General Discussion

Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)

38. It's not that simple...

Sun Apr 22, 2012, 06:13 AM

Apr 2012

Presidents can dictate spending, though. Reagan consistently backed and supported increased military spending that led to the large increase in spending you see during his presidency. Likewise, with Pres. Bush, the increase costs of the Iraq War, his tax cuts, Afghanistan and Medicare Part D ballooned our spending. All those spending increases were pushed by Bush.

So, while Congress controls spending, it's foolish to say the President and his policies have no impact. As we saw with Reagan and then with Bush from 2001-2008, they have a great deal of control with what's spent, how much is spent and where it's spent.

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WHO INCREASED THE DEBT? [View all] kpete Apr 2012 OP

That chart ought to go on billboards all across America crazylikafox Apr 2012 #1

Absolutely. jwirr Apr 2012 #16

Ah, if only. nt valerief Apr 2012 #30

++++++++ mopinko Apr 2012 #51

+1000000000 snagglepuss Apr 2012 #65

A chart you will never see displayed on the M$M. Rex Apr 2012 #2

You might see it on MSNBC or CurrentTV. Jamaal510 Apr 2012 #35

Their idiot icon ,and a Stu nod student ... orpupilofnature57 Apr 2012 #3

Combine Clinton and Obama warrior1 Apr 2012 #4

Boehner was spending like a drunken sailor. Life Long Dem Apr 2012 #5

republicans love to spend money Angry Dragon Apr 2012 #6

As long as they get to borrow it, WHEN CRABS ROAR Apr 2012 #28

But why did the Repubs run up the debt? kentuck Apr 2012 #7

Most of that money was borrowed. WHEN CRABS ROAR Apr 2012 #29

Reagan's pals stated intention was to drive the debt to gut social programs. It worked, didn't it? freshwest Apr 2012 #33

Yes, it did. kentuck Apr 2012 #40

All right. I'll play the the devil's advocate. FourScore Apr 2012 #8

I think you make a good point but... kentuck Apr 2012 #9

"... once Bush was [s]elected." Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2012 #12

Thanks... kentuck Apr 2012 #14

You bet. Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2012 #15

BTW, just stumbled on your journal today. Good stuff. freshwest Apr 2012 #34

Thank you very much. kentuck Apr 2012 #39

It doesn't seem that way, but if the machines that hold that data break down, well... freshwest Apr 2012 #44

No such thoughts. kentuck Apr 2012 #46

Repubs had the Senate from 1981 - 1987 -- both houses from 2001 - 2007 underpants Apr 2012 #11

Let's keep in mind the Obama portion only goes to 4/2011. Alexander Apr 2012 #13

It's not that simple... Drunken Irishman Apr 2012 #38

Yes, And, Who Signs The Spending Bills? cantbeserious Apr 2012 #53

There were still many Southern conservative Dems back then. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #58

Ronnie's is bigger, I guess he was the greatest...nt BootinUp Apr 2012 #10

That chart got a "Pants on Fire" rating at Politifact.com lumberingbear Apr 2012 #17

I hated to tell them N/T dems_rightnow Apr 2012 #21

I see Polosi has released a new version. progressoid Apr 2012 #31

Sigh, Politifact says the new version does not change their rating. SunSeeker Apr 2012 #63

sand marshall gaines Apr 2012 #18

It would be a better graph if the baseline for the % didn't change as it progressed Gore1FL Apr 2012 #19

k&r... spanone Apr 2012 #20

repubLIEcons can't understand this graph either. penndragon69 Apr 2012 #22

Great graph Sherman A1 Apr 2012 #23

Didn't Rachael Maddow bemoan Politifact's inaccuracies? juajen Apr 2012 #24

K&R. Big time. Faygo Kid Apr 2012 #25

National Debt Increased by 75% under Bush: One of the 99 Apr 2012 #26

However, the 1.2 trillion dollar deficit for 2009... kentuck Apr 2012 #27

This doesn't make sense. We know that Obama's military budget is 25% higher than Bush's. robinlynne Apr 2012 #32

It sure is amazing how important deficit reduction becomes "only" during a Democratic administration midnight Apr 2012 #36

Bush borrowed more money than all 42 prior presidents combined, LINK just1voice Apr 2012 #37

To keep it in perspective... kentuck Apr 2012 #41

I just looked on the U.S. Treasury Debt to the Minute site OnlinePoker Apr 2012 #42

Everyone needs to remember how we become a debtor nation 4dsc Apr 2012 #43

Also, people must understand that social programs have not increased 16-fold since 1980... kentuck Apr 2012 #45

double deuce double deuce Apr 2012 #47

Then post what is accurate siligut Apr 2012 #48

10 graph's on the national debt. "STOP REPUBLICANS BEFRE THEY SPEND AGAIN!" mikekohr Apr 2012 #49

Thank you Mike siligut Apr 2012 #52

Gotta link to this "accurate stuff"? Ruby the Liberal Apr 2012 #57

Is this a fact? kentuck Apr 2012 #59

Needs to go viral! cilla4progress Apr 2012 #50

Perfect example of "Starve the Beast" Republican philosophy. nt Auntie Bush Apr 2012 #54

let's see this data in a histogram thorolyfedup Apr 2012 #55

Sounds eerily similar to the arguments presented about Ruby the Liberal Apr 2012 #62

Reagan had Dems in control and Clinton had repubs part of the time Thinkingabout Apr 2012 #56

But we should not overlook the fact... kentuck Apr 2012 #60

horrible way to measure this TheFarseer Apr 2012 #61

Here's a grpah that matters 4dsc Apr 2012 #64

Kick Scurrilous Apr 2012 #66