Dreams on a Collision Course

In other words, regional self-interest and political self-preservation know no partisan boundaries.

Forgive me, then, if I'm a tad skeptical about Obama's claim that he would "stop funding wasteful, obsolete federal government programs that make no financial sense." Or Clinton's pledge to "take back at least $55 billion per year from special interests including the drug companies, oil companies, and firms that ship jobs overseas." Or McCain's incoherent plan to eliminate $100 billion in spending that originated in earmarks.

What are their chances? Just ask the president, who every year sends up a budget that proposes eliminating scores of programs he deems wasteful and every year has seen the bulk of his suggestions ignored.

Or just consider the farm bill, and the positions of the senators who would be president. McCain, to his credit, is opposed. But when the Senate passed its even porkier version of the farm bill last year, Clinton and Obama expressed disappointment about the absence of some reforms -- and proceeded to praise it.

"An important step towards renewing our nation's commitment to our farming communities," said Obama.

"A safety net for America's farmers," said Clinton, who had gone to bat for Upstate New York milk producers.

Proving my point: Fantasy budgeting is the easy part.

marcusr@washpost.com