Bush did it.

[Guest Fact checker]

But Bush did do it. It's OK to tell the truth. Let's check the facts.

FACT: Bush came into office with a surplus and left with a deficit.

FACT: This happened because he got us into a war that was completely unnecessary and gave a huge tax cut to billionaires who didn't need it.

FACT: As a result of Bush's socialism for the rich, the middle class is struggling while a few people on top rake in millions and even billions of dollars every year, even though they don't add a thing to the economy. All they do is push paper and manipulate markets.

FACT: Bush called the super-rich his political base. He seemed to think it was funny.

FACT: Bush was intent on going to war with Iraq the day he took office. 9/11 had nothing to do with it because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and they had no WMDs.

FACT: We are still trying to get out of Iraq.

FACT: Bush further deregulated the banks and financial institutions, causing the economic meltdown of September 2008.

FACT: Bush encouraged the financial speculation that led to the near collapse of our economy.

FACT: Bush completely ignored our infrastructure, further complicating our long-term problems.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us toward wind, solar, geothermal or even nuclear energy and away from fossil fuels. As a result, we continue to bleed money overseas, and we're giving it to countries that don't even like us.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to reform the health care system. He didn't even try.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us away from long-term dependence on foreign oil. Apparently he wants the oil companies to bleed the average American dry with runaway, exorbitant profits. Gee, I wonder why:

FACT: BOTH BUSH AND CHENEY WERE OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVES! Can you say "conflict of interest?"

FACT: Cheney's company, Haliburton got huge no-bid contracts in Iraq. Can you say "conflict of interest?" Can you say "crook?"

So you see, when we say "Bush did it," it's because

BUSH DID IT!

[Guest 2smart4u]

But Bush did do it. It's OK to tell the truth. Let's check the facts.

FACT: Bush came into office with a surplus and left with a deficit.

FACT: This happened because he got us into a war that was completely unnecessary and gave a huge tax cut to billionaires who didn't need it.

FACT: As a result of Bush's socialism for the rich, the middle class is struggling while a few people on top rake in millions and even billions of dollars every year, even though they don't add a thing to the economy. All they do is push paper and manipulate markets.

FACT: Bush called the super-rich his political base. He seemed to think it was funny.

FACT: Bush was intent on going to war with Iraq the day he took office. 9/11 had nothing to do with it because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and they had no WMDs.

FACT: We are still trying to get out of Iraq.

FACT: Bush further deregulated the banks and financial institutions, causing the economic meltdown of September 2008.

FACT: Bush encouraged the financial speculation that led to the near collapse of our economy.

FACT: Bush completely ignored our infrastructure, further complicating our long-term problems.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us toward wind, solar, geothermal or even nuclear energy and away from fossil fuels. As a result, we continue to bleed money overseas, and we're giving it to countries that don't even like us.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to reform the health care system. He didn't even try.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us away from long-term dependence on foreign oil. Apparently he wants the oil companies to bleed the average American dry with runaway, exorbitant profits. Gee, I wonder why:

FACT: BOTH BUSH AND CHENEY WERE OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVES! Can you say "conflict of interest?"

FACT: Cheney's company, Haliburton got huge no-bid contracts in Iraq. Can you say "conflict of interest?" Can you say "crook?"

So you see, when we say "Bush did it," it's because

BUSH DID IT!

Nothing but Loony Left opinions with a few lies sprinkled in, devoid of "facts". Turn off MSNBC and start

watching FOX for the facts.

[Guest Keith]

Nothing but Loony Left opinions with a few lies sprinkled in, devoid of "facts". Turn off MSNBC and start

watching FOX for the facts.

Can you cite some of those "FOX" facts, I'd love to see them.

[Guest 2smart4u]

Can you cite some of those "FOX" facts, I'd love to see them.

Since FOX is #1 on cable with CNN and MSNBC a distant 2nd and 3rd, these "facts" speak for themselves proving clear-thinking americans far outnumber the Loonys.

[Guest Guest]

But Bush did do it. It's OK to tell the truth. Let's check the facts.

FACT: Bush came into office with a surplus and left with a deficit.

FACT: This happened because he got us into a war that was completely unnecessary and gave a huge tax cut to billionaires who didn't need it.

FACT: As a result of Bush's socialism for the rich, the middle class is struggling while a few people on top rake in millions and even billions of dollars every year, even though they don't add a thing to the economy. All they do is push paper and manipulate markets.

FACT: Bush called the super-rich his political base. He seemed to think it was funny.

FACT: Bush was intent on going to war with Iraq the day he took office. 9/11 had nothing to do with it because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and they had no WMDs.

FACT: We are still trying to get out of Iraq.

FACT: Bush further deregulated the banks and financial institutions, causing the economic meltdown of September 2008.

FACT: Bush encouraged the financial speculation that led to the near collapse of our economy.

FACT: Bush completely ignored our infrastructure, further complicating our long-term problems.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us toward wind, solar, geothermal or even nuclear energy and away from fossil fuels. As a result, we continue to bleed money overseas, and we're giving it to countries that don't even like us.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to reform the health care system. He didn't even try.

FACT: Bush did NOTHING to move us away from long-term dependence on foreign oil. Apparently he wants the oil companies to bleed the average American dry with runaway, exorbitant profits. Gee, I wonder why:

FACT: BOTH BUSH AND CHENEY WERE OIL COMPANY EXECUTIVES! Can you say "conflict of interest?"

FACT: Cheney's company, Haliburton got huge no-bid contracts in Iraq. Can you say "conflict of interest?" Can you say "crook?"

So you see, when we say "Bush did it," it's because

BUSH DID IT!

There are so many things wrong with this post; I’m not sure where to begin. Let’s start with the “surplus”. Are you talking about the debt or deficit, they are two different number. There was never really a surplus; they counted the Social Security I.O.U.’s that they were not suppose too. This made it look like a surplus. Clinton increased the debt by 1.2 trillion and when he left office it was 5.6 trillion. In 1999 they took in more than they spent, the only time three wasn’t a deficit. That’s because of the Republican landslide in 1994 when they cut taxes and drastically cut spending. A democrat majority was elected in 2006, and our current recession dates back to 2007. Bush increased it 4.2 trillion in 8 years, Obama 1.7 trillion in 8 months. If we keep spending at this rate, there’s going to be catastrophic consequences. Fact checker, please site your sources for your “facts’.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/pdf/hist.pdf

ftp://ftp.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opds012001.pdf

[Guest Keith]

Since FOX is #1 on cable with CNN and MSNBC a distant 2nd and 3rd, these "facts" speak for themselves proving clear-thinking americans far outnumber the Loonys.

So, are you going to answer the question or not? Viewership has nothing to do with being factual. So again,

please cite a FOX fact. Oh I almost forgot. F**K off.

[Guest Guest]

Since FOX is #1 on cable with CNN and MSNBC a distant 2nd and 3rd, these "facts" speak for themselves proving clear-thinking americans far outnumber the Loonys.

You mean the 52% of the people who elected our President, Barack Obama, and the record number of voters who gave the Democrats large majorities in both Houses of Congress? That was an occasion when clear-thinking Americans outnumbered the loonies by a large margin.

[Guest Guest]

If we keep spending at this rate, there’s going to be catastrophic consequences.

Of course, but no one is suggesting that we should continue spending at the rate of the past year and a half. Not President Obama or anyone else. If you spent at the same rate you did the year you took out your mortgage, there would be catastropic consequences, but you don't take out a mortgage every year; in the same way, the government doesn't have to fix a mess like the one Obama inherited every year either. Just like you don't have your leg amputated every day; but you do it if you have a leg that is so compromised by gangrene that it can't be saved.

The money was spent to rescue the economy. It was a one-time deal. If we hadn't spent that money, the economy would have collapsed. We would have 15 or 20% unemployment, or more, with tens of millions of people homeless and rioting in the streets. If you think the Great Depression was bad, when the country was more rural, try to imagine it in the urban America we have today. When you're in big trouble, you have to do things you don't do all the time. The economy was in crisis. And of course, the Republicans were for it before they were against it. And when did they become against it: When Obama took office.

Now that Obama is President, Republicans speak as though everything was just fine before, even though every responsible economist knows it wasn't. You stubbornly refuse to give President Obama any credit at all. Meanwhile, every single Republican in Congress reflexively opposes everything he tries to do. A vacancy just opened on the Supreme Court, and the Republicans are already threatening to filibuster the nominee, even though they don't even know who it will be! This is ridiculous.

We needed health care reform and now we have it. That was a major accomplishment that presidents have been trying to achieve for more than 100 years.

We also need reform of the regulatory system. President Obama is trying to make it happen. As always, the Republicans are opposing everything.

We also need to rebuild our infrastructure, begin an energy conversion away from oil and rebuild our manufacturing base. In other words, we need to address long-term economic issues, which have been ignored under the era of greed and speculation that began with Reagan and ended (let's hope!) with Bush II. During that time, the middle class gradually declined, to the point that most families need two wage-earners now and that isn't even enough to pay for college. Why did it happen? Because the Republicans, and complicit Democrats, deliberately redistributed income to the rich. Meanwhile, we lost our manufacturing base while everyone learned to play the stock market. That is not a sustainable economic framework for our country. You have to have something of value to invest in.

Think straight. These things are too important for us to be playing political games.

[Guest Former Resident]

So, because "Bush Did it", it's okay for this administration to do... whatever... simply because "Bush Did it"?

I guess when a new POTUS is elected in 2012, everyone can give that POTUS a pass too on... anything and everything... because "Obama Did it"?

Do you see how crazy that really sounds?

[Guest 2smart4u]

Of course, but no one is suggesting that we should continue spending at the rate of the past year and a half. Not President Obama or anyone else. If you spent at the same rate you did the year you took out your mortgage, there would be catastropic consequences, but you don't take out a mortgage every year; in the same way, the government doesn't have to fix a mess like the one Obama inherited every year either. Just like you don't have your leg amputated every day; but you do it if you have a leg that is so compromised by gangrene that it can't be saved.

The money was spent to rescue the economy. It was a one-time deal. If we hadn't spent that money, the economy would have collapsed. We would have 15 or 20% unemployment, or more, with tens of millions of people homeless and rioting in the streets. If you think the Great Depression was bad, when the country was more rural, try to imagine it in the urban America we have today. When you're in big trouble, you have to do things you don't do all the time. The economy was in crisis. And of course, the Republicans were for it before they were against it. And when did they become against it: When Obama took office.

Now that Obama is President, Republicans speak as though everything was just fine before, even though every responsible economist knows it wasn't. You stubbornly refuse to give President Obama any credit at all. Meanwhile, every single Republican in Congress reflexively opposes everything he tries to do. A vacancy just opened on the Supreme Court, and the Republicans are already threatening to filibuster the nominee, even though they don't even know who it will be! This is ridiculous.

We needed health care reform and now we have it. That was a major accomplishment that presidents have been trying to achieve for more than 100 years.

We also need reform of the regulatory system. President Obama is trying to make it happen. As always, the Republicans are opposing everything.

We also need to rebuild our infrastructure, begin an energy conversion away from oil and rebuild our manufacturing base. In other words, we need to address long-term economic issues, which have been ignored under the era of greed and speculation that began with Reagan and ended (let's hope!) with Bush II. During that time, the middle class gradually declined, to the point that most families need two wage-earners now and that isn't even enough to pay for college. Why did it happen? Because the Republicans, and complicit Democrats, deliberately redistributed income to the rich. Meanwhile, we lost our manufacturing base while everyone learned to play the stock market. That is not a sustainable economic framework for our country. You have to have something of value to invest in.

Think straight. These things are too important for us to be playing political games.

How funny is it when a far left loon recites leftist talking points and then closes with "think straight" ???

[Guest ko]

There are so many things wrong with this post; I’m not sure where to begin. Let’s start with the “surplus”. Are you talking about the debt or deficit, they are two different number. There was never really a surplus; they counted the Social Security I.O.U.’s that they were not suppose too. This made it look like a surplus. Clinton increased the debt by 1.2 trillion and when he left office it was 5.6 trillion. In 1999 they took in more than they spent, the only time three wasn’t a deficit. That’s because of the Republican landslide in 1994 when they cut taxes and drastically cut spending. A democrat majority was elected in 2006, and our current recession dates back to 2007. Bush increased it 4.2 trillion in 8 years, Obama 1.7 trillion in 8 months. If we keep spending at this rate, there’s going to be catastrophic consequences. Fact checker, please site your sources for your “facts’.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/pdf/hist.pdf

ftp://ftp.publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opds012001.pdf

I looked at your links, and while they do support the idea that what constituted a deficit/surplus before the 90s was different than after (beginning after Clinton was elected in 92), they still prove that Democrats are better debt reducers (even if that means that they don't actually reduce the debt, but increase it less). Still not sure what you mean by "counted the Social Security I.O.U.'s that they were not suppose too." Please make a more specific citation.

Thanks.

[Guest Guest]

So, because "Bush Did it", it's okay for this administration to do... whatever... simply because "Bush Did it"?

I guess when a new POTUS is elected in 2012, everyone can give that POTUS a pass too on... anything and everything... because "Obama Did it"?

Do you see how crazy that really sounds?

It does sound crazy but we're not the ones saying it; you are. The point was that bills have been passed and more debt has been accumulated since Obama took office. The bills are to reform the system and the debt is because we had no other choice.

"Bush did it" means Bush caused the problem that made these things necessary. It's the truth. He did cause the problem that made these things necessary. He gave a huge tax cut to the rich, turning a surplus into a deficit, and started a completely unnecessary war that has cost us more than $700 billion and cost us our standing in the world (which Obama is rapidly restoring). Bush drove the economy nearly off the cliff, Obama is trying to pull it back away from the cliff. So yes, we blame Bush because he created the conditions that made these things necessary. If Obama hadn't inherited a war in Iraq, he wouldn't have to get us out of it. If he had inherited a healthy economy, he wouldn't have to spend money trying to make it healthy.

When a doctor amputates a leg to save the patient's life, practically no one is stupid enough to say "I'm not going to that doctor any more! The day after I saw him I lost my leg!" That's just stupid. The leg was full of gangrene and had to be removed or the patient wouldn't die. Even a five-year-old can understand that. So why aren't Republicans smart enough to understand the same thing with the economy?

[Guest Guest]

How funny is it when a far left loon recites leftist talking points and then closes with "think straight" ???

So take on one of the points being made. Someone pointed out that bank deregulation was done under Clinton, not Bush. That's a fact and it's relevant. It doesn't change the fact that almost all the Republicans were for the deregulation and mainly Democrats opposed it and that Bush did nothing to overturn it but it's still a fact. So it's not entirely Bush's fault but most of it is. He's the one who drove the economy into the ditch. Anybody can say that about any president but then you have to look at the facts. The facts show that Bush did it - all kinds of stupid things that created the worst mess since the Great Depression. That's how reasonable people discuss issues. Are you really so stupid, so stubborn and so radical that you can't see that?

Everything written in the post you really didn't respond to is true. If you don't think so, say something intelligent if you're able.