Top military chiefs: Cut pay and benefits

[MADem]

30. The "brass" has PLEADED with Congress to not spend money on bullshit in the past--and CONGRESS does

not listen.

There is a film that illustrates this conundrum in a humorous way, starring Kelsey Grammar and Olympia Dukakis, called The Pentagon Wars. If you haven't seen it, go to your library and check it out--it is given a bit of "broad brush" treatment, but I am telling you that this kind of shit ACTUALLY does happen. A LOT.

And speaking of a "LOTT," I can't help but recall how Trent "I don't give a shit what you want, or need" Lott tried like hell to bully USN to take a half-built, bankrupt goddamn CRUISE ship they didn't want and didn't need--and those aren't small-ticket items. He even sneaked language into the Defense Authorization bill to try to force Navy to buy this white elephant and turn it into a "floating barracks." It was the stupidest idea going. You have no idea how many people were tearing their hair out over this insane notion--the feeling that Navy was being forced to spend money on a stupid project, and the difficulty in getting Trent Lott off the Navy's back, cannot be understated.

But hey... It's all about bringing money to the district, and to hell with We, The People, I'm afraid....

See: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130546

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130198

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/18/business/critics-christen-ship-project-as-an-off-course-uss-pork.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

That was a nightmare!