President Bush And The National Debt

Bush Bashes "Tax And Spend" Dems But Never Mentions The Soaring Debt

(CBS)  By CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.

---

To hear President Bush tell it, he's on the side of the angels when it comes to federal spending.

In his Saturday radio address, he blasted congressional Democrats for pursuing "tax and spend policies," while trumpeting his own commitment to keep taxes low and restrain federal spending.

He said his plan will produce a balanced federal budget by 2012.

But what Mr. Bush didn't mention, and what he almost never mentions, is the National Debt.

With good reason.

On the day he took office, the National Debt stood at this unfathomable number:

$5,727.776.738,304.64

In fiscal shorthand, that's $5.7 trillion dollars. Trillion with a "T."

Six and a half years later, the Bureau of Public Debt tells us the National Debt clocks in at a staggering:

$8,835,268,597,181.95

That's $8.8 trillion – an increase of $3.1 trillion dollars since January 20, 2001. And that amounts to a jump of 54% during Mr. Bush's watch.

If you wanted to pay it off, dividing it equally among the U.S. population (estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 302,103,675), it would come to $29,245.82 for every man, woman and child.

Sot it's not really hard to understand why Mr. Bush almost never mentions it.

The National Debt has gone up more on his watch than under any other president.

That means it took the Federal Government 225 years to accrue $5.5 trillion in debt under 42 U.S. presidents. But under President Bush alone, it has soared another 35.2%.

And the National Debt is not just a big number, it's an expensive one.

This year alone, it costs taxpayers $247.3 billion in interest payments.

It hardly gives the president bragging rights about fiscal discipline.

Yet, in his Saturday radio address, he skewered Democrats for their fiscal plans.

"They've passed a budget that would mean higher taxes for American families and job creators, ignore the need for entitlement reform, and pile on hundreds of billions of dollars in new government spending over the next five years," he said.

He threatened anew to veto any spending bills he considers excessive, and he says he's got the votes to keep his vetoes from being overridden.

"In the House, 147 Republicans have pledged to support fiscal discipline by opposing excessive spending," President Bush said. "These 147 members are more than one-third needed to sustain my veto of any bills that spend too much."

It should be noted that as a percentage of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, the National Debt is 67.9%. That's up from 57.4% the year Pres. Bush took office. It
was in the 67% range some of Bill Clinton's presidency as well – and he actually produced a federal budget surplus in each of the last three years of his term in office.

After World War II, the National Debt was $260-billion dollars (a mere trifle by today's standards), but that amounted to 117% of GDP in 1945.

For that reason, officials at the Office of Management and Budget say the National Debt is no more of a problem now than a decade ago.

The size of the numbers just makes it seem otherwise.

[donnie900]

If terrorists had struck under democrat rule, it'd be twice as much.

[donnie900]

Everybody with a crew cut would be in jail.

Everybody with a pickup truck.

And if anybody cussed on the internet? BAM! Gitmo.

And it'd be federal mandate that everybody buy Al Gore's movies.

And arianna huffington would teach english.

[omega39-2009]

Start by cutting off funding to Iraq, that 4 Billion a month finding its way in to KBRs pockets could be better spent elsewhere.

[forthepeopl1]

But what Mr. Bush didn't mention, and what he almost never mentions, is the National Debt.

With good reason.

On the day he took office, the National Debt stood at this unfathomable number:

$5,727.776.738,304.64

In fiscal shorthand, that's $5.7 trillion dollars. Trillion with a "T."

Six and a half years later, the Bureau of Public Debt tells us the National Debt clocks in at a staggering:

$8,835,268,597,181.95

That's $8.8 trillion %u2013 an increase of $3.1 trillion dollars since January 20, 2001. And that amounts to a jump of 54% during Mr. Bush's watch.

If you wanted to pay it off, dividing it equally among the U.S. population (estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 302,103,675), it would come to $29,245.82 for every man, woman and child.

Sot it's not really hard to understand why Mr. Bush almost never mentions it.

The National Debt has gone up more on his watch than under any other president.

OK BUSH EXPLAIN THIS. YOU A,S,SH,O,L,E,

[barbaraf4]

It doesn't matter who's fault it is. The staggering debt is what it is.

Bush needs to pull his head out and do something about it instead of trying to find someone to blame (which is his usual way of conducting business).

Let the illegal aliens pay it off, Charge admission to enter the U.S.

[ubrew12]

Article:"officials at the Office of Management and Budget say the National Debt is no more of a problem now than a decade ago."

A decade ago, the Boomer retirement was 15 years off. There was still time to do something about the debt before Social Security/Medicare went bankrupt. By expanding the debt, Bush has all but assured that many retiring American's will be abandoned by their government in their twilight years, after having paid into the system all their lives. He's also made sure it'll be some other Presidents unhappy duty to deliver the bad news.

[jetranger7]

OK, WHAT ELSE HE FAILED TO MENTION ON PURPOSE WAS HIS ADMINSTRATION HAS NO IDEA, ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS WHERE MULTI-BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE WENT, THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO IRAQ OR REBUILD IRAQ, AND THEY COULD CARE LESS, THEY JUST PLAIN DON'T GIVE A FLYIN ****, THIS ADMINSTRATION IS THE WORSE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINSTRATION THATS EVER BEEN IN OFFICE, THEY'RE FULL OF LIES, AND RHETORIC, FOLLOWED BY MORE LIES AND CORRUPTION,ARROGRANCE, AND IGNORANCE !!!! TYPICAL OF A DEGENERATE LOW-LIFE REDNECK REPUBLICAN !!!!! OUST THIS IDIOT FROM THE OVAL OFFICE IMMEDIATELY !!! JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN HIS OWN ADMINSTRATION HAVE QUIT AND WENT ELSE WHERE, OF COURSE CHENEY NEEDS TO GET KICKED OUT TOO !!!! PRESIDENTIAL RATING: "F-" WORSE PRESIDENT TO HOLD OVAL OFFICE IN DECADES, YOU FLUNKED MR.PRESIDENT BUSH YOU GET AN "F-" !!!!!!!!

[ioweign]

But Shrub - What about bin Laden? You are moving away from your theme of "fear and terror".

[tuckerndfw]

What the GOP doesn't mention is that Bush and cronies aren't responsible for any of that debt.

The GOP has revised the tax code so that only those earning wages of less than $250K per year pay taxes.

Anyone not being paid wages, or being paid over $250K in wages annually pays no taxes.

Mexico and Haiti are excellent examples of what the GOP envisions for the US.

[steeepe]

Just another example of Bush's idiocy...will this guy ever get anything right? If you believe the opposite of what he says, you will be correct most of the time. Less than two years left and counting the minutes...

[donnie900]

Don't worry about money. This is america, you liberals. The money follows us where ever we go. Worry about people who want to kill you for nothing that you've done to them. For the sake of a religion that needs far too much attention. And defend yourselves. Somebody out there wants to kill ya.

[neoconrcrazy]

what does bushit care? it's not his daddy's money!

[ioweign]

And defend yourselves. Somebody out there wants to kill ya.
Posted by donnie900 at 02:38 PM : Jun 16, 2007

That is why I am NOT voting Republican anytime in the future.

[lestb35]

Congress, QUIT SPENDING OUR MONEY!

[bm6005]

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,. Bushit what a frickin joke!!!

[cbslogin12]

To donnie900

No wonder you blindly support Bush.

Your comments, ideas and accusations are as stupid as his are.

[roger_inkart]

"Bush Bashes "Tax And Spend" Dems But Never Mentions The Soaring Debt"

That's because he is an unspeakable, unfathomable hypocritical moron - like the remaining 28% of the nation who still supports him.

[vastr-wcon]

When Dubya stole his first presidential election, the US HAD A SURPLUS, thanks to Bill CLinton. After 6 years of Dubya and the Repugs spending like drunken sailors, we have Hundreds of Billions of Dollars deficit.

Anybody with a brain and an IQ above "Moron" won't believe any more of the endless DickNBush lies. Bubble-boy just doesn't understand that.

[bm6005]

That's because he is an unspeakable, unfathomable hypocritical moron - like the remaining 28% of the nation who still supports him.
Posted by roger_inkart

Like donnie900!! BTW I really, really, really, really, really hate Boosh. He's an embarrassment to baby boomers everywhere!!

[cdfoxtrot]

Congress, QUIT SPENDING OUR MONEY!
Posted by lestb35 at 02:42 PM : Jun 16, 2007

Er. Actually it's the Bush moron who's spending our money, pi$$ing it away by the billion in his illegal Iraq adventure, and growing the size of the government more than any president in history.

[roger_inkart]

Worry about people who want to kill you for nothing that you've done to them. For the sake of a religion that needs far too much attention. And defend yourselves. Somebody out there wants to kill ya.
Posted by donnie900 at 02:38 PM : Jun 16, 2007

I'm more worried about the Bush administration - the damage they've done is worse then a month of 9/11s. And you right-wing nut jobs helped make it all possible. Thanks a lot you jerks-offs.

Turns out:

- We're the patriots, not you
- You're witness tools of Al-Qaeda, not us.
- You're the ones "divorced from reality"

Crawl under a rock, try and grow some brains, and let grown-ups get back to running the nation. They might be able to undo the mess you and the Bush administration got us into.

[hmmagain]

' ... if folk like carrots, and spend 20% on carrots ... but some have $2.00 and most have $1.00 ... and the price of carrots is $.40 ... then most cannot afford carrots ... however, if the carrots are sold for $.20 then the poor masses with more cashflow than the wealthy few, can afford to buy them and more consumers are available to call on for assistance with production and distribution ... i.e. why feed the world by first firing all but a handful of employees and alienating all but a handful of consumers? ... '

' ... it's like praising those who house the fewest folk while wasting the most resources doing it ... when there is far more money to be made and far less effort to be expended by housing more folk while using fewest resources ... a $300,000 3000 square foot home on a 3/4 acre lot subdivded into 14 $60,000 340 square foot cottages can be 'sold' for $840,000 ... more importantly: they can be given away to folk interested in shopgifting grass and dirt for cures for cancer and other margaritas and other new foods and other new medicines ... '

[donnie900]

Yah yah.. thats all you people do is call people names, and cat call on the sidelines like none of this had anything to do with you. Yer a buncha sucks! MWWWWAAW! Who want it your way, and only your way. Like there weren't a million of them out there.

This is my ***: (_|_) Now kiss it!

[donnie900]

6 freak'n years of a buncha punk rhetoric. Unbelievable.. None of it tangible. None of it worth its weight in salt! And you people call yourselves America.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE DEFEND OURSELVES! THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE STAND UP FOR OURSELVES! And dont .. bullshyyt psycho Nixon analyze everything to the point where ya don't even wanna git up in the morn'n anymore.

At some point in time, YER BULLSHYYT RUNS OUT!

[johnshaft4]

What Boy George is doing is diabolically brilliant (for him)...Mr. "Fuzzy Math" has escalated the national debt to accomodate Halliburton, Blackwater, crooked 'Homeland Security' contractors. In exchange, the payoff to him is a handsome "donation" (kickback) for his $500 million presedential 'library'. In addition, the credit and pharm industries will also be making generous contributions as a "reward" for a job "well done" for them.

Are you are that the presidential library funds are totally discreet and unaccountable? Commander in Thief George can do as he pleases with his $500 Million "pension"
(kickbacks/graft).

[bm6005]

Looks too much like your ugly face! So which one do I pick?

[bm6005]

Who want it your way, and only your way.
Posted by donnie900

Isn't this a description of Boosh??

[roger_inkart]

"Yah yah.. thats all you people do is call people names, and cat call on the sidelines like none of this had anything to do with you."

Followed immediately with:

"Yer a buncha sucks!"

Posted by donnie900 at 03:11 PM : Jun 16, 2007

Unbelievable. You complain about how you "people do is call people names" and you IMMEDIATELY CALL US NAMES.

How on earth do you live with yourself? Seriously, how?

You complained about

[donnie900]

Terrorist attack! And its: "Oh. We gotta worry about the weather."

WAR! And its: "Oh. Somebody's listening on my cellphone."

Let me ask you liberals somfin: Do you shyyt thru yer azzz?

[gkc99]

And the Bushit / Chickenshit administration finances a trillion dollar war on a credit card, while giving the biggest tax break in history from the billionaires who are raking in US taxpayer dollars on no-bid contracts?

This is what the Republican Party has become? Nothing but liars, shills and ******.

[roger_inkart]

Terrorist attack! And its: "Oh. We gotta worry about the weather."

Posted by donnie900 at 03:21 PM : Jun 16, 2007

Unlike vermin like yourself, we have courage to worry about the state of the nation rather then only if some creep from al-Qaeda is going to bump us off. There are things more important then personal safety. If you were a real patriot you'd understand this.

You don't realize it, but you are a prisoner of your own fear and weakness. You believe yourself strong and brave, but you are neither. Which is why you are SO easily manipulated by the Bush administration. You are nothing more then a scared little child hiding behind them.

[selenite1]

A short message to the President:

George,

Do the world a favor. Drop dead.

Thank you.

[klifton2-2009]

This man Bush is so full of it that it is clear that he really does not know what the heck he is talking about! He needs medication and psychiatric help, pronto! The National Debt is a monstrosity and he does not even refer to it. God! How in heaven's name this man is holding the highest office in the land?

[donnie900]

"You don't realize it, but you are a prisoner of your own fear and weakness. You believe yourself strong and brave, but you are neither. Which is why you are SO easily manipulated by the Bush administration. You are nothing more then a scared little child hiding behind them."

What if what I was, wasn't a "scared little child", but a plumber? Or a policeman? Or a fireman? Or a book salesman? Or a million other things people do out there beside worry about your rhetoric?

[gkc99]

The American Sheeple ought to be catching on by now! Of course the fascisti will be trotting out their Slime Boaters for the next election, but numbers don't lie.

Of course that secret Nuke that the Fascisti plan to detonate in NYC sometime next year, and blame on the Iranians, will be a handsome ploy to help the Republiscum keep power.

Bushit / Chickenshithawk--President and Veep for Life!

[roger_inkart]

What if what I was, wasn't a "scared little child", but a plumber? Or a policeman? Or a fireman? Or a book salesman? Or a million other things people do out there beside worry about your rhetoric?
Posted by donnie900 at 03:31 PM : Jun 16, 2007

Is this supposed to be clever or insightful? Or wise? Because it doesn't mean anything and doesn't address the points I made. Nice try to BS your way out thought.

Hopefully your opinion and concerns will matter less and less as time goes by. Again, try and grow some brains and a spine and maybe then you'll understand those that you so mindlessly attack.

[donnie900]

You know what you are? Liberal? You're one of those people that always has a health condition. I forget what they call it.. Kleptomaniac or something like that.

You've got your business into everybody else's so bad, you got no life of your own! You got nothing of your own.. And thats why you want my government. Because you need my government, to be somebody.

[gkc99]

donnie9000 sez "Somebody out there wants to kill ya. "

NO! Somebody out there want to kill YOU! OK by me.

[donnie900]

You keep talking about this psychobabble .. "separation of church and state".. but there ain't nobody that worships the government more than you do. Nobody..

Yer like the ultimate vicarious. Everything fame. Everything moviestar. Everything: "Look at me! The suck! And like me! Or I'll never like myself.."

[donnie900]

You know what you stand for? A guy who can't keep his ******* pants on.

[fascistusa]

The greatest things Lord Bush can do for us is:

Bankrupt our Government.

Restart the Draft.

Destroy our Economy.

Any of which would lead to REVOLT.

FREE AMERICA FROM THIS FASCIST REGIME!!!!

[gkc99]

It's like the last days of Rome. The Murican Sheeple watch TV, slap yellow ribbon magnets on their SUVs, stuff their faces at McDonald's, and let the goosesteppers take over the government.

Prepare for the detonation of a nuclear weapon in the USA! It will be labeled "made in USA", planted by a lying, oath-breaking military officer like Ollie North, and Bushit will be Supreme Leader for Life.

[tuckerndfw]

The average American is at far greater risk of being injured by a poisonous reptile than encountering an "international terrorist." (other than Zionists and Republicans, that is)

Wasting trillions of dollars on a useless (unproductive, ineffective) "war on terror" is similar to bankrupting your entire family (parents, siblings, children, cousins, aunts, uncles, et al) trying to protect yourself from an attack by martians.

The "war on terror" as being conducted by the Bush administration is a complete waste of money.

[donnie900]

(_|_)

[gnosticgreg]

what money is, who creates it, and how it is put into the economy was a huge wake up for me.
i am a fairly well informed guy but the facts around the history of money never came up in school.
take a look at "money as debt"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279
and "the money masters" short clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUor9hynEo
when i got the facts about money i had to change who i am supporting for president. Ron Paul is the only candidate who is talking about this critical issue. inform yourself!
VOTE YES FOR DOCTOR NO

[cofmanaaron]

donnie900: Do you know who you stand for? A guy who is negligent, hypocritical, decietful and corrupt. Oh and he's also callously indifferent to those who suffer pain or death under his selfish and corrupt practices. Bush is worse than an adulterer, he's an elitst who cares more about the his rich base of neocons than the flag and the Constitution he swore falsely to uphold. He's a fascist. That is who you stand for.

[jeanneke-2009]

Bush has the IQ of a jar of mayonaise and his verbal skills are less than second grade.

We know when he's lying--his lips move. He has lied so much he believes what he says and thinks he has us convinced too.

He's a violent dangerous idiot and Washington just lets him go---we really need to clean the House and the Senate!!!

[donnie900]

"donnie900: Do you know who you stand for? A guy who is negligent, hypocritical, decietful and corrupt. Oh and he's also callously indifferent to those who suffer pain or death under his selfish and corrupt practices. Bush is worse than an adulterer, he's an elitst who cares more about the his rich base of neocons than the flag and the Constitution he swore falsely to uphold. He's a fascist. That is who you stand for."

You've been running that fascist line now for so long I think even you believe it.

Fascists didn't have a house, and a car, and a boat, and a constitution, or any political outlet whatsoever. Nor justice. So you can stop trying to make me afraid of another one of your magic words off that magic tongue of yer's.

I know what fascism is. I know what Hitler is. And this ain't it. This is just a buncha loudmouths, hurling insults.

[gnosticgreg]

what money is, who creates it, and how it is put into the economy was a huge wake up for me.
i am a fairly well informed guy but the facts around the history of money never came up in school.
take a look at "money as debt"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9050474362583451279
and "the money masters" short clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUor9hynEo
when i got the facts about money i had to change who i am supporting for president. Ron Paul is the only candidate who is talking about this critical issue. inform yourself!
VOTE YES FOR DOCTOR NO