>> the nation went into a deficit then because the bubble burst and it wouldn't have mattered what policies you tried to implement. we're going to have a great big reversal. beyond that, i would say that in every fight i ever had on the president's behalf with congress, and there were a lot of them, there was never one where i would suggest spending more and they would suggest spending zes because the national deficit doubled in the eight years of administration? >> well, nobody is happy about that. nobody -- you know, the deficit that the president left was dramatic. we would love to be back that the today. >> but the government turned out to be during those eight years a lot bigger than when he started? >> it did. and we don't have to agre with that to agree -- >> who was to blame for that? republicans are saying forever, the government has to be smaller and balanced budgets. during the eight years of the government administration, it