discussing how much of these department budgets to cut, and start talking about cutting the department. Enter the only sane voice involved in all of this (as far as I'm concerned) - the "Tea Party Senators." Rand Paul (R) KY, and Scott Lee (R) UT (& Mormon I might add). Rand's budget cuts proposal is $500 Billion for 2011 - now we're talking. As a side note I found it funny that his father, Ron, said that's not enough from the upper House. That $500 bil a year for at least 3-4 years was necessary. Senator Lee, for his part, introduced the much vaunted Balanced Budget Amendment (which calls for the feds to hold no more then 20% debt relative to GDP with an exception for declarations of war). Amazingly he got 61 votes when it went to the floor, including 11 Democrats. But it was shy of the support needed to break a filibuster. But the man is not deterred. I listened to him (on Fox News this very afternoon), flat promise to raise the vote again, and (most importantly) he vowed to filibuster any attempt to raise the US debt ceiling unless it was accompanied by a balanced budget amendment. NOW WE'RE COOKING. See, this is what I feared. While in the Senate one man, one committed Tea Party acolyte, can stir the pot and effect the direction of the nation, in the House we still have old guard leaders whom appear bent of placating, or pacifying the Tea Party, rather then take it seriously. That could change as the Paul Ryan's ascend the leadership ladder, but for now my hopes are with the Senators like Rand Paul & Scott Lee, and the governors like Christie, Walker and Kasich. These will provide the best 2012 crop in my estimation, as they are the most serious about public debt (which in turn affords them legitimate, common sense arguments on how to improve unemployment and the economy at large - something the voting public is craving now and will be starving for by 2012).

By the way - to all the vets and current service members fighting in Afghanistan (& Iraq). Your ability to win is NOT in question. Not for a moment. The ability of our civilian leadership to grow a spine and allow you to win, very much is. I only pray they will either allow you to do what you do better then any other army on the planet, or bring you home. Because this in between nether world of indecision is as unsustainable as our federal deficit, and a hell of a lot more lethal to those on the front line. God speed boys ....