Part IV: Republican Conservatism: Unfit To Govern: The Bill Clinton Years

William J. Clinton took office as the 42nd President in January of 1993 after defeating a sitting President, George H.W. Bush who was seeking reelection. The big issue during the campaign was the economy and the future. Clinton's campaign theme song was "don't stop thinking about tomorrow" and that indicated what his plans for the country were. After 12 straight years of so called conservative leadership under the Reagan and Bush administrations that left the country with 12 straight years of record deficit spending and debt, Clinton made a committment to not only reduce deficit spending but to balance the federal budget. Unlike Reagan and Bush, Clinton had an economic and deficit reduction plan and policy that was introduced to the democratic controlled congress and passed with out one single republican vote in the house or senate. They predicted doom and gloom, record job losses, failed economy and high unemployment and of course history has recorded just the opposite. That economic plan was spoken about often during the campaign and showed Clinton's knowledge about the economy and the federal budget. History has also recorded how well that plan worked for the economy and our government's fiscal house. Lets recap what happened during Clinton's eight years in office. The Clinton administration after his very first budget year in office reduced the federal deficit from the previous year and then reduced the federal deficit every year his first 4 years in office. No other administration had accomplished that in over 50 years. Clinton's first 4 budget deficits totaled $$496.5 Billion. His last 4 budget years were all surpluses totaling $558.9 Billion. His 8 years in office surpluses exceeded his deficits by $62.4Billion. His administration also paid down $450 billion of the national debt, the first time in over 50 years the national debt was paid down by any President. When George H.W. Bush left office after 4 years the national debt at his last fiscal year budget stood at $4.411 trillion. When Clinton left office after 8 years the national debt at his last fiscal year budget stood at $5.807 trillion, and increase of $1.395 trillion or 31.6%. Total federal spending when Bush last fiscal year budget ended was $5.368 trillion. Total federal spending when Clinton's first 4 fiscal years ended was $6.139, an increase of $771 billion or 14%. Total federal spending when Clinton's last 4 fiscal years ended on 9/30/01 was $7.007 trillion, an increase of $867 billion or 14%. The numbers show that the Clinton administration had federal spending under control and that federal spending on his watch was minute compared to the large increase in federal spending under the Reagan and Bush administrations. Clinton also put the people and the nations fiscal house in order. When President Clinton left office the federal reserve was actually talking about the federal government being able to pay off its entire national debt because of the projected future surpluses and because the nations fiscal house was in such good shape. It was said that Clinton knew more about the federal budget than members of congress who had been there for a lifetime. President Clinton was fit to lead the country fiscally. Sadly, all of that changed with the election of George W. Bush who reversed all that Clinton had accomplished and it all started in Bush's very first year in office. Stay tuned for Part V, The George W. Bush years.

Part III, Republican Conservatism: Unfit To Govern: The George Herbert Walker Bush Years

George H.W. Bush took the Presidential oath of office in January of 1989 after serving eight years as Reagan's Vice President. President Bush continued the Reagan policies of trickle down economics, a policy that Bush himself called Voodoo Economics in the 1980 republican Presidential campaign. Despite that pronouncement and the fact that Bush was part of the 8 year record deficit spending spree and debt under Reagan, Bush continued the deficit spending in his four years at the helm.

President Bush often used the bogus statement, read my lips, no new taxes, to play to the republican base but late in his administration he did raise some selected taxes and changed some policies but it was too late to save his Presidency for a second term. In playing to the republican base Bush failed to put the country's fiscal house first and when his last fiscal year budget ended on 9/30/93 his administration failed to balance one federal budget during his term and ended his four years in office with a total federal deficits of $1.035 trillion.

When Reagan's last fiscal year ended on 9/30/89 the national debt stood at $2.857 trillion. When Bush's last fiscal year ended on 9/30/93 the national debt stood at $4.411 trillion. An increase in the national debt of $1.544 trillion or 54%.

Total federal spending for Reagan's last 4 fiscal years totaled $4.203 trillion. Total federal spending for Bush's four years was $5.369 trillion. An increase of $1.166 trillion or 28%.

The real sad part of the 12 year legacy of Reagan-Bush is that the deficit numbers never trended downwards on a regular basis which means they never did pay attention to deficit spending and never had nor developed a economic plan to face the problem and reduce deficit spending. Reagan and Bush continued the political game of talking about reducing federal spending and balancing the federal budget and did nothing in that regard. President George Herbert Walker Bush committed the ultimate act of deceiving the people by embracing Voodoo Economics after denouncing same which continued the country on the road to fiscal instability and record debt. President Bush proved by his actions he was unfit to fiscally govern the country and its people.

Note 1: See my three part series titled: The U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best. dated 1/27/08

Note 2: All reference herein to deficit numbers, federal spending numbers and the national debt taken from the records of the CBO and Treasury Department.

Part II Republican Conservatism: Unfit To Govern, The Reagan Years

The Reagan years was a fiscal disaster for the United States and its people. The country faced no major conflicts when he took office, war was not on the horizon, the American hostages taken by Iran were returned to the U.S. and Russia was no greater threat than in the past. The problem was inflation and a so called malaise.

President Reagan said he was going to balance the federal budget but instead gave the country and its people record deficit spending and debt. So the people can understand how massive those deficits were compare the following: Total deficit spending for the previous 12 years was $503.5 billion. $250.8 billion under Nixon-Ford in 8 years and $252.7 billion under Carter in 4 years. Reagan managed to exceed the deficit spending of the previous 12 years in his first three budgets, never sent one balanced budget to congress in his 8 years in office and ended his term in office with a whopping total deficit spending of $1.412 trillion.

The national debt was not a problem when Reagan came to office and was manageable. It stood at $997 billion at the end of Carter's last budget year ending 9/30/81. When Reagan's last budget year ended on 9/30/89 the national debt stood at $2.857 trillion, an increase of 186% in the national debt on his watch. This national debt explosion started the country on a collision course with history and continued with the Bush 41 and Bush 43 administrations.

Contrary to republican claims, federal spending on Reagan's watch exploded also. Total federal spending under Carter's 4 years ending with Carter's last fiscal year budget of 9/30/81 was $2.232 trillion. Total federal spending under Reagan's first four years ending 9/30/85 was $3.35 trillion, an increase of 50%. In Reagan's second term in office which fiscal year ended 9/30/89 total federal spending was $4.20 trillion, an increase of 25% over his first 4 years in office. Total federal spending under Reagan's 8 years in office was up 75%.

This writer is in possession of a Ronald Reagan calender celebrating his 100 birthday. It is full of Reagan's quotes. One of them concerns fiscal matters and I quote, "We don't have a trillion dollar debt because we havent taxed enough, we have a trillion dollar debt because we spend too much." The President must have been trying out for the academy awards when he made that statement because he was talking about himself and his own administration.

Thirty plus years after Reagan, Mitt Romney, John McCain and many other republicans still talk about how Reagan cut spending, the lie just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Is there any wonder why republican administrations are the biggest spenders in Washington. President Reagan and his administration started the nation down the road to the fiscal nightmare we are now facing. President Reagan by his record was not fit to govern the nations fiscal health.

The Economic Good News Continues For The Country

The economic policies of the Obama administration continue to show positive results for the country and its people. There were 222,000 jobs created in the private sector in February, 30,000 jobs were eliminated by states and local government for a net gain of 192,000 jobs for that month. Unemployment fell to 8.9% , the lowest point since April of 2009. In fact it was the sharpest decline for a three month period since 1983.

This writer in several commentaries months ago in "politidose" predicted how our country and the economy was responding to the President's economic policies in a positive way and how the unemployment rate would continue to fall at a faster rate than the pundits were predicting. The pundits were the same ones who were telling the people in 2008 that the economy was sound.

As usual House Republicans, who have opposed Obama's economic policies every step of the way are trying to take credit for the good news. Their phony statements are over shadowed by their phony ideology. And once again the Republican party has contributed nothing to the country's economic recovery. President Roosevelt's administration and policies rescued the economy after the great depression under President Herbert Hoover; President Clinton's administration and policies rescued the economy after President Bush 41 continued the voodoo economic policy of President Reagan with the voting public picking up the slogan, "its the economy, stupid" and now it is President Obama's administration and policies who has rescued the economy after President Bush 43's policies gave the country and its people the greatest meltdown of the economy and record job losses since the great depression.

In fact, Democratic administrations hold all the records of economic success, job creation, lowest unemployment, advance in wages for the middle class, balancing the federal budget and creating surplus, paying down the national debt and countless other benefits for the country and its people. Republican administrations hold the record for deficit spending, creating debt, job losses, high unemployment, wrecked economies and a host of other negative actions.

The present republican party and their tea party allies are still beholden to Corporate America and its lobby. They continue to oppose every thing coming out of the Obama administration and their number one priority is to defeat Obama in the 2012 elections. Of course they were elected to move the country forward and take care of the people's business but that is beyond their warped ideology. President Obama should hang in there and continue those policies that are working for the people and the country. Let the republicans wallow in their own lies.

The Political and Moral Courage That Defined The Wisdom of JFK

The world at present is witness to the quest for liberty and freedom in a few African and middle eastern nations. We in America sought, found and established those same principals over 200 years ago. It was not easy then and it is not any easier now. The history of change does not happen quickly. America was fortunate to have an elected leader many years ago who understood the march of time and that people, where ever they may live were ingrained with liberty and freedom and would one day break the shackles of tyranny. That leader was John F. Kennedy.

Prior to becoming President, Kennedy was a member of congress. While there he spoke out about the colonial rule in Africa and how the people of Africa should be able to attend to their own affairs. After he became President he was consistent in his speeches and actions in support of nations around the world who wanted to live in freedom. Kennedy knew time would take care of brutal regimes who supressed their people's desire for freedom. The peace corps, one of JFK's early action as President was designed to help people in their quest for a better life.

The President in his inaugural address set the tone when he said: To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom.

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required--not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

In June of 1963 the President went to W. Berlin and made his famous speech before more than a million west berliners according to reporters in Germany. The President knew at that time that communism was not the wave of the future and that the people themselves in W. Berlin and Germany would one day prevail when he told them, there are some who say that Communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin.

The President continued: While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it, for it is, as your mayor has said, an offence not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and diving a people who wish to be joined together.

So let me ask you as I close, to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves to all mankind.

When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe.

When that day finally comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact that they were in the front lines for almost two decades.

The courage and wisdom of President Kennedy concerning freedom and liberty is being played out before our very eyes around the world. He knew going to war was not necessary for liberty and freedom to take hold, yet he led with strength. When it came to freedom and liberty, Kennedy was the eternal optimist and that was over 40 years ago. He was also the most eloquent on the subject. Those regimes of iron tyranny who are feeling the rush of freedom and liberty should remember what Kennedy said, To remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

It was often said by those who knew Kennedy the best that he always thought about the young children in America and around the world who had no say so or vote on government policies that affect their very own lives. He wanted to make a difference for them. President Kennedy was in office only 35 months before he was gunned down, but his political and moral courage and wisdom will always be with America and the eternal flame that he left will continue to light the way for future Presidents to follow.

Louisiana's Projected $1.6 Billion Budget Deficit For Fiscal 2012

The state's budget deficit for fiscal 2012 was in the news once again in an article published in the Times Picayune of 2/25/11 by staff writer Bill Barrow. The Jindal administration has run a budget deficit every year since his election as governor. And every year Jindal announces the budget is in balance only to have to acknowledge by the middle of the budget year the budget is out of balance by millions of dollars and more cuts will have to be made. In other words it was not really balanced in the first place. Elected officials are noted for playing games with budget numbers.



Now comes the largest deficit of all projected to hit $1.6 billion for fiscal 2012. According to Barrow's article House Speaker Jim Tucker said, you've got four choices, raise taxes, cut spending, use one time money or eliminate tax exemptions. Past decisions by Jindal and the legislature has failed to bring the deficit under control because they lacked the courage to do those things that would increase state revenues sufficiently and they lack the courage to eliminate the waste in the yearly $7 to 8 billion of tax exemptions that is a give away to business. They should start with the Saints and Hornets and work down the list. Barrow also noted that Jindal and the legislature used federal stimulus money to balance the last two budgets. Remember how Jindal hates those federal dollars.



Once again Business who basically pay no taxes have been spared any budget cuts while the middle class suffers the burden of the budget.



Former governor Blanco left the Jindal administration a $1 billion surplus and he and the legislature blew it all. The sad part about Jindal and the legislature can be understood when in Mr. Barrow's article house speaker Tucker said, this $1.6 billion is not a number that we didn't know was coming.



Our state leaders are marking time until the national economy gets fully back on track. They have no record of really balancing the state budget, have no record of creating jobs despite the $7-8 billion give away to business and have no record of courage to do those things that really matter and make a difference for the state and its people. Those democrats who recently turned republican are showing their true colors. They joined the do nothing party.

Republican Conservatism: Unfit To Govern, Part I of VI

There is much talk in the news media today about the country's national debt, deficit spending and about how federal spending is out of control. In order to fully understand our country's severe fiscal and debt problem that exist one must look at the past. We do not have to dwell on the past but we have to have knowledge of what took place to cause the massive deficit spending and the debt it created and who or what administration is responsible for such actions. Without that knowledge the past will be repeated in the future.

In previous commentaries in "politidose" this writer has pointed out how the country's fiscal problems concerning deficit spending and debt started with the election of Ronald Reagan and his administrations policies. Prior to Reagan, the republican party and the democratic party worked together on many issues that benefited the country and its people. They put the work of government first to get things done. That republican party was able to debate the issues and did not use personal attacks as a campaign or debate tactic. That all changed after Reagan was elected. Government became the problem, so called conservatism took on an ideology that became unAmerican, viral, personal in its attacks, elite and outright lies about their opponents positions.

That right wing conservatism produced the likes of Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay, Dick Armey, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner and others inside and out side of congress. It led to a government shutdown during the Clinton Presidency and his impeachment over an affair.

Prior to Reagan's election deficit spending and the national debt was manageable. The national debt that was generated during WWII was paid off. Although deficit spending under the administrations of Kennedy-Johnson, Nixon-Ford and Carter occurred it was manageable and the national debt was less than one trillion dollars at the end of Carter's last fiscal year budget that ended 9/30/81, in fact it was $997 billion. Today it is over $13 trillion. Johnson's administration ran a budget surplus in 1969.

Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 and republicans in general blamed the democrats as big government spenders and creators of debt and have been doing so for the past 30 plus years but the actual record shows other wise. Ironically, the news media and their journalists used those same republican talking points to brainwash the American people. They seemed to figure out most people never bother to check the facts, but that never bothered the news media.

When this six part series is completed the readers will learn how Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 used tax cuts that benefited the wealthy, a lack of enforcement in regulations, deregulation of the Savings and Loans Industry (which cost the taxpayers over $1 billion), record federal deficit spending and debt starved the federal government of needed revenue and transferred wealth from the middle class to the wealthy. Their motivation was and the republican party's aim still is to bankrupt the federal government so Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other needed programs will be a thing of the past. That is why the next assualt will be on Social Security. As of this writing the people in the U.S. House is doing just that cutting programs in need under the guise of balancing the federal budget.

When Bush 43 left office, the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy was complete. The greatest meltdown of the economy, record job losses, record deficit spending and a record increase in the national debt that was so large it makes the future uncertain. Two yearsafter Bush 43 has left office the country and its people are still feeling the effects of this transfer of wealth at the expense of the middle class. The stock market is booming, the wealthy are doing well and the middle class is being crushed. The past is still the key to the country's future and knowing and understanding the facts can change the future for the best.

Next up: Part II The Reagan Presidency.

Canada's Oil Pipe Line To The United States

Canada has asked the Obama administration to approve a 1900 mile oil pipe line that would carry Canadian crude oil extracted from tar sands in Alberto, Canada to refineries in Texas. According to a report commissioned by the Obama administration the $7 billion pipe line could substantially reduce U.S. dependency on oil from the middle east and other regions. That according to an Associated Press report.

Canada pointed out they are a secure, stable and friendly neighbor who poses no threat to the U.S. It is this writers judgement that this proposed pipe line should be given very serious thought on a fast tract. According to the report, "Funds of the Earth" an environmental group, say tar sands oil is highly polluting and there are cleaner, safer way to meet U.S. energy needs.

The environmental issue needs to be worked out. Surly a company who can afford to invest $7 billion in such a venture can afford to make sure they have the know how and equipment to make oil from tar sands environmentally friendly and safe. There is no excuse. In fact companies who make this kind of large investments have an obligation to make sure their ventures is safe for the environment.

Importing oil from a neighbor such as Canada is a plus for the people and the country in reducing our import of oil from the middle east and other unstable countries. We know the American oil companies are not doing enough drilling and production with in the U.S. on all the acreage they lease, own or rent to make our country free of dependency on foreign oil from those unstable countries. Big Oil has been given tax breaks and incentives to do so for over 50 years and have failed the test.

Although the proposed Canadian pipe line will be good for America in this time of our history, the U.S. number one priority should still be to develop energy sources that will replace oil and gasoline as our leading energy source. Any thing less will have us revisiting the subject for the next 50 years. The major oil companies in the U.S. have really blown their chance to do something for their country and its people. Their record profits have fed their greed and is now their motivation. They have swallowed up many independent oil companies in the past that has not produced one more barrel of oil or gallon of gasoline. Those take overs and mergers only produce more and larger bonuses for their CEO's and executives.

BOEMRE Slaps Back At Big Oil

Michael Bromwich the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement in an article by staff writer David Hammer of the Times Picayune fired back at the oil industry for bitching about not being granted any new permits to drill in the Gulf of Mexico. Bromwich said, the most critical missing piece in the process of approving applications for permits to drill in deepwater is the demonstration of well control and subsea containment capability. Therefore, I ask that you provide a detailed update as to when your proposed containment systems will be operational. This was in letters to Helix Energy Solutions Group and to the four industry giants, Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron and Conoco-Phillips.

This is the same oil industry who promised in August 2010 they would have an interim containment system ready in six months and a fully operational system in operation in 18 months. The six months has already passed and the oil industry has reneged on its promise. This writer has pointed out in past commentary in politidose that this is the real issue of the oil industry's failure concerning the BP oil blow out and spill. That after over 50 years plus of drilling in the Gulf the industry had no plan or equipment ready to cap a blow out timely or the equipment necessary to remove spilled oil from the waters in the Gulf before that oil hit shore. They told the people they did but lied thru their teeth. That is the real sad story of the BP accident.

The industry's latest failure to meet their own dead line for testing their interim containment system is part of their failed past and falsehoods. They can not be trusted. Lets hope BOEMRE holds the industry and its CEO's accountable. When one takes into account that the industry is given billions of dollars in tax subsidy by our government leaders it is easy to see why big oil is so selfish and think they can do what ever they want to do. To top it off, our elected officials and some at the Times Picayune support the obscene actions by the industry.

The four oil companies mentioned above who are paying to develop the containment system are all wealthy companies who lobby our elected officials to keep the spigot open for corporate welfare and tax breaks. They have no shame. That says it all.

Cynthia Tucker, A Wise Journalist Concerning Immigration

Ms. Tucker in her editorial titled, "Quit Hiring Immigrants: See What Happens" published in the New Orleans Times Picayune dated Feb. 5th showed wisdom on the subject matter. Past Presidents and the congress has struggled to come up with a workable solution to curb the problem. Now Ms. Tucker has a suggestion that is very basic to the problem that would not cost billions of dollars in this writers judgement like the fence the federal government built on the Arizona border and the U.S. troops sent there to police the area.

Ms. Tucker suggest business be required to use a national computer system to verify the legal status of employees, that would dramatically curb illegal immigration. She pointed out illegal border crossers come here for better economic opportunity that reads as "jobs." If they could not get jobs many would not come she pointed out.

The suggestion by Ms. Tuckerhas merit and congress should take that first step that would lead to comprehensive reform of immigration. Business should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants and the law should be enforced. The editorial also points out how Obama's predecessor used a failed scheme of workplace raids that punished illegal immigrants but left their employers largely unscathed.

Our elected officials in Washington, especially congress would do well to keep this editorial posted on their desk. The law is on their side, the only thing it now takes is character and courage to make sure the change Ms. Tucker has suggested takes place. Put business on notice and enforce the law. Require them to verify the legal status of whom they hire. It was pointed out in the editorial there is a system available to check workers, it is called e-verify, an instant back ground check run by the Department of Homeland Security.

Congress and the President need to act now.