Like a good liberal, when faced with facts he can't deny, dog delares the person bringing them a liar.

Mandatory Spending Is the Largest Portion of the Budget:

Just over half of the budget is Mandatory Spending. This is for spending that is mandated by other programs outside of the Budget Office, including

Senior programs, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Income support programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, Child Nutrition, Child Tax Credits, Supplemental Security for the blind and disabled, and Student Loans.

Other Retirement and Disability programs for Civil Servants, the Coast Guard and the Military.

http://useconomy.about.com/od/fiscalpolicy/p/Budget_Spending.htm

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/wm1867.cfm

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Treasury Department have warned that debt levels will increase dramatically relative to historical levels, due primarily to mandatory expenditures for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest. Mandatory expenditures are projected to exceed federal tax revenues sometime between 2030 and 2040 if reforms are not undertaken. Further, benefits under entitlement programs will exceed government income by over $40 trillion over the next 75 years.[17]The severity of the measures necessary to address this challenge increases the longer such changes are delayed. These organizations have stated that the government's current fiscal path is "unsustainable."[18]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt

The above seems to say it all. They have no sympathy for weakness. That is why we have not been at war with Russia - simply put- They respect and fear strength.

Russia is pushing the limits and testing the waters to see how strong and committed we in American are.

Russia seems to be trying to pick a fight with us. They are sitting us up for a SUPER test should Obama get into office.

Russia's logic has been "If they can invade Iraq"..... There is a big difference between NEGOTIATION backed by strength and "Cowboy diplomacy". McCain is NOT the former. He is the latter. Let's not forget about Kennedy and the Cuban missles. Negotiation first, kick butt if necessary. That "might" not be Obama. The test is yet to come. But, it sure as hell ISNT McCain.

scary? understatement....not a fan at all.

It is this policy that had led us to the point where we are.

The NEOCONS will make themselves and their friends richer.

That was, is and will be the plan

I disagree on your assessment of McCain. Bush seems to fall in that "Cowboy Diplomacy", however,

I think McCain has seen so many things in his war and prisoner years he will be very cautious as to any decisions he makes. He wasn't on the fringes of these sitiuations but in the mix.

There is a real difference between Bush and McCain.

Unfortunately, I believe you have to be a Conversative to really see the difference.

Well, I guess you would have to be a liberal to see my point as well. :-)