Actions Speak Loudest: Who's the more fiscally conservative, Clinton or Bush?

National Review Online ^ | August 8, 2002 | Veronique de Rugy

[DAnconia55]

regulate political speech, issued protectionist taxes on imported steel and lumber, backed big-spending education and farm bills, and endorsed massive new entitlements for mental-health care and prescription drugs.

Yep. Those are ALL War related, aren't they...

LOL...you guys are grapsing at straws.

[Gothmog]

You hit the nail on the head. One of the things that annoys me is how the liberal press helps the Democrats get away with saying (paraphrased) 'Bush spent the Clinton surlpus.'

It was the GOP Congress that helped create the surplus. The surplus was created by an increase in revenues from the corporate income tax (due to the 1990s economic expansion) and the cut in the capital gains tax.

Before the war on terror, Bush had already 'spent' the surplus with a huge increase in education spending and a useless (Democrat inspired) tax rebate. Both of which were mainly to help himself politically.

That's understandable, it is much better than the alternative -- Gore wasting even more on education spending and raising tax rates in the middle of an economic slowdown, but I hoped for better.

Bush's repayment to the conservatives in Congress who left him a surplus to work with? Hold a vote on partial-birth abortion just before the 2002 elections in an attempt to put the Democrats on the spot. Smart politics, but the bill will easily pass, almost two years after he could have passed the same bill and saved thousands of unborn babies.

I am not religious at all, I am simply bringing the PBA angle in to make a point. If that's the way Bush treats his core constituency, on a bill that should easily pass w/ Democrat support (meaning easy to defend, no real lost political capital), then conservative GOPers need to make sure he understands that supporting their agenda will benefit him personally. Otherwise, he will simply play politics.

[ofMagog]

We've had other presidents who worked hard at being one termers...

[swheats]

The better question would be, how much of the conservative agenda Clinton was able to accomplish with a Republican majority in the Senate and House, than Bush with a Democratic Senate majority?

[FreeReign]

If Bush had to spend a few billions more on defense and on homeland security, then why not cut other spending, like on education, HHS, housing, etc.

In the first Bush discretionary budget, he ONLY raised the budgets of two departments relative to GNP -- Defense and Education. All the other twenty-something departments WERE CUT!

[FreeReign]

Bush has signed a bill to regulate political speech...

Bush said that parts of the CFR bill were unconstitutional and he said he would let the courts take care of it.

protectionist taxes on imported steel...

In a time of war, the steel industry is most likely being protected for defense reasons. The media won't tell you that though because it doesn't fit their agenda.

[FreeReign]

As for the HUD factor, I absolutely agree. It should be cut. As should the Department of Education..but hey..that's me!!! Also, abolish the IRS.

Freedom is truth. Both HUD and the IRS were cut relative to GNP in Bush's first budget.

[gcruse]

Who's the more fiscally conservative, Clinton or Bush?

Tariffs, agriwelfare...I don't want to think about it.

[FreeReign]

the article is 100% correct

This article is not objective.

[lavaroise]

Waco, Elian, Ruby Ridge, IRS gate, FBI file gate, RonBrown gate, impeachment etc... Who would be so stupid as to compare anyone to CLinton?

[Nephi]

Clinton had the benefit of losing the congress to the Republicans in '94 and that saved him from himself.

Unfortunately, in Bush's desire to avoid everything Clintonesque to minimize reminding Americans of Clinton, he seems to have eschewed winning, too.

Therefore, thanks to Republicans in congress, Clinton's final one and a half terms were a success for conservatives.

[Kermit]

From '95 to 2001, Clinton had a GOP House and Senate. Bush has only had a GOP House. Bush has veered left and has not defended freedom, no doubt about that, but he's no Bill Clinton.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I don't know how a quote becomes "Quote of the Day" but I think this one needs to be posted around FR:

I really wish these people could decide on a story and stick to it; first he is too stupid to get out of bed; next, he is so crafty and cunning, he is going to take over the world; next, he is too stupid to pronounce big words; next, he is so sly, he was pulling the wool over everyone's eyes with complex business dealings; next, he is the goofy frat-boy, not ready for complex issues; now, he is the elitist, trying to make himself seem one of the guys.

22 posted on 8/11/02 3:46 PM Eastern by Paul Atreides

[AAABEST]

They're both part of the problem. They've both have made things worse for those of us who would like to see a more conservative, more free republic that adheres to our constitution.

Clinton was an evil self server. Bush is just a blueblooded jackass who never had conservative philosophy and couldn't buy one at a second hand conservative philosophy store.

They're both a net loss for freedom.

[majic12]

THE NATIONAL DEBT IS 6 TRILLION DOLLARS! (UP OVER 50% SINCE 1990) (THANKS BILL} INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THE NATIONAL DEBT ARE THE 2ND LARGEST EXPENDITURE IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET. (health and human services is no 1!) WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY DOWN THE PRINCIPLE ON THIS MONSTROUS DEBT. If the national debt grows at the same rate in the last period(1970-2000) by 2030 the debt will be over 100 TRILLION dollars. You think I'm joking? The PUBLIC DEBT was 300 billion in 1970. That's up 2000%. What's consevative about that? OUR GRANDCHILDREN will have IMF BAILOUTS IN THEIR FUTURE. HEAD FOR THE HILLS!!!

[DAnconia55]

In the first Bush discretionary budget, he ONLY raised the budgets of two departments relative to GNP

And Republicans screamed when Medicare was described so by the Demonkrats.

You guys are hilarious, not a bit of consistency about you at all....

If one more cent was added to the budget, it was raised. Regardless of GNP.

[FreeReign]

In the first Bush discretionary budget, he ONLY raised the budgets of two departments relative to GNP

If one more cent was added to the budget, it was raised. Regardless of GNP.

Actually I was mistaken. Let me revise my statement;

In the first Bush discretionary budget, he ONLY raised the budgets of two departments relative to inflation and increase in population.

[Theodore R.]

Bush is not very conservative because the American people are not very conservative. He is just trying to go along to get along with "we the people." And it would be nice if he could get Katie Couric to say something nice about him next week. Or is she on vacation too?

[AAABEST]

Waco, Elian, Ruby Ridge, IRS gate, FBI file gate, RonBrown gate, impeachment etc... Who would be so stupid as to compare anyone to CLinton?

Not to nit-pick but Ruby Ridge happend during Bush I. Yes, it really doesn't matter who is in charge of a stomping giant government, they all screw it up.