Should Republicans Give Up In Trying To Pretend to be Fiscally Conservative?

[Bo]

I'd like to hear what Republicans have to say about this. It turns out their hero Ronald Reagan wasn't nearly as fiscally conservative as he claimed to be.

If Ronald Reagan had not been bucked by congress and gotten everything he wanted on his domestic agenda (ie shutting down the dept of education) he would have broke even.

If Congress had not been bucked by Reagan and not passed his massive tax cuts and increases in military spending, we would have broke even as well. Why did Reagan want to have such a huge military, anyway? He didn't send the U.S. into any major wars.

That's called the military industrial complex.

That wasn't my point. My point was that if Congress have more backbone and did not pass Reagan's fiscally irresponsible ideas, the deficit adn the debt would have been a lot smaller (and that there might not have even been a deficit under Reagan if that would have been the case).

[rebeltarian]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

[Хahar 🤔]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Keep rewriting history!

[Mint]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Keep rewriting history!

Even if that narrative was true (which I totally disagree with) it was actually Carter's idea to begin increasing military spending...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Absolutely.  They spent like drunken sailors last time they were in charge.

That's a totally unfair comparison.

Drunken sailors spend their own money.

Good point, CARL.  I expect the libs to spend and spend, but it totally disgusts me that the pubbies abandon their principles when they hold the purse strings.

[Franzl]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Reagan was probably as surprised as any of us when the Soviet Union came crashing down, lol.

[Joe Republic]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Reagan was probably as surprised as any of us when the Soviet Union came crashing down, lol.

Reagan was probably surprised to learn that he'd been President for all those years, so much so that he had to go and sit in the garden in his pajamas and piss himself.

[Bo]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Keep rewriting history!

Even if that narrative was true (which I totally disagree with) it was actually Carter's idea to begin increasing military spending...

I doubt that was the real reason Reagan increased military spending. However, regardless of whether it was or not, Reagan should not have cut taxes for the rich so drastically if he decided to go ahead with the increases in military spending.

[Bono]

He pushed an arm's race with the Soviets because he knew the USSR couldn't afford it.  It hastened it's demise.

Reagan was probably as surprised as any of us when the Soviet Union came crashing down, lol.

Reagan was probably surprised to learn that he'd been President for all those years, so much so that he had to go and sit in the garden in his pajamas and piss himself.

Classy.