>This is not finger pointing, just an observation -- I don't think there is any question the Republican Party has tried to present itself as the party of flag, law and order, and defense, and Democrats as weak in those areas. I would be surprised if you could find a Republican politician who would disagree with that statement. They conduct every Presidential campaign on those grounds. And who can blame them? It was worked pretty well for them.

And every time someone in a Dem administration tries to cut few of the heads of the military-industrial hydra, the Reps jump to accuse them as being weak on defense. Even that legendary guy Pavlov didn't have so strong reflexes.