Please critique my LTTE re repubs taking credit for Clinton economy!

Several DUers helped out on this one. I needed help responding to a freeper who claimed that the Republican Congress during Clinton's administration "triggered prosperity" by their budget, which cut taxes. Here's my response (haven't sent it yet):

To the Editor:

Revising history is fun. As a recent letter to this paper shows, revisionism allows apologists for the Republicans in Congress to take credit for Bill Clinton's leadership in reducing our country's national debt by $360 billion by 2000 and producing the greatest economy in the history of our country.

If we are revisiting the Clinton years, we might want to take a look at 1995 when every Republican voted against Bill Clinton's budget and denounced Clinton for leading the country into recession. The forecasters of doom and gloom were exactly wrong. The deficit began a steady decline that continued for the decade. Getting the deficit problem fixed (it was at a historic high of $290 billion) was one key element in boosting the economy. And in addition, the tax revenue resulting from the nation's prosperity led in 1998 to the first balanced budget in 30 years. When President Clinton left office, our nation in the fortunate position of having the largest budget surplus in our history. Today, as we sadly know too well,we are experiencing the largest deficit in our nation's history.

The Republicans are still in control of Congress and have been for 6 years. For 6 years they have said that cutting taxes on the very wealthy is what "triggers prosperity." The results speak for themselves. Something is obviously missing from this picture: a good economy and Bill Clinton.

I like this because it's direct but not confrontational. It's the kind of letter that someone can read and actually change their opinion. I might have said "a good economy and a Democratic president" just because Bill can't run again :) but I think it's a fine piece of work!

In 1995, the GOPs couldn't even get it together to pass THEIR budget and that's what led to the govt. shutdown. GOPs had NO INFLUENCE on any budget till well into 96, while they PRETENDED it was their victory in 94 that was responsible for the deficit reduction - they were LYING - KNOWINGLY. The media let them.

Didn't Clinton veto it and Congress passed it over his veto? Freeper said Clinton finally signed it. I googled for 2 days trying to find the story but I only got bits and pieces here and there. It wasimpossible to find a straight timeline.

who said he'd become a Democrat if Clinton's plan for the economy didn't result in recession.

Not one single Rethug voted for that budget. It included a bunch of small tax increases including about a 5% tax increase on incomes over $103,000. Also, the budget aggreement included Pay-As-you-go budgeting. Meaning no new programs could be put in place unless something else was cut. The bond market soared (meaning interest rates plunged). Mortgage rates dropped. Massive home refinancing took place putting hundreds of dollars per month into the hands of AVERAGE people. That money in people's hands made the econ SMOKE.

And that is what happened.

"our nation in the fortunate position"

GREAT LTTE!! And the gospel TRUTH also!!

By the way.....feel free to tell them that the Village Idiot was born in your state not mine.....LOL

I am happy to proclaim GWB's birthplace, if only to shame this bastid. It ain't out of any pride, I can tell you that!

Hey Native, where you from? I was born and raised in Dallas.

.......Greenville. 50 miles NE of Dallas. Born, raised, and raised my family here!

and in Austin. I'm 3rd generation Texan on my mother's side and 2nd generation on Daddy's side. Mother's family, Scots, came over during the Clearances in Scotland inthe 1700's. Daddy's from Wales in the 19th Century, but don't know where they "landed" before they came to Texas.

It doesn't look like any of my people came through Ellis Island. Where DID us texians get into the U.S. anyway?

My dad's family came from Virginia...mom's from Kentucky.

Dad's side also hails from Scotland, England, Ireland, and direct descendants of Charlemagne, King of the Franks.

Mom's side from Ireland, Germany.

My forbear landed in Georgia, family lore has it, in 1790. Did he just walk in off of a ship from Scotland? That's what I don't understand.

I know my dad's immediate ancestors from Virginia were here during the Revolution, and obviously way before Ellis Island. But I that is something that I have never looked into.

Good project for me!

1995 was the year Gingrich and the Repugs tried to force Clinton to adopt THEIR budget by shutting down the government. Clinton told them to stuff it and got HIS budget passed. And thank goodness for that!

Otherwise, very good letter.

.....all of Ronald Reagan's BILLS!!! I am not sure if we can EVER pay the bills run up by the Village Idiot!!