just want to say that there are plenty of pro civil liberties/anti-war lefties out there who are grossed out by Obama. What sucks is that a viable alternative does not exist and I suspect most still think the crappy Obama is still the lesser evil then Romney.

The rises and falls from one year to the next are largely controlled by the President, either due to requests of his Executive Dept agencies in President's Budget, legislation he has spearheaded, or other spending bills he signs. Of course, he can't veto everything, but the President clearly drives most of the spending agenda. Things that are hard-coded in due to legacy Presidents generally aren't the cause of much swings year to year.

the non-suzzer/phil/iron lefties itf are generally critical of obama re civil liberties, drones etc

I was and am pro-civil liberties. I was doubtful about the wars under both president. However in the end Bush's plan was great. I oppose crazy overspending under both. Since Obama is the greatest nut on this issue I oppose him more on this.
On the Arab spring issue, overall I think Obama has done a great job under very tricky circumstances. Bush's lack of credit for a good outcome in Iraq and the lack of credit given Obama for the current conditions in the Arab world should both be corrected by fair minded historians. On Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea, I think Obama's record has been poor but no worse then Bush II or Clinton. I am not sure he could have done better. But for all those who think I am a bad person bc I do not agree with them on all issue, KMLIAA.

If he would have spent as much???? You understand the difference between rates of change and absolute dollars, right?

I was trying to figure this out too. I wonder if the stimulus is integrated into the budget. It obviously isn't implemented in one year, anyway.

And this does not bode well for Obama. Obama haters are much more motivated this time around than Obama supporters. I've actually contemplated staying home myself for the first time since 1990 when I turned 18.

It sort of tilts me when what has been going on for the past 12-ish years or so is called Keynesianism. I mean in general, not trying to attack you personally.

I have no problem with people disagreeing with Keynes' economic philosophy, there's always room for differences of opinion which lead to healthy debate, but what we're seeing and what we have seen is NOT what Keynes advocated.

This doesn't matter for lots of the country b/c of the electoral system

Not for the presidency, but it has a whole host of implications for Congressional races, not to mention state elections. Just look at 2010. Sheer motivation/determination of will/hatred of Obama swept what became the least-popular Congress in history into office.

****tards

/agree

for all the flaws in Keynes ideas, what we have right now is drunken keynesian krugtard idiocy. i would give my left nut for some keynesian sensibility right now.

That wasn't anti-war pro civil liberty hatred though, it was the wave of the tea-party mentality enforced by the deficit=spending fallacy.

As someone who thinks Obama is largely a dissapointment, I personally still wouldn't stay home. Seeing what Republicans do in states like Arizona and Wisconsin, voting against them is still more important then sending any message to Obama.

I assume I'm not alone thinking this way.

Spending per day:

Clinton 4.1 Billion per day

Bush 6.8 Billion per day

Obama 9.7 Billion per day (and the big dollars of obamacare haven't even kicked in yet)

I think it is safe to say we have hit "full ******" spending levels.

lolobama isn't a big spender

$1.4 trillion of 2009 spending was authorized by Obama, not Bush, including the stimulus, the GM Bailout and the Omnibus Reconciliation Act.

FYP

You realize people make babies?

Is the spending broken out by individual years? Might argue as much not to elect Dems to Congress as to elect Obama.

This is nice graph that shows the debt, spending and revenue. Obviously comparing Obamas spending to Bushes worst year is silly (OP's graph). The fact that he has still increased spending every year is troubling. Who cares who owns 2009, spending is still increasing and the gap between spending and revenue is huge, hence the steep line on the debt.

Government Debt Graphic (USAToday)

the problem is if you reelect Obama but House and Senate go GOP youve got gridlock. He is not a compromiser ala Clinton, and we cannot afford 4 years of status quo.

"In per capita terms, real spending will drop by nearly 5% from $11,450 per person in 2009 to $10,900 in 2013 (measured in 2009 dollars). "

Hell, it may drop to 9 k in 2009 dollars. Aint inflation wonderful?

It looks like this graph is saying Obama is increasing spending at a decreasing rate? Which still means he's increased spending.

Has any President in the modern era ever decreased spending over their term?

LOL we better be able to because we are getting it if Obama or Romney gets elected

He should learn to compromise more, like Boener and McConnell imo