republicans more interested in buying votes

[billwald]

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110216/NEWS02/110219870/-1/News

"The engine battle pits Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates — who say the engine would waste almost $3 billion over the next few years — against GOP leaders like House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, whose state is a chief beneficiary. The spending measure includes $450 million for the engine, which would be built by the General Electric Co. and Rolls-Royce in Ohio, Indiana and other states.

"On the other side are lawmakers from Connecticut, where the main F-35 fighter engine is built by Pratt & Whitney, as well members from Florida, Texas and other states.

"The F-35 engine vote presents 87 GOP freshmen — infused with a fervor to cut spending — with a dilemma: Vote with the Obama administration to cut spending now or side with supporters of the alternative engine, who argue that it would save money by injecting competition into the F-35 program, the costliest weapons program in Defense Department history."

Is there even a need for a new fighter? When is the last time the Air Force engaged in a dog fight? Isn't a plane more like the "Wart Hog" more useful to modern combat?

 

[Ruiz]

The military industrial complex is out of control and Republicans find it difficult to cut things that make sense to cut from the military budget.

Yet, both sides are the ones buying votes. To my knowledge, there is only one budget proposal that would balance the budget in a few years, it is rejected by the majority of both Dem's and Republicans. All the others are smoke and mirrors of "cuts" and taxes bent on doing one thing, getting through the next election by not making anyone too mad and by helping their own special interest groups.

If anyone wants to get serious about our budget mess, they have to tackle the entitlement program. Republicans say they will, but the amount they are saying is their goal in cuts will still leave us with a $3 billion deficit over the next 5 years. Obama has not taken any leadership, he will leave us with $3.8 Billion still in deficits.

Both are more concerned about "politics" than solutions.

 

[freeatlast]

The military industrial complex is out of control and Republicans find it difficult to cut things that make sense to cut from the military budget.

Yet, both sides are the ones buying votes. To my knowledge, there is only one budget proposal that would balance the budget in a few years, it is rejected by the majority of both Dem's and Republicans. All the others are smoke and mirrors of "cuts" and taxes bent on doing one thing, getting through the next election by not making anyone too mad and by helping their own special interest groups.

If anyone wants to get serious about our budget mess, they have to tackle the entitlement program. Republicans say they will, but the amount they are saying is their goal in cuts will still leave us with a $3 billion deficit over the next 5 years. Obama has not taken any leadership, he will leave us with $3.8 Billion still in deficits.

Both are more concerned about "politics" than solutions.

Balancing the budget is a play on words and it is not about republican buying votes. Both parties are as corrupt as they can be. They have sacrificed the future for the immediate. It is no longer possible with the current debt to balance the budget. We may be able to slow the inevitable, but it cannot be fixed. We are borrowing over 30% of every dollar spent and with a growth of 4 billion (4 thousand one million dollar bills) a day towards the debt it is humanly impossible to correct. I am afraid we have passed go and won't make it past go to jail.
The politicians know this and this is why they are posturing so as to be able to blame each other when we go down as the nation we have been.
The current budget was proposed at 3.7 trillion. Even if they could get the budget to 1 trillion, and that is impossible, it would take nearly 20 years of that to bring the debt back to 0. We have simply went too far in debt and the outcome has to be an economy that fails and becomes like or worse then Mexico.

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Using the JSF 2nd source engine as "proof" of Republican Vote buying is ludicrous considering all the actual vote buying the dems have done with the unions and wall street.

Also, the engine for a fighter is probably one of the most critical items in keeping the aircraft combat ready.

With the econmy the way it is there is no gurantee any one company will remain viable or "interested" in manufacturing for our government.

Having seen stuff mission down because of supply problems...

I think having a second source is a good thing...

Now, if only they'd compete price-wise!

Of course, I am not so sure I'd want to fly into battle relying on a "lowest bidder" piece of hardware. If bidding lower forces corner cutting...