It's pretty clear to me that Romney's "increase military spending" plank was just some pollster's brilliant idea. It makes no sense in the context of the rest of the Republican frugality-first (except when it comes to handouts to Paris Hilton) agenda. In fact, it all came together for me the day after the Biden-Ryan showdown, when I heard Buddy Somebody (probably Roemer) introduce the "comeback team" to an Ohio crowd. He hammered Joe Biden for saying that we don't need any more M-1 tanks. And where are M-1 tanks made? OHIO!
No explanation of why we might need M-1 tanks. Who cares -- we're in Ohio!
Romney also recently announced that he wants to up Navy ship production from 11 per year to 15 per year, and that the increase will include 3 submarines. Who builds the subs? It will be Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, VIRGINIA and General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CONNECTICUT.
So, by pushing for more military spending, and in particular for the building of more M-1 tanks and submarines, the Republican ticket is pandering not just to members of the military, but also to citizens of a critical battleground states (yes, even Connecticut is a battleground state now).
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Obama-Biden pollsters have got their boys making all the right promises to all the right demographics, and I'm sure they've figured out specific ways to appeal to Ohio voters. But you have to admit that the Republican plan is a bit cynical -- after everything they've said against government spending as a catalyst for job growth, it's a bit rich for them now to be advocating just that -- in battleground states.
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