I think $250B might be possible - around 2% of GDP. . Today an article projected that we're on a trajectory for $270B, but the economy is very strong. Too bad the Republicans in congress are too stupid to capitalize.

"[W]ell below the White House's estimate" is an odd way to put it. I seem to recall a lot of people who weren't the White House running around like chickens with their heads cut off clucking about "the biggest deficits in history" and "reckless out-of-control spending."

Unfortunately history shows that it will be spent - by GOPers as well as Dems

CBO's passing the buck. They blew it again.

What surplus? It's a deficit!

Its all the Porkbusters'™ fault! If they hadn't started their campaign, who knows how big the deficit might have been!

Considering that their campaign has little to show for its efforts, what this really demonstrates is how the deficit is a non-problem used as an excuse for people who need to "do something" and can't find anything better to rally around.

Other than self promotion, what have the Porkbusters™ accomplished? The large numbers they throw around, impress the great unwashed because they've been given no background information so they can put things into perspective. It's reminiscent of Tom Brokaw and his fleecing of America awards where he uncovered (pun intended) the scandal of the $600 toilet seat among other atrocities.