Steve,
The economy was so bad after 12 years of Republican spending that it was  the 
slogan that got Clinton/Gore into the White House: It's the economy stupid.  
Remember?
As for Reagan's spending on the military sending the Soviet Uniuon into  
collapse, there are those that believe it would have imploded all by itself  
anyway. They couldn't grow enough crops to feed their people, let alone produce  
enough toilet paper. Now that would irritate the masses.
You might want to check with your doctor and see if you have any early  
indications of alztheimers. Oh, and since you work in the state budget  department, 
me thinks they might want to hire an outside auditor to come in. Can  you 
say: E-N-R-O-N?
 
Rummy