Bush Outreach: Words But Not Deeds

Bush on Friday: "We share a common goal, and that is to keep America safe. You know, I welcome debate in a time of war, and I hope you know that. Nor do I consider anybody's -- nor do I consider a belief that if you don't happen to agree with me you don't share the same sense of patriotism I do. You can get that thought out of your mind, if that's what some believe. (Applause.) . . .

"These are tough times, and yet there's no doubt in my mind that you want to secure this homeland just as much as I do. You remember the lessons of September the 11th just like I do."

The Budget

Bush's true priorities -- and his credibility -- are best reflected in the annual budget he submits to Congress. Which he happens to be doing this morning.

Lori Montgomery writes in The Washington Post: "The budget that President Bush will submit to Congress today shows the federal deficit falling in each of the next four years and would produce a $61 billion surplus in 2012, administration officials said. But to get there, Bush is counting on strong economic growth, diminishing costs in the Iraq war and tight domestic spending to offset the cost of his tax cuts.

"Democrats yesterday criticized the five-year budget plan as overly optimistic, and predicted that extending the tax cuts past their 2010 expiration date would dig the nation deeper into debt rather than produce a budget surplus. Republicans countered that the tax cuts are critical to maintaining a healthy economy and that a balanced budget is not possible without them."

But as Montgomery writes, a new report from the Congressional Budget Office divulges that "if the tax cuts and other expiring tax provisions are extended . . . the deficit would hit $146 billion in 2012 and grow thereafter as health costs skyrocket and the baby-boom generation retires. . . .

"Administration officials also exclude some potentially expensive items. Their request, or the first time, attempts to show the true cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming fiscal year, $145 billion, but includes just $50 billion for fiscal 2009 and nothing thereafter."

Stan Collender writes in the National Journal: "The Congressional Budget Office proved again last week why it is such a critically important part of the federal budget debate.

"CBO's most recent economic and budget outlook report did what the agency is required to do by calculating the deficit using the unrealistic estimates mandated by law. CBO then went a giant step further by making it clear that these calculations may not tell the real story. . . .

"The difference between the two calculations is substantial each of the next five years but most pronounced in FY12. There will be a $170 billion surplus in FY12 according to the required-by-law baseline. Under the more realistic calculation, however, there is more likely to be a $367 billion deficit."

Deborah Solomon writes in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "Since President Bush took office, he's boosted annual defense spending by 50% -- including $500 billion over five years for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and doubled spending on homeland security. At the same time, he's cut taxes, expanded Medicare to cover prescription drugs, approved $100 billion to clean up after Gulf Coast hurricanes, and signed bills that spend a little more each year on domestic programs."

So why hasn't the economy crashed?