Ed, you missed the real lede — but then, it’s buried in a different AP article:

Paul_in_NJ on May 7, 2009 at 3:40 PM

Son of a… Well, that’s gone down the memory hole; the article has been edited — the parts I quoted above are gone.

Ah, but the article lives on elsewhere!

Ed, you missed the real lede — but then, it’s buried in a different AP article:

Paul_in_NJ on May 7, 2009 at 3:40 PM

Son of a… Well, that’s gone down the memory hole; the article has been edited — the parts I quoted above are gone.

Those [$17 billion a year] savings are far exceeded by a 2 1/2-inch thick volume detailing Obama’s generous increases for domestic programs. And instead of devoting the savings to defray record deficits, the White House is funneling them back into other programs.

I believe that’s called the “Beltway shuffle.” And read on; some of the “savings” are entirely illusory:

Obama is also claiming savings from eliminating a host of accounts typically earmarked by members of Congress such as a $10 million West Virginia highway project obtained by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and $15 million obtained by Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., for diesel emissions reduction grants.

Obama is also proposing $145 million in savings from a clean water program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency which bankrolled 301 earmarks this year.

But Obama is not actually proposing to kill thousands of earmarks funded in the $410 billion catchall spending bill passed in March.

In fact, some of the cuts, like terminating production of C-17 cargo aircraft and phasing out direct payments to farmers with sales exceeding $500,000 annually, have already been rejected by Obama’s allies in Congress.

If you eat it slow, that handful of rice can sustain you all day!

capejasmine on May 7, 2009 at 12:51 PM

Something Gulag prisoners learned a long time ago!

maverick muse on May 7, 2009 at 9:23 AM

As an amateur genealogist, I find the census a gold mine for info, but the info has to be taken with a grain of salt bcs people LIE about things.
So if they do want accurate demographic info, you are 100% correct they should comb public records databases.
This would be a more efficient use of the $$ going to the census.
The census worker that came to our driveway just asked us if we lived there & if this was our address & we said yes & they left.
Then I got the huge booklet in the mail to fill out myself.
Tell me why they had to pay somebody to drive way out in the country to my house?

The above was one of Obama’s promises recorded by Jake Tapper. Hmmmm…$15 billion a year for 5 million jobs comes out to $3,000 per year per job, or about $1.44 per hour. Doesn’t that violate minimum wage laws? Or does he plan to hire illegal aliens?

Steve Z on May 7, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Nah. The immigrants will get the high paying union jobs. Those $1.44 jobs will go to us. Don’t worry though. I’m sure meals are included. If you eat it slow, that handful of rice can sustain you all day!

The Precedent continues to undermine the safety of our military, my son included. Damn.

Shout out to hawkdriver! Stay safe.

ladyingray on May 7, 2009 at 9:29 AM

Prayers for your son, and for hawkdriver. :)

It angers me to no end, that they cut defense spending, in a time of war. And this is supposed to be our smartest president ever?

Given that past is prologue, I wonder who else these petty assholes are planning on screwing while ignoring 8,000+ earmarks..

Funny how it comes out to that same inconsequential $17 billion.

Only now, I guess it’s a big deal.

Ronald Reagan’s first act as President in 1981 was ordering a federal hiring freeze.

How about we quit spending tax payer money on frivolous nonsense. Especially since a majority is unhappy with this kind of waste?

How about downsizing government, getting cabinet members to pay their late taxes, with interest, and penalties?

How about we limit trips, and flights, with Air Force One, to maybe…1 every few months?

And I’m an amateur. If I were in charge of the cutting, that would just be the beginning.

Over Michelle’s dead body.