Why would bush care about balancing the budget by 2012 ?

[blues90]

I don't get this at all . Is this just a ploy to get the funding for the next war in Iran ?

He won't be president in 2012 unless we are in an Iran war and then maybe he will . Bush has never been interested in budgets so far just giving tax breaks to the rich and funding the Iraq occupation on the cheap .

[LSparkle]

1. So Jeb can run without deficits

Just a hunch ...

[tk2kewl]

2. empty rhetoric n/t

[TahitiNut]

3. He doesn't.

Anything beyond the 2nd year out is sheer kabuki.

That said, it's not without impact. Many government agencies, contractors, and subcontractors will suppress pay raises, halt recruiting, and take other labor-related cuts and use those out-year budget plans as excuses. The corporate profiteers love it - they cut their employees throats and collect bonuses.

It has secondary impacts as well. In areas where federal spending is a high percentage of the economy (like Los ALamos or the Tri-Cities), housing starts go down, small businesses tighten their belts, and other austerity measures are taken that essentially starve out the poorest and lowest-paid workers.

[Robbien]

4. Because he can say he balanced the budget

He is a true blue GOPer who did not go on a spending spree. He balanced the budget.

{just don't pay attention to that pesky 2012 business}

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Because of two reasons:

1) Balance the budget and get his legacy.

2) Balance the budget with tax cuts and a swollen military budget by cutting social programs and entitlements before he leaves.

[SoFlaJet]

6. he'll never do it either

dolt that he is-remember his pie chart cut into 3 slices during the 2000 campaign?His 3 trillion dollar pie has gone up to 10 under his brilliant leadership