Bush the budget-cutter?

What’s next, Usama bin Laden the beer guzzling pork eater? -:) After having increased domestic discretionary spending faster than any president since Nixon and LBJ, Bush now puts forward a budget which would increase it slower than the rate of inflation, which is to say reduce it in real terms. After having previously actively pushed for sharp increases in farm subsidies, he now proposes that they should be reduced. Military spending will continue to rise, but slower than before. Has Bush suddenly become a changed man? Or is he bluffing? It remains to be seen, but given his past record, we should probably remain skeptical until he actually pushes these cuts through Congress where they will likely face fierce opposition and for the first time vetoes a spending bill.