Crazy Cranwell

Del. C. Richard Cranwell, former majority leader of the House of Delegates when the Democrats were in power in the 90s, was named the state Democratic Party chairman yesterday and promptly began to spew forth incomprehensible babble. The Richmond Times Dispatch reported that he asserted that the Republicans are saddling the next generation with $43 trillion worth of debt "that's 43 with 12 zeroes behind it." Where did he get that ridiculous number? Do you think he made it up on the spot? Can somebody help me here?