Spin better!!!
One of my favorite Simpsons moments is when Homer is watching a TV set showing Prairie Home Companion?s Garrison Keillor — at which point he bangs on the set and says, “Be funnier!!” That moment came to my head when I read this Jackie Calmes report in the Wall Street Journal that this year’s budget ...
One of my favorite Simpsons moments is when Homer is watching a TV set showing Prairie Home Companion?s Garrison Keillor -- at which point he bangs on the set and says, "Be funnier!!" That moment came to my head when I read this Jackie Calmes report in the Wall Street Journal that this year's budget deficit is smaller than projected:
While the administration and Congress won't officially revise their separate annual deficit projections until midsummer for fiscal 2005, which ends Sept. 30, government and private-sector analysts agree the shortfall is more likely to be about $350 billion, rather than the $427 billion the administration forecast in January. Treasury Secretary John Snow is expected to carry the tidings to London for this weekend's summit of finance ministers from the Group of Eight leading nations, who have harped on the growing American debt and foreign borrowing. Administration officials say the improved fiscal picture suggests the president is on track to deliver more quickly on a campaign promise to cut the annual deficit in half as a share of the total U.S. economy, to 2.3% of gross domestic product. (By comparison, last year's $412 billion deficit was 3.6% of GDP.) Private analysts don't put much stock in that promise, however; even if Mr. Bush claims victory, the nation still faces long-term deficit problems. Overall federal spending is increasing, including for war costs. More broadly, spiraling health-care costs for Medicare and Medicaid programs, including a prescription-drug benefit for seniors starting next year and a wave of baby-boomer retirements after 2008, will drive federal deficits to unsustainable sizes.... "With the president's focus on spending discipline, we are seeing positive signs for the American economy, and for the federal government's balance sheet," Budget Director Joshua Bolten said in a statement. (emphasis added)
Why did I think of that moment? Because Bolten's comment was so absurd that I was tempted to bang the computer and yell "Spin better!!" Finding out that the annual budget deficit is 20% smaller than previously should be manna from heaven for the administration. And there's an excellent line for the explanation -- the administration's policies have fostered faster-than expected economic growth which has increased tax revenues. So if I were working for the administration, I'd say, "With the president's focus on growing the economy, we're seeing an improved balance sheet for the government." That's spin in the best sense -- accentuating your positive attibutes. What I wouldn't mention is "the president's focus on spending discipline," which brings up two unformortable facts: a) this administration has no spending discipline; and b) combine that with a Congress that loves to spend as well and you've got widening deficits for some time.
One of my favorite Simpsons moments is when Homer is watching a TV set showing Prairie Home Companion?s Garrison Keillor — at which point he bangs on the set and says, “Be funnier!!” That moment came to my head when I read this Jackie Calmes report in the Wall Street Journal that this year’s budget deficit is smaller than projected:
While the administration and Congress won’t officially revise their separate annual deficit projections until midsummer for fiscal 2005, which ends Sept. 30, government and private-sector analysts agree the shortfall is more likely to be about $350 billion, rather than the $427 billion the administration forecast in January. Treasury Secretary John Snow is expected to carry the tidings to London for this weekend’s summit of finance ministers from the Group of Eight leading nations, who have harped on the growing American debt and foreign borrowing. Administration officials say the improved fiscal picture suggests the president is on track to deliver more quickly on a campaign promise to cut the annual deficit in half as a share of the total U.S. economy, to 2.3% of gross domestic product. (By comparison, last year’s $412 billion deficit was 3.6% of GDP.) Private analysts don’t put much stock in that promise, however; even if Mr. Bush claims victory, the nation still faces long-term deficit problems. Overall federal spending is increasing, including for war costs. More broadly, spiraling health-care costs for Medicare and Medicaid programs, including a prescription-drug benefit for seniors starting next year and a wave of baby-boomer retirements after 2008, will drive federal deficits to unsustainable sizes…. “With the president’s focus on spending discipline, we are seeing positive signs for the American economy, and for the federal government’s balance sheet,” Budget Director Joshua Bolten said in a statement. (emphasis added)
Why did I think of that moment? Because Bolten’s comment was so absurd that I was tempted to bang the computer and yell “Spin better!!” Finding out that the annual budget deficit is 20% smaller than previously should be manna from heaven for the administration. And there’s an excellent line for the explanation — the administration’s policies have fostered faster-than expected economic growth which has increased tax revenues. So if I were working for the administration, I’d say, “With the president’s focus on growing the economy, we’re seeing an improved balance sheet for the government.” That’s spin in the best sense — accentuating your positive attibutes. What I wouldn’t mention is “the president’s focus on spending discipline,” which brings up two unformortable facts: a) this administration has no spending discipline; and b) combine that with a Congress that loves to spend as well and you’ve got widening deficits for some time.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
More from Foreign Policy
What Putin Got Right
The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukraine—but not everything.
Russia Has Already Lost in the Long Run
Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future.
China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere
Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy is a “shadow of its former self.”
The U.S. Overreacted to the Chinese Spy Balloon. That Scares Me.
So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
