2007 United States federal budget – $2.8 trillion (submitted 2006 by President Bush)
2006 United States federal budget – $2.7 trillion (submitted 2005 by President Bush)
2005 United States federal budget – $2.4 trillion (submitted 2004 by President Bush)

Pretty sure if you add 1.5t to each of the totals above, you would have President Raffle’s budgets…IF HE HAD ONE THAT WAS VOTED ON BY EVEN ONE DEMOCRAT!!

Government spending is the foundation of their power and they aren’t going to give it up without a bloody battle. As long as these folks can still buy my neighbor’s vote with my money, they’ll continue to play that game until the whole scheme collapses.
And then they’ll scream that it was all because of the greedy bankers…..or somebody.

Lew on May 8, 2012 at 10:07 PM

You are 100% spot on.

Are you capable of comprehending that during an economic crisis you cannot enact deep spending cuts?

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

That’s exactly what I have to do when I don’t have any money, champ. Live within my resources. Go no further into debt and spend nothing on frivolities for my buddies, like Solyndra.

Our government spends truckloads on things it absolutely does not need to.

Monkeytoe on May 9, 2012 at 8:19 AM

Also spot on and well said.

You really are quite dim. Do you understand that Obama inherited nearly a $1 trillion structural deficit, according to both the CBO and Wall Street economists? Are you capable of comprehending that during an economic crisis you cannot enact deep spending cuts?
If you want to live in a country that’s experiencing the wonders of austerity, move to Greece.

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

A) it is not a fact that you can’t cut spending during a recession. There is no proof that such is true and Keynesian economics has failed each time it has been tried (such the great depression where most economists now agree that the new deal prolonged the depression) – including Obama’s idiotic stimulus.

B) Even taking your Keynesian view as true, Obama did more than not just cut spending – he increased deficit spending radically. So your point is a lie to begin with.

C) Yes, bush increased spending dramatically also – which was bad and why the GOP is having internal wars to this day against the liberal branch and the conservative branch and, in fact, one of the reasons the tea party sprang up. Bush did a lot of non-conservative things – No Child Left Behind, Medicare Part D. He wasn’t the conservative ogre your side made him out to be. I wish he was, but he wasn’t. But saying “Bush increased spending too” does not refute Obama’s incompetent spending binge.

So, your arguments are a) Obama had to spend (Keynes); b) Bush spent a lot too.

Both wholly ridiculous arguments.

After all your posted numbers, do you really need help with that simple question? Over Bush’s first 6 years with the GOP in firm control and during a relatively strong period of economic growth, spending increased by over 40%. No Dems to blame here.

And yes, during massive recessions government spending goes up unless you want a repeat of the 1930′s or today’s Greece.

2007 United States federal budget – $2.8 trillion (submitted 2006 by President Bush)
2006 United States federal budget – $2.7 trillion (submitted 2005 by President Bush)
2005 United States federal budget – $2.4 trillion (submitted 2004 by President Bush)
2004 United States federal budget – $2.3 trillion (submitted 2003 by President Bush)
2003 United States federal budget – $2.2 trillion (submitted 2002 by President Bush)
2002 United States federal budget – $2.0 trillion (submitted 2001 by President Bush)

bayam on May 9, 2012 at 2:20 AM

You love to cherrypick your facts – they mean nothing.

For example, do you understand the difference between spending and deficits? What is the difference between Bush’s deficits and Obama’s deficits?

And deficits are ABSOLUTELY important during a recession. You increase them, you’re looking at a disaster.

But I wouldn’t expect someone who believes the left built this country to understand that.

OT: Romney rags on Obama’s stupid Julia cartoon.
The Count on May 8, 2012 at 10:07 PM

I wish AP would have done a post about this.

Romney is right on target here.

Are you sure these guys weren’t arguing for the end of the entire entitlement system from the LEFT by putting those numbers together in that way? Sneak it in under the radar, mayhap?

No, I don’t believe that either, but its a fun meme to float!

‘Yeah, they’re right, lets get rid of SSA, Medicare and the rest of that stuff to get those numbers!’

Fun, fun, fun!

I agree with you that we should repeal all entitlement programs. I would do it over a 20 to 25-year period. However, I’ll accept raising the retirement age to 70 in the next two decades; means-testing; and offering privatization options as a compromise.

Joana, the data for the charts is below, via an Excel spreadsheet from Agresti, including his calculations. It’s a bit rough, since I just copied and pasted:

Government Current Receipts and Expenditures
[Billions of dollars]

Bureau of Economic Analysis
Line 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Current expenditures 510.2 552.2 600.3 656.3 729.9 846.5 966.9 1076.8 1171.7 1261 1370.9 1464 1540.5 1623.6 1741 1879.5 1984 2149 2229.4 2304 2412.5 2505.7 2581.1 2649.3 2761.9 2906 3093.6 3274.7 3458.6 3653.5 3916.4 4147.9 4430 4737.3 4999.7 5261.8 5409.9

Table 3.2. Federal Government Current Receipts and Expenditures
[Billions of dollars]
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Line 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
20
Current expenditures 348.3 376.7 410.1 452.9 500.9 589.5 676.7 752.6 819.5 881.5 953 1010.7 1045.9 1096.9 1172 1259.2 1320.3 1450.5 1504.3 1542.5 1614 1674.7 1716.3 1744.3 1796.2 1871.9 1979.8 2112.1 2261.5 2393.4 2573.1 2728.3 2900 3115.7 3450.4 3703.3 3752.6

If your party does not want to lead and solve the problem, get out of the way…

/

Obviously Floyd Norris got tired of Duranty this and Duranty that and decided to see if he could seize the prize for Biggest Liar at the NYT.

I swear, liberals always blame someone else. They are nothing but children.

fossten on May 9, 2012 at 12:03 AM

Your inability to comprehend reality beyond simple black and white contrasts is typical of conservatives and helps explain why real innovation in this country is done by people on the left and very rarely by anyone on the right.

bayam, please tell us when the Democrats took majority control of the budgeting process, and what they “inherited” at that time.

After all your posted numbers, do you really need help with that simple question? Over Bush’s first 6 years with the GOP in firm control and during a relatively strong period of economic growth, spending increased by over 40%. No Dems to blame here.

And yes, during massive recessions government spending goes up unless you want a repeat of the 1930′s or today’s Greece.

2007 United States federal budget – $2.8 trillion (submitted 2006 by President Bush)
2006 United States federal budget – $2.7 trillion (submitted 2005 by President Bush)
2005 United States federal budget – $2.4 trillion (submitted 2004 by President Bush)
2004 United States federal budget – $2.3 trillion (submitted 2003 by President Bush)
2003 United States federal budget – $2.2 trillion (submitted 2002 by President Bush)
2002 United States federal budget – $2.0 trillion (submitted 2001 by President Bush)

You really are quite dim. Do you understand that Obama inherited nearly a $1 trillion structural deficit, according to both the CBO and Wall Street economists?

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

You really are quite dim. Are you aware that the Democrats held the purse strings from 2006-2008?

fossten on May 9, 2012 at 12:04 AM

Thanks, fossten.

bayam, please tell us when the Democrats took majority control of the budgeting process, and what they “inherited” at that time. The tipping point in the balance of power was not January 2009. Do tell when you think it was, and how much the total national debt increased in the last Republican-majority fiscal year.

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

You need to send Ed a request for a moniker change. Change your name to FAIL.

f&@king ignoramus.

You really are quite dim. Do you understand that Obama inherited nearly a $1 trillion structural deficit, according to both the CBO and Wall Street economists? Are you capable of comprehending that during an economic crisis you cannot enact deep spending cuts?
If you want to live in a country that’s experiencing the wonders of austerity, move to Greece.

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

You really are quite dim. Are you aware that the Democrats held the purse strings from 2006-2008?

There’s a big difference between deficit spending intended to prevent the country from falling into a depression in the aftermath of one of the greatest financial disasters in the nation’s history and the fiscal policies of previous administrations.

Ah yes, the typical liberal stance that ‘intentions’ are all that matter.

The rate at which the national debt grew under Obama is MORE THAN 3.5 TIMES the rate at which the national debt grew under George W. Bush for the comparable time period!

ITguy on May 8, 2012 at 11:13 PM

You really are quite dim. Do you understand that Obama inherited nearly a $1 trillion structural deficit, according to both the CBO and Wall Street economists? Are you capable of comprehending that during an economic crisis you cannot enact deep spending cuts?
If you want to live in a country that’s experiencing the wonders of austerity, move to Greece.

bayam on May 8, 2012 at 11:57 PM

Are you capable of comprehending the hard and fast numbers? Do you understand that Obama submitted budget after budget that was defeated 97-0 in the Senate? Are you aware of the amount the debt will increase thanks to Obamacare?

Or are you just wrapped up in spinning and making excuses for your Dear Leader?

I swear, liberals always blame someone else. They are nothing but children.

High spending didn’t start with President Obama or even President Bush, but both of these men have been the Executives who let the problem get out of control.

There’s a big difference between deficit spending intended to prevent the country from falling into a depression in the aftermath of one of the greatest financial disasters in the nation’s history and the fiscal policies of previous administrations.

The rate at which the national debt grew under Obama is MORE THAN 3.5 TIMES the rate at which the national debt grew under George W. Bush for the comparable time period!

ITguy on May 8, 2012 at 11:13 PM

You really are quite dim. Do you understand that Obama inherited nearly a $1 trillion structural deficit, according to both the CBO and Wall Street economists? Are you capable of comprehending that during an economic crisis you cannot enact deep spending cuts?
If you want to live in a country that’s experiencing the wonders of austerity, move to Greece.

Who controlled the purse strings starting in Jan 2007? Dems. I fault Bush for not vetoing enough but the spending before Pelosi/Reid was way lower deficit-wise than they took it.

DavidM on May 8, 2012 at 11:33 PM

The last Republican-majority budget was for Fiscal Year 2007 (which goes October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007). That last Republican budget increased the total national debt by $501 Billion during that Fiscal Year.

EVERY DEMOCRAT-MAJORITY BUDGET SINCE THEN HAS INCREASED THE TOTAL NATIONAL DEBT BY OVER $1 TRILLION, EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS.

Go to Debt to the Penny, and to Historical Debt Outstanding to see the total debt numbers. Democrats took majority control of the House, Senate, and therefore majority control of the budgeting and spending process, on January 3, 2007. It’s been 5 years and 4 months since then. In just 5 and 1/3 years, the Democrats have increased the total national debt by almost $7 Trillion. That’s an average of $1.3 Trillion per year, compared to the last Republican deficit of $0.5 Trillion in FY 2007. The Democrats are spending at a rate that is more than 2.5 as much as the Republicans!