We will suffer the Bush Presdidency for a generation

Every once in a while, it's useful to step back from the Bush bashing to truly look at the level of damage "the Party of Fiscal Responsibility" is doing.

(Knight Ridder - loosely based on Heritage Foundation numbers(I know, Heritage focuses solely on social programs not defense, business subsides etc. But this does show the mindbending numbers.))

"The facts are not partisan and they're not ideological," said David Walker, the nation's comptroller general. He should know. He's the nation's chief accountant and signs off on the government's balance sheet. America's fiscal future, he said, "is worse than advertised.".....

Unfunded liabilities include everything from public debt to promised Medicare and Social Security benefits. In 2000 they totaled $20.4 trillion. By 2004, after President Bush and Congress increased spending and cut taxes, they reached $43.3 trillion.

When the government next reports these numbers on Dec. 15, the total is expected to reach $46 trillion to $50 trillion.

How much is $50 trillion? It's about $166,000 for each of the almost 300 million Americans.......

Congress shows no interest in halting a Medicare drug benefit that's scheduled to take effect next year. It will cost $700 billion over 10 years, and more after. It's one reason why spending on Medicare, the health care program for the elderly and disabled, is projected to explode.

Also, from another KR article, a great quote from Delay.

He also blamed Democrats, complaining that they haven't offered any suggestions on how to cut spending. He said they created a congressional budget process that makes it difficult to cut spending.

"We've been operating off a Congress designed by Democrats," he said.

The Republicans took control of Congress in 1995.

I'll bet Ms. Bloecher from the post below believes him, too.

UPDATE: Bush actually answered a few questions from the hand picked travelling press pool.

Q The American people, though -- sir, the American people, though, are beginning to question your honesty, according to the polls, 58 percent. And your approval rating is at an all-time low, primarily because, it seems, of this investigation. They are wondering whether you can keep on track and whether to believe you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, no, I understand there is a preoccupation by polls and by some. I think this may be -- I think we've got -- this is maybe the fourth or fifth consecutive semi-press conference -- press conference or semi-press conference that I've been asked about polls. The way you earn credibility with the American people is to declare an agenda that everybody can understand, an agenda that relates to their lives, and get the job done. And the agenda that I'm working on now is one that is important to the American people.