Kicking Ass: The Democratic Party's Blog

Something to Crow About

Posted by on July 11, 2006 at 09:35 AM

When the Bush Administration doesn't have anything good to talk about they like to dress up and play pretend. Today they are "celebrating" their fiscal policy.

The release of the White House midsession budget review is an annual event normally marked by a few wonkish observations and the routine updating of various spreadsheets, not by a full-dress presidential dog-and-pony show. But President Bush plans to preside today, with members of Congress and invited guests in attendance. By all indications, including his own in his weekly radio address last Saturday, he plans to turn this into a celebration — just in time for the fall campaign.

Lesson Learned: Anything can be spun into something to be thrown to the base during campaign season, even pie charts...

This is proof, if anyone still needs it, that this administration is desperate for something to boast about. On Mr. Bush’s watch, triple-digit budget surpluses have turned into annual triple-digit budget deficits. There’s no information in the midsession report to alter that utterly dispiriting fact. Yes, the report is expected to project that this year’s deficit will be somewhat less gargantuan than last year’s — probably somewhere between $280 billion and $300 billion, versus a $318 billion shortfall in 2005. That’s not much to crow about.

But Mr. Bush is likely to gloat, anyway. Earlier this year, the administration conveniently projected a highly inflated deficit of $423 billion. With that as a starting point, the actual results can be spun to look as if they’re worth cheering.

Lesson Learned: In order to claim success, lower expectations so far that anything is good news.

If Mr. Bush looked behind his headline numbers, he, too, could see that the rich are getting richer while the rest are, at best, only holding ground. It would make sense to use some of the windfall revenue to enact policies and programs that tilt against growing inequality. Unfortunately, he’s flogging more tax cuts that will deepen the divide.

Lesson Learned: Catering to special interests and the richest of the rich is good for your campaign coffers, but bad for most everyone else.

What lessons have you learned from the Bush Administration?

[UPDATE]: Think Progress has the numbers, and it's good to know that the President is still in the Top 5 Largest Deficits of all time.

Here’s the top five:

1. 2004 (George W. Bush) $413 billion
2. 2003 (George W. Bush) $378 billion
3. 2005 (George W. Bush) $318 billion
4. 2006 (George W. Bush) $296 billion (projected)
5. 1992 (Geroge H. W. Bush) $290 billion

Comments (13) «

It would seem to me that you could equate what Bush has and is doinge to a gang of bank robbing thiugs. They know they have to be out by a certain time so they are stealing all they can while the gettin’s good.

1
Bruno- on July 11, 2006 at 12:42 PM

what have i learned from the bush administration?

that just when you think things can't get any worse, they can.

i have learned that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

i have learned that being right isn't enough, you have to sell your party's narrative.

2
jen on July 11, 2006 at 01:01 PM

My typo's are a Republican plot to make me look bad. So please overlook them.

3
Bruno- on July 11, 2006 at 01:03 PM

Pat Robertson also jumped on the Bush myth of 'all is well' in the U.S. on his show yesterday when commenting on the state of U.S. finances.
He first aired several Bush talking point clips including this lie from Bushs' radio address: "workers are keeping more of their own money". Oh really?? My propane went from $1.97 per gallon to $2.98 gal. Gas up to 2.98 a gallon. Rent up 14%. Milk up to $3.69 per gal.
Even decent bread is up to 3.59 a loaf.
They both must be must be talking about all those workers in CHINA!
Let's all face the facts people!!
The Bush and Republican agenda took off all the leashes governing businesses while shortening those of the American workers. At work and at home.
They've let loose a pack of dogs free of any constraints. Be it sagging sales, illegal activities and even bankruptcy they 're all flourishing. "Lean and Mean" is their new and giddy catchphrase.
So after Robertson praised all that, he pulls this out of that magical 'hole of wisdom' of his:
"..the State and Federal Governments are 'awash' in cash."
When the Bush Administration, the Republican Party and the leaders of the Christian Right wing continually and blatantly LIE about something they obviously know nothing about and/or more likely know all about but really could care less about and the average "worker" is being treated like a scavenging dog, its time to stand up bare, your teeth and defend yourselves!
Katrina should be a wake-up call not just to those in its path but to all the average citizens of this country as to what the Bush/Republican followers really believe.
Dick Cheney summed it up perfectly in the debates: (although NO-ONE caught it!)
Cheney was asked about his concerns about the AIDS crisis in Africa. He answered: (paraphrasing)
" ..it is devastating BECAUSE THEY'RE LOSING THEIR WORKFORCE'.
Do you get the idea now!?
And Pat, hopefully God plops your elitist butt on a rooftop someday. With a dunce cap.

4
hazmaq on July 11, 2006 at 03:00 PM

I thought that the Reagan Administration was a nightmare when that was happening with Iran-Contra with Uncle Ollie,HUD,The Savings&Loan starring Micael Milken,Attacking Grenada,etc., They were actually Mickey Mouse,sorry Mickey, compared to "The Rove,Bush,Cheney,Rumsfeld Show". Unfortunately,If Pat Robertson was actually a true religious man he would recommend for his congregation not watch it!It`s definitely not fit for human consumption.

5
virgo on July 11, 2006 at 04:37 PM

In times of war we should legislate that all defense contractors work on a cost plus 10% premium. Taking the massive profits out of war would have a major impact on the Military Industrial Complex as well as serve as an incentive to use common sense.

6
Bruno- on July 11, 2006 at 05:52 PM

Osama Bin Laden is trying to bankrupt our country!
Why has the regressive, republican Congress sided with the enemy?

7
pee-wee on July 11, 2006 at 06:59 PM

Posted by virgo on July 11, 2006 at 04:37 PM

hey, virgo. i'm with you, and it's a recurring nightmare, since they're running the show now. the only one that's gone is the actor. the other bad actors are now in charge of all the black lined, redacted, top-secret, classified security stuff.

they're back, only worse. the CIA director (daddybush) is probably still running the show.

8
fade2bluz on July 11, 2006 at 09:43 PM

What lessons have I learned from the Bush administration. He lied about reading. He has turned America into Orwellia.

but the most important thing I learned is that you absolutely cannot underestimate the people. nor can you overestimate them. thinking is not an activity that many like to waste their time with.

i also learned that exit polls are bullshit. we should stop using them in "third world countries" as an instrument for measuring fairness in elections.

9
fade2bluz on July 11, 2006 at 09:47 PM

What have I learned from the Bush administration:

1. Not to trust ANYTHING they say.
2. To wonder why we have a government.
3. To wonder why we should have a government.
4. That it is (again) possible to be ashamed to be an American.
5. How to deny culpability, responsibility and morality.

10
Rally on July 12, 2006 at 04:37 PM

You can tell when Bush is lying, Karl Rove's lips are moving.
Rally: You forgot the lessons we've had on how to be a money-hungry hypocritical sociopath.

11
Butte on July 13, 2006 at 12:00 AM

hazmaq and virgo:

Pat Robertson uses Christianity for political purposes in support of the Conservative FAR-Right-Wing Republican Agenda and should have to pay taxes.

Both Pat Robertson and James Dobson are leaders in a religious political cult, a large political cult -- but never the less a political cult -- that use the name of Jesus without the required practices of Jesus.

I know now what Jesus meant when he proclaimed for those who say they are doing their works in His Name to "Go away, I don't know you." Even though they would say, Lord, Lord, we have done all of this in your name; but because their works have been done for "political reasons" not "Godly reasons" they will not be acceptable, as all their godliness will be before man, not God, as Pat Robertson, James Dobson and Jerry Falwell will sooner or later find out.

Political cults should pay taxes. All religions that use their religion for the misuse and abuse of religion for political purposes should have to pay taxes.

I am for standing up, baring our teeth and defending the 70% of the nation's Working and Poor Class against the onslaught of the Republicans. The only problem is that the Democratic Party has more problems than just the Republicans. The Democratic Party needs cleaning of the Republican Lights that have entrenched themselves into the Political LEFT and Right-Wing sabotaged the Democratic Party.

One expects Republican EXTREMISTS to conserve the wealth of the Nation for theirselves, they always do; but one doesn't expect Democrats to conserve the wealth of the Nation for Republican EXTREMISTS, as is happening today. The Conservatives on the LEFT are working with the Conservatives on the RIGHT against the 70% Majority Population of the Working and Poor Class.

We the 70% Majority Population of the Working and Poor Class are going to have to somehow ferret out of the Democratic Party, ALL these DLC-Republican Lights that vote against the Working and Poor Class in order to reclaim a true Political LEFT Majority in the House and Senate. When the Democratic Party is united and cleaned of all Republican Lights, we the people will be able to deal with the Republican EXTREME easily.

I had hoped the DFA would unite the Democratic Party, but when each part of the DFA can do their own thing, it is difficult to unite the DFA in solidarity, which makes it easy for the united DFL-Republican/Democrats to take over the DFA without the DFA even knowing they have been taken over. There should be more to the DFA than just hanging up a sign showing that it is a meeting of the DFA and few if any actually knowing the difference in the two forms of Democrat as I found out at the last DFA Meeting.

Even though the DFA appears to be failing, the DFA is still our only hope and I will stand by the DFA in hopes that they will learn the differences between the two types of Democrat because without knowing the difference between the two, I do not see how the Democratic Party can be saved for the Political LEFT.

12
_MarthaA on July 13, 2006 at 01:33 PM

If you look close, you can see the bar code on Pat Robertson's forehead.
Actually, he is such a bonkers right wing kook, that having him as a supporter is probably as much a liability as an asset.

13
Butte on July 14, 2006 at 10:27 AM


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