Know who the only two presidents to cut the deficits in the past 50 years were?

[Playinghardball]

[3catwoman3]

1. Say it loud...

...and say it proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[badtoworse]

2. So what was the national debt when they started their presidencies...

...and what was it when they left office in Clinton's case and what is it now for Obama?

[JaneyVee]

3. Says deficits, not debt. Paying down the debt

Would take a hefty tax increase on the wealthy, which should be done.

[Elwood P Dowd]

6. You would have to have a big surplus to start knocking down the national debt every year.

That would require a massive increase in revenue. IOW, much higher tax rates on the upper middle class and rich similar to what we had most years during the 1940-1980 period. The repukes would want to do it by eliminating Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps, Unemployment Benefits, Education Funding, and other important programs. That would take several hundred billion dollars a year out of circulation, throw tens of millions into poverty, and create another Great Depression.

[blm]

8. Only way to cut the debt is having surplus budgets - In 2000 the debt was on track to be paid off by

2009.....completely.

But, GOP voters wanted Bush's tax and economic policies to replace surplus budget policies. Now they blame the results on Obama.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

16. A forgotten piece of Americana, no?

Remember Al Gore's famous "Lock Box" from the 2000 Election? The debate was over how fast we should pay off the national debt. Should we do it as fast as possible? Should we do it slowly and invest in the country's infrastructure? Should we have tax cuts?

Seems almost quaint. Pathetic, but quaint, these days.

[blm]

20. I NEVER let the Republicans I spar with forget it. Truth needs constant telling.

Daily, in fact. ; )

[Jamaal510]

4. One could argue that

Democrats (and progressives in general) more closely follow the definition of the word "conservative" than many so-called conservatives in office. At least under us, deficits/debts and unemployment rates actually go down, rather than up. Republicans are the true out-of-control spenders and job killers.

[HomerRamone]

5. Not to be celebrated.

We need MORE deficit spending to curb unemployment and repair infrastructure...

[MisterP]

9. but if we don't accept GOP metrics and policies how can we rub them in their faces?

[Maedhros]

12. +1.

Deficit reduction during times of economic crisis is not helpful.

[freebrew]

13. Attempts at deficit reduction...

is what usually causes recession. IMHO

[progressoid]

21. Excactlty.

Might as well expand some programs that stimulate the economy since they (Rs) won't give credit to a Dem for reducing the deficit anyway.

[jtuck004]

7. Which has helped their wealthy donors tremendously. Everyone else not so much. See #5. n/t

[LongTomH]

10. The righties will shit their pants at this!

[madville]

18. Not really

GOP would just argue that the only reason there was deficit reduction is because they both had a Republican House of Representatives keeping their budgets in check.

[former9thward]

19. This is just more internet BS.

Every President from LBJ to Obama had years where the deficit went down.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/download_multi_year_1960_2019USb_15s2li101mcn_G0f

[DhhD]

11. Great bumper sticker for cars in Tea forrest areas.

[durablend]

14. Ben Gazi says you're LYING n/t

[OnlinePoker]

15. Missed LBJ

His last budget 68-69 had a surplus of $3+ Billion

See table 1.1 at link

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/historicals

[former9thward]

17. I can see why there were no facts presented with the OP.

Every President from LBJ to Obama had years where the deficit went down.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/download_multi_year_1960_2019USb_15s2li101mcn_G0f

[MannyGoldstein]

22. It's called "austerity" when the economy is bad

And causes continued hih unemployment and depressed wages.

[B Calm]

23. Funny how republicans are considered the party of fiscal responsibility, when

it's the Democratic party who factually cut the deficit and the republicans put us deeper in debt!

[IronLionZion]

24. There's less war and more healthcare too nt