So, Peter, just what is the “right kind of military modernization”? how do Obama’s proposed cuts not take it seriously? and (since I presume Romney would increase military spending) what real impact would that have on the dreaded “national debt”?

I would point out that the two major expansions of military spending under Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush constitute the lion’s share of what pushed that debt to current levels since 1980.

Anybody got any figures that prove me wrong?

And by the way, “Obama’s spending spree” is simply a flat out Conservative lie. No president since Jimmy Carter has contributed less to the deficit than Barack Obama.

And if you need the figures, I can bring them by, if anybody here really wants to face inconvenient figures as well as inconvenient facts.

Now since I’ve asked this sort of question before and heard nothing here but a deafening silence, I’ll point out some more inconvenient facts.

First, if you examine the cost trends of the fancy, high tech weaponry generals and military buffs so love, the cost graph of them is rising so much and so fast that there is no way whatever that we can keep buying them wholesale without ballooning the deficit.

And this is so even with the entire elimination of Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Compensation, Food Assistance, and Food Pantry Support, PBS, NEA, NEH, taxes on the rich, regulation of banking and Wall Street, the Department of Education, and whatever else deficit hawks get on a high hobby horse about.

Second, the first decade of the 21st century has proven abundantly that it is low cost, low tech solutions–stand off combat in creaky, 50 year old B-52s; SEALS in helicopters; Predator drones; body armor; extra armor under Hummers; MREs; streamlined field fortification, and better field medical care–are what have actually been effective in real war.

Third, what these do is support the lowest level of military fighting by multiplying the effectiveness of the individual soldier.

Fourth, the number of individual military personel fielded by the United States is overwhelmingly in excess of any other country on the planet. And their real technological advantage (high or low) over foreign armies is that much greater as well, and will clearly stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Given these, I see no reason on earth why the Defense budget should be sacrosanct in any attempts to reduce the costs of government and the size of the deficit.

If you have any, I’d enjoy hearing them.

And if Mitt has any beyond the usual Red, White, and Blue fustian and bluster, I’ll entertain them, too.

Despite the fascination of the horserace, it is things like this that are of real importance no matter who warms a chair on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Fascinatingly they found ways to magnify their caricature of Ryan to such a degree that it rendered their portrayal of Biden (virtually a straight portrayal in my opinion) as almost common place.

Apparently members of the writers guild are forbidden from making democratic personalities seem too ridiculous. Something that must have been quite a challenge when it came to Biden’s performance last Thursday.

The Neocons will have Mitt Romney elected to first use him and then let him fall easy prey. All blames and responsibilities will fall on the new Mormon president for the events already planned.

The new World War of Religion is already a done deal behind the backs of all people which will be forced to fight for their own Countries in their obligation as citizens.
…………

Since 9/11 it’s the War on Terror.
One “false flag” attack so called by error.
Blair, Bush, and Israel had a Pact in store.
Their next surprise is knocking at your door.
A hidden vile Idea from those who want “more”.
will use you and your Belief for the next World War.
As “chosen people” gain while Humankind loses.
Greed wins not by the swords but by the words of Moses.
Daring is to tell you when, better then to tell you rhymes.
could not side with either one to get ready for our times.
to look beyond and past today to seek for a solution.
one only hope is there for you and spells Wavevolution
……………….

A new type of Revolution wins with the ultimate weapon:
Your Mind

http://www.wavevolution.org/en/humanwaves.htm

Besides, my understanding is that the next debate is one of those “town hall” style farces, which means the candidates have to pretend to talk to the actual questioner rather than each other, which isn’t in the wheelhouse of either one, and prevents much in the way of frontal assaults.

Hard to see how Obama can make Romney unpalatable again at this point, when clearly a large number of folks actually were in the “don’t like Obama, don’t know or trust Romney” camp that we’ve been speculating about for months and the first debate gave them all the excuse they need to come out for Mitt.

P.S. I was sleeping through SNL last night and my wife reported that the Big Bird ad that I thought had been pulled was aired. She said she thought it was a parody, but it appeared to be real, and seemed very, very, very strange. She’s MUCH different than myself politically, so I have to wonder who the heck they think that ad and tactic is supposed to work with?