gloomy sunday vs. crampy monday

The 2.5 trillion dollar budget was unveiled by the POTUS today. In order to keep his promise of cutting the deficit in half by 2009, he's cutting back (and in some cases eliminating) 150 "politically sensitive" domestic programs. According to the WaPo, "one out of every three of the targeted programs concerns education," and, as expected, Medicaid funding would be reduced dramatically. Of course, the spending plan DOES not include future costs of the Iraq/Afghanistan occupation, nor does it include the money needed to "reform" Social Security. ...and for all the war-loving assholes like Sean Hannity, Oliver North, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O'Reilly:

Still, the administration plans to cut costly weapons programs such as an Air Force advanced fighter plane, a stealthy Navy destroyer and the next generation of nuclear submarines. Bush's missile defense program would likewise lose billions of dollars in funding in coming years.

Jesus, why does the president hate the troops so much? Other noteworthy cuts:

-It would slice law enforcement grants to states from $2.8 billion to $1.5 billion. -It would cut 48 education programs totaling $4.3 billion, including $2.2 billion for high school programs, mostly state grants for vocational education. -The budget would cut $440 million in Safe and Drug-Free School grants. -The budget would cut $500 million in education technology state grants. -The budget would cut $225 million for the Even Start literacy program -The budget would cut $280 million for Upward Bound programs for inner-city youths. -$100 million in grants for land and water conservation would be cut. -The budget proposal would cut $94 million in grants for the Healthy Communities Access Program and phase out rural health grants. -The president would terminate the Community Food and Nutrition Program. -The President would cut a migrant and seasonal farm worker training program. -The President will renew his effort to cut a $143 million program for the removal of severely distressed housing.

And, according to the New York Times:

President Bush's budget would more than double the co-payment charged to many veterans for prescription drugs and would require some to pay a new fee of $250 a year for the privilege of using government health care, administration officials said Sunday.

Happy Monday, y'all!