[rayiner]

Republicans don't purport to oppose "government" (they're not anarcho-libertarians). They use "small government" to mean keeping government within its legitimate functions, which includes defense and maintaining moral order. When you say to a Republican that expanding the defense department necessarily means expanding "government," you're not pointing out some inconsistency they thought of. You're simply playing games with the words and talking past them.

[eropple]

> They use "small government" to mean keeping government within its legitimate functions, which includes defense and maintaining moral order.

Unless they like those purportedly illegitimate functions, like using the federal government to put the boot on the neck of states that are OK with gay people having rights.

I get that you're good-faithing here, but the credit bank on that one went dry a long time ago.