White House Touts Falling Budget Deficit

Surging revenues and a steady economy have led the White House to project that this year’s federal budget deficit will drop to $333 billion, nearly $100 billion below earlier estimates. … Bush said the improving deficit picture vindicated his stewardship of the economy and budget.

Congratulations, Mr. Bush! Through your strong leadership the bleakness of our economic situation has gone from unfathomable to merely abysmal. Huzzah, to you, sir.

Oh, and kudos on the visual aid. Give my regards to the second grader who made it.

“The debt is going up like a scalded cat,” said Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, ranking Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee.

“No, sir. The debt is going down. Like your mother.”
— Karl Rove

Democrats – even before the new numbers were released – urged caution and warned that the long-term deficit picture is not as rosy as the White House projects since it leaves out the long-term costs of occupying Iraq and Afghanistan and relies on cuts in programs annually appropriated by Congress that may prove unrealistic.

Someone needs to remind the Democrats that — hello! — the cost of the Iraq war will be paid for with Iraqi oil revenues.

Plus, thanks to an innovative new program, Iraqis are being trained in fundraising by some of the most saavy marketers America has to offer: The Girl Scouts.

Right now, a battlion of Girl Scouts is being deployed to Iraq, along with several hundred tons of Thin Mints and Caramel Delites. There, they’ll train the Iraqis in the fine art of sitting outside Wal-Mart, guilting people into buying stale, overpriced cookies.

So, if you happen to be in Iraq, and you find yourself approached by a hairy Iraqi man in green kneesocks, be a sport and buy a box of Classic Shortbreads, will you?