peace dividend

Andrew is right on in calling all of the candidates to task for their fantasies of fiscal discipline in the face of such daunting challenges as the war, a weak economy, and the fiscal fiasco of the past seven years under President Bush 43.  John Brody of the New York Times and Jim Horney of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities deserve public services award for bringing it all together in Brody's article Sunday.

Let's debunk the fantasies.

The New York Times has an article today by John Broder that will give anyone and everyone who watches the federal budget debate something to worry about.

So, in no particlar order...

Although it doesn't quote him, the article indicates that McCain economic advisor and former Congressonal Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin says, ..."if the war and the personal and corporate tax cuts that Mr. McCain advocated added to the federal deficit and debt, so be it."

This is an outright admission that the candidate still in the race who considers himself to be the most fiscally conservative has little interest in government borrowing and sees no reason to limit his plans or deal with the budget hand he will be dealt if he gets elected.

The article also indicates that McCain "...plans to pay for tax cuts and modernizing the military by eliminating earmarks and wasteful spending from the federal budget."