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When the economy is growing, there's a lot that can be done to deal with the deficit.

Well, a deficit reflects an imbalance between spending and revenue, and so narrowing it requires acting on one, the other or both.

I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.

Well, I think what we need to remember is that budget deficits can impede economic activity.

In order to reduce the deficit, there has to be revenue in addition to cuts.

I don't think the deficit of the country is a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. I think it's a country issue. I don't think worrying about the reindustrialization of America is a Republican or Democratic issue.

When done right - or wrong, depending on how you look at it - deficits remove liberal options from the table. Suddenly there's no money for building bridges or inspecting meat. Not surprisingly, running up a deficit is a strategy favored by the wrecking crew for its liberal-killing properties.

Traditionally, the way deficits have been cut is you hold expenditures more or less constant in real dollars and then let growth come in to fill it up.

Reagan proved deficits don't matter.