I learned today that the Bush budget includes a small 2.7% increase in funding for the department of Veteran's Affairs. When you account for inflation, this amounts to a actual cut in spending on our veterans. Remember, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are minting new veterans at a pace not seen since Vietnam. Now is not the time to pinch the VA.

More specifically, the new budget doubles the cost of prescription drugs for vets and forces some to pay a $250 annual fee for medical service.

So, I guess the moral of the story is this: Blow 2 million bucks on a support-the-troops lovefest during the Super Bowl and everyone will praise you. Bury a true slap in the face to those risking their lives in the back pages of the budget and no one will notice.