What I'm looking for is a(n) opinion(s) about the thesis I actually posted--that Federal deficits are a political opportunity for Republicans to score points on Democrats because deficits make it harder to fund existing social programs, or start new ones. The hook in the thesis is that deficits in peacetime threaten the defense programs the Republicans hold dear; while in wartime the defense budget is sacred and grows, and the simultaneous deficits increase pressure to sacrifice social programs in the name of the war effort.

That's not to say that Republicans don't really believe in fiscal discipline, but that a Republican politician can see the advantage of not pushing that plank too hard when there's a political advantage to a deficit. In wartime, wrapping the flag about one's person makes it a no-brainer.

And pleeeeeassseeee don't try and tell me that Republican politicans don't practice politics. A politician who doesn't is defrauding the voters who elected him/her to go to Washington to play politics in the name of the ideology.

--Robert