>> “Newt Gingrich had a successful period as Speaker of the House of representatives in which he balanced the budget AND had a surplus. During that time, the surplus went against whatever deficit there was, so he can also legitimately claim to have lowered the deficit.” <<
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That is about as false of a statement that can possibly be made.
Noot’s “surplus” used excess SS payroll receipts to hide spending, and also ignored debt service payments that were financed by further debt.
No reduction of debt occured.
Since the federal budget had been unified, the issue was money in versus money out. There has been no separating of social security since LBJ. I don’t know how old you are, editor, but perhaps you remember this. I do.
Therefore, on the overall budget Gingrich led to a surplus, and that is something we do not have today.
Would you prefer today’s trillion dollar deficit or Gingrich’s 100 billion dollar surplus?
Here’s the simple truth: Cain and Perry are not ready for prime time. Cain can’t answer a foreign policy question to save his life, and us radical pro-lifers haven’t heard a position out of him yet that makes sense. Perry has imploded with his immigration positions, but that’s not the real problem...he can’t articulate his ideas. Santorum can’t get traction or attract money, and BAchmann has become a harpie. Paul, of course, likes to pretend the US is not affected by events overseas.
Romney is, and always has been, a liberal.
In addition to being a real conservative, Gingrich is the best prepared, most articulate, and most insightful guy left standing.
It’s a hard pill for some to swallow, but it is the truth.