Jared Berstein on fiscal problems:

Ironically, on the next page was an oped from the WaPo by Robert Samuelson touting this deeply annoying theme of a pox on both houses for our fiscal problems.  Bush, Clinton, Obama—all bad.

I’m not saying they’ve all been pillars of fiscal rectitude but come on, Bob.  Clinton raised taxes, progressively, I might add, and achieved a surplus (that was “good luck” according to RS)!  President Obama has done precisely what you keep badgering him to do: proposed significant cuts—over $300 billion—in entitlements (Mcare and Mcaid).  I get that this doesn’t go far enough for you, but seems worthy of mention, no??

The primary drivers of our structural deficits at this point are the Bush tax cuts, the fact that revenues are off the R’s table, and longer term pressures from the health care costs.  If you’re writing about fiscal challenges and you’re not writing about those challenges, I’m not sure what you’re up to.