"Obama is trying to convince voters that they have a choice between going back to Republican policies that led to the economic crisis or going forward with policies he says will grow the economy over the long term."

Like massive new debt? Give us a break. It's the Democrats that have pushed through highly unpopular programs like "Obamacare" and the "stimulus" and "porkulus" without bothering to incorporate any Republican ideas - As Nancy Pelosi said "We Won - so we don't need any Republican ideas."

Obama has been complaining about the previous Administration's "Driving the car into the ditch", but let's take a closer look at the REAL facts - based on the government's own Federal Fiscal Year records.

During Bush's first 6 years, when Republicans had control of the White House and Congress, we find the following, in spite of the dramatic bad effects of 9/11;

The economic growth rate of Gross Domestic Product averaged 5.5% per year.

The Deficit averaged $231 Billion per year.

The average Unemployment Rate was 5.28%.

A net of 7.54 million jobs were added to the economy.

The National Debt averaged only 60.88% of GDP, better than Clinton's average of 63.76%.

The Public Debt increased only $1.44 Trillion in 6 years.

Since the Democrats took over Congress (including the legislative and spending agenda) in 2006 (4 years ago);

The economic growth rate of Gross Domestic Product averaged only 1.8% per year.

The Deficit has averaged $890 Billion per year.

The Unemployment Rate has averaged 7.5%, and is currently stuck at 9.5+%.

A net of 5.74 million jobs have been LOST to the economy.

The National Debt has averaged 77.84% of GDP, and is now over 93% of GDP (Greece had a meltdown when their's got over 100% of GDP).

The Public Debt increased by $4.46 Trillion in 4 years (Obama's projection for 2010).

And remember, the "financial meltdown" happened 2 years AFTER the Democrats took over all legislation and spending, including Congressional oversight of Wall Street. Thanks Barney Frank & Chris Dodd.

So the question should be asked "Who REALLY drove the car into the ditch?"