"This makes no sense," Akin went on, "not only because the world is not becoming safer, but because these cuts will eliminate thousands of well-paying jobs across America."

I'm always amused at how conservatives hate government jobs and describe them as "not real" jobs, unless of course, they are defense-related.

And actually, the world HAS become safer since the days when a full-scale nuclear war was a real and imminent threat.

Slapping down this kind of more spending = cuts, black is white, up is downbrand of stupid is an Obama forte and, indeed, appears to be something of a hobby.

The only question is whether he does it tomorrow, next week, does it next week or whether waits until another another MSM tool puts on his "HUMILIATE ME!" sign and asks a question based upon the false MSM narrative at his next press conference.

yes, to preserve our security, we must make sure to spend as much as the next 3, no 4, no 5! countries combined. Only then will we know safety. Of course spending more than that would make us a nation of suckers, wouldn't it?

I don't think this has any legs, no matter what the media or the GOP or Democratic military pork recipients say or do. The whole, "he's defunding the troops", line is old, tired, and cliche. People don't buy it anymore. They know that there is fat to be trimmed in all areas, including defense. Even if these did result in a new reduction of defense spending - and they do not - I think people are willing, in times like these, to see that spending reduced a bit, especially given that we are supposedly winding things down in Iraq. The fact that these are being put forward by Bob Gates - a holdover from the Bush admin - and were endorsed pretty enthusiastically by John McCain makes the silly framing of the GOP and the media less dangerous for the administration.

Bottom line - the media and the GOP are still living in 2002. Actually, more like 1984.

Wait, this is seriously an issue?

How fucking hard it is to put on a pitying look and ask the frothing Republican, very kindly: "Could you please explain how increasing the defense budget from 513 to 524Bn is a cut?"

I mean, were I a talking head, I would be hard-pressed to not use the word "idiot" and gratuitous references to pre-schoolers' math abilities in the question somewhere.

Where are the democrats on this, asleep at the wheel again I see. Dems stand and let the fire sweep across the nation and nary a word or protest. We need new leadership in congress and for the white house to be better prepared for bs like this. There should be a smack down on this kind of stuff as soon as it happens. Repugs dominate the airways thus the debate and dems wonder why with control of the white house and congress we are still having trouble getting things done. Some people never learn. I just want some leadership with backbone, who aren't afraid to stand up and tell the truth. A good swift kick in the crotch is what the gop needs from dems who are willing to finally put up a real fight. Otherwise obama is going to be gone in four years.

Once again the coward spineless democrats don’t have Obama's back

Well, we could always hope that this is another rope-a-dope by Obama's team.

Don't hit back hard right away, let them get in deep, then conduct a cool, coordinated strike against a ludicrously weak and feckless argument. Hit them to hard and fast and you may actually give credence to this foolish line of mis-reasoning.

I know he's cutting out older, obsolete systems, so can Gates propose getting rid of the GOP as well?

Today's GOP:
Obama (and Gates, Bush's guy) want to gut the military -
by adjusting expenditures away from old cold-war systems to new needs, not by reducing the Pentagon's budget
They won't mention Gates

It was OK with these guys when Bush and Rumsfeld broke the military with stop-loss, wars with no exit strategy, insufficiently armored vehicles, and electrocuting showers built by KBR.

It was OK with the GOOPers when Cheney closed military bases in the 90s in the wake of the Soviet collapse because all of the bases and weapons programs were in Democrats' districts. Dick made sure of that.

The GOP has Fox, Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Hannity to catapult their propaganda.