On the substance: Freezing all government spending.

[riverdeep]

McCain throws this out there like it's a minor policy matter, I think it's actually huge. What would this actually mean in the real world? Does this include military spending? If the 'leaders on the ground' ask for an increase in funding, does this mean he will on principle refuse their request?

[Orrex]

1. No, he specifically excludes military and veterans' spending from the "freeze"

Just about everything else is termed "non-essential," though.

He's a Randian freemarketeer's wet dream.

[riverdeep]

7. Ok thanks.

I guess the simpler question to ask it what would he keep? Military, veteran's, how about Medicare Medicaid? Infrastructure? Will we wait for another bridge collapse before funding gets ok'd? It's basically saying that what the Bush administration's spending priorities were, is A-ok with him.

[Lasher]

2. He said as he's said before, the freeze would not include military spending.

And 'other' spending would be exempt as well - whatever that means.

[Lex]

3. BUT buy up bad mortgages

:wtf:

[dennysp]

4. How does he put a freeze on government spending and

simultaneously implement all the programs he's promised (from healthcare to alternative energy, including NUCLEAR-----EXPENSIVE!!!!!). Don't understand that! Then, he said that he would do a Manhattan-type project for alternative energy-----costs money, but he's freezing government spending.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. So much for alternative energy R&D

That which does not destroy, gets left behind.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Everyone can get by with less money except the Pentagon.

(sarcasm)

[chupacabranation]

8. He also said he wouldn't cut VA (Vet Affairs) funding...but, he's never SUPPORTED it...

I can't trust a word he says when he talks about budget.

If you can abandon YOUR OWN, your dearest...how can you possibly be trusted?

[Lyric]

9. No Food Stamps, no WIC, no Medicaid, no TANF, no OSHA, no HUD.

And of course, no public education spending. He means the same things that Republicans ALWAYS mean when they talk about cutting "spending." Fuck the poor, let them starve. Fuck the working class, let them suffer. I bet he doesn't stop funding those useless, ineffective abstinence-only programs, though.

I truly loathe this man.