Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

PlanetaryOrbit

(155 posts) Fri Oct 11, 2013, 12:30 AM Oct 2013

Why does the Obama administration have $500 billion defense budgets? [View all]

Is it for the sake of appearing strong on national defense, to thwart a perception that Democrats are weaker on national security than Republicans?

Is it because the administration genuinely believes that such military expenditures are necessary? (In other words, it's not because of right-wing pressure?)

Is it because the administration can't make significant cuts to the military budget, because Congress wouldn't agree to it?

I'm asking for serious, non-snarky answers. I'm genuinely puzzled.

36 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why does the Obama administration have $500 billion defense budgets? [View all] PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2013 OP

I heard some old conservative men talking about that today. grasswire Oct 2013 #1

Three links below with lots of info... Tx4obama Oct 2013 #2

Because we haven't had a budget in years Recursion Oct 2013 #3

Because he inherited a $700+ billion dollar defense budget bhikkhu Oct 2013 #4

The actual budget is a lot closer to $1Tn BlueStreak Oct 2013 #28

Yes, especially if you include the Dept of Energy bhikkhu Oct 2013 #34

I agree about comparitive figures BlueStreak Oct 2013 #35

Empire, it has it's logic nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #5

Why are you asking this question with only 25 posts? eom melody Oct 2013 #6

Because it's a good question? eom truebluegreen Oct 2013 #13

Which questions require how many posts? 0x0D1A seveneyes Oct 2013 #17

Why are you asking this question with 12,000 posts? PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2013 #23

Because the odd Obamacare stories were coming in fast and furious melody Oct 2013 #25

Because the defense budget is little more than a giant jobs program. A HERETIC I AM Oct 2013 #7

Correct alcibiades_mystery Oct 2013 #22

Obama ran on expanding the war in Afghanistan Cali_Democrat Oct 2013 #8

Cuz AgingAmerican Oct 2013 #9

part of it is..... dtom67 Oct 2013 #10

Because he is President of the United States. icymist Oct 2013 #11

Because of the jolly bipartisan support of American imperialism that has existed-- eridani Oct 2013 #12

We have a winner! truebluegreen Oct 2013 #14

Because republicans in the house do the spending! B Calm Oct 2013 #15

But the defense budget was still large when the Democrats had the House and Presidency. PlanetaryOrbit Oct 2013 #24

The Dems were also dealing with two unfunded wars as well during that time. Paulie Oct 2013 #27

Because Congress voted for it Spider Jerusalem Oct 2013 #16

Sing it with me: "M - I - C……" PeteSelman Oct 2013 #18

All three Prophet 451 Oct 2013 #19

Well we know the Administration fully approves Savannahmann Oct 2013 #20

It's the only Keynesian policy that can get through Congress alcibiades_mystery Oct 2013 #21

Any question about ongoing issues labelled as "OBAMA Administration" makes me wonder. n/t UTUSN Oct 2013 #26

My non-snarky answer is that Democrats are so mortally afraid they'd soil their britches indepat Oct 2013 #29

Because with the loss of good paying manufacturing jobs, another jobs program Agnosticsherbet Oct 2013 #30

Being the biggest, baddest empire on the block... 99Forever Oct 2013 #31

Because that's an assload of jobs Shivering Jemmy Oct 2013 #32

Because the country can't support $2 Trillion dollar defense budgets...yet.... Junkdrawer Oct 2013 #33

Well we did bomb Libya and were about to bomb Syria and might bomb Iran. dkf Oct 2013 #36