tend to think that the tax cuts should not have to be offset." now, who can argue with that. but this graphic shows the projected deficit from 2009 through 2019 using estimates from the congressional budget office. i know this looks like the bottom of the gulf, but you see the red portion, by far the largest part? that is the projected effect of the bush tax cut on the deficit over the next nine years if those tax cuts were to be extended. the smaller yellow portion at the top, that represents the projected effect of two wars on the deficit. the dark blue portion at the very bottom is the projected effect of the economic downturn on the deficit. that even smaller tiny, kind of light blue portion more towards the middle, that's the projected effect of various recovery measures on the deficit, including the $700 billion stimulus package about which republicans have howled nonstop 24/7. let's bring in "washington post" staff writer, "newsweek" magazine columnist, msnbc contributor, ezra klein. good evening, ezra. >> good evening, keith.