If Rome burns so be it.

But there will always be another Rome.

Dont confuse organization with government.

Even anarchy has organization.

I support the loosest possible organization.

You support the tea party folks and smaller govt?

Nice chart, RichC.
Why is it not current? Could it be you are more interested in making a political argument than the truth?

It isn't relevant. Whoever is in the WH will still have to go hat in hand to congress. The Prez, whomever or whatever he/she is, cannot do more than send congress a "wish list".

The truth is yes the deficit increased last year as expected during a recession.
The real test will be if BHO can turn it around in the next 7 years after hopefully
the economy recovers.

The public has a misconception that the GOP is fiscally responsible. The GOP only pays attention to the deficit when a DEM is in the house.

While not entirely true, that surely was true of the 8 years under Geo. Bush

You made him Emperor of the United States or what? He is only PRESIDENT of the United States of America not the EMPEROR. Basically it boils down to "You give me my pet projects and I'll give you yours.". IN THEORY, they are equals but as we can see here, even by your own words, the Prez gets first look when things go wrong. More heat is on him, IOW there is more pressure because people will blame that one guy and not the elected creeps. Kinda unequal in practice.

Yes, I agree that the GOP talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. Think the Dems are going to be better? I don't think so. Both sides need their pet projects to buy votes. No money, no projects. It is that simple.

I believe Obama comes in for a greater share of the blame because he campaigned so vigorously that he represented a CHANGE in the way things were done.
Remember, he promised not to sign any Bills that came to his desk with earmarks?
Don't promise what you cannot deliver.

Were you such a moron that you believe campaign promises? I know I wasn't and for your sake, hope you aren't. Campaign promises are so that you will vote for him. Doesn't mean he will keep it. In fact, I don't expect any politician of any stripe to keep their promises unless it suits them.

But unless we, the voters, make an issue of it, they never will keep them.
Hold them accountable for what they say. All of them.

Oh, I agree. However, the problem is that people will vote along party lines and want to elect a guy every 4 years to solve problems. Keeping track of Congress seems too much work

The information IS available, but they purposely write convoluted legislation to hide the true impact, and so they can be seen voting for the right stuff. i.e. who would ever vote against "clean water" or "clean air" legislation. Yet you can hide all sorts of administrative evil in such a bill.

Same thing as those con men. Tell you a bunch of nice stuff but slip in a bunch of other less desirable stuff. In my personal life, if I see someone that is sounding too good, I avoid them. Too bad we don't vote that way. See someone stuff unrelated stuff into a bill, vote them out. After all, today, it MIGHT be good but it sets a trend. Once you are lulled into a false sense of security, well......

Didn't Reagan campaign for balanced budgets, reduced spending and the voodo
economics of lower taxes stimulating the economy and this would reduce the deficit. How did that work out for us?

Hey now, dont bring facts into this argument.

People will have to start using their brains instead of their emotions.