Ilario Pantano, GOP candidate for the House of Representatives in North Carolina's 7^th district, makes a superb point:

"Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced military spending cuts in programs that he has found to be bloated, redundant, and unnecessary.  Good for him.  Now we need a similar commitment to cost-cutting and fiscal responsibility from his fellow cabinet members, other agency heads, and, of particular symbolic importance, Members of Congress, who should immediately consider reducing their salaries and office expenses.

"If Secretary Gates can find some fat to trim, then so can every other bloated government agency - bar none."