[FreeReign]

I'm curious. How much did discretionary spending increase during Reagan's tenure over the first five years versus how much it has increased under Bush. And we all saw how Reagan's amnesty was one of the worst failures of his term. How has Bush done better than Reagan at addressing illegal immigration? One can still support Bush over the Democrats while still questioning the specifics of Bush's agenda. Those who wish that it be all or nothing offer nothing.

Good post.

And of course Reagan was worse than Bush on illegal immigration and spending under Reagan relative to GDP was equivalent to what we have today.

[Reagan Man]

Discretionary spending has gone up under Bush43. Went down under Reagan. A few graphs to show just how big a spender Bush43 has been over the last five years, compared to other recent presidents and also the Gingrich Congress, who kept Clinton in line on spending. Btw, Regan also reduced welfare and entitlement sepnding during his eight years in office. Under Bush43, welfare and entitlement spending has gone way up. Especially, Medicare spending.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>And of course Reagan was worse than Bush on illegal immigration ...

Reagan didn't support open borders. Reagan said: "A nation without borders is not a nation." Reagan did sign into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. It specified prosecution and punishment for employers who hired illegals. If that law was enforced, the IRCA of 1986 would have turned out to be what it was meant to be, a one time amnesty deal. Instead, the Feds lack of enforcement led to a ongoing series of liberal immigration policies under Bush41, Clinton and Bush43, that has led to the 10-15 million illegals we have living in the US today.

[spikeytx86]

"and spending under Reagan relative to GDP was equivalent to what we have today."

Yeah, here's the difference, We were staring down a super power not a bunch of jihadis, we head congress in the hands of the opposition party who were not friendly to the president. Welfare had not been reformed, and we suffered a recession in the early eighties that was one of our worst ever.

What's Bush's excuse? Both houses are controlled by us, we have a booming economy, and our defense spending as a percentage of GDP is much less. Dose the president know the term "Veto" or "No" ?!?

Bush has been overall a good president and in some ways a great president. However I will not call him conservative. He is the perfect example of a moderate republican.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

spending under Reagan relative to GDP was equivalent to what we have today.

You [FreeReign] are wrong.

I have the facts to disprove that. Since you stated that, show us all where you got your facts. You made a comment that was not based on facts.

Bush has outspent Reagan no matter how you look at it, including as a % of GDP.

You really ought to support your comments with facts when you make a comment like that. I suggest you go to the official OMB historical tables and do some studies since you obviously lack that factual knowledge.