The two also create what might be considered a kind of moral equivalence between the Republicans and the Democrats on the deficit issue.

It is as much a mortgaging of our children's future as the deficit issue.

This concern is focused on Portugal and Ireland, both of whom have high debt and deficit issues.

The commission, which would report its recommendations to the new President in March, now has to wonder whether the deficit issue has been misconstrued.

Voters who want to know how the next President will face the critical deficit issue will have to read between the euphemisms.

Ever since, there has been a bipartisan evasion of the deficit issue, because it requires facing up to taxes.

The deficit issue remains perhaps the sharpest division of all.

In terms of what is habitually referred to as the democratic deficit issue, I have to say that this is a significant step.

And with an energy tax increase a less likely alternative for reducing the Federal budget deficit, the nagging deficit issue looks much harder to resolve.

If the deficit issue goes unaddressed, the United States will continue to be frustrated in attacking domestic problems and meeting its international commitments.