Not taking sides SG but if you have been around a few years then YOU DO remember the R's cleaning up the D's mess. Reagan took over from Mr. Carter ( whom I voted for TWICE ) and managed to get the economy turned around. We had stagflation, inflation, sky high interest rates, oh hell it was a mess. It was a tax increase ( after the famous " read my lips " ) by Bush senior that allowed the Clinton Administration to go forward with surpluses. It also cost Mr Bush the election if I recall. One could also bring FDR in doing cleanup on the R mess which was a depression also.

Bottom line is both parties seem to have a knack for making a mess out of things. Pure chance seems to be the driver on who gets to clean the mess up. When I was a kid Mr. Truman was regarded as the village idiot. History says now he was one of the most pragmatic and successful. Ike was thought to be nice guy but did little. He now is thought to have done rather well. In fact some historians feel he was the perfect president for his time. Nothing really dramatic ( other than ending Korea and a new transportation system ) but he allowed for the country and world to recover from WWII & Korea, be it temporary.

Sometimes we all allow personal preferences to fog up the view reality provides.