Cost Confusion in the Swamp: Democrats Feign Fiscal Foresight While National Security Screams for Clarity
Watching the shifting priorities of Democratic politicians can be downright dizzying. Here at RedState, we sort through the tax-dollar fog and lay bare the truth for our readers. Some days, it’s funny in a sad, belly-laugh sort of way when a far-left pol suddenly pretends to care about the price tag of anything.
Case in point: the supposed “call to the colors” drama surrounding Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has summoned all general and flag officers in command billets along with their senior enlisted advisors for a meeting that could be shaping up to be something big. President Trump has announced he’ll be in attendance, so you know it’s serious. The only thing missing is a pencil-thin, high-priced teleprompter to explain it all away.
Then comes the tune change from the Democrat side. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., writes to the Pentagon asking for the costs of flying in these officers on short notice and whether virtual options were considered. About 800 general and flag officers are stationed worldwide, and with aides and senior advisors, the headcount could exceed 1,000 for Quantico. She inquires about which accounts would cover the costs, whether a government shutdown could disrupt return travel, and if a cost-benefit analysis backed the decision to meet in person.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Attendees | ~800 generals and flag officers worldwide; potentially >1,000 with aides |
| Cost Questions | Which accounts cover the costs? Were virtual options considered? |
| Logistics Risk | Impact of a possible government shutdown on travel |
| Decision Process | Whether a formal cost-benefit analysis preceded the in-person gathering |
Wait, what? So now Senator Duckworth is worried about the price tag on taxpayer money? The same Tammy Duckworth who has long prided herself on fiscal accountability—at least in the abstract—suddenly wants every penny laid bare when it comes to a ceremonial military gathering? The hypocrisy isn’t just loud; it’s deafening.
Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up. The meeting will go on, regardless of her approval or handwriting on the cost sheet. Given her voting record and the optics, her sudden concern over government spending rings hollow to those who’ve watched the same party cheer endless budgets for foreign aid and bureaucratic fluff while insisting the sky is falling at the mere mention of a Pentagon coffee budget.
And before we move on from Afghanistan, what was the price tag for all that military hardware the “Autopen Joe” administration left behind? How many billions? You tell me—then we’ll talk. The Bible doesn’t call for blind faith in leadership that won’t count the cost. It calls for wise stewardship, accountability, and a government that honors those who serve by spending wisely and transparently.
As for me and my house, we serve a God who holds the line on moral clarity. The day you start selling us moral fog as fiscal responsibility is the day we awake to the truth: “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33). We need leaders who protect American families, defend our borders, and safeguard the tax dollars entrusted to their care—without the moral gymnastics.
If you’re tired of spending gymnastics and ready for accountable leadership, you’re not alone. We’ll keep telling it straight, with a prayer on our lips and a resolve in our hearts to put Christian family values first, American workers first, and America First—always.
