Dems: Bush most reckless spender in White House history

 

Last week, in off-the-cuff remarks not intended for prime time, President  Bush blamed Wall Street for being "drunk" with greed and urged the financiers to "sober up."

Today the Office of Management and Budget acknowledged that its budget projections for 2009 will be even higher than expected -- now estimated at a record $482 billion.

The White House blamed a weak economy, noting that "the housing slump, tighter conditions in credit markets and continuing energy price shocks have cut into the expected growth rate." And the OMB also lowered its economic growth forecast to 1.6% for this year.

But Democrats, led by Steny Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat who's No. 2 to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were incredulous. Rejecting White House arguments that the increased deficit stemmed from an economic stimulus package enacted by Democrats, Hoyer cited the numbers as "further evidence that the Bush administration is the most fiscally irresponsible administration in American history." Hoyer also said:

"George W. Bush inherited a projected 10-year budget surplus of $5.6 trillion, which he proceeded to turn into a projected deficit of more than $4 trillion. When President Bush took office in January 2001 the Congressional Budget Office projected a surplus of $635 billion in 2008 and $710 billion in 2009. Now, OMB projects deficits of $389 billion and $482 billion in those years respectively -- a swing of more than $1 trillion in each year."

Even Republican John McCain, campaigning for the White House as he seeks to distance himself from the incumbent, greeted the news as a bad report card on President Bush. The new estimates, he said, are a sad legacy. "There is no more striking reminder of the need to reverse the profligate spending that has characterized this administration's fiscal policy," he added.

But the line of the day goes to House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois Democrat who once worked in the Clinton White House. Alluding to the surplus that Bush inherited on taking office in 2001, he said:

“The president who repeatedly pledged to cut the deficit in half has instead brought it to a record high. President Bush squandered a $236 billion surplus, ran up record deficits and added nearly $4 trillion to the national debt. Mr. President, we will be forever in your debt.”

-- Johanna Neuman

Comments

[John Smith]

Hard to cut a defecit with two active foreign engagements, and having to deal with several natural disasters at home. Bush has repaired a miltary that Clinton had gutted, and the price tag isn't cheap.

[Edie Calhoun]

Uh, aren't these the same Democrats who have repeatedly voted to give President Bush everything he asked for? And then voted to bail out private businesses with my money just last weekend? Of course, they lay the blame at Bush's feet, but their votes are public record and I lay the blame at their feet.

Are these people really that distanced from their own votes? The Democrats don't seem to realize that there are fiscal consequences to all their welfare/wealth redistribution/bailout votes. Are they schizophrenic? Do the Democrats suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder? What is wrong with these people? I don't see that the "drunken" White House spending slowed one iota since 2006; it just shifted direction.

I am amazed that any Democrat opened his or her mouth in any public venue to criticize anyone. No wonder this Congress holds the record for the poorest performance ever. They are truly stupid!

[joel]

They brought hefty charges against Ken Lay and his Enron cronies when they tanked the company. Why are we still allowing the Bush administration to continue driving our car into the ditch? A Master's graduate of Harvard Business School ???? I guess he was there during his booze and coke days, as it is quite clear at this point that he didn't learn much!!!

[Shahla]

With the gross financial mismanagement, huge military investment overseas, lack of ability to control the growing illegal immigrant problem, lack of effective plan to control the falling housing market etc would make the US to the level of a third world country in the next 15 years. The biggest damage is done during President Bush's tenure. He diverted attention from the domestic problem and meddled in international politics to impose his personal agenda like going after Saddam Hussain. United states has started paying the price already. When the economy deteriorates by affecting 300 plus million people it is not easy to control the situation that easy. What should have spent on maintaining highways and bridges and various other infrastructures in United States has gone down the drain by the foolish overseas engagement policies. Did anyone make an assessment of how many trillions needed to replace or maintain the military hardware on overseas battlegrounds? Looks like the US military is mum on this issue now. Very soon when the dust settles they too would come up with a huge shopping list that would only add to the chaos.

[NEPatriot]

If anyone of us performed so poorly, we'd have lost our jobs a long time ago. Instead, he and his cronies got re-elected. It's time for a change.

[Shut it, J.S.]

Enough, John. Defending Bush's fiscal responsibility is like defending Iran's human rights record, Saskatchewan's tropical beaches, or Lidsay Lohan's talent--it simply just isn't there to defend. And none of this nonsense about "two active foreign engagements" and "having to deal with several natural disasters at home." If you're referring to the unneccessary, misplaced war in Iraq and the bound-to-fail, colonialistic temporary gig in Afghanistan, you're wasting your breath; ask the Turks, British and Soviets how they fared in that theater and you'll get the idea. And Bush never "dealt" with any disaster of any kind effectively. 911? Bomb Iraq, where none of the terrorists were (but certainly are now)! Katrina? Let some horse judge bungle away precious lives and resources from sheer, gut-wrenching incompetance! Oil prices? Well, that's Cheney's gig, Bush sure as heck isn't going to butt in there.

[Stan]

You have to hand it to the Republicans, even now they think of a way to blame this on Clinton... When will you ever take the credit for Bush?

[Debbi Atkinson]

John Smith, surely you don't believe what you just wrote???

[shine]

Federal government deficit too high.

California state deficit too high.

New York city deficit too high.

Just about everywhere you turn, some government, somewhere is short of money.

Doesn't seem to be a shortage of taxes though. Plenty of those.

Wonder what the problem could be?

Maybe the various legislatures involved are just palin spending TOO MUCH of our money.

'Spose

[Jane Dope]

>>>"Hard to cut a defecit with two active foreign engagements.."

...One of which was COMPLETELY unnecessary, abominably planned, and fraudulently executed.

[BOBBY NIMOCKS]

AS THE SAYING GOES. " A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED"
HISTORY WILL SHOW SON GEORGE BUSH AS --GET THIS--A "CONSERVATIVE" REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT WHOSE IMPECUNIOUS WAYS TURNED THE GREENBACK INTO A HUNCHBACK.

PS WHAT DOES "CONSERVATIVE" MEAN?

7/28/08

[Walter]

First is right....Many disasters produces disaster. Bbbbbut.. Congress has the pocketbook. I lay the blame on our pitiful congress and by proxy on those poor folks sending them back for another term.

[mildbrew]

If you voted GW Bush, we dont expect you to understand this article or admit to your stupidity.

[Kevin Jones]

Just a normal citizen here...retired military. I am sick to death of the good-old-boy network of the republicans and their disastrous handling of our economy!! Bush should be imprisoned for his horrid handling of of our country...his cronies are nothing more than a "legal" mafia...they have practically stripped us bare and left our children saddled with overwhelming debt and a world that mistrusts us. We have gone from being respectable to being a laughingstock!! And, please, do not even attempt to wave the flag and talk about supporting our troops...he sold them out a long time ago...he doesn't care about them or the avg joe out here...when are we going to stop being sheep led to the slaughter!?

[Peter]

Mr. Smith is sadly mistaken in his suggestion that the deficit relates to rebuilding the military. Bush has done nothing to rebuild the military. The cost leading to the deficit is the tremendous cost of fighting 2 wars simultaneously including the massive senseless war in Iraq and the result of a failed economy caused by an incompetent president at the helm.

The spending on catastrophes is regularly anticipated in this country and 2005 was not particularly unusual. The additional costs to the taxpayers was more than anything, the result of overcompensation for being ill prepared in the first place. The lack of preparation was a consequence of putting an inexperienced and incompetent individual in charge of our nation’s catastrophe response in the first place, then trying to cover over the face of failure with extra makeup. Much of what was subsequently expensed has gone to waste.

And Bush's claim that he is a great economic leader while blaming the deficit on the Democrats is akin to calling himself a Vietnam War hero and questioning the patriotism of those who truly served and were decorated for it.

Let's hope for some wisdom and insight in our next group of voters for this position.

[American Citizen]

I accept full responsibility for this deficit.

My vote put our leaders in power and my lack of backbone to oust the incumbent is keeping idiots in powe.

Until We The People, get enough we will be victimized by our governments at every level.

VOTE FOR ANYTHING BUT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

[Wayne Carroll]

Bush has sold out this country. The rich got richer at this country's expense. There is no excuse for these types of greedy and unpatriotic acts. This graph shows that when ever there is a republican in office the deficit increases, and when the democrats are in office we have a surplus. Does anyone else see that trend in the graph?

[Steve Wimer]

Overspending by Republicans is the fault of the Democrats. Don't believe me? Just ask one. It's called double-talk.

[J Ricardo]

>>>..One of which was COMPLETELY unnecessary, abominably planned, and fraudulently executed.

...and justified by a false flag attack - Press For Truth

[Roger]

This is just more pot calling kettle black. These buffoons (both dems and reps) have stolen our tax money for 20 years and left us in horrible debt, not to mention squandering the social security surplus. Politician is another word for thief.

[Raj Dhawan]

It would be nice if people started aligning on sides based on differences other than simply Republicans and Democrats...one such seperation could be based on intelligent, thinking people vs. others.

And if that were the case, I think ALL intelligent, thinking people would call a spade a spade, and stop defending in ANY way, shape or form the Bush Administration's policies. This administration has been a failure in almost every policy agenda it has gotten involved in. The war in Iraq was absolutely unnecessary and has been a disaster, despite the might and power of the United States. As have been a host of domestic policies, from Environmental Protection, to responding to natural disasters, to respecting citizen's rights of privacy.

I dont consider myself as either a Democrat or a Republican. But a thinking citizen who would like to see intelligent leadership take over our government. A leader who genuinely is able look beyond racial and ethnic divides, and coalesce people behind his good ideas. I have been watching and listening to this presidential race very closely, hoping that our next leader will be a person of intelligence, sound judgement and good leadership skills. I think I may have heard such a leader after reading the text of one of our Presidential contenders on his recent visit to Berlin.

[G Bush]

HI

My name is G Bush, no , not the president, just similar name. But as a free society i can say that: 1. I take the blame for the big deficit in the USA. I bought many made-in-china stuff that makes US CEO/MBA kids get rich personally while many americans starve.
2. I take the blame for the horrendous trade deficit with CHina.
3. I take the blame for having no leadership.
4. But , give me a break, I almost succesfully lowered the US Dollar to be on par with the Mexican Peso. It is already on par with Canadian dollar. Once we are all on par then we could merge US-Canada-Mexico or NAFTA and abolished all borders and make USA a state of Mexico. To do that we have to destroyt the US dollar to be on par with the mexican peso. I succeeded in destroying the dollar, what else do you want? Hilalry and Obama wants the same thing despite what they say on public. Give me credit for this great achievement.

[JJW]

No other president in history has had the wisdom to CUT TAXES during a war -- much less during TWO WARS. All the other presidents asked the country to make sacrifices and buy war bonds, rather than sell their grandchildren's future down the river. But hey, that's OK, because with all the tax cuts and special tax loopholes, All Americans can leave their grandkids 100 million-dollar trust funds to help defray the cost of the Trillions in debt they will inherit.

And I agree: Heck of a job Bushie! The "gutted" military has been strengthened by outsourcing formerly military jobs to mercenaries paid 10x what our regular troops are making and allowing these mercenaries, who look like American troops, to kill NON-COMBATANT civilians and officials in Iraq without consequence (all good for the morale of our soldiers and image of our "Professional" military force). Not only that, "w" has made our military stronger by NOT providing them with bulletproof vests and IED-proof vehicles such as the ones the SouthAfican army has had for years. It also makes our military stronger to house our troops in substandard quarters, built by corrupt military contractors with sweetheart deals and ties to "w"'s administration, that end up electrocuting soldiers. And the ones that are just maimed and crippled are also treated better as evidenced by the coverups and scandals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. And the list goes on and on and on...

But you are completely off the mark about the price tag: with the dollar so weak, everything is so much cheaper!

Please, John Smith, please get a bigger shovel -- maybe if you repeat yourself enough times even you will start to believe your own bs.

[the word]

Gearge W. Bush should stand trial for being the most irresponsible leader of this nation. The American people will carry the burden of his irresponsible management for the next 10 years and probably more. Bush is a criminal and should be dealt with the same way as the CEO of ENRON or equals

[Bob]

This is old news, however with an average 8th grade reading level its doubtful a majority of Americans actually understand government finance and what this means. What ultimately got Bush elected into office to begin with was a sex scandal, Americans voted with their skewed moral compass as opposed to their rational sensibilities. Bush's re-election played on the nation's fears of a second terrorist attack, again American's eschewed their sensibilities in that election as well. Thus a president who attains office based on fear or negativity is doomed to failure, as was Bush. McCain's campaign is based on negativity as well, so that will likely be a failed presidency. Obama is a positive force, and runs his campaign on what he can do, not what his opponent cannot. Thus Obama's presidency will be a success, and he will balance the budget as Clinton did.