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The DOT cum bubble is greatly exagerated as being the primary power behind the surplus(es)....



That bubble should really be named the "401K Bubble". Behind every thing - .COM, real estate, etc - was the avalanche of 401K money pouring into the markets.

Once more money was entering the markets than new good investment opportunities only bad investments were available. I don't know when the cross-over occurred - mid 90's is my guess - but once it did the recession at the end was inevitable.

I don't blame Clinton for any part of it. He didn't start it and he did everything he could to ride it as long as he could. It's amazing he was able to do it for so long. You can argue he should reigned in the risk-taking - sound familiar? - but I don't think any elected politician would do differently.

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And this Credit/Mortgage/Derivative crises IS/ARE the fault of the Republican Admin..



Credit availability and mortgage risk/lending standards have been strictly the purview of Congress in the past, with Bush jr and Clinton having no say in the GSEs or their lending standards. Frank and Waxman are responsible for the subprime disaster far more than Bush jr or Clinton.

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the relaxing of regs



_What_ regs?

If you're referring to the repeal of Glass–Steagall, I might remind that happened under Clinton, before Bush jr's election.
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"If they can't picture me with a knife, forcing them to strip in an alley, I don't want any part of it. It's humiliating." - windsock