. . .why has the last couple of conservative/republican presidents had problems proving it with a thriving economy. . .
An excellent question.
Let's use building a house as an example. If one chooses to build with brick, it will take much longer to produce a finished home than their neighbours who choose to build with paper and sticky tape.
Viewing things superficially, the "paper builders" appear far more successful at producing housing.
But everyone knows which builder is doing the better job.
Similarly, with the economy, one group wants sustainable growth based on a foundation of real wealth and prosperity. The other prefers to give the appearance of prosperity using borrowed money.
Since most people take a quick look and are unwilling to dig for facts, the economy with the good looks good seems like it's doing better than the economy with the real strength.
Cheers, PW.
P.S. I'm sure conservative readers of this thread will also point out that because their Presidents had to spend so too much time undoing the damage of their liberal predecessors that the benefits of their wiser policies were compromised.
