Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

jerry/corpus christi texas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:35:05 GMT

Typical pinhead liberals. Weaken the country and let our enemies just destroy us. great Ice cream though. But Bluebell is the best ice cream ever made.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Pat, Boston, MA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:44:13 GMT

The GOP is great at scaring everyone. It's what keeps them going. They have nothing else to run on. Except of course hating liberals.

That's their campaign in a nutshell.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Sierra, SF — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:48:28 GMT

An excellent idea !!
Ben Cohen also lead Business Leaders for Peace during the Viet Nam era.

Work AGAINST HILLARY, BEN !!
Hillary wants 'business as usual' !!
Hillary wants to maintain the war machine
(to prove she's a 'strong' woman)
(Maybe we need a President who doesn't have to prove his or her 'manhood')

Jerry: 'Weaken the country and let our enemies just destroy us.......'
We spend more on our 'war machine' than the rest of the world COMBINED !!
Do you REALLY think Iraq could destroy us ?
Could Iran DESTROY US ?
Get Real, jerry !!
We'll destroy ourselves with our wasteful military spending and unedning deficits!!

If you have to vote Republican, Support Ron Paul !!
Let's put an end to the American Empire and the Project for a New American Century !!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

wayneTx — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:53:33 GMT

Real smart. Spend the money on education and healthcare for children, but don't worry about defending them against possible attacks.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Pat, Boston, MA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:03:43 GMT

It's too bad we don't have an imaginative Secretary of State who can travel to the Middle East and let's see, talk to people 24/7.

It's too bad the world hates us since President Bush has been the President of the United States and Dick Cheney has been the Vice President of the United States.

War, war, war. We MUST PROTECT AMERICA!!!!!

How about trying to find some allies in the world? It's been almost 5 years.

No imagination, no intelligence, no decency, no clue. No anything.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

FL — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:05:24 GMT

Maybe if we worked with instead of against other countries and people we wouldn’t be so scared of people trying to attack us. It’s our foreign policy that is the problem and no weapons system in the world can correct that.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

kenn"The buck dont stop nowhere"O — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:05:28 GMT

It is ironic that the same people who rail against the government putting 500000 for a labour center or 300000 for a womens shelter, dont have a hard time with the waste and theft at the pentagon.The number is so huge your mind cant understand it,but make sure the defencse contractors are taken care off they do such a great job with the humvees and body armour.Now even the inspector general finds it so easy to steal he started stealing,HECK OF A JOB BUSHEE

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:10:21 GMT

Cohen makes some very sensible arguements. For instance in the past he has highlighted how much we spend compared to our allies and our potential threats.

We spend more than anyone on our military, of course. But it is mind boggling that we spend more than 2 through 17 COMBINED. Iran, China, North Korea, they spend a fraction of what we spend ... a small fraction.

There are some other interesting things that I see. Do you ever notice with things like education and health care Republicans will always argue that we already spend enough (some say enough, others Republicans say too much) on these things. We don't need to spend more they argue, we need to cut waste, be more efficient. Yet when it comes to the military they, the Republicans, ignore the massive waste we all know there is. How many combat mission that Osprey fly?

Fact is that our military spending has just as much to do with political pork, and with jobs creation in Congressional districts, as it does with our national security.

Look at all the money Republicans take from the defense industry. Look at Duke Cunningham.

Of course it is hard to talk reasonably about defense spending. Republicans and their hate spewing surrogates in am radio and tv will smear anyone who tries with their famous "commie", "pinko", "traitor" charges.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Dave, Tn — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:11:33 GMT

I'm all for cutting back on anything used to defend OLD Europe. They need to be building and maintaining their own defense. Might have to cut back on some those Socialist Slave programs though. I doubt they'll get any democrats on board though because they'd lose good paying jobs in their districts.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Dave, Tn — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:15:39 GMT

"It's too bad we don't have an imaginative Secretary of State who can travel to the Middle East and let's see, talk to people 24/7."

Well how does that jive with the fact that 9-11 was planned and well under way back in the time when we supposedly had one? It doesn't!!!!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Retired Hippie in Florida — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:21:15 GMT

We don't need any stinking military. They waste all of our money on planes, ships, tanks, and toilet seats. A little weed, love, and understanding will make the world peaceful again and everyone including the terrorist will come to eat our ice cream and attend church with us. Peace Man! Vote for LBJ man.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Bob Baruch — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:22:13 GMT

Hey you partisans, try thinking for a minute. You are both out to lunch. Goggle for detail of what the Ice Cream man wants and you won't find it. And, although the idea of reduction in spending in defense is viable, you need detail to get intelligent support. This, like with health insurance reform and education reform is just a ploy to get elected by those on the liberal side. For those on the right, you are no better. You're about power and control. You've got a schmuck in the White House that went to the extreme by creating this stupid war where none was needed.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Pat, Boston, MA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:25:46 GMT

Oh yes, one more thing the GOP does - blame President Clinton.

How well does 9/11 jive with the fact that this current Administration had all the tell tales signs in the world that we were going to be attacked?

No one was listening. I repeat: No one was listening.

But let's talk about now. We need allies. And in order to have allies these days, we need a Secretary of State, who is respected. We need an Administration that is respected.

Condi Rice should be fired.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

TAMU in Florida — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:25:58 GMT

Jerry, your right on both accounts. Lots of pinheads these days, and Blue Bell is the best. Go Aggies!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Jim S. — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:26:37 GMT

To First Read: I do appeciate the daily email updates, however you need to take a lead from your print bretheran and leave some "white space" in your text emails. They come as a solid block of text, very difficult to read. Reminds me of the single-spaced, type-written, edge-to-edge letters we used to receive from excentric listeners at a small radio station. Put space between paragraphs and/or items. A little html wouldn't hurt.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Pat, Huntington, NY — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:29:03 GMT

The larger message here is that rethuglicans are beholden to monied military contractor lobbiests, and will do their bidding with excessive spending in our military. While I agree we need a strong military to protect us from the mess created by the Bush administration which the current rethuglican candidates seem to want to perpetuate, do we really need to spend $20,000 on a toilet seat, or millions of dollars on Humvees that have no protective armor?

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:29:31 GMT

Dwight D. Eisenhower, in his 'Military-Industrial Complex Speech' of 1961 said many things we should consider today when speaking of defense spending. I will quote a few here:

" But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the need to maintain balance in and among national programs -- balance between the private and the public economy, balance between cost and hoped for advantage -- balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable; balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual; balance between actions of the moment and the national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of it eventually finds imbalance and frustration."

More:

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Lastly:

" Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."

The whole speech:

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/speeches/eisenhower001.htm

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Sara B, NY — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:34:50 GMT

If you want investment in our own country, stop wasteful spending, stop war mongering: VOTE RON PAUL!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

DEMS Fighting Back Against Demonic Wingnuts — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:37:11 GMT

Jerry, there you go again babbling about your repukes "Weaken the country and let our enemies just destroy us" This will be our soundbite against you wingnuts in our landslide victories in 08. You have weakened the country beyond compare, and our enemies have grown & are intent more than ever to destroy us.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Jim Newton, Sacramento, CA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:42:19 GMT

Reducing the Federal Budget by $60 billion gets my attention. Especially, when we are spending over $250 million per day on the Iraq War.
President Bush and his cronies that are making a killing from projects surrounding the Iraq war have really hurt our nation.
There is a song out called "Swishy Bushy" on youtube which shows how Bush stuck it to the American public to get a second term.
We need a turn around. Groups that can get us turned around get my eye and ear.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Just someone from Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:43:02 GMT

"Weaken the country and let our enemies just destroy us. great Ice cream though."

Yeah, everyone knows the terrorists would never try something like the 9/11 Attacks as long as we have a fleet of B-2 Stealth Bombers, F-117 Stealth Fighters, and spend money on developing the Joint Strike Fighter.

Since I see you are from Texas, let me point out that statement was sarcasm.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Michael Douglous — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:43:21 GMT

Well, at least the Liberals brought out their A-Team think tank to figure out what to do with the Pentagon's budget.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Rich, Valparaiso, Indiana — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:44:51 GMT

It'd be great if Cohen would get in touch with Ron Paul. Not all Republicans are pro-war, pro-unlimited-military-spending. He believes in a strong defense... not a strong offense. My guess is that he'd be happy to drastically cut the Pentagon's budget.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

LightKnight Houston TX — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:44:59 GMT

What does he think about cutting funding to the NEA? The 2 million his group is spending could go to it instead.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Carrie, Eastern Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:51:15 GMT

I don't have any problem with reducing wasteful spending at the Pentagon. But considering how strapped the military already seems to be for necessary combat equipment, the idea of further cutting funding makes me nervous. I don't trust the Administration to make the appropriate cuts, either. Gotta have those staplers, so I guess we'll have to cut back on ammunition.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:51:15 GMT

Hey jerry, have you tried Steven Colbert's Americone Dream flavor? I haven't been able to find it.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:56:17 GMT

wayneTx, are you being sarcastic or intelligent?

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:58:50 GMT

Let's examine the neocrock logic. We destroyed the Soviet Union by forcing them to spend too much on the arms race. Spending too much on arms is good for America.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Lee Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:06:57 GMT

Dickie: Your argument was soundly grounded until you got to the ''Republicans/Defense''portion. The largest recipient of defense contracting monies in the United States is Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania,a Democrat. He is joined by sixty other Democrats as the chief beneficiary of defense contracting monies and this number,as we move past the 2006 election cycle,is growing. Sens. Feinstein,Reid,Boxer,Lautenburg,Dorgan,Byrd,Kennedy,Webb,Casey,and Rep.s Murtha,Pelosi,Lee[Sheila-Jackson],Waxman,Moran,Costas, and dozens of other Democrats who sit on majoral positions on their houses powerful appropriations committees all benefit from this largesse. Take the lone instance of the defense contractor PMA for one instance[of many]. This company donated 1.3 million dollars to Democrat congressmen in the 2006 election cycle,with Murtha recieving the largest cut. They were repaid by Jack Murtha who has steered a 100.4 million dollar earmark to this lone company[of many]. You can do the math on the return of a 1 million dollar investment by PMA. This is happening everywhere with over 100 billion dollars just since January pouring into defense contracting coffers courtesy not of the ''Republicans''but the ruling-party Democrats,who,as you can see,benefit from such a monetary arrangement.

Also see: ''The Money Trail'':Defense Contractor Political Campaign Contributions. The Center for Responsive Politics www.opensecrets.org

ROLL CALL Sept.18,2007

Taxpayers for Common Sense www.taxpayer.net

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Margaret, Athens, GA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:07:12 GMT

Ron Paul wants to end Medicare!
Don't think Ben and Jerry would support that - or him.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Tuck, Realityville, Kansas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:18:57 GMT

davie, its not surprizing that OBL waited for his big attack until idiots were in charge of the white house.

he new that the GOP +esp. bushboy would attack the wrong country...

OBL, smarter than bush... and then he got you to keep bush in office by encouraging you to vote for Kerry.

damn, you are stupid.

America's Patriot Motto

if you voted for bush once,keep your mouth shut
if you voted for bush twice, Never vote again

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

jerry/corpus christi texas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:30:38 GMT

Although I must add the real pinhead is the one in the White House. Even I will admit that.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

JJ in NJ — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:35:56 GMT

Obviously TAMU and jerry have never tried Phish Food. Or Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

T-Rex — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:37:56 GMT

Notice how everyone operating outside the neocon looneysphere is now identified as 'socialist' LOL.

In fact, about 100 billion $$ could probably be cut from defense spending without harm because of the monumental waste perpetrated by 'special interest' Pentagon defense contracts - lucrative after-government jobs await those that spend our money 'wisely' on the right defense contractors. Iraq is rife with these bogus big-money contracts.

The greatest global hazard today is nuclear proliferation - nukes in the wrong hands and delivered covertly. Building a more overwhelming defense force does nothing to deter this hazard - eg. wasting countless billions on a totally useless Missle Defense Shield (a perfect example of dead-wrong thinking). We need the boxheads and big-money lobbyists out of Washington and out of our pockets to make room for out-of-the-box thinkers. This includes democrats that don't get the message - hopefully the GOP will be successfully expunged in 2008 and that will be a start in the right direction.

Solutions, brains and high-level problem solvers are desperately needed in government these days - now that would be a real change of pace!! Business as usual just won't get the job done.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Math Teacher, San Antonio — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:43:45 GMT

Thanks to Bush, it will take a generation for Texas to live down the reputation of being a haven for semi-educated rednecks who think they know everything. Jerry and TAMU should google "Eisenhower" and "military-industrial complex" to find out what Ike, no pinhead, thought about this issue. Add Cheney's oil buddies to the mix and we're paying a huge cost for ignoring the general. Only we're not paying it. Jerry and TAMU's grandchildren will be stuck with the bill.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

karlos — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:56:32 GMT

speaking of celebs, the dixie chicks are nominated for cma award! now some people still hold a grudge for their bushee criticism in 03 but it wasn't their fault. my name is i.t.'sajoke and i am a linguistic professor at recidivist u. as pointed out years ago by j. cash theory of impact of name on action, "a boy named sue" the dixie chicks were predestined to their action. look at the root of their name,dixie=southern and chick = poultry so why was it that when they laid their egg anyone was suprised. the chick was clucking .my question was since they laid the egg in 03 shouldn't they have changed their name to the dixie hens? congrats to cma for moving on.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Barillary Clintbama — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:05:24 GMT

Anyone who thinks we don't have allies is an idiot. Our allies are the most powerful on the planet. Including the French, which by their recent elections (liberals read "mandate") have shown that they agree with U.S. foreign policy.

Liberals don't like to acknowledge that, because they are allies of the Bush Administration. Let's get Mad-as-hell Allbright back and kiss N Korea's butt some more.

Condi Rice should be commended.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

MustangDMG, Boston — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:06:32 GMT

Bad idea. With the Chinese's military buildup, the Russian military's comeback and the growing Iranian's nuclear threat, we cannot afford to have another December 7th and 9-11.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

No more 1,000.00 pentagon hammers — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:14:52 GMT

I was at a Biden event on 8-4, where a representative asked about a specific military boon-doggle (a military weapon system the DOD doesn't want, but keeps getting funded, because the company making it is in a powerful congressman(s)district). Sen Biden answered the question on point, knew more about the reasons to cut that program out of the budget than the Iowans for sensible priorities did. Later in August I saw C-span coverage of an Obama event (it was in Cedar Falls the same day as a labor forum at the 5 Sullivan Bros center in Waterloo), where a different representative from Iowans for sensible priorities asked the same question of Sen. Obama. He said he did think there was excess in the Pentagon budget, and then talked about the need for more military, etc, eventually he said he did not know the specifics of the military project in question, so he couldn't say whether it should be eliminated. I give him points for honesty and not just pretending to know about the system that he was asked about, but it did concern me, given he has voted on funding it in the past.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

OutWest; Canyon Country, CA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:22:11 GMT

No one knows if we are spending too much or too little on defence. When Congress requires our Military to keep open bases they do not need and equipment/weapons that are obsolete (B-52's) how can anyone get a handle on what the Military budget should be.
Also everyone should read "The Middle of Nowhere" by Edwrd Luttwak in the May issue of Prospect magazine.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Don,Sammamish,WA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:23:50 GMT

Oh, come on. You don't really think there's any padding in that Defense Budget, do you? Has there ever been a more cost-conscious sector of society than the military?

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

PJ — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:24:17 GMT

The war in Iraq and all the obscene associated spending has NOTHING to do with defending the USA. They'll tell you that its fight terrorism. Horseco*k.
To find the real reason they want to keep spending American lives & money in the middle east you need to look no further than here:
http://oldamericancentury.org/

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Sierra, SF — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:25:08 GMT

Dave, Tn: '......Might have to cut back on some those Socialist Slave programs......'

What programs are those, Dave ?
I didn't know we still had slavery in America.

When I was in the Army (many moons ago), I felt like a slave....
Is that the socialist slave program you want to abolish ?

A lot of people on this blog are right, the military has become pork barrel spending.......
Except, it's a sacred cow.
If you try to reduce military spending, (somehow) you're 'endangering America' !!
It's pork barrel spending that goew mainly to the 'red states' Sunbelt !!
Time to cut that boondoggle !!

Currently, we're arming Sunni 'ex-insurgents', who fought against us in Iraq.
Does that protect us ?
Currently, we can't locate thousands of weapons in Iraq.
Does that spending protect us ?

Frankly, the manned space program has turned into something similar.
Prok barrel !!
Keep the real science (unmanned craft) and cut the rest !!
WE DON'T NEED TO SEND THE MILITARY INTO SPACE !!
WE DON'T NEED TO MILITARIZE SPACE !!
WE DON'T NEED STAR WARS !!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Stopwatchingfoxnews, Rochester, NY — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:32:03 GMT

60 billion if I'm not mistaken is not even a quarter of the amount we spend on the military. We are still building and testing nuclear weapons, 5000 pound bombs, and other useless stuff to fight an enemy that has an AK47, some hand made road side bombs and no missiles. Whenever we drop these huge bombs, it only ends up killing some of the insurgents while killing innocent people, who then their families turn around and join the insurgency. Meanwhile, 11 million children, 47 million total US citizens have no health insurance, city and rural schools are failing, College tuitions are skyrocketing, and we are spending 10 billion a month in Iraq in a civil war that has nothing to do with America's safety.

Jerry and Tamu need to wake up. That is exactly why your party can't raise money for campaigns, and the majority of the people are now agreeing with liberals when it comes to these issues. You guys can keep spewing your hate and that will keep getting us more seats in congress until your party just disappears. Have you noticed 11 Republican congressman and Senators have decided not to run for re-election? They have seen the writing on the wall. Jerry and Tamu apparently haven't. So let's hope that people like them keep dragging the republican party down.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

IntheMiddle, Texas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:44:21 GMT

They need to stick to ICE CREAM. How in the hell does he think he will get broad support by only going to Democrats? Why dont he put some of that 45 billion his company is worth into education, etc. When you ONE side issues, they go nowhere.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Susan, Floyd County, Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:45:30 GMT

Good luck with getting Edwards to give you a straight answer. He likes those fuzzy feel-good generalities, but the real question is how many defense contractors have facilities in North and South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early states. When you talk about weapons systems, you're talking about putting people out of work.

Biden is trying to get the Pentagon to spend money on armored vehicles to save soldiers' lives--something useful for a change.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Brett, Lincoln, NB — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:51:58 GMT

Education! Health Care?! Alternative energy?! Come on people. Just because it's your tax dollar doesn't mean you get to create some enviable future. Maintain. Keep things as they are, or better yet, regress. Coal, people. One book per school. This is the way of the future. Aside: Anyone who uses the term 'pinhead' is dumber than nine chickens.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:55:20 GMT

wayneTx and the rest of you who criticize this group are amazing. Apparently you don't believe, or are unaware of the massive waste in military spending. There is a big difference between a group that believes that military weapon systems that have either been shown to not work, are no longer state of the art, or that the DOD has specifically stated they don't want the weapon system/vehicle etc being eliminated, and "Spend[ing] the money on education and healthcare for children, but don't worry about defending them against possible attacks." as wayneTx wrote. If you learned about the group, you would know they are not looking to drastically slash the defense budget, but they do want it reduced by stopping the wasteful government defense spending that is carried out for the economic well being of powerful congressman's (in both parties)congressional district. It is morally wrong to spend tax dollars (billions) for a weapon system that the DOD has specifically said it doesn't want, often because it is unsafe, merely because the contractor is in a powerful congressman's district, or because of political contributions from the defense industry. This should not be a partisan issue. One of the biggest critics of wasteful DOD spending is one of the GOP's most conservative Senators. Wasteful DOD spending is one of the few issues that both Iowa Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley agree on. I can assure you Chuck Grassley does not believe that the US should abandon Pentagon spending.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

LW, HK, PRC — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:56:48 GMT

In response to "jerry/corpus christi texas":

Both sides have plenty of pinheads to spare, only the Republican ones are doing more damage now, and they don't even know it.

Just what is the USA doing in Iraq? I know what Bush said, but the truth may be hard to believe, and the truth is, he lied, and continues to do so. He went into Iraq, saying there were WMDs, saying Saddaam, Al-Qaeda, and 9/11 were linked... all lies.

Saddaam would have LIKED WMDs, if Iraq had the resources to develop any. It didn't.

Saddaam was a horrible man, but he had nothing to do with 9/11-- that's Bush talk. Al Qaeda only started appearing in Iraq AFTER the US invasion. Saddaam is a power freak, and would never let any other group build up theirs in Iraq.

The surge is not making progress, and if any, very little, too little to justify it being continued.

Why do you have to believe everything the Bush Administration says? They are human, too, and they get things wrong, too. You have to judge for yourself. Each side have good qualities, and you have to THINK about what is best for the country.

The world does not need a trigger-happy USA to attack anybody it deems an enemy. You just give yourself a bad name. Imagine all the countries in the world as people in a village. We won't enjoy being accused and attacked by some fruitcake all the time, and we will want to fight back. It would be better if this fella didn't do that all the time, that everything will be a lot smoother.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

H P Boston — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:09:43 GMT

IF THE PEOPLE LEAD,THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW!

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

H P Boston — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:13:33 GMT

Hey doesn't the government have a war on Ice Cream?

Good to see Kenn and Wayne in the fray, welcome.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Steve, San Diego — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:16:00 GMT

Jerry, I know you post some decent items now and then. And, I know I like to tease you a lot. But seriously, are you feeling okay "Although I must add the real pinhead is the one in the White House. Even I will admit that."?

The odd thing is, I have a lot of conservative friends/acquaintances who have mentioned the exact same thing in the past few weeks to me. Noteworthy are the comments we see/read here in First Read that the troubled conservatives are really in a spot for the coming elections because the current field just doesn't fit their mold. I am not saying it is going to be a lanslide victory in Congress and the WH for the Democrats. "I'm just saying" I think is the popular catchphrase.

So this begs the question...who are these 30% who support W if no conservatives still support him?

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Ed — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:22:26 GMT

Why do we need the F-22 when the F-15 has a kill ratio of 115 to NONE that is right not one F-15 has been shot down in air to air combat. For the amount of money we spent devolping the F-22 we could have produced 400 more F-15's and had total dominance of all the skies in the world. Those would have been the E model also capable of firing all weapons in the invetory we have.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

bobf — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:23:34 GMT

Bahrillary, talk about your republican hypocrit. REMEMBER FREEDON FRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!. You hated France then and why do you like them now? Where are all our allies in Iraq? The only allies that fought in the Iraq war were bought with money. Goggle and find out how much more money Poland received from the US government afte we went to war. All of our allies direct aid from the USA went up before the Iraq war. Or the Bush admin would with hold direct aid money if they did not send troops to Iraq. Every allie soldier was bought with foreign aid money. None of our allies except UK and Australia ever beleived in the Iraq war. We bought them all. Bahillary is your typical smear mongering republican. If you are not with him then you are against him. The phrase that republicans live by and Hitler coined are one and the same. These republican's would have killed or jailed all liberals if they could. Even though liberals have had no affect on the current situation. They create the liberal boogieman because they have no facts or issues, and can only run on fear. Just listen to any republican candidate speak and the first thing they do is scare you with terrrorists and that liberals are enabling them. WHY are all Republicans such cowards? Why are republicans always scared of being attacked. Why do republicans live in fear? It must really suck to be republican and be afraid to leave your house because a terrorist will attack. Republicans live there lives like there is a terrorist on every street corner. I have never seen bigger cowards then the rethugs that write to this blog. How do you republican cowards get to work. Are you not afraid a terrorist will kill you? Living in constant fear like these fools is really sad for them. I live my life to the fullest every day with my family. I have faith in my country and my neighbors. I do not need the government to protect me. Republican Cowards that preach small government actually mean BIG BROTHER.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

H P Boston — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:27:24 GMT

What a colossal waste that piece of disaster the Osprey helicopter is. It still has 62% failure rate, design flaws abound. The machine loses altitude and crashes. They "THINK" it may be due to vortex ring that causes the altitude loss but the Pentagon buys it any way!! Kills many test pilots. Not effective for the climate or heat in Iraq. WASTE!! They cost millions of dollars each.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Jone of Arkansas — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:43:39 GMT

I think we should have free healthcare, free ice cream, and open borders so we can all come together as one. Oh, and free money too! Thank God, no wait, thank socialism for sharing the wealth of the rich and MoveOn.org for making this country more like Europe. After all only we know what is right for the world and all them Nazi, homophobe, christian Republicans can pack sand.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:43:41 GMT

Susan, Floyd County, Iowa wrote:

"Good luck with getting Edwards to give you a straight answer. He likes those fuzzy feel-good generalities, but the real question is how many defense contractors have facilities in North and South Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early states. When you talk about weapons systems, you're talking about putting people out of work. "

I can't speak to Edwards on this matter, and I have no idea how many defense contractors there are in the states mentioned other than Iowa. But Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids (and Iowa City and elsewhere in Iowa) is a very large defense contractor. On July 3rd I saw Sen. Biden at a local coffee house. He was asked about his speech before the national press club on 9-10-01 about Bush's screwed up budget priorities (spending huge amounts on star wars, but ignoring the real threat to our security which comes from a terrorist attack coming in the hull of a ship, belly of a plane, or in a vial in a backpack) After his response a women expressed her concern regarding the effect that reducing spending on star wars would have on Rockwell. Sen. Biden knew all the military contracts Rockwell had, and explained that even if you eliminated, or reduced spending on star wars, that there are systems that Rockwell is currently developing that the government should be spending more on (he explained in some detail what these systems were and why they are important, and that he didn't see an overall reduction to Rockwell. The women (and the rest of us) were really impressed with his ability to rattle off all the specific defense contracts, weapons systems currently under development at Rockwell.

You are probably right about Edwards not wanting to commit to eliminating a specific military program/weapon system, either because he is not an expert in the field, or because he knows that there are a lot of defense contractors in early primary states.

Although is it just me, or is it short sighted and selfish to want federal tax money wasted in your city or state on weapons systems that are not wanted, needed, and often even dangerous, because eliminating the system would cost the city or state jobs? Put another way does it make sense to have Defense spending be an employment program, as opposed to a evaluating weapons systemson based on their utility and what the military needs, not on which congressional district(s) a system, regardless of utility is manufactured!

You are right about Biden being 100% dead on regarding the mine resistant vehicles. Whether you were against the war at the beginning (as I was), or are now against it, I don't see how anyone could not see the moral imperative to provide our soldiers with every piece of equipment that will reduce their risk of death.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

tom in va — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:58:06 GMT

Nations were meant to rise and nations were meant to fall...a little ethnic cleansing (and I'm not talking about Windex) is good for the society of man. War machine spending

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

H P Boston — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:53:54 GMT

Wow tom in va...Is that the word of GOD?
Maybe we should just use Glass Plus.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Budd Trott — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:29:26 GMT

Ben and Jerry, Have any clue by cutting the Defense Spending you might be cutting your own throats? What I mean is your company is high on the terrorist hit list to destroy when they take over America so why are you trying to cut funding the man who defend you. Next you want their water too.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:33:45 GMT

Steve, San Diego -- I believe the 30% who support Bush are not conservatives. I think they are "my fuhrer right or wrong" types. I believe the political spectrum is a circle not a line. If you go far enough to the right or to the left you end up at the same place -- totalitarianism.

Check out the Libertarian site sometime. They have a similar belief that the left/right delineation is too simple. Their concept of the political spectrum is 2D and fits on a square card.
There is a test to show where you fall onto the card.
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

jerry/corpus christi texas — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:30:01 GMT

Get rid of the Military????

How will Dianne Feinstein ever support her husband with the contracts she is sending to him. Dianne Feinstein makes Duke Cunningham look like a candy robber.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

T-Rex — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:59:23 GMT

Budd Trott - you've got it all wrong. Ice Cream is the one and only universal religion - in addition, Ben and Jerry's, Bluebell, Breyers, et al. (even foreigners like Hagen Daz) will be well protected by Blackwater should the 'inevitable' invasion from the East occur (mainly for our ice cream). I think George favors Edy's........the ranch will warrant special protection I should think.

Ben & Jerry's founder's play for IA, NH

Erin, VT — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:24:03 GMT

We have over 10,000 nuclear weapons. What For? How many times do we need to blow the planet up? I don't think taking $60 billion out of a $646 billion budget is going to weaken our defense, it will only eliminate the waste. I have served my country, I pay my taxes and I'm tired of lining the pockets of companies like Haliburton, Blackwater, Boeing, and etc. While deployed to Kosovo alone, I saw some of the shit these companies create for us like the GPS systems that never worked, I saw KBR and other contractors making a $100K to do a job I could train a chimp to do. I saw our congress members come in check out the facilities and equipment, and not even pay attention to the troops. They flew over for an afternoon visit to Kosovo and Bosnia to see the state of the art facilites, and got their picturee taken with an uparmored humvee. That shows our congress members priorities more then anything to me.

What Ben Cohen is saying isn't unpatriotic or soft on defense, it just good business. If CEO's ran their companies like the government is running our country, they wouldn't be in business for long. I'm all for cutting waste and pork barrel spending.