tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32914592.post4423758503989835163..comments2024-02-21T14:18:09.212-08:00Comments on R World: The Right's Sudden Interest in DeficitsRon Davisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972794876337195698noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32914592.post-19518493703334184482009-11-03T20:11:32.907-08:002009-11-03T20:11:32.907-08:00As you state, Obama has a much larger deficit than...As you state, Obama has a much larger deficit than any other president because ~70% of it was inherited.<br /><br />During GW's 1st six years in office, when adjusted for inflation, discretionary spending — or budget items that Congress and the president can control, including defense and domestic programs, but not entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare — shot up at an average annual rate of 5.3%. That exceeds the 4.6% annual rate during Johnson's '63-69 term. And Reagan had 1.9% growth during his time in office. Bush presided over massive increases in almost every category, and at that time the White House countered by noting that Bush took office as the country was heading into a recession, then reeled from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. <br />“This president had to overcome some things that required additional spending,” said Sean Kevelighan, a White House budget office spokesman. And remember, during GW's 1st six years the Republicans controlled the Congress.<br />Simply put: GW Bush NEVER refused a Republican budget placed before him. NEVER.Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291372921696671073noreply@blogger.com