The War not included, most of that “out-of-control” spending was Bush co-opting Big Democrat issues and making them his own, thus depriving them of a “Big Stick” to use against us.
In 2002 it was “No Child Left Behind”, and in 2004 it was Prescription Drugs.
I don’t like it, but I DO understand the politics of it. Meanwhile, the Repubs in Congress (Frist)were trying to build a non-voter support system like the Democrats have, to insure THEMSELVES of Outside-The-Party power like the Democrats have done.
It failed miserably...
Yeah but NCLB was used very much against Bush and probably with some effect. The Democrats would constantly whine (even now) how he created a mandate but didn’t fully fund it. Now if the Dems ever seize the handles they WILL fully fund it - to make Bush and the rest of us blush.