Why, just the other day, Santorum was
warning us about the dangers of Islamofascists:
The primary responsibility of those elected to federal office is to defend and protect the American people and uphold the liberties and institutions that support our democratic way of life. It is a solemn responsibility, a responsibility that is at the forefront of my thoughts each and every day. And it is so important that the American people understand that what is currently happening in Iraq is not happening in isolation. We are not at war merely with the insurgents in Iraq, or even with the terrorists, as the President has stated. We are at war with an ideology--the ideology of Islamic Fascism.
Pondering what's in the "forefront" of Santorum's brain can be hazardous to your mental health. But, clearly, yesterday he was willing to sacrifice funding the war on Islamic fascism for "border security," the right-wing's de jour distraction from their abject failures. But give Santorum style points for voting to transfer so-called "over-the-fence" funds in the war supplemental to build a fence along the Mexican border.
Little Ricky wasn't DC's only hypocrite on a day when the Islamofascist bogeyman grappled with the illegal immigrant straw man on the Senate floor, a day when blustering Senators out-demagogued each other, and a day when Republicans demonstrated yet again that they are incapable of governing.
The NYT termed the Senate's vote to reduce the war supplemental by $1.9 billion to fund border security "unusual."
The action was unusual because Republicans have been adamant that the war is the highest priority and have been quick to attack Democrats who show signs of wavering on the issue. Three Republicans voted against the shift in money, seven Democrats voted for it and two Democrats did not vote.
It was a day when, according to the WaPo, the Congressional Research Service estimated that the cost of the Iraq war will reach $320 billion when the war supplemental is approved, and will likely "more than double" by the time it's over. (And when is that exactly?)
But, the WaPo noted, the CRS can't say exactly how much the war has cost, or will cost, because the Defense Department won't tell them.
Defense specialist Amy Belasco, the CRS study's author, stressed that the price tag is only an estimate because the Defense Department has declined to break out the cost of Iraqi operations from the larger $435 billion cost of what the administration has labeled the global war on terrorism. That larger cost applies to military, diplomatic and foreign aid operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, enhanced security efforts begun after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and related medical costs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Wow. I bet Santorum could find lots of "over-the-fence" money hiding in the DoD budget.
Meanwhile, the Senate voted to keep Trent Lott's pet $700 million earmark for his "railroad to nowhere" in the war supplemental. Oh, and President Bush is threatening to veto the whole mess.
What a country! God Bless America! And God help our troops in the field who are being tossed over the fence by Santorum and his ilk.
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