Reagan had the excuse of a Tip ONeill run Democrat Congress passing spending bills. Bush has a Republican Congress - it was a GOP Congress that under Clinton cut the deficit by $100 billion in one year.
The problem is that Bush is actively undermining fiscal restraint. It's not that he is forced into this through compromise on other issues ... he's just throwing away opportunities to cut ... tell me why didnt he veto the Farm Bill and demand that they cut down the cost, give nit was far more expensive than he claimed to want? Why hasnt he vetoed anything?
On the other side of the coin, Bush is the best tax-cutter since Reagan... If G W Bush would only keep the spending and welfarism in check, he'd be another Reagan.
That is a no brainer. The farmers make up a very powerful "conservative" voting bloc. That bill was applauded by many right here in FR. The problem with "base" politics" especially GOP "base" politics is that the base is much like the population, in that it contains many and sometimes conflicting interest groups. The PJB contingent swooned over the Steel tariffs while the traditional fiscal conservatives were outraged. That has happened with EVERY issue that has come up around here for 3 years. One portion of the base or the other is always outraged by anything Bush does. That is just the nature of what we loosely call the base.
Why do you think he is a Big Spend/No Veto president.?
I think it's a simple case of pleasing this and that faction by spending lavishly on those factions to win their votes.
To the detriment of us all.
***an ex-Republican-base voter***