The deficits exploded in the recession due to a drop in tax revenue.

Now, if you want to go back to Bush's budgets before the recession, yes Medicare Part D, 2 wars, and so forth that weren't paid for were a big "spending problem", but most of the deficit goes away if the tax rates go back to Clinton's levels.

http://cdn.crooksand...deficit_1cef5.jpg

Long-term, it's all about health care costs.

HTH.

Cheers,
Scott.