Another day, another ridiculous Bush prediction: 2.6 mil new jobs

[ShaneGR]

By the end of this year, our fearless leader has spoken. It must be so. Where the hell do they get this crap from?

http://money.cnn.com/2004/02/09/news/economy/bush_jobs.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The economy should shed its jobless label this year with the creation of about 2.6 million new positions, the White House forecast Monday.

If realized, the jobs turnaround could help President Bush's re-election prospects. Bush has faced withering fire from Democrats over the lack of new jobs.

In the annual Economic Report of the President, the White House said the number of workers on U.S. non-farm payrolls was likely to rise to an average of 132.7 million this year from a 2003 average it thought would come in at 130.1 million.

According to the latest jobs figures released by the Labor Department Friday, which incorporated data revisions, payroll employment averaged just 129.9 million last year.

Last year, the Bush administration was looking for the creation of about 1.7 million jobs. But the economy actually lost 53,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since Bush took office to 2.2 million.

[Fovea]

1. You gotta read the fine print.

The jobs are in Iraq, hunting for WMD with a bayonet in the desert for 3.70/hour on a four year contract with no benes.

[madrchsod]

2. that`s about

236,000 jobs per month till 2005. we have lost more than 2.6 million jobs. so by the end of the year we will make up all the jobs lost since 2000...ya right.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

3. He's hoping that saying it will make it true.

Or, at least saying it will be enough to get him reelected.

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Those Whom The Gods Destroy, They First Make

So the incumbent and his minions would have us believe that over 2.6 million new jobs would be created this year? That's quite a little claim.

Personally, I think that to claim that the US economy would grow at such a rate this year is hubris at its worst. Despite the fact that I want the Clinton years of rising growth and employment back as anyone else, I believe that for someone making claims of a 2.6 million job growth would either have to be delusional about economic prospects, delusional about voter gullibility, or supremely confident about their ability to program electronic voting machines to tilt the results of the autumn elections their way.

What was it that the ancient Greeks said? Something to the effect that whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. If I were a senior Bush official planning to remain at my post after Inauguration Day 2005, I would duck, cover, and kiss my posterior good-bye.

:P

--VG

[Journeyman]

5. "And so, my fellow eighth graders, if elected. . .

I promise no homework, free ice cream every afternoon, and 2.6 million new jobs by the end of this term!"

[Loonman]

6. From the "I-pulled-these-stats-out-of-my-ass" Dept.

Most likely.

[Faygo Kid]

7. I would take one. Just one.

Been out of work for two years, after 25 years of hard work. Say, George, how about one job at a time? Actually, I have great hopes this week. Looks really good about a really nice position, in my field. But, I have come so close just to be burned before. I will never forget this experience (too old not to) no matter if I get this job. Screw you, George, and your lies.

[Gulf Coast J]

8. Does anybody know the estimates from previous years?

I'm curious how for off he was before.