Cost of the Bush era: $11.5 trillion
Over the past eight years, we've suffered calamities that were bound to damage the nation deeply: two recessions, the most lethal terrorist attacks ever on U.S. soil, the invasion of Iraq on dubious grounds, the near destruction of one of our most storied cities and, finally, the Wall Street meltdown.
Wall Street bailouts: $6 trillion
Iraq and Afghanistan: $3 trillion
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: $270 billion
9/11: $260 billion
The mind <boggles.>