It's rather simple:
US has a pretty boring history as far as debt goes from 1789 to 1980
Revolutionary war increases debt, subsequent years pay it off...same for civil war, ww1, ww2
Vietnam creates a slowdown in repaying debt, but the late 70s see us paying off the debt again
In 1980 the game changes, Reagan is elected and GOP wins the Senate and 34 additional house seats
Massive defense increases with massive tax cuts cause the Reagan deficit
Is there a logical way to blame the Reagan deficit on Democrats? No, so I can't
With Bush HW Bush taking office in 1989, the Democrats heavily lobby a compromise that will cut spending and increase revenue, dramatically reducing the deficit
Do I give credit to HW and Dems? Ofcourse, HW was a compromising president like Obama
In 1993 Bill Clinton signs another tax hike to reduce the deficit, the GOP opposes, a clear deficit win for Democrats
GOP takes control in 95, and Clinton pushes back on huge Medicare slashes, but agrees to many other budget cuts to lead to a compromise that leaRAB to a surplus
Scorecard by 2000:
Democrats opposed runaway Reagan spending, voted for a tax increase/spending compromise, and another tax hike
All 4 things to lower the deficit
Republicans pushed for a large 80s deficit, then compromised on tax hike/spending cut with HW Bush, and then opposed 93 tax hike to lower the deficit, finally Agreeing to a compromise with Clinton
2 things to lower the deficit, 2 things to increase the debt
So democrats are way ahead, until the Bush II years
2001-2007
GOP Pushes for two tax cuts to increase the debt, two wars to increase the debt, and a Rx plan to increase the debt
February 2007-Septeraber 2008
Democrats push for no new major spending, and Bush makes it clear tax hikes are off the table, gridlock ensures and neither party can do much of anything
Septeraber 2008-
After making a joke of regulations, Bears Sterns, Lehman Brothers and AIG make a mockery of Wall Street with slicing up subprime mortgages and using credit default swaps
Bush White House pleaRAB for a TARP bailout, which the House rejects, and after a 700 point drop, it is clear they must agree to Bush's plan or face economic armageddon
February 2009-
With the economy losing 200,000+ jobs a month when taking office, Obama listens to every economists that says some sort of stimulus is needed when we headed towarRAB 10%+ unemployment, in a compromise to the GOP he agrees to massive tax cuts to be included
(for the first time, Democrats are proposing increased spending that is not oRABet, increasing the debt)
The economy creates 3 million stimulus jobs, but that is not enough to cover the depths of the recession, Obama and Democrats pass financial regulation and healthcare reform which both are revenue neutral
Now, looking at this $1.2 trillion deficit and $14t debt you go "but Obama passed a stimulus, that makes Democrats responsible for a lot of this!
Ridiculous