AP/CBS: Beginning To Look At The Bush Legacy

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/10/national/main4712380.shtml

Issue By Issue, The Ups And Downs Of An Unpopular Presidency

Jan. 10, 2009

(AP) A look at the ups and downs of George W. Bush's presidency on some of the biggest issues of the day:

Budget

Bush inherited a federal budget that had just posted a record $236 billion surplus, but the U.S. government's fiscal picture deteriorated sharply on his watch. The deficit for the recently completed 2008 budget year registered a record $455 billion, and the 2009 deficit is sure to be far worse as slumping revenues, the costs of the fiscal bailout and a huge economic stimulus bill promise to produce a deficit exceeding $1 trillion - the latest estimate is $1.2 trillion.

The flood of red ink has almost doubled the national debt during Bush's tenure in office. The gross debt was $5.8 trillion in 2001, but now registers $10.7 trillion. Interest payments on the debt cost $451 billion in 2008.

The deficit has been fueled by ever-increasing spending, including a wartime defense budget that has doubled since 2001 - from $290 billion to $594 billion in 2008. Overall, the budget has grown from $1.9 trillion in 2001 to $3 trillion in 2008.

On taxes, Bush's landmark 2001 and 2003 tax cut bills have reduced taxes on income, investments and large estates. The child tax credit was doubled to $1,000 per child and the so-called marriage penalty was eased.


George W. Bush (CBS)

Congress

Bush's two terms are in many ways a study in contrasts. For the first four years, his popularity and role as a wartime president translated into notable successes in Congress. In his second term, Bush was never able to cash in on the "political capital" he claimed after his re-election.


FULL 2 page story at link.

[aquart]

1. There was an "up"? When? Where? How?

[opihimoimoi]

2. UPS???? Where?.....Where are them Ups? Gimme one....

Bush has no Ups....He was a Loser from Day one when he decided to dump the Hart Rudman Anti Terrorist CommissionReport...Took 3 years to complete under a BiPartisan format...even Newt worked on this...and they dumped it...saying Cheney gonna run the anti Terror aspect

He got mooned in Sweden

Boo'd in New Orleans

Lost in China

and spoiled in Crawford....

Total Failure...lowest rates in the past 50 year History....he is without question...a POS