Point #1. Anyone of those mentioned: FDR, LBJ, Carter, B. Clinton would do us in for good in present circumstances.
Point #2. We dodged a big bullet with FDR, if WWII hadn't come along ... LBJ was a liberal, but was actually more of an opportunist rather than a purebred idealogue. Carter was incompetent, as was Bill and in addition, Bill was a liberal by convenience, no real convictions here.
Hillary, on the other hand, is both competent and a dedicated leftist/Marxist/Socialist/Communist. Real trouble if she wins. Obama, we just don't know. He's a lefty, but how committed? Is he competent? Neither we nor he have a clue, he is so completely a blank slate.
Point #3. The surpluses in the 90's where projected surpluses.. They didn't take in account for 9/11..