Token Budget Cuts Dead On Arrival

President Obama's first crack at belt-tightening, a ludicrously small $100 million cut, still hasn't seen the light of day. And his next salvo, a rather modest $17 billion cut, is dead on arrival at Capital Hill, as Democratic lawmakers vow to go to the mattresses to protect their pet projects:

President Obama's modest proposal to slice $17 billion from 121 government programs quickly ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Capitol Hill yesterday, as an array of Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight White House efforts to deprive their favorite initiatives of federal funds.

Last year, President Bush proposed about $34 billion in cuts to outdated, ineffecient, and indefensible projects that remain in the budget because powerful Members of Congress like to dish out federal money to their friends and supporters. It was an annual exercise in futility, as Congressional leadership in both parties had no interest in curbing their own appetites.