Bush May Leave Ballooning Deficit, Curbing Successor's Programs (Bloomberg)

[swag]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aFRluJ5sabGw&refer=home

Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush is poised to leave the federal government in worse financial shape than he found it, making it harder for whoever succeeds him to deliver on the promises of this year's election campaign.

Bush may end his eight years in office with a larger-than- forecast budget deficit approaching 2004's record $413 billion, as an increasingly likely recession slashes tax receipts and raises spending. He'll also leave behind a host of thorny, longer-term problems -- from the expiration of his big tax cuts in 2010 to spiraling spending on senior citizens -- that will dog his successor's budgets for years.

That means Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would find it harder to finance their promised expansion of health-care benefits. Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney would have a tougher time carrying out their pledges to cut taxes.

``We have a big hole to crawl out of,'' says Robert Bixby, head of the Washington-based Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan group that advocates balanced budgets. ``Any sort of major initiative by the next president is going to be very difficult to do.''

[Zenlitened]

1. Mission accomplished.

:grr:

[Johonny]

7. yeah

I think it's exactly what Cheney wanted to do. Make it almost impossible for the federal government increase social programs. The next president will spend their term paying for Cheney's president.

[Mythsaje]

2. Hey, here's an idea.

Let's seize Bush and Cheney's personal assets to pay down some of the debt. It's THEIR baby, after all.

:evilgrin:

[zanne]

3. Just like the war in Iraq.

Bush is something like a burglar who comes into your home, steals your valuable items, trashes your house, shits on the floor and leaves it for you to clean it up when you get home. (oh--and he also pisses off the neighbors).

[Solly Mack]

4. Surprise?

[Rob H.]

5. Worst. President. Ever. nt

[spanone]

6. they know the democrats are going to win and they will leave a complete shitfest

[tularetom]

8. The stench will linger for decades

I predict within five years, nobody will admit to ever voting for b*sh.

[Rageneau]

9. And we need to start calling it "the Bush Disaster" ASAP

The way the GOP spins things and the way the MSM assists them at it, it won't be long before all the problems the Democrats will soon encounter will be laid at their feet -- instead of the cowboy-boot-shod feet of the evil moron who actually caused them.

The way to avoid that is to begin to assiduously stress the fact, in all our conversations and correspondence, that Bush bears the responsibility for the current lousy situation. We should make a point to say that every time the lousy situation comes up, regardless of which lousy situation we're talking about, because Smirk has truly screwed EVERYTHING up).