This morning on Fox News, the Fox and Friends hosts and former Florida governor Jeb Bush joined together to gripe about the fact that the country won’t forget what President Bush did to the country for eight years. They said that since it’s already been a whopping 10 months, everything that’s happening is now basically the fault of the Democrats:
KILMEADE: It’s been 10 months. Should Leader Hoyer be looking backwards, and is he accurate?
BUSH: I was on the plane coming up to Washington yesterday, and I heard someone complaining that their child’s acne was because of George Bush. Of course, last week the Olympics didn’t come to Chicago — that was my brother’s fault. And at some point, people are going to have to put on their big-boy pants and assume responsibility for the great challenges and opportunities our country has. I don’t know how much longer leaders — responsible leaders in Congress — can continue to say these things.
Watch it:
No, President Bush is no longer in office making decisions. But Obama and Democratic leaders are forced to make many of their decisions based on what they inherited from Bush. Eight years is a long time, and the consequences of Bush’s actions didn’t disappear just because he went back to Texas. Ron Brownstein of the National Journal recently noted what the country is still dealing with, according to recent Census figures, after Bush’s two terms:
On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush’s two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country’s condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton’s two terms, often substantially.
In terms of the deficit that conservatives are always so upset about, Matt Yglesias has put together a pie chart looking at what has actually caused the growth:
So while Fox News pundits complain about the current administration and Congress having to spend so much money, they need to keep in perspective why that spending is necessary.
Transcript:
KILMEADE: Some people think — I was listening to the Sunday shows — they were too focused on our debt, and we should be focused more on spending. Here’s what Steny Hoyer says. He says who’s to blame for all this: “Today’s new deficit estimate for the fiscal year 2009 shows two things: fiscally reckless policies by the Bush administration and actions taken to rescue our nation’s economy from collapse. While the later [sic] was absolutely necessary, the former was both unnecessary and damaging to our nation’s fiscal outlook.” It’s been 10 months. Should Leader Hoyer be looking backwards, and is he accurate?
BUSH: I was on the plane coming up to Washington yesterday, and I heard someone complaining that their child’s acne was because of George Bush. Of course, last week the Olympics didn’t come to Chicago — that was my brother’s fault. And at some point, people are going to have to put on their big-boy pants and assume responsibility for the great challenges and opportunities our country has. I don’t know how much longer leaders — responsible leaders in Congress — can continue to say these things.
DOOCY: Well, in the news this morning, apparently the Minnesota Twins are blaming George Bush for their loss to the Yankees last night.
CARLSON: No, they’re not. As a native of Minnesota, I can tell you that’s not true. He may be blamed for a lot of things, but that would be lack of sleep that their loss happened.
Update:
The Blue Texan has more on the interview over at Firedoglake.