General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Thomas Franks, the Clintons and "phony" Democratic populists in the New Gilded Age [View all]merrily
(45,251 posts)None of the tax increases under Reagan (and the one under Bush)had anything to do with 8 years of prosperity? The fact that we were not in any wars big enough to admit to? That 911 did not happen until he was out of office and there was no massive spending on Homeland Security, beefing up the CIA, NSA, FBI, the military, etc.? The fact that he ended "welfare as we know it?" (So much for top to bottom.) How about the dot.com boom? He didn't cause that, but it sure helped the economy--until the dot.com bust.
I guess Gramm, Leach, Blilely had nothing to do with economic collapse of several nations, including this one, during Bush's term, either, due to mortgage derivatives?
Presidents are in office 4 or 8 years (assuming nothing untoward). But many things influence their apparent success or failure, including what their predecessors did, what is going on in the world at the time, etc. And what they do while in office may not come to fruition until after they leave. No question about that, right? But, for Bubba, we look only at 8 years, full stop--and not even at the not so great parts of those 8 years.