This is why I don't think in terms of Democrat vs Republican, but rather "Progressive vs Conservatives."  The GOP is infested with a majority of Progressives.

The GOP has controlled the purse strings in the House of Representatives for 23 of the past 27 years, including the last six years of the Clinton Presidency when they DID balance the budget and achieved 4%+ economic growth... the last time we've seen either a balance budget or 4% growth.  So, most of the debt accumulated since around 21 years ago happened on the GOP House watch.  They own it, because it couldn't have happened without their consent.  (Now, Bush43 did sign on to TARP and the bailouts, but he did it after Obama was elected but hadn't taken office yet.  The Dems had won effectively 60 seats in the Senate and control of the House so it would have been futile to veto it.  It was going to happen regardless.)

The Enemy of the State today are the Progressive Establishment Republicans, not the conservatives.