Cutting Money for the Troops to Fight the Real Battle -- Re-election at Home

Hey, Somebody Tell Congress There’s a War On. Congress added so much ‘pork’ to the defense budget, they had to cut out things the military needs. Congress critters added $8.9 billion (with a “B”) in home state projects -- some 2,000 amendments -- to impress home state voters in an election year. Virtually none of these things had anything to do with defense. To get the bill to a manageable size, Congress started cutting things desperately needed by the Pentagon. That included $2.8 billion (with another “B”) slashed from military pay, equipment maintenance, training, and spare parts. (WashPost)

Heroic Politics. President Bush and Congress want to bestow a Medal of Honor on British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The medal would honor him for his support of the Iraq War. Blair is declining. The President and Congress still have not honored the passengers and crew of Flight 97 who thwarted an attack on the Capitol or White House on 9/11 with the Medal of Freedom or similar honor. (Agence France-Presse)

Where the Jobs Aren't. Though delines were small, 22 states lost jobs last month -- including 6 of the so-called “battleground” states in the coming election. (USA Today)

Check Your Paycheck. Today’s the day new overtime rules take effect. Depending on which side you believe, as many as 6 million of you may be working longer hours without time and a half. (NYT)

Get the Party Started. The GOP plans some Grand Old Parties in New York for their convention. Lobbyists who picked up the party tab for Democrats will sponsor some of the Republican bashes as well. (CNN)

Chest Out, Soldier. A porn star who ran for California Governor is protesting a Pentagon policy that allows military people and their families to get free boob jobs. I mentioned the policy last month. Mary Carey bared her boobs in front of a Hollywood recruiting office in a protest arguing that the Pentagon spend it’s money on “bullets” not “boobs.”

Not Your Father's School Dance. Cadets at the Air Force Academy Prep School have been booted for erotic dancing in the dorms. The prep school is an 11-month program to bring up grades for students who might not otherwise qualify for admission to the academy. In other words, kids of political contributors to the politicians who get to appoint cadets. And what lousy timing to get busted. They won‘t qualify now for the free boob jobs. (The Gazette)

Y'All Come Back Now, Ya Hear? A county jail in Florida let 256 inmates go free for four days due to Hurricane Charley. They made the inmates promise to return. Darn it if 27 of them never came back! (WTSP)