On any measure, Spain's bank rescue has been a disaster. A hundred million euros have been added to the national debt, ten-year bonds are at a record high and the country's credit rating has been downgraded three notches.

You cannot spend your way out of a recession or borrow your way out of debt... You know and we know and you know that we know that it's nonsense... The European Commission has said so. The markets say so, ... In a few months, the voters will have their chance to say so, too. They can see what the markets have seen: that you are the devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government"

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.

Will I obliterate national debt? Sure, why not?

The U.S. has a law on the books called the debt limit, but the name is misleading. The debt limit started in 1917 for the purpose of facilitating more national debt, not reducing it. It still serves that purpose. It's unconnected to spending, hurts our credit rating and has been an abject failure at limiting debt.

Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt.