There is another huge problem. Republicans finally got the WH and both houses congress and successfully passed tax cuts and it seemed to help the economy for a while, tough to prove because there was also growing deficit spending, very low Federal reserve interest rates ( stimulus) for 2 or so years and a housing bubble which could never be sustainable that also boosted the economy temporarily, and inflation.
So GWB leaves office after 8 years with an economic catastrophe. This is hardly a good selling point for any policies Republicans pitch. If Bush left office with a booming economy none of this would be debated now and tax cuts would be an easy sell.
Then we get Obama and a huge Dem majority and voters turn against them for a while because the economy is not not improving as deficits skyrocket.
But now we got split government and its all down to a finger pointing game. There is no one we can trust anymore. It's just bad vs worse. I guess this is why I am so pessimistic. Even if we get Republicans in charge again they will take over the excuse-making job from Obama.
The Republicans are so anxious to cut taxes, because it plays well. But frankly, the better approach is to cut the spending first, then cut the taxes.
eventually it comes down to the fleas being allowed to vote on which dog to suck dry...with a few variables mixed in...
take a meataxe to the 'budget' and then see how much cash is needed to support the Constitutional requirements of gubmint...
that couldve/wouldve worked 40 yrs ago...
at this point, we're tryin to prioritize who gets the lifeboats, and most pols believe they *deserve* that seat...