The column got a lot of attention in the blogosphere and MSM, including the Washington Post, James Joyner at Outside The Beltway, Justin Gardner at Donklephant, Steven Reynolds at the All Spin Zone, 6SpeedTA95 at The Liberty Lounge, The Street.com, Gra…

“Jimmy’s got it right. This is yet another article that takes a small statistic and misses the big picture.” – NotAllThatSaneInSF

Actually, Jimmy’s got it wrong. The big picture issue is the growth of government spending. And for that particular big picture issue, the only stat that matters is the very big (not little) statistic that is the focus of this well researched article – percentage increase in discretionary spending. And no, it is not all about defense. From the article:

“But Bush’s super-spending is about far more than defense and homeland security.

Brian Riedl, a budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research group, points to education spending. Adjusted for inflation, it’s up 18 percent annually since 2001, thanks largely to Bush’s No Child Left Behind act.

The 2002 farm bill, he said, caused agriculture spending to double its 1990s levels.

Then there was the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit — the biggest single expansion in the program’s history — whose 10-year costs are estimated at more than $700 billion.

And the 2005 highway bill, which included thousands of “earmarks,” or special local projects stuck into the legislation by individual lawmakers without review, cost $295 billion.

“He has presided over massive increases in almost every category … a dramatic change of pace from most previous presidents,” said Slivinski.”

This is about single party control of both the executive and legislature undermining the checks and balances of our government. And no, it will not be any different under a single party Democrat government either. Just different lobbyists.

Finally Tom. The question is not “…why don’t more Dems support him?” The right question is Why would any self-respecting conservative support him? Bush had an opportunity to “walk the walk” and rein in the corrupt spending of his own party – led by Delay and Hastert. He failed.

You’re losing your credibility, Donkey-Fant.

The obvious reality of Bush trying to “compromise” with Dems, by spending “more than he wants”, has totally failed to get any credit by almost any Dems. Unlike how, when Clinton compromised on welfare reform, and NAFTA (giving Reps what they wanted), quite a few Clinton-hating Reps at least gave him credit for doing the right things.

The double-speaking “Bush doesn’t spend enough on X” Bush-hate, combined with “Bush is spending more then everybody else” is NOT a pair of internally consistent critiques.

Dems … complain about Bush not spending enough;
Dems … complain about Bush spending “too much”.

Well, there is a leeetle bit of consistency.
Dems … complain about Tax Cuts!

Dems want to simplify the 1040 into two lines:
1) How much did you make?
2) send it in.

How much has the country earned in GDP over that period of time? Have taxes increased or decreased? Is the budget deficit increasing or decreasing ?

How much has the country earned in GDP over that period of time? Have taxes increased or decreased? Is the budget deficit increasing or decreasing?

To my knowledge, William Niskanen, former Reagan Ecomonic Advisor, was the first to spending increases have dropped to around 3%.

To my knowledge, William Niskanen, former Reagan Ecomonic Advisor, was the first to document this effect.

Slivinski has made this comparison of GWB to LBJ before. He noted it an analysis last year and in his book “Buck Wild”.”>document this effect.

Slivinski has made this comparison of GWB to LBJ before. He noted it an analysis last year and in his book “Buck Wild”.

To my knowledge, William Niskanen, former Reagan Ecomonic Advisor, was the first to document this effect.

Slivinski has made this comparison of GWB to LBJ before. He noted it an analysis last year and in his book “Buck Wild”.

At least LBJ had the excuse of a war someone else started. Bush only has the excuse of an unnecessary war that he manufactured intel to start.

Remember in the 80s when the Republicans were saying we wouldn’t have these increasing deficits if they controlled the Congress? Guess what? Sounds like they were wrong & still are.

Earmarks, my ass!

The Vietnam War diverted the money LBJ had appropriated for the so-called “Great Society.” The Great Society didn’t turn out to be so great after all. This president doesn’t even pretend to care, he’s worried about a few million children getting “socialized medicine” but he has little difficulty in borrowing money from the Chinese to pay for his corrupt war. It’s okay though, Bush and company don’t draw Social Security for their retirements, they don’t have to worry about paying for end of life health care, they’ve made “plans.”

As we Americans debate the efficacy of our entitlement plans and how we are going to pay for them, the money that could go to making these programs more solvent are going straight into the pockets of war profiteers. These aren’t honorable Americans, these are criminals. They aren’t just stealing hard working, honest Americans’ money they are sullying the integrity of this country.

Can you say earmarks gone wild?