Okay, I haven’t found the source for this, but I am sure that yesterday on the radio I heard that, on top of all the increased military spending, all the internal relief, extended unemployment, and security spending — all on top of a budget that was already tottering into deficit before 9-11, and was now clearly headed that way — Bush is now proposing additionlal tax cuts.
Exsqueeze me?
Ah, it’s for economic stimulus. Did we see any evidence that all those $300 and $600 checks reversed our economic slowdown? Oh, it’s to increase consumer confidence. Huh? Marginally reduced payroll taxes are going to make Americans Feel Good About Their Continued Job Prospects?
Wasn’t LBJ’s biggest mistake thinking he could deficit-spend his way to providing both guns and butter?
I really don’t want to think this is opportunism. I really don’t want to think that this is some sort of horrific expression of greed and moneygrubbing on the part of the plutocrats. I would almost feel more comfortable thinking that Bush is just an idiot.
But remember this, kids. When, five to ten years ago, the GOP is railing about how all the Dems’ profligacy and Big Guvimment has generated such a big budget decifit, remember who, as things were slowing down, cut the government’s income, and who, as that income was being drawn on as never before, cut it even further.