GOP Spending Spree--Even Bill Clinton and a Democratic Congress didn't spend like this.

Wall St Journal ^ | 1-20-04

[SJackson]

In tonight's State of the Union address, President Bush can claim credit for a rebounding economy spurred by two rounds of tax cuts. He can take further credit for pushing those cuts despite opposition from the deficit hand-wringers -- including, we now know, his first Treasury secretary.

[goldstategop]

Republicans have come to love government and its perks.

[ilgipper]

this is sickening. Some can certainly be considered ok due to shifting priorities in foreign policy, homeland security, and defense, but to see this much of a rise in spending is just unacceptable.

[Joe Bonforte]

I wonder how many more times the loyalist Republicans on this board will read an article like this and go "Thank you sir, may I have another!"

[RJCogburn]

What is the difference between Blacks being on the Dem plantation and conservatives on the Republican?

[Joe Bonforte]

What is the difference between Blacks being on the Dem plantation and conservatives on the Republican?

This sounds like the setup line for a joke. I suppose the punchline is something like: "One likes their abuse with a (D) beside it, while the other likes their abuse with an (R) beside it."

[bushfamfan]

Clintoon couldn't spend due to a GOP Congress and the only gov't Clintoon could find appealing to actually cut spending was the military. Yes, Bush and Congress have been attempting to please our populace and yet the people seem to think we don't have enough. Here on this board conservatives are bi**hing about GOP spending, but the fact is the Demonrats want to even spend more and the people of this country, according to polls, don't think enough has been done!! They want more!!

[toomuchcoffee]

And it's going to get worse, probably. Every time the dems come up with a reason to hate Bush and not vote for him, Bush grabs it away from them and beats them over the head with it. What have the dems got left in their ammo bag? I think it's the economy that they're harping on, jobs mostly, and Bush is about to take *that* away from them. Yeah, it's painful but it's pure poetry. Bush is decimating the dems.

[The_Eaglet]

this is sickening. Some can certainly be considered ok due to shifting priorities in foreign policy, homeland security, and defense, but to see this much of a rise in spending is just unacceptable.

I agree.

[Alberta's Child]

They had a fascinating article in the NY Times a few years ago on this subject. They were talking specifically about politics on a local level in the NY metropolitan area, but I believe their conclusion could be extended to a national level as well.

The truth is that there is really no difference between the two major parties when it comes to government spending. In almost every case the Times article examined, the major factor in massive spending growth was the control of a government by only one party (either party). The most egregious case they cited was in Nassau County, Long Island -- which had been a GOP stronghold for years before the Democrats recently swept into power in both the legislative and executive branches as a result of voter outrage over massive increases in county government spending.

[SJackson]

If you define job as currying short term political gain he's doing great. If running the country is an issue, I'd say he's following what could pass for a conservative Dem domestic policy.

Politically, of course, you're handing a major economic issue to the Dems, the Reagan-Bush-Bush defict. And no, blaming it on Dem spending won't be credible, it will be the duo of Republican spending and Republican tax cuts.

[azhenfud]

The only real difference between a "D" and an "R" is in the shape of the crook behind it.

[kevao]

I'd love to give my opinion on this, but I don't want to get into another "so-would-you-rather-have-Dean-or-Kerry-in-the-White-House?" threads.

So sad fiscal conservatism is dead.

[Land of the Free 04]

So sad fiscal conservatism is dead.

And that self-proclaimed "conservatives" are dancing on its grave because Dubya helped kill it.

[From The Deer Stand]

Amen to that. No longer can we attack Democrats for their spending sprees.

[brownsfan]

fact is the Demonrats want to even spend more

I always find it interesting when the defense of wrong-doing is to say: Yeah, well, the other guy is worse! If you look at the spending of the Bush administration, many here would call him a RINO. Call things as they are, not as you wish to see them.

[Piranha]

Why do you call this a RINO issue?

[Phaedrus]

Bump. Is he making his father's mistake; i.e. because he won a war in the Middle East, does he think he's invulnerable at the polls?

[shiva]

Welcome newbie....a whole month now, huh? Time goes by fast in here.