A Snoozer Of A Budget Plan

I can't criticize VP Biden for snoozing a bit during that speech, but what's up with the person behind him? She's nodding out like an addict at a Methadone clinic.

In fairness to Biden and his narcoleptic neighbor, the budget plan was really nothing to stay awake for. After the speech, the White House sent out this chart of its four-step "Comprehensive and Balanced Framework to Reduce the Deficit and Win the Future." All that in only four steps? It would be impressive except that the steps are made mostly out of vaporous strings of buzzwords that evaporate when you look at them.

Such as Step 2, on Security Spending Cuts. The plan is to "Hold growth in base security spending below inflation while further improving efficiency and effectiveness ... Ensure our capacity to meet our national security responsibilities."

All I can see there is that we will not actually reduce either our spending or our responsibilities. If there is any other meaning in Step 2, it disappears into the mists of Pentagon "efficiency and effectiveness."

Putting out a multi-step plan that lacks implementing details just draws attention to the administration's already pronounced Underpants Gnome syndrome.