New Bushie Stance: "We're not as bad as we thought we'd be."

Beltway insiders say the Bushies are expected to announce a record federal budget deficit of about $420 billion for 2004, but may try to bury the bad news until after the election.

Word is they'll try to spin their historic fiscal irresponsibility as good leadership on the grounds that they originally thought they'd be $500 billion in the hole this year.

Let's not forget that Clinton projected a $400 billion surplus in 2004, meaning the Bushies are responsible for flushing more than $800 billion.

Is this really what Republicans are all about? Deficts, inflation, job loss, rising gas prices and a walking national security disaster -- W is a Jimmy Carter without heart.