When Deficits Mattered

Bruce Bartlett remembers George H.W. Bush fondly:

Twentyyears ago, the last serious Republican effort to reduce the budgetdeficit took place when George H.W. Bush agreed to negotiate withcongressional Democrats on a budget deal. As a consequence, manyRepublicans disowned his efforts and abandoned him in 1992, leading tohis defeat. Today, the idea of cooperating with Democrats on deficitreduction is viewed as a total loser by all Republicans.  Until thatperspective changes, the elder Bush will...