Old Fogey's Quotes for Tuesday

"The Bush Doctrine is actually being defined by action, as opposed to by words."
George W. Bush to Tom Brokaw aboard Air Force One in 2003.
The end of cowboy diplomacy

"It is an insult to their dedication to our defense."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) referring to ousting illegal immigrant family members of members of the armed services, in response to testimony by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that 200 awards or medals have gone to non-U.S. citizens in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that 101 non-U.S. citizens have died in military action since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Top general gives emotional testimony on immigration

"We're not going to give the Department of Defense a blank check."
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) on issue of Gitmo detainees, in Judiciary Committee hearings before the Defence Department announced the US would abide by the Geneva Conventions
U.S. Will Give Detainees Geneva Rights

"There are exactly 316 benefits of marriage. I learned that from the decision of New York's highest court upholding the ban on same-sex marriage, which means that the often-wed Elizabeth Taylor has enjoyed these benefits 2,528 times, while a lesbian could not have any of them, despite having a stable relationship and a child or two. If it pleases the court, your decision is just plain idiotic."
Richard Cohen, in WaPo editorial about NY Supreme Court decision against gay marriage
To Have and to Hold -- Wrongly

"From the New Deal years to the Reagan era, Democrats were usually the party that proudly -- if bitterly -- hashed out how to respond to the large issues of the times, including the Cold War, civil rights and Vietnam. They may yet provide the home for the big debate the country needs over economic globalization and the war on terrorism.
But for now, the Democrats' intense reaction against Bush has made regaining power Issues No. 1, 2 and 3 for most in the rank and file."
E. J Dionne in WaPo editorial
The GOP's Looming Battle

“We have been living in a rich man’s world for the last five years. The defense budget has been growing so rapidly that we are less likely to put in many cost-sensitive reforms.”
Jacques Gansler, Pentagon under secretary for acquisition from 1997 to 2001, regarding Pentagon cost overruns
Pentagon Struggles With Cost Overruns and Delays
[Blogger's aside: Is this the same government that cuts funding to established, effective social programs because of deficits?]

"Earlier this year, the administration conveniently projected a highly inflated deficit of $423 billion. With that as a starting point, the actual results can be spun to look as if they’re worth cheering. "
NYT editorial on the release of the White House midsession budget review
Another Mission ‘Accomplished’