Sure, we had a 230 billion surplus under Clinton but,

[4bonhoffer]

You felt that you had to hide your racism. That sucked. Billionaires and corporations paid a higher percentage in taxes, but now that your taxes are going up while you’re benefits are disappearing the billionaires are giving you an entire republican party that will extol you’re racism and hatred of women. As a bonus they will give you a party that while gutting veterans benefits will have a draft dodger tell you that republicans are the true patriots. You can wave that flag with no fear of ever having to actually serve. How cool is that !

Finally, the party of high moral standards, that tried to impeach Clinton for having an affair with an adult, will build golden statues to a pedophile, who sexually assaulted women and cheated on every wives # 1, 2, and 3. all while telling you that democrats are evil. Is this a great time to being a billionaire suck up ( republican ) or what !

[poozwah]

1. debt

the surplus under clinton was year to year and not for his entire eight years. the national debt actually went up.

“During Bill Clinton's eight-year presidency (1993–2001), the total national debt grew from approximately $4.188 trillion to $5.728 trillion, representing an increase of about $1.4 trillion to $1.54 trillion. While Clinton achieved federal budget surpluses in his final four years, the overall national debt increased due to accumulated deficits and interest.”
Taxpayers for Common Sense


The U.S. national debt has risen from roughly one trillion in 1981 to over 36 trillion by late 2025. Driven by tax cuts, increased defense spending, and economic crises, debt accumulated significantly under every administration, accelerating sharply during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Committee on the Budget (.gov)

these two snippets i have copied and pasted demonstrate the folly of the credit card budgets that we adopted in 1981. we will soon be paying more in interest on our debt than we spend on national defense.

[ffr]

5. That would be because of debt racked up before Clinton-Gore's 1993 Budget reconcilation act

President Clinton's Record on Fiscal Discipline: Between 1981 and 1992, the national debt held by the public quadrupled. The annual budget deficit grew to $290 billion in 1992, the largest ever, and was projected to grow to more than $455 billion by Fiscal Year (FY) 2000. As a result of the tough and sometimes unpopular choices made by President Clinton, and major deficit reduction legislation passed in 1993 and 1997, we have seen eight consecutive years of fiscal improvement for the first time in America's history.

Largest Surplus Ever: The surplus in FY 2000 is $237 billion—the third consecutive surplus and the largest surplus ever.

Largest Three-Year Debt Pay-Down Ever: Between 1998-2000, the publicly held debt was reduced by $363 billion—the largest three-year pay-down in American history. Under Presidents Reagan and Bush, the debt held by the public quadrupled. Under the Clinton-Gore budget, we are on track to pay off the entire publicly held debt on a net basis by 2009.

These are all facts backed up by Governmenl Accounting Office (GAO) forecast public debt values. In each successive year after 2000, they showed that if tax policy remained as it was the total public debt would be paid off by 2009.

However, George W. Bush and the republicans scuttled Clinton's tax policies within months of taking office with H.R.1836 - Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 , which gave out $600, $500, and $300 refund checks, depending on your filing status. And while the GOA's forecast held true for several months into the Bush presidency lack of attention to "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the US," 9/11 happened and spending wiped out what remained of what would have been a complete erasing of America's public debt.

[David__77]

2. The Onion- Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over

…

Bush swore to do “everything in [his] power” to undo the damage wrought by Clinton’s two terms in office, including selling off the national parks to developers, going into massive debt to develop expensive and impractical weapons technologies, and passing sweeping budget cuts that drive the mentally ill out of hospitals and onto the street.

During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.

…

https://theonion.com/bush-our-long-national-nightmare-of-peace-and-prosperi-1819565882/

I recall seeing this in the print edition and I still think of it from time to time.

[CTyankee]

3. The religiously insane that controls the Republican Party today doesn't care!

It doesn't matter what happens to our economy. Or foreign policy. Or health care for our citizens. Or any of the traditional issues of both parties.

I no longer discuss politics with these people. Our interactions, few as they are, are strictly business. I am polite, we take care of business, and that's that. It's a waste of time to engage in discussions about anything else.

[1WorldHope]

4. Sexual assault of children. Just had to say it.

[Celerity]

6. The Clinton/Gore Administration: largest surplus in history on track, paying off the Debt by 2012. (9/27/00)

Today, President Clinton will announce that we:

Estimate a surplus of at least $230 billion in FY2000.

Remain on track to pay off the entire debt by 2012.

Will reduce the debt by an estimated $223 billion in FY2000 and more than $360 billion over last 3 years.

https://clintonwhitehouse4.archives.gov/WH/New/html/Tue_Oct_3_113400_2000.html

LARGEST UNIFIED SURPLUS EVER AND THE ONLY ON-BUDGET SURPLUS SINCE MEDICARE WAS ESTABLISHED

Instead of a $455 billion deficit, the surplus this year will be at least $230 billion. In 1992, the deficit in the Federal budget was $290 billion the largest dollar deficit in American history. In January 1993, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the deficit would grow to $455 billion by 2000. Today, the Clinton/Gore Administration is estimating that the surplus will be at least $230 billion this year - the third consecutive surplus and the largest surplus ever, even after adjusting for inflation. Compared with original projections, these results mean that there is over $685 billion less of a government drain on the economy and over $685 billion more that is available for private investment in this one year alone. Largest unified surplus as a share of the economy since 1948. The 2000 surplus is projected to be 2.4 percent of GDP - the largest surplus as a share of the economy ("GDP" ) since 1948. The third consecutive year with a surplus for the first time in over 50 years. The estimated surplus of at least $230 billion follows a surplus of $124 billion in FY 1999 and $69 billion in FY 1998. The last time America had three surpluses in a row was over fifty years ago in 1947-49. The FY2000 surplus marks the eighth consecutive year of fiscal improvement for the first time in American history - surpassing the pre-Clinton-Gore best of five straight years. The second consecutive surplus excluding Social Security. Excluding Social Security, the surplus is projected to be $80 billion this year. This is the second consecutive surplus on this basis, for the first time since 1956-57. The first surplus excluding Social Security and Medicare. This is the only on-budget surplus since Medicare was established in 1965. (The on-budget surplus excludes Social Security and Medicare surpluses).

LARGEST DEBT REDUCTION EVER

The President's plan to eliminate the debt by 2012 remains on track. President Clinton's budget proposes to reduce the debt held by the public by $2.9 trillion over the next decade and to eliminate it by 2012. The President's debt reduction comes from saving the entire $2.3 trillion Social Security surplus, the entire $403 billion Medicare surplus, and $192 billion of the on-budget surplus for debt reduction. Interest payments would be eliminated. Currently, we spend 12 cents of every Federal dollar on interest payment. These payments, which were once projected to grow to 25 percent of all federal spending in 2012, would be eliminated under the President's plan by that time. On track to pay down more than $360 billion in debt over three years. In 1998 and 1999, the debt held by the public was reduced by $140 billion. The government paid down an additional $223 billion in debt held by the public this fiscal year alone. That will bring the total debt pay down to more than $360 billion the largest three-year debt pay-down in American history. In contrast, under the 12 year tenure of Presidents Reagan and Bush, the debt held by the public quadrupled The debt held by the public is on track to be $2.4 trillion lower in 2000 than was projected when the President took office. In 1993, the debt held by the public was projected by the Office of Management and Budget to balloon to $5.85 trillion by 2000. Instead, shrinking deficits, and growing surpluses in the last three years are projected to bring the debt down to $3.4 trillion in 2000, $2.4 trillion less than expected. In 1993, the debt held by the public was 50 percent of GDP and projected to rise to 65 percent of GDP in 2000. Instead, it has been slashed to a projected 35 percent of GDP under the President's plan and would be completely eliminated by 2012.

REDUCING SPENDING WHILE CUTTING TAXES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES

Federal spending as a share of the economy is the lowest since 1966. Spending restraint under President Clinton has brought spending down federal spending from 22 percent of GDP in 1992 to a projected 18 percent of GDP in 2000 the lowest since 1966. At the same time, President Clinton has increased strategic investments in education, technology and other areas that are vital to growth. The smallest Federal civilian workforce in 40 years. The Federal civilian workforce increased from the time when President Reagan took office to the time when President Bush left office. In contrast, since President Clinton and Vice President Gore took office, the Federal workforce has been cut by 377,000 by nearly a fifth and is now lower than at any time since 1960. While balancing the budget, running large surpluses and paying down the debt, the Clinton-Gore Administration has provided tax relief for working families. The tax cuts signed into law by the President in 1993 and 1997, for example, the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, the $500 child tax credit, the $1,500 HOPE Scholarship Tax Credit, and expanded IRAs have reduced taxes for American working families. The total Federal tax rate for middle-income families has dropped from 24.5 percent in 1992 to 22.8 percent in 1999 that's the lowest tax rate since 1978. For families at one-half the median income, the effective Federal tax rate has been slashed from 19.8 percent in 1992 to 14.1 percent in 1999, that's the lowest tax rate since 1968.