In the US there is a myth that Conservatives are frugal and smart with money. The phrase “fiscally conservative” is often used on the right as an adjective for good candidates. But every conservative president since 1981 has been anything but conservative with money.

The last three conservative presidents have broken the record for federal deficits:

• Ronald Reagan, Bush (41) and Bush (43) broke records in with their Federal Deficits:

– Reagan first to break -$100Billion

– Bush (41) first to break -$200Billion

– Bush (43) first to break -$400Billion

• We could argue that this had to do with 9/11 and Katrina, however Osama is still at large and people of Katrina are still living in trailers – the money is going to Iraq… War on Terrorism?

• Ps.. He’s trying to pass a budget that will break -$500Bill, but be balance by 2012… WTF!

• Clinton set a record surplus:

– http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/09/27/clinton.surplus

In 1981 the gross national debt, compared to the nation’s annual income reached its lowest point since 1931. Despite his claim to hate the debt, Reagan instituted unprecedented peacetime deficit spending. This is not partisan politics, this is straight off the White House web site. – http://zfacts.com

“He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.” – Whithouse.gov [Reagan Bio]

- Also -

“In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes.” – Whitehouse.gov [Reagan Bio]

Bill Clinton

Clinton’s Bio is probably one of the worst among all the presidents because of the Lewinski Scandal. But one thing no one can deny is this:

“He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years [that includes Reagan - rbe], the highest home ownership in the country’s history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare rolls. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus.” – WhiteHouse.gov [Clinton Bio]

Bush 41

• Read my lips: “no new taxes”

• He raised taxes and still couldn’t balance the budget.

Federal deficit vs. National debt

• Federal Budget Deficit is not the same as the National Deficit. The National Deficit is the REAL problem.

• Sadly, In 2008 (so far) Ron Paul has been the only candidate to really attack the National Deficit… Obama, Clinton and McBush don’t talk too much about it.

• Ron Paul is a Conservatives but most self-proclaimed “Conservatives” don’t claim him… I think its because they don’t even know what “conservatism” is. There now seems to be one party with two names.

• US Department of Treasury Website:

• http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

– $9.2 Trillion dollars