When Republicans say ...

Basic truths speak for themselves.  The majority of Americans flourish with Deomocrats, and how middle to working class Republicans justify voting Republican is one of those political questions that is very difficult to resolve. 

One answer might be that those Republicans do not vote on domestic economic issues or foreign policy; they vote for support of socially conservative issues like anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, and suppression of women's rights.   This was McCain's stratedgy in taking Palin as his running mate.  She had little to no federal governance experience, but she did have the Pentecostal fundamentalists, which they viewed as a powerful voting block that enfolded other conservative religious groups.         

I agree with your analysis here.  What is missing though, is what the composition of Congress was.  Congress approves spending, not the President.  I haven't done the research on the composition of Congress during the terms of the Presidents listed here, but I think that is also relevant data.

This is scientific and not good to Republicans, they like better supernatural powers, and things like numbers, symbols, cabala, voodoo, etc.

Middle income voters fighting tooth and nail to preserve tax cuts for the top one percent of the wealthy, the richest of the rich, speaks volumes.

That they do not share in those tax cuts and must take up the slack in increased taxes or decreased services does not seem to click.  

Finally, it seems that one percent pretty much hangs on to that tax cut and does not run out to buy new washers and dryers. 

Instead, they invest in Ponzi schemes, which drag down the economy and inflate the deficit even further when middle class tax money comes to save the day.

In the end, those same voters I mentioned above only are mad at the government and still support the rich tax cuts.

Bush was able to advance his conservative agenda to limit stem cell research, for example,  based on his support and backing from the fundamentalists religious right.  I believe many middle class Republicans voted for him on the second term based on his position.  Whether or not voters considered the make up of the congress, I do not know.  If, however, they voted for him based on continuing the war, then the purse strings come into play, and the Republicans did have the majority then.  However, votes were difficult for Democrats because they always supported the men and women in the military who were there, but the divisions in ideology and continuing the war were apparent, which led to the Democrats gaining the majority in this congress. 

great story cynic

Cynic: Good story! And when it comes to economics and urban legends, I'm a cynic too! The challenge to economists and statisticians however, is pegging the correct data to the correct economic time frame. It's very tough to prove (mathematically and statistically) that any economic policies on the part of politicians had a positive or negative affect upon the economy. Economics remains an extremely inexact science as demonstrated by recent economic events.

I agree with your assessment 100%, however you are equating Republicans with Conservatives and that is incorrect.  It has been incorrect for years.  Bill Clinton was actually more Conservative than Bush was on spending. 

Tax cuts work.  They inject money into the economy and raise revenues for the treasury.  Tax cuts are what pulled us out of the recession in the early 80's.  If tax cuts didn't work, Obama never would have given one to the 95% of Americans that he did.  The problem is the spending that goes with them.  If the government is given another $5 to spend, they spend $15 and that's where the problem lies.  It's not with the revenue, it's with the spending.  In this recession almost all of us have had to do more with less or settle for less.  Government, on the other hand, has been spending like never before.  Great example to follow isn't it?

Now if you want an example of true fiscal conservatives in government today?  I can count them on one hand.  Believe it or not some of the Blue Dog Democrats have the best track record for that.  It's one of the reason Conservatives have been leaving the GOP in droves to be Independents, yours truly being one of them.

I'm a businessman and a pretty successful one at that.  Let me run the government like I run my business and I could cut the deficit in half within two years and have us in the black in 3.  Unfortunately, I would be but off at the knees with my very first proposal since it would involve making some very unpopular decisions that would be considered to be completely devoid of compassion. 

This, of course, is from a fiscal perspective.  On the social issues the GOP has proven to be solidly Conservative but that's not the topic of your column.

I agree with your assessment 100%, however you are equating Republicans with Conservatives and that is incorrect.  It has been incorrect for years.  Bill Clinton was actually more Conservative than Bush was on spending. 

Tax cuts work.  They inject money into the economy and raise revenues for the treasury.  Tax cuts are what pulled us out of the recession in the early 80's.  If tax cuts didn't work, Obama never would have given one to the 95% of Americans that he did.  The problem is the spending that goes with them.  If the government is given another $5 to spend, they spend $15 and that's where the problem lies.  It's not with the revenue, it's with the spending.  In this recession almost all of us have had to do more with less or settle for less.  Government, on the other hand, has been spending like never before.  Great example to follow isn't it?

Now if you want an example of true fiscal conservatives in government today?  I can count them on one hand.  Believe it or not some of the Blue Dog Democrats have the best track record for that.  It's one of the reason Conservatives have been leaving the GOP in droves to be Independents, yours truly being one of them.

I'm a businessman and a pretty successful one at that.  Let me run the government like I run my business and I could cut the deficit in half within two years and have us in the black in 3.  Unfortunately, I would be but off at the knees with my very first proposal since it would involve making some very unpopular decisions that would be considered to be completely devoid of compassion. 

This, of course, is from a fiscal perspective.  On the social issues the GOP has proven to be solidly Conservative but that's not the topic of your column.