President Bush debuted a $2.4 trillion budget Monday.

The initial reviews are not good.

The budget projects reducing the deficit from this year’s record $521 billion to $364 billion in 2005, but it doesn’t include any money for Iraq or Afghanistan. The emergency $87 billion appropriation passed last year doesn’t go beyond Sept. 30, but the need for spending surely will. That money is off the books right now. It shouldn’t be.

More money is allocated for homeland security, a 10 percent increase, and defense spending, up 7 percent. But seven of 16 cabinet-level agencies will take a beating. Some will be flat funded, falling behind increases caused by inflation. Others will see significant cuts.

The Small Business Administration is slated for a 10 percent reduction. President Bush also continues his assault on the environment, cutting the Environmental Protection Agency by more than 7 percent. Agriculture, health and humans services, commerce, justice, transportation and treasury will be trimmed.

All the proposed cuts are limited to a small piece of the federal budget. When entitlements, like Medicare and Social Security, and defense and homeland security are taken off the table, it only leaves about 18 percent of federal spending to absorb all the cuts. If every dollar in this category was eliminated next year – about $362 billion – the country would still run a deficit.

It’s an election year budget that asks a lot of the president’s own party. Popular programs are targeted, anticipated spending is not included and there are plenty of political hot buttons, such as an increase in funding for the controversial National Endowment for the Arts.

To get the country’s financial house in order will mean hard decisions, accounting honesty from the White House and a fearless Congress.

We’re not hopeful.


Cheap shot


Tom Brady is a bonafide star. No doubt about that any longer.

For all the talk of a starless Super Bowl, Brady proved himself by giving an emotionally charged tutorial on leadership. Of course, he had a little help from an outstanding performance by his offensive line, wide receivers and the Patriots’ smothering defense.

The game was a classic. A fierce defensive struggle early gave way to high-scoring drama. Seldom can a game satisfy fans of both offense and defense.

The game and its outcome were simply outstanding.

Unfortunately, CBS and its co-conspirator MTV, cheapened the entire night. We don’t expect much from half-time shows. They’re usually little more than a distraction in the middle of the game, a chance to eat some food and call a buddy in North Carolina to gloat.

But this one has to take the cake. From hip hop star Nelly’s constant pants grabbing to Justin Timberlake’s sexy – read simulated sex – dance with Janet Jackson, it was just too much. And that was before Jackson showed the world a bare, or nearly bare, breast.

Sex, violence and commercialism are part of the marketing of professional football. We know that. But the show went too far.

The Super Bowl is the most watched television event of the year. It’s shown in the heart of prime time with the entire world watching. It’s always a spectacle, but it doesn’t have to be so crass.

A great game, that could be the beginnings of a New England football dynasty, was sullied. Luckily, the performance by the Patriots will be remembered long after the hubbub has faded over the tawdry intermission.


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