We Miss You, Bubba

[Marcus Bryant]

Cato Ins ute executive vice president David Boaz waxes nostalgic for the Bill Clinton years. Wait, what? It turns out the scourge of conservatives wasn't so bad after all—at least compared with his successors. Boaz provides some hard data for his claims.

http://www.amconmag.com/headline/1204/index.html

[EVAY]

The author is correct. Lots of us remember the 'bubba' years fondly in light of what has followed from both parties in terms of fiscal irresponsibility.

It has often struck me that 'Bubba the Love Sponge' was better at governing than his predecessor or his successor, mostly because he never met a principle he wasn't willing to abandon (be they marital, fiscal or governmental), which made him amenable to working with a Republican congress that actually had an agenda, rather than a campaign slogan, as is currently the case.

A divided government may well be the code-breaker to getting fiscal responsiblity back in vogue, but in order for that to happen, the republicans in congress would actually need some plans ( ala the Gingrich years) and a fiscal agenda. Hillary was right about one thing; a tax cut is not an economic policy.

And let us not forget that SOME of the budget help during bubba's presidency was a function of two very unpopular tax increases, one from Bush 41, and one from Cllinton in his first two years. The first one cost Bush his presidency and the second one cost Clinton his party's control of congress.

Having said all of that, however, long live divided government!!

[doobs]

Clinton unleashed would have been a fiscal disaster. Newt and Co. were essential to the brief blip of fiscal restraint in this country.

If only the Republicans had followed through when they had REAL power for 6 years . . .

[Winehole23]

Hillary was right about one thing; a tax cut is not an economic policy.

Notwithstanding the odd hiccup like GWHB, tax cutting has been just about the only stable economic theme of the GOP for the past 30 years, besides continually increasing the extent and grasp of federal power.

[Winehole23]

If only the Republicans had followed through when they had REAL power for 6 years . . .

One wonders why they didn't.

Choices matter, bull scatters.

[EVAY]

Clinton unleashed would have been a fiscal disaster. Newt and Co. were essential to the brief blip of fiscal restraint in this country.

If only the Republicans had followed through when they had REAL power for 6 years . . .

If by "Clinton Unleashed" you mean, if he had retained a democratic congress, I think you are probably right. But "Bush Unleashed" for 6 years was as disastrous as you fear Clinton would have been. The critical factor in the divided government, then, comes down to a fiscally committed congress and a President willing to work with them. The Republican congress actually increased the spending every year more than what Bush asked for in his budgets, and remember that none of the wars were ever included in the budgets under Bush.

Simply being republican isn't enough.

[Marcus Bryant]

A lot can change in ten months, but we seem headed towards the only model which seems to work for fiscal sanity - GOP House, Dem White House.

[doobs]

A lot can change in ten months, but we seem headed towards the only model which seems to work for fiscal sanity - GOP House, Dem White House.

If true, that's sad. Why can't either of the parties genuinely commit themselves to spending restraint?

[Marcus Bryant]

If true, that's sad. Why can't either of the parties genuinely commit themselves to spending restraint?

Not sure. Of course, I'm being optimistic. After the performance of the Congress under Bush, I'm not sure fiscal constraint will ever return to the GOP.

Not that it should, necessarily. Fiscal conservatism isn't an electoral winner. Despite all the blather about Obama turning the American Eagle into a Soviet Duck, the real issue seems to be that he's urbane, drinks wine, shops at Whole Foods, an infrequent churchgoer, and listens to NPR.

[doobs]

Not sure. Of course, I'm being optimistic. After the performance of the Congress under Bush, I'm not sure fiscal constraint will ever return to the GOP.

Not that it should, necessarily. Fiscal conservatism isn't an electoral winner. Despite all the blather about Obama turning the American Eagle into a Soviet Duck, the real issue seems to be that he's urbane, drinks wine, shops at Whole Foods, an infrequent churchgoer, and listens to NPR.

Really? You think opposition to him has to do with tastes? Somehow I doubt eating burgers and drinking beer would convince conservatives and tea partiers to support or tolerate ObamaCare.

I think a big part of the problem with spendthrift parties is the tax code. With nearly half the country not paying any federal taxes, what incentive do these non-taxpayers have to keep spending under control? Their most powerful incentive is to get as much as they can from the federal government, since it costs them nothing.

[Marcus Bryant]

Exhibit A.1.a

Expanded the state more than any POTUS I can recall. Perhaps since LBJ, or FDR. Since three letter initials seem to indicate an aggressive power seeking asshole president, GWB fits right in.

Other than not drinking wine (at least in public) and not shopping at Whole Foods, he pretended to be a good ole boy who a Yonivore could mistake as his own while in fact he was as much a big government socialist commie whatever as his predecessor. If expanding Medicare by the largest amount isn't socialism and fundamentally changing America into an social democratic European state, I don't know what was. You tell me that American politics is about anything other than where you like to shop, what you like to drink, and what you like to do on Sundays.

[EVAY]

Exhibit A.1.a

Expanded the state more than any POTUS I can recall. Perhaps since LBJ, or FDR. Since three letter initials seem to indicate an aggressive power seeking asshole president, GWB fits right in.

Other than not drinking wine (at least in public) and not shopping at Whole Foods, he pretended to be a good ole boy who a Yonivore could mistake as his own while in fact he was as much a big government socialist commie whatever as his predecessor. If expanding Medicare by the largest amount isn't socialism and fundamentally changing America into an social democratic European state, I don't know what was. You tell me that American politics is about anything other than where you like to shop, what you like to drink, and what you like to do on Sundays.

Feeling a bit cranky, Marcus?

[SouthernFried]

Bush JR. sucked alright.

Clinton sucked. Bush SR. sucked, Obama sucks.

And people suck for letting them all expand govt and it's out of control spending...starting with the income tax. What ignorant fool believed the "Hey, it's only gonna be 1/2 of 1%, and only on the rich folk!"

The same fools who think health care is gonna save money and provide better health care.

Ship of fools...that's a song