I think the argument still has merit in that it shows the little difference between the Democrats and Republicans on spending policy. Conrad is basically saying of Bush, “See, we are alike”.
Even their tax policies differ little. One taxes in the present, the other through borrowing defers taxes to another day. Neither reduces the size of government that spends money so wastefully.
Agreed, spending is costly regardless of how financed, and both parties spent too much. Still ...
The Laffer curve idea has merit. It IS better to tax less and bring in X revenues, than to tax more and bring in X revenues. Our taxes have been reduced and revenues are booming. Democrats would raise taxes, perhaps with no change in revenues once things sort out.
I will grant you that both parties spend too much. But if you look within the parties to find the resistance government spending, I’m confident that you will see that most of the resistance is in the Republican party. Sadly, Republicans lost their way recently. Maybe they learned from their mistake. The Democrats are incorrigible. They are currently trying to take us FAR to the left. Filibusters and and vetoes may provide blessed deadlock. I hope.