In Bush’s Legacy, Weak Economy Moves Up Front

[villager]

Source: NY Times

In Bush’s Legacy, Weak Economy Moves Up Front


By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: January 28, 2008

WASHINGTON — Will George W. Bush be remembered as the president who lost the economy while trying to win a war?

Mr. Bush has spent years presiding over an economic climate of growth that would be the envy of most presidents. Yet much to the consternation of his political advisers, he has had trouble getting credit for it, in large part because Americans were consumed by the war in Iraq.

The chaotic events of the past week — wild stock market swings, a major cut in the interest rate from the Federal Reserve and a rare bipartisan deal between Mr. Bush and Congressional Democrats on an economic stimulus package — has turned that equation on its head, just in time for Mr. Bush to deliver his final State of the Union address on Monday night.

The speech will not be filled with bold new ideas; the White House concedes that the time for ambitious plans like overhauling Social Security and revamping immigration policy is past. On Iraq, Mr. Bush will make the case that his troop buildup has been successful and “remind the people of the United States what is at risk,” a senior White House official said. The president will also press lawmakers to reauthorize a domestic surveillance law.

But the real thrust of the speech will be the economy, as Mr. Bush himself suggested Friday during a short preview of the speech at a Congressional Republican retreat.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/washington/28bush.html?hp

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. we only heard about Iraq from Bush throughout his presidency

we hardly heard about anything else - only lies!

[onehandle]

2. Loooooooooooooooooooooser. nt

[JBoy]

3. Gawd, with this preview there's no way I can watch it

Major messages:

- surge working, can't stop now
- terror threat still there, gotta stay scared
- need to entrench government spying
- economy strong, but need to continue tax cuts, and stay focused on shopping

[Kber]

4. Too bad

'cause everything else he did turned out so well.

/sarcasm

[Thor_MN]

5. WTF? "Mr. Bush has spent years presiding over an economic climate of growth that would be the envy"

"Mr. Bush has spent years presiding over an economic climate of growth that would be the envy of most presidents."


What planet is the author from? The economy has been stagnant or declining since it became obvious that * was going to be the president. Has he created even one job, when population growth is not removed from the calculation? Wages have lost ground against inflation. Wealth has been concentrated into the hands of the elite. What growth there has been in the economy has barely brought us over what it was when he became president - compared against long-term growth rates, the economy is far below where it should be.

* is a miserable failure in every aspect of his life.

[badgervan]

6. This "Reporter", Stolberg....

... has long had a crush on the Decider. Maybe he gave her a nickname years ago, and she's been one of his stenos ever since out of gratitude. The Times has too many of this type; their light, suck-up writing does our country authentic harm. The major papers all seem to have ownership that has enabled and covered up for Chimpy throughout his reign ( ruin? ), which I believe has led to an ever increasing blog readership. One way or another these days, the facts are available - if the NYTimes, Wash. Post, etc. don't provide or won't report those facts, they will eventually be out of business.

[mwb970]

7. It's like she can't bring herself to admit the simple truth.

bush has been a total, complete failure from beginning to end. That is his "legacy". Nothing he says in his largely unwatched speech tonight can change that.

[missTheBigDog]

8. This is his legacy...

[Doctor_J]

9. Excellent graphic

I will forward this to people who like the Chimp.

[mwb970]

10. Every American should be forced to look at this chart!

Obviously the worst president ever. How sad for America. But, we did it to ourselves!

[missTheBigDog]

11. Exactly

But hey, a lot of Americans can't complain - they're the ones that voted the dolt into office, TWICE.