Dick Cheney -- Weak on Defense?

I kind of feel sorry for the Republicans. They get the media in a frenzy about a Democrat -- A DEMOCRAT -- giving their keynote speech. After trying to portray themselves as the inclusive party of bipartisanship, zany Zig Zag Zell Miller comes out and froths at the mouth like a regular Pat Buchanan. The GOP convention, which began so perfectly pitched, has developed a "Sybil" problem -- and no denunciations of fellow countrymen as traitors is going to fix that. So what about it -- did John Kerry really vote against all those weapons systems?

Quick answer: No. Smart-ass answer: But Dick Cheney wanted me to! Here's then-Secretary of Defense Cheney in 1992 talking about the very weapons systems Miller accuses Kerry of cutting:

Congress has let me cancel a few programs. But you've squabbled and sometimes bickered and horse-traded and ended up forcing me to spend money on weapons that don't fill a vital need in these times of tight budgets and new requirements . . . You've directed me to buy more M-1s, F-14s, and F-16s — all great systems . . . but we have enough of them.

Factcheck.org has a more expanded view of the issue that's not as kind to Kerry, but still comes out in the Senator's balance. It turns out you can't both be a deficit hawk and believe in a constant, needless expansion of the military budget. If you believe the government is vulnerable to over-spending and has an obligation to spend tax dollars wisely, then the first place to start cutting would be the Pentagon. Just ask Dick Cheney.

(This isn't a surprise since Cheney also blocked intelligence reform in 1992, which would've created the kind of national intelligence czar he half-heartedly advocates today.)