Cut the budget, start with defense

Cal Thomas’ column of Feb. 20 clearly shows the level of stupidity and arrogance he possesses.

It’s simple, Cal, you’re a Republican. You can’t claim “fiscal conservative” because you fully supported the Bush White House and they never balanced the budget in eight years.

Your argument, and that of The Washington Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about the president “punting” are pointless. Didn’t the Republicans campaign that they had a better solution? If so, let’s see it. Don’t wait for the president, be a man.

Hate to break it to you and Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, the president isn’t the only elected “leader” in Washington. All Congressmen were elected to lead. Let’s see it.

As for slamming the president for a lack of committing to cuts for Medicare and Medicaid, I seem to remember you and your party slamming him for including cuts to both programs in the health care bill. The Republicans used it as a rallying cry for the segment of your base that use Medicare/Medicaid to win the midterms. Talk about a 180.

Bottom line, you have no interest in moving the country forward. Actually, I’m fairly confident your goal is regression — pre-civil rights.

If you and the Republican and Democrat establishments are truly interested in solving our budget and spending issues, you would put a focus on defense spending and make some real choices to close many of our foreign military bases. Here, I’ll put it in partisan speak so you can both understand the concept — let’s stop ramming Democracy down the throats of other countries and focus on our issues here at home. You talk of the typical “entitlement cuts” — politicians love those big words. Well what “entitles” America to change the world? War? Now there’s an entitlement that makes sense to cut.

Good talk, Cal.

Sid Capps

Elgin