Will A Ponzi Scheme In China Bring Down Our Whole Economy?

[John_Doe80004]

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[relayerbob]

1. Bush signed NAFTA

Isn't this the guy who's predicted 10 of the last 2 recessions?

OMG, the sky is falling. Any day now!!! Or maybe next year. Well, maybe the year after that.

[forest444]

2. One of the most impressive lies popularized by the GOP is the notion that "Clinton brought us NAFTA

Oh, they're good.

[Red Knight]

3. Actually Clinton did sign it into law

Dec. 8, 1993

Any ceremonial signings before that did not make it law.

So while Bush negotiated it and signed the "ceremonial" treaty. It wasn't until Clinton took office and signed it into law that it became official. While he made some changes--Clinton was a NAFTA supporter.

So yes--he does take responsibility for that.

You can feel whatever you want to about NAFTA but you have to be honest about how it became law. That's important if we are going to be sure not to make the same mistakes. Like with the TPP, for example. Of course NAFTA and trade supporters do not consider it a mistake.

[forest444]

4. I hear you.

Personally, I see NAFTA as a poster child for all that is abusive and just plain un-American about "free trade."

It's Clinton's great misfortune that Poppy Bush was unable to get Mexican and (U.S.) Congressional approval for the deal before he left office. Since by July 1992 it had become obvious he would not be reelected, both had decided to hold out for a new administration ("chicanery," Bush called it at the time - much to the chagrin of his Hispanic outreach people).

Clinton should have definitely taken advantage of all the backbiting to just let NAFTA wither on the vine; alas, Rostenkowski was able to cobble a package together in '93 (after some per$uasion, no doubt), and the rest, as we all know, is history.