Thing is, spending bills are introduced through Congress, not as a result of the President. A fiscally conservative President can veto bills, of course, but he is rarely the actual cause of the deficit, which is also wrapped up in the strength (or lack thereof) of the dollar.

The big drop in the Clinton years had a lot to do with the result of Republicans controlling Congress in those years . . . which makes their subsequent abandonment of fiscal conservatism all the more baffling (and tragic) during the Bush years.

Of course, military commitments factor in there somewhat, but less than you might think.

It all makes me think that getting back to a smiling Democrat as President and international cheerleader in chief, but with said President held firmly in check by a hard-ass, fiscally conservative Republican Senate might not be such a bad thing.

Just thinking out loud . . .