Blue Dogs: The Special Interest Pets

Joe Conason / Truthdig Jul 23, 2009 Fiscal conservative is one of those terms used by politicians of all sorts to describe themselves, without any real justification. That phrase is often used to mislead the public about the priorities and policies favored by those who claim to embody budgetary prudence.Fiscal conservative is one of those terms used by politicians to describe themselves, without any real justification. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Deep-Sixing the F-22

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 I'll believe it when it finally happens. But the news that Congress might actually stop production of a high-tech, job-generating and, most of all, high-profit weapons system because it fills no legitimate national security function is a considerable victory for President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, as well as for logic.The end of the F-22 is a considerable victory for President Obama, Robert Gates and logic. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Take Politics Out of Health Care Reform

Ruth Marcus / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 If you're interested in how to get health care costs under control, the case of the F-22 offers an instructive example. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Senate Votes Down Military Boondoggle

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 One politician's jobs program is another's "inexcusable waste of money." Luckily for the taxpayer, that's how Barack Obama feels about the F-22 strike fighter, a plane Congress has been pushing over the military's objections. After Obama threatened a veto, the Senate voted not to fund the jet, which was designed to fight the Soviets. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Defense Secretary Trims Fat Around the Edges

Staff / Truthdig Apr 7, 2009 Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlined his spending cuts on Monday, scrapping, among other boondoggles, the F-22, a fighter plane that apparently specialized in Super Bowl flyovers. Despite the cuts, America still spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined. And then there's the cost of two wars to think about. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

For Pentagon, More Wal-Mart, Less Gucci

Staff / Truthdig Dec 10, 2008 "It is going to be more of a Wal-Mart approach than a Gucci approach" That's how a senior Defense Department official, quoted in the L Times, describes perennial Defense Secretary Robert Gates' vision for Pentagon spending priorities. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Blame Rising Oil Prices on Bush

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jun 11, 2008 Wow, a lot of people must have bought Hummers last week. How else to explain the spike in oil prices? No, I'm not being silly: They are, and by they I mean the gaggle of media pundits and other administration apologists -- abetted by some green zealots -- who want to explain our energy crisis by reference to profligate consumers. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )