Was Bush A Big Spender?

I thought so, still do, but I found this to be an interesting read.

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Myth. Our national debt doubled in the last eight years.

Fact. Nope, no matter how you measure it. In fact, if adjusted for inflation, real economic growth and population growth, it didn't budge at all.

Here are the national debt figures in 2000 (President Clinton's last full year) and as currently estimated for 2008 (President Bush's last full year), as provided by our government.


2000 2008 % Increase

Total Debt (dollars) $5,628.7B $9,654.4B 72%

Held by Public ($) $3,409.8B $5,428.6B 59%

Total Debt (%GDP) 58.0% 67.5% 16%

Held by Public (%GDP) 35.1% 37.9% 8%

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Here are the figures on federal spending and federal debt held by the public, both as a percent of GDP.

Spending Debt

Pre-Bush average (1960-2000) 20.4% 36.2%

Clinton average (1993-2000) 19.9% 45.1%

Bush average (2001-2007) 19.8% 36.0%

Last year available (2007) 20.0% 36.8%

Here is the link

Anyone have any opinions about this?