From a reader:

Shame on you, Jonah! A newspaper criticizes the GOP for spending, so you’re blaming the Democrats? Not a single fiscal conservative (apart from the great Ron Paul and the constant CAGW letters from John McCain) has denounced any spending project in the last four years. The GOP needs some ripping, or the specter of a third-party will rise again.

Me: I might argue with the adjective “great” in front of Ron Paul’s name (please spare me the email. I know, I know, he’s wonderful and I’m a moron). But otherwise I think this reader makes a perfectly fine point. I assume he’s referring to elected politicians since conservative writers and activists have, of course, criticized Bush on spending many times. Also, I wasn’t trying to say “It’s all the Democrats’ fault!” Republicans really should be ashamed of the spending they’ve overseen. I was just going off on a tangent. But let’s not kid ourselves about the idea that Democrats are gung-ho to cut domestic spending.