[airborne]

After reading your post, then reading President Bush's speech, it appears that he does not specifically "own the remark" as you say.

Curious.

I would note that no one has denied that the spending during this Administration has been exorbitant.

Discounting the war and natural disasters, that may be the case still.

[beaver fever]

This is one of the things I don't understand about people who trust their politicians.

I'm from Canada where politicians lie with a staight face during an election and the lies are brushed off with the wave of a lace hankerchief after they are in power.

If a politician lies outright to get elected by saying something then how much worse is it when they lie by saying nothing.

eg.

"I will do such and such even though I have no intention of doing so."

as opposed to

"Some say.....BUT NOT ME."