Once Again, A Democratic President Cuts a Republican Deficit. Almost No One Notices.

[Igel]

116. "Under control" is a loaded term.

In 2008 the deficit was labeled out of control and unsustainable. It was under $250 billion before the stimulus that spring--the stimulus that everybody said at $200 billion was outrageously expensive for a recession--and nearly half the peak non-stimulus-driven deficit of a couple of years before. And that was with the large tax cuts still in place and two wars going as full tilt as ever.

Now at $600 billion or more we're saying that they're under control and sustainable, and we need another large stimuls because although the recession ended 4 years ago we have crappy job growth? That's the deficit with large tax increases in place and no Iraq war spending, plus a draw-down in Afghanistan. And let's not forget the $85 billion forced sequester spending reduction that nobody seems to want.

Yes, there was a recession and the economy shrank. GDP's above where it was in 2008.

Lots of reasons for the deficit, and some danged good ones. But "under control" prompts some unflattering comparisons and sweeps those reasons under the carpet. This seeks to praise Obama with praise so faint that it's equally suited to damning him.