What did Grover Norquist mean when he spoke of drowning the government in the bathtub?

Defanging it of it's ability to be a central force of laws and taxation I believe.. Obviously he want's to take us back to 1770's and the arguements of state rights vs Federal power - he's an anti federalist.. but I always find that position Ironic considering how Pro military and pro American Empire they always are.. WTF?