The Office of Management and Budget released its deficit projection today. The lucky number is $455 billion.

The stagnant economy, the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and cuts in the federal income tax rate are some of the obvious culprits for this occurrence. The White House and Republicans in Congress are blaming federal spending as the primary problem. That may be so. However, unlike in past years, Republicans now control the House, Senate and White House.

President Bush's own budget proposed $2.2 trillion in spending and a $304 billion deficit (an optimistic number in hindsight). As the administration seeks to assign blame for the budget numbers, they are effectively pointing their fingers at themselves.