by Mark Silva
After long maintaining that the fundamentals of the American economy are strong, President Bush is acknowledging that "there's a risk of a downturn.''
The president is calling on Congress to deliver some "direct and rapid income tax relief'' for Americans --- read tax rebates. Putting some cash in the hands of people quickly will give the economy a "shot in the arm,'' the president believes. But, he said at the White House on Friday and again on the radio today, this relief must be "big enough to make a difference.''
Bush is targeting relief in the range of one percent of the Gross Domestic Product --- relief of about $145 billion. The White House is calling this a big figure. Yet, when the White House last reported in on the federal budget deficit -- $163 billion -- it boasted that this number, 1.2 percent of the economy, had become a relatively small figure. It's all relative, perhaps.
So, in the weeks ahead, Congress will debate how big is big enough, and what might truly make a difference in averting a deeper "downturn'' -- read recession.
The president spoke of all this in today's radio address. See it here:
This is the text of the president's radio address:
"Good morning. Yesterday, I visited Wright Manufacturing -– a business in Frederick, Maryland that makes commercial lawn mowers. Businesses like Wright are the driving force behind our economic success. They create jobs and opportunities for millions of workers. And entrepreneurs like those at Wright Manufacturing keep our economy growing.
"This is a challenging period for our economy, and I know many of you listening are concerned about the future. My advisors and many outside experts expect that our economy will continue to grow over the coming year, but at a slower rate than we have enjoyed for the past few years. And there's a risk of a downturn. Continued instability in the housing market, for example, could cause additional harm to the overall economy, and put our growth and job creation in jeopardy.
"In recent months, we have taken steps to shore up the housing sector -– including measures to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure and keep their homes. I have also asked Congress to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration and enable it to provide more assistance to struggling homeowners. Congress needs to send me a bill with these reforms right away.
"After careful consideration, and discussion with members of Congress, I have concluded that additional action is needed to keep our economy growing and creating jobs. Congress and my Admistration need to work together to enact an economic growth package as soon as possible.
"As Congress considers such a plan, there are certain principles that should guide their deliberations: This growth package must be big enough to make a difference in an economy as large and dynamic as ours -– which means it should be about one percent of GDP. This growth package must be built on broad-based tax relief that will directly affect economic growth -– not the kind of spending projects that would have little immediate impact on our economy. This growth package must be temporary and take effect right away –- so we can get help to our economy when it is needed most. And this growth package must not include any tax increases.
"Specifically, this growth package should bolster both business investment and consumer spending, which are critical to economic growth. This requires two key provisions: To be effective, a growth package must include tax incentives for American businesses –- including small businesses -– to make investments in their enterprises this year. And it must also include direct and rapid income tax relief for Americans like you.
"Passing a new growth package is our most pressing economic priority. And when that is done, Congress must turn to the most important economic priority for our country -- making sure the tax relief now in place is not taken away from you. Unless Congress acts, the marriage penalty will make a comeback, the child tax credit will be cut in half, the death tax will come back to life, and tax rates will go up on regular income, capital gains, and dividends. This tax increase would put jobs and economic growth at risk. So it is critical that Congress make this tax relief permanent.
"I am optimistic about our economy, because people like you have shown time and again that Americans are the most industrious, creative, and enterprising people in the world. That is what has made our economy strong. And that is what will make it stronger in the challenging times ahead.
"Thank you for listening''.
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Comments
As if it wasn't bad enough conservatives had their heads in the sand, they now have it stuck in concrete.
Take your pick; the stock market, housing market, credit, exchange rate, personal bankruptcy, cost of living, manufacturing, etc. All are showing negative trends that's scaring the hell out of Wall Street.
Bush's proposal "big enough to make a difference"? He's going to buy votes by sending out rebate checks with his name on it to help the republicans who are going to be screwed in November. & no, as big as this relief is, it will as effective as urinating in a hurricane.
Isn't it great this joke of a president is trying to convince the Middle East how wonderful it is for them that he is the president? He tries to show them freedom & how well things are going in Iraq & how it benefits the Middle East. His request to increase oil capacity from these "Islamofacists" from the former oilman? Shot down. No wonder Rush is not mentioning anything about Bush's Middle East tour. Even he can't spin this.
Face it. The US economy was set to fail for years by Republicans. You can't spend money indefinitely that's not earned to begin with & expect that to last. That's why this economy looked good, for the past few years, but never really was. Once you have to actually pay back the money you spent propping the economy with your own income, instead of relying on mythical future returns, there's little money left to buy those durable goods and services you can do without.
I'll say it for all the neophytes who blindly defended Bush & republicans & their antics the past couple years; They are directly responsible for the economic misery that lies ahead. At least be a true conservative & admit your the ones responsible for this mess.
2008 is the year the recession starts. It's going to be long & difficult & you can't blame Clinton or the Democrats, especially since Republicans had it their way for six years. This vision of an ownership society is going to leave you out on your own.
Posted by: RomanB | January 19, 2008 10:32 AM
So even bu$hco sees a tanking economy? They must have converted to liberalism, as jdyslien, rncbruce and pillow keep telling us things a great and getting better. On the other hand, even the Wall Street Journal is reporting bad economic news, so they must be either drive by media, or liberal media too!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120061830348699259.html
Posted by: rncbs | January 19, 2008 11:11 AM
We're saving it all, just as we did with the last one.
Gonna need it when the hammer really comes down.
Nobody ever got out of debt by borrowing, but that's the American fantasy dream.
Standard National Debt Response:
Here is the chart showing the nearly bell curve growth of the national debt under GWB/Cheney.
http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm
Two notes of interest:
1. The debt grew at it's fastest rate under Reagan/Bush and Bush/Cheney. In fact it took off like a Scud missile under President Dimwit.
2. The debt only leveled off under Bill Clinton's term from about '96 to '00 due to his wise tax policies and economic prudence.
Now, when GWB/Cheney took office they started looking for reasons to cut taxes and run up the debt, in spite of the fact that the American people supported NOT cutting taxes and paying down the debt! You see, they actually wanted to destroy the effectiveness of the federal government. What better way to do it than destroying America's fiscal and financial standing?
The time around '99-'00 was a historic opportunity to reduce, (not eliminate entirely) the national debt. In fact, the American people, wisely, opposed all of Boy George's tax cuts at about the 65% level, give or take 4%.
Well, Cheney said 'deficits don't matter', and GWD said he 'hit the trifecta' and they chose to cut taxes for the wealthy in spite of America's opposition. They even cut taxes going into a costly and unnecessary war.
I see it as 'cutting off the nose of someone else to spite some unnamed third party'.
It's a fact; GWB cut taxes for ideological reasons despite the opposition of the huge majority of American public opinion.
Posted by: C.Morris | January 19, 2008 11:46 AM
Bad economy under any Democratic president - is Jimmy Carter's fault.
Bad economy under any Republican president - natural cyclical event.
RNC dead-enders - they're so funny.
Posted by: Doug Zook | January 19, 2008 11:47 AM
The sad story is that Bush believed it was that $500.00 rebate that saved the economy. The truth is that the $500 rebate did not do anything for the economy except run us into more debt.
Now, he is proposing a $800 rebate so we can fall further in debt. No wonder why so many Americans are slaves to the credit card companies!
You can't throw money at the problem without getting any returns. Any money you spend must give you a return. For example, you put $500 into a CD, you get a 4% return. Another example, you buy a classic car at $50,000 and you sell it $100,000. These are all examples of return for the money you spend.
The rebate amounts to welfare for the rich and poor. There is absolutely no returns. Which mean, we would just fall further into debt.
The solution is to spend tons of money knowing there will be returns, create jobs, and create new products and technology.
Any company will die out soon if the don't come out with a new product that people want. It's the same story with our Government. They need to spend money on developing new things, new ideas, and a new future!
But, it's too late now, we spend over a trillion dollars in Iraq with no return in that investment. Only high oil price resulted in that war. We spend billions on tax cuts, the only result was further debt. because all the jobs went overseas. Since, outsourcing is a popular concept, nobody cared that people don't have good jobs to pay their bills. That $500 rebate amount to less than $50.00 a month for your bills. It doesn't solve the bigger picture: no good paying jobs. In the end, absolutely, there is no return for that money we spent!
Posted by: Lou | January 19, 2008 12:34 PM
more deficit spending -
shouldn't they enact this along with a 1800deficit spending annonymous help line
Posted by: R Keane | January 19, 2008 12:36 PM
When the White House was busy boasting about the declining federal budget deficit of only $163 Billion, they failed to mention that the Iraq war cost adds another $200 Billion or so to that number since it is not included in the budget.
Nice chart C. Morris.
Posted by: Tom O | January 19, 2008 12:36 PM
One of the only actions that Bush and congress can take now to hold off a recession is to repeal the federal tax on gasoline. It would be an immediate help for individuals and business. Tax rebates will not work--they don't offer the rebate to everyone, it is too small and too late of a fix, and not everyonewho gets the rebate will put the small amount of money back into the economy. If Bush does not do this, it is just more BS out of his fake southern accent mouth.
Again, since Bush has been in office, the very wealthy have not paid their fair share of taxes. Nice laws for the buddies. The very wealthy have more discretionary income. Why not, at least, make them pay the same higher percent in taxes as the middle class?
Not my own words, however, I agree--a trickle-down economy only means that big corps and the very wealthy are peeing on the rest of us.
Posted by: Vivian | January 19, 2008 12:54 PM
We need to end this stupid pre-emptive war on Iraq and invest in infrastructure...like we should have been doing along until Prez Doofus and Dictator Dick came along.
Use the money we are burning in Iraq to put people back to work here rebuilding highways and bridges. Do we need another bridge collapse to address our crumbling infrastructure? Fund alternative energy programs and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Posted by: John E | January 19, 2008 1:14 PM
None of the fixes proposed so far really targets the problem, the housing market. What's a few hundred dollars going to do for a homeowner who can't begin to make payments on a loan that's about to balloon out of control? Congress should pass a debt forgiveness bill that would discharge mortgage deficiencies after foreclosure. This would allow the mortgagee to get back the property or incentivize him to renegotiate. For the homeowner, he could walk away and buy something he can really afford without being saddled with a deficiency he could never pay.
Posted by: Richard Friedman | January 19, 2008 1:29 PM
Throw a few crumbs to the Great Unwashed Masses - this is what passes for economic policy nowadays?
Posted by: Radian | January 19, 2008 1:39 PM
The probelm with economies is that they have little or nothing to do with the politicians in charge and everything to do with the attitude of a nation of citizens.
The only thing thats driving us into a recession is the steady drum beat of negativity and pessimism that is rampant in the media and on the lips of republican hating fear mongers filling the air with hate speech.
To the previous entry. What is Bush running for that he would need to buy votes?
He is gone in 11 months.
Lets talk about Democrats and economic responsibility.How about the Carter years with high interest rates, huge unemployment , and stagflation? How about the mess that democrats have created with the California economy? Not to mention Illinois under your present Governor, and Chicago under Daley.Have they ever cut any taxes or programs. No, and the statistics show that nearly 34,000 people left Chicago last year to get out of that mess.
The president cannot appropriate one dime of spending. It is the congress that does the spending and it is controlled by democrats.
This "economic mess" is the fault of the people of the United States. We are the ones who borrow too much; we are the ones who can't say no to credit card debt;we are the ones who refuse to take personal responsibility for our actions and the debt caused by them?
Quit blaming the government it's our fault for being uneducated and undiciplined consumers.
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 2:24 PM
Quit blaming the government it's our fault for being uneducated and undiciplined consumers.
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 2:24 PM
What?????
Posted by: bill r. | January 19, 2008 3:10 PM
Yes Bill R
Personal responsability!
The sub prime crisis is the fault of borrowers who didn't lock in to a fixed rate. They didn't have to take the loans on an ARM
It is the American peoples fault. We don't save enough, so we are obligated to rely on Social Security and Medicare which is bankrupting the nation!
Entitlements are the reason this country is in the trouble its in. These programs are the biggest drain on the Federal Budget not the War.
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 3:22 PM
We're saving it all, just as we did with the last one.
Yes...this is the smart thing to do. What everyone forgets is that the tax burden for this will be on your back next tax year. This is no relief or rebate...it's a deferment. You'll still owe taxes on this but Bush does not care...he'll be long gone to Crawford.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 19, 2008 3:32 PM
Lets talk about Democrats and economic responsibility.How about the Carter years with high interest rates, huge unemployment , and stagflation? How about the mess that democrats have created with the California economy?
This "economic mess" is the fault of the people of the United States.
Quit blaming the government it's our fault for being uneducated and undiciplined consumers.
_____________________________
Wow, where to begin?
The Democrats in California? Isn't it the darling of the RNC, Herr Gropinator running the state? Oh yeah, "if it's bad news, blame the Democrats, if it's good, credit the republitards".
If it's not the fault of the government, you can't cite Jimmy Carter. If you can cite Carter, it is also bu$hco's responsibility.
I don't know about you paulo, but my car is paid for, I pay my credit cards off every month, I have a 15 year fixed rate mortgage with about 7 years left, pay my property taxes out of my savings account, save 20% of my income for retirement, and still manage a vacation every year. And yet you lump ME into the mass of American's causing trouble for your hero and his "party" and say I have to do better. Sorry. Now that bu$hco and the WSJ are talking about recession, your only choice is to blame Americans. Talk about desperate, dead ender, 25% reich winger propaganda. I like how reich wingers love to blather on about personal responsibility, but can never accept the fact that they or their party leaders can ever be wrong. Blaming the economic mess on Democrats in Congress, in power for one year out of the entire mis-administration? What a joke. It wasn't the Democrats holding up purple thumbs at the SOTU address so many years ago. They didn't rename French fries freedom fries. And it WAS bu$hco's Federal Reserve that let the lending debacle go on and on. THEY are responsible for what Federally chartered banks do. You know, that responsibility concept you reich wingers talk about. Let's see the mis-administration take some resposibility, for once in almost eight, long, painful, hate and vitriol filled years.
Posted by: rncbs | January 19, 2008 3:32 PM
"The only thing thats driving us into a recession is the steady drum beat of negativity and pessimism that is rampant in the media and on the lips of republican hating fear mongers filling the air with hate speech."
Peter,
Sounds like what the Republics and the conservative press did to the economy in 2000; Talked it into the dumper.
Posted by: C.Morris | January 19, 2008 3:48 PM
Peter,
The poor economy of the mid-70's was Jimmy Carter's fault but today's mess isn't Bu$hCo's fault, it's the Dems fault, the very same Dems who have only held a slim majority in Congress for 1 whole freaking year ?!?!
I want some of whatever it is that you're smoking.
You're right about one thing, we do need to start taking personal responsility and I suggest that you Repubs start taking responsibilty for the disaster that is happening under Bu$hCo.
Posted by: John E | January 19, 2008 3:52 PM
I love it.
If you look at the last nearly 30 years of American history you have two commonalities.
You get Republican Presidents who come into office with ONE economic idea. Cut taxes (they also forget the other side of the scale which is for that idea to work you also have to CUT SPENDING).
So what have we gotten with the Republicans in power?
Huge, huge deficits.
Then they have the unmitigated temerity to complain when the Democrats have to come in a raise taxes to prevent the country from going bankrupt.
When are these airheads going to learn their lesson? It isn't as if we haven't been here before. Reagan, their great salvation, did the same thing before. Cut taxes, didn't cut spending, and ran up huge debts.
It's too bad that we simply can't tell the Republicans to stick it when they start complaining about their taxes.
Posted by: dogjudge | January 19, 2008 3:54 PM
CM,
I'll bet your stats taecher - if you ever took class, because you have no idea what a bell curve is.
Here is a better debt figure than the bgraph you are showing.
http://zfacts.com/p/461.html
You are right about 99-00 being a good time to use the deficit to reduce the debt, but the tax cuts of 2001 were needed to stimulate an economy that was slowing since mid-2000.
There might not be the trillion dollar spending on the war on terror if it hadn't been punted down the road.
Doogie,
Let's compare the economies of carter and Bush41: Was unemployment at 5% under the peanut farmer? What were interest rates? How about inflation?
Mr Friedman?
Who should eat this "discahrged mortgage"? The loan companies? The gov't? If you reward this bad behavior once, what is to say it won't happen again?
mcbs,
I think what Peter is referring to is the mess left behind by Gov Wilson. Also, the governator is by no means a fiscal conservative. Speaking of governors creating an economic mess - see Michigan.
Also, I'll expand on Peter's remark about the mess being the gov'ts fault: Who educates the massses - public education and it teaches absolutly nothing abouy personal finance.
Posted by: Terry | January 19, 2008 4:15 PM
The only thing thats driving us into a recession is the steady drum beat of negativity and pessimism that is rampant in the media and on the lips of republican hating fear mongers filling the air with hate speech.
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 2:24 PM
Peter do you smoke crack by any chance???
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 19, 2008 4:38 PM
Well I'm taking my rebate and donating it to Moveon.org! I am sure it'll help the D's win the WH and it'll drive the wide-stanced, christian sharia pushing, neo-connie wingnuts here in the Swamp nucking futs!
Posted by: rncbs | January 19, 2008 4:39 PM
Also, I'll expand on Peter's remark about the mess being the gov'ts fault: Who educates the massses - public education and it teaches absolutly nothing abouy personal finance.
Posted by: Terry | January 19, 2008 4:15 PM
I love it when the head kool-aide drinker for the dead-ender 26% (TrickleTerry) comes on here spinning for Bu$hCo.
Here's the bottom line, Terrence:
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi65.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh224%2Fleavinit%2Fbudget_deficit_or_surplus.gif&searchTerm=deficit&pageOffset=18
I can't wait for your team to try and spin that into a victory in 08.
Posted by: John E | January 19, 2008 4:45 PM
Don't spend a dime. Take half and invest or save it. Take the other half and donate to the charity of your choice.
Posted by: Josh | January 19, 2008 4:50 PM
Jr. is truly delusional. It's too little too late and more of the same pay offs and kickbacks for his rich corporate friends. He is a disgrace and should be impeached and imprisoned but then again being a moron is not reason to throw one in jail
Posted by: Paul | January 19, 2008 6:44 PM
Gosh you Democrats are an angry bunch of hate mongers!
What venom....
Cant we all just get along..
Huggs not Drugs.
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 7:03 PM
Don't spend a dime. Take half and invest or save it. Take the other half and donate to the charity of your choice.
Posted by: Josh | January 19, 2008 4:50 PM
Exactly. As with the other "rebates" in 2001, 2003 again I'll state you will pay for it next year! You r children and grand children will pay too! Show me the money where this will come from!!!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 19, 2008 8:25 PM
"Peter"...as in tiny.
Frankly, normal people are tired of 'debating' with folks like you.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | January 19, 2008 8:46 PM
Trcikled On,
If the fight on terrorism hadn't been punted into the future by the man in the Oral office at the turn of the last century, those bars below the line might not be there or be much smaller.
You did a nice job of coloring within the lines.
Posted by: Terry | January 19, 2008 9:03 PM
Hey weinerdog
This isn't a debate. I'm just writing BS to make sure you have high blood pressure and a terrible nights sleep tonight.
Gotta love Generation X
Wuff Wuff
Posted by: Peter | January 19, 2008 9:13 PM
One last thing weinerdog..
Define Normal People...because my generation needs clarity!
Posted by: peter | January 19, 2008 9:50 PM
According to Peter, the economy has little or nothing to do with the sitting Politicians? What a joke! hahahaha. . .
The President has so much power he took us to war. The President has so much power, he got his tax cut for the rich through a Republican Congress. Yet, we are suppose to believe the sitting politicians has nothing to do with the economy?
Politicians have everything to do with the economy, stupid! That's how Bush Senior lost. Most Americans feel insecured! The President, whether Democrat or Republican is fully responsible for the U.S. Economy. That is what his economic advisers are for!
I'm sure all the right wings will soon blame the sour economy on illegal immigrants again! How they took good American Jobs away! But never mentioning the outsourcing of good paying jobs to China and India!
Greenspan (althought i like the man) should be held accountable for the mortgage mess! He saw all the numbers that we didn't or couldn't see! He retired knowing this problem will be passed on to the next Fed Chairman. I feel sorry that he is in that mess!
From day one, the Bush Administration has always been a reactive instead of a proactive government! 911- reactive, Katrina- reactive, Mortgage mess- reactive.
Only 30% believe the economy has nothing to do with sitting politicians. The other 70% will reach down their pocket and find pennies. Their reaction at the poll is: "give this guy a boot!"
Posted by: Lou | January 19, 2008 11:07 PM
I'll bet your stats taecher - if you ever took class, because you have no idea what a bell curve is.
Also, I'll expand on Peter's remark about the mess being the gov'ts fault: Who educates the massses - public education and it teaches absolutly nothing abouy personal finance.
___________________________
Obviously, terrybull went to school at a public institution as well. He cannot spell, assemble a logical sentence, nor use grammar or punctuation like a native speaker. But then, most neo-connies in tis country DO believe all the education our kids need come from the bible.
Posted by: rncbs | January 20, 2008 6:40 AM
Do not give any money to consumers. They will buy foreign made products because they have no other choice. Only 12 percent of manufactured products are American made because of corporate outsourcing of jobs. Instead, give tax breaks only to American Companies that will use the money to create alternative energy sources or improve American infrastructure. This will create jobs in America and address the real problem America is now in recession. Otherwise, all the money will just continue to go overseas for foreign made products, which will add to the Trade Imbalance and Federal Deficit. All this will do is speed up the continued trend of bankrupting America and selling out American Assets to foreign interests,
Posted by: rudym | January 20, 2008 6:50 AM
Mcbs,
I can't type.
Posted by: Terry | January 20, 2008 9:11 AM
Terry,
Thanks for the tip, buddy. I'll tweak my standard response to account for that.
BTW, I was referring to the up side. The peak and down side are still a long way off.
Also, sometimes the up side becomes so extreme you have to start tossing out observations to keep the curve from turning back on itself.
Posted by: C.Morris | January 20, 2008 12:06 PM
There's a CEO who has done a lousy job:
sales are down and the forecast is gloomy:
large turnover among his executive suite, some of whom have been accused of wrongdoing;
he has shown a disdain for the media and his communications skills are weak;
overseas markets only pay attention to take advantage of the dire circumstance he's put the company in:
most of his planning sessions have been kept confidential;
the trust among the company's shareholders has plummeted to less than 25%;
his top project has been kept on another set of books, so the shareholders don't catch on to the horrible financial shape the company's really in.
What should the shareholders do with that CEO?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | January 20, 2008 12:26 PM
CM,
No problem on the stats help. You are right that the downside of teh curve is a long way off and it will be a longer way off as long as we have the ponzi scheme called Social Security and medicare because the current generation is always paid for by the next generation.
KB,
The CEO is about to hit mandatory retirement age. Do you want President Bush to step down and have President Cheney. That would be fun. BTW, how's that impeachment coming along? Wasn't that a promise made by this democratic congress? However, the voters can change change Congress.
Posted by: Terry | January 20, 2008 12:35 PM
Peter,
Your logic is fascinating.
Go back and read your post.
You complain about the Carter years and list all of the typical talking points. You complain about how bad things were at that time.
You then go into the years for George W. Bush and rationalize away the issues by saying, "The president cannot appropriate one dime of spending. It is the congress that does the spending and it is controlled by democrats.
This "economic mess" is the fault of the people of the United States. We are the ones who borrow too much; we are the ones who can't say no to credit card debt;we are the ones who refuse to take personal responsibility for our actions and the debt caused by them?
Quit blaming the government it's our fault for being uneducated and undisciplined consumers."
Peter, you want it both ways. When you want to complain about a Democratic President you blame him. When it comes to a Republican President, it's everyone else's fault.
I don't need to argue your other points, they aren't any more valid that your basic premise.
Posted by: dogjudge | January 20, 2008 1:01 PM
Gosh you Democrats are an angry bunch of hate mongers!
What venom....
_____________________________
Yep! Everything we learned came from limpbaugh the drug addict, sexual abuser falafel boy o'rally, man coultergeist and kkkarl.
___________________________
Mcbs,
I can't type.
Posted by: Terry
Well they teach that in school too! Try returning... to high school.
Posted by: rncbs | January 20, 2008 6:30 PM
Terry,
If you went to public school you would have learned to type.
I realize that skill is probably too 'lower class' for you to worry about.
The upper classes are allowed typos and mis-spellings, right?
Posted by: TheReamer | January 20, 2008 8:09 PM
Mcbs,
While you were learning typing and home ec, I was taking Calculus and Economics.
Reamer,
At non-gov't schools they thought critical thinking skills were more important than typing. From the posts of most you libs on here, I can see the proof.
Posted by: Terry | January 20, 2008 10:19 PM
Terry,
Yes, you and GWB; Real critical thinkers..
Posted by: TheReamer | January 21, 2008 12:48 PM
Well, if it ain't the zammechut Terry Toofles, chumbling chepooka like the gloopy Bushco prestoopnik that he is. Just another nadmenny scoteena, pyahnitsa on his own grazzy von.
Posted by: alex | January 21, 2008 3:14 PM
reamed and alex - liberals at their best
Posted by: Terry | January 21, 2008 3:26 PM
More bafflegab from Terry Toofles. Thinks he's a real baller, but he's really a notta lotta.
Posted by: alex | January 21, 2008 7:52 PM
If the fight on terrorism hadn't been punted into the future by the man in the Oral office at the turn of the last century, those bars below the line might not be there or be much smaller
Posted by: Terry | January 19, 2008 9:03 PM
You and Paulo must share a brain. (11 happened on Bush's watch. Case closed.
You are right that the downside of teh curve is a long way off and it will be a longer way off as long as we have the ponzi scheme called Social Security and medicare because the current generation is always paid for by the next generation.
Posted by: Terry | January 20, 2008 12:35 PM
And I'll bet Terry has a terrific "market" scheme that will insure all of our retirement needs. Why don't you present us with your prospectus, Trickledown boy.
Posted by: LyndonLaRouche'sMain Squeeze | January 21, 2008 9:51 PM
Rouche the &%$*&@,
Bill Clinton had the first attack on the trade towers, kohbar towers attack, USS Cole, Mogadishu, african embassies all on his attack. He had eight years to tackle al Qaeda while they wre still in the open. He could have got this done on the cheap.
BTW, the White Sox won the WS while President Bush was in office, I'll send him a thank you card for that.
As far as the "scheme" to solve social security - its called dismantling it, over time of course. Anyone under 30 should be out of this ponzi scheme. With gradually reduced beneifts for those that are between 30 -50, sonce they are at least 17 years from retirement. Of course there is a lot more detail, but its way over your feebvle mind. Wouldn't you agree that a family of four living on $40,000 per year could use an extra $6000 per year?
Alex - I never thought I would see someone dumber than John E, but you proved me wrong - you da man/woman.
Posted by: Terry | January 21, 2008 11:01 PM
Bill Clinton had the first attack on the trade towers, kohbar towers attack, USS Cole, Mogadishu, african embassies all on his attack. He had eight years to tackle al Qaeda while they wre still in the open. He could have got this done on the cheap.
Huh? All on his attack. Hmmm... who's the feeble minded one? More jargodlaygook from Terry Tardamuffin.
Posted by: alex | January 21, 2008 11:58 PM
Alex!
Go to your room! Medicate!
Terry!
Go back to school!
Posted by: Stanley K | January 22, 2008 12:47 PM
Alex,
2-26-93 World Trade Center Bombing.
6-25-96 Khobar Towers bombing.
10-12-2000 USS Cole Bombing.
8-7-98 Bombings of African Embassys.
Withdrawal from Somalia after Mogadishu - 1993-94
Who was president during all of these genius?
Stanley - Except for the typing skills, I would be standing in front of teh classroom.
Posted by: Terry | January 22, 2008 8:40 PM
Terry,
9/11--Ignored warnings ( OBL 8 months "out in the open")
"Wanted dead or alive"--still waiting
Tora Bora--oops
Afghanistan--worse 6+ years later because resources diverted to Iraq
World terrorist threat, post Iraq--much worse (per U.S. intel)
Iraq-Fiasco, endless war, endless death, endless cost
Pakistan--failed policy, billions wasted, increased terrorist influence
Katrina--lost a major American city through incompetence
Economic policies--debt, debt, and more debt and now impending collapse
George of Arabia, prestoopnik-in-chief.Terry Tardamuffin, neo-droog and shoom machine for the Merzky Republic Scoteenas. The gloopy and the pyahnitsa.
Posted by: alex | January 22, 2008 10:40 PM
Cheney/Bush=FUBAR
Terry =Shameless Bush apologist. Trickle-On, darishnafrod boy.
Posted by: alex | January 22, 2008 11:36 PM
to paraphrase Truman;
If your neighbor loses his job it's a recession. It's a depression when you lose yours.
Posted by: C.Morris | January 23, 2008 6:21 PM
Alex the flat liner
First seven items are a result of Bill Clinton punting the terrorism issue down the road.
KAtrina - George Bush's fault there was a hurricane. George Bush's fault that buses were left in parking lots. Put the blame where it belongs for Louisiana's lack of recovery - Nagin and Blanco.
Economy has had a stonr six year run, I do agree that the debt/deficit is too large do to wasteful domestic spending.
Posted by: Terry | January 23, 2008 7:03 PM
C Morris,
Terry is so drunk on the Wingnut kool-aide, he'll be the very last person on here to believe it when the Dems get a super-majority in Congress and the White House in 08.
I mean, how could that happen, the GOPer's were doing such a bang up job with everything...and..it's all Bill Clinton's fault...I mean...he was the President...seven years ago...what about that Monica thing?...c'mon people!!!
Posted by: ghost of bruce | January 24, 2008 2:33 AM
Ghost,
If I was a betting man, I'll put my money on the dems - a bad choice for America, but probably the one that will be made. I don't see the super majority (60 Senate Seats), just an increase for the dems - another bad thing for America.
Posted by: Terry | January 24, 2008 6:21 PM
Terry,
B.S. on Katrina, a real leader could cut through the red-tape, and a real leader wouldn't dick around for three days while people were drowning. Typical non-accountability by the chief Bush apologist.
Lets see what Bush "punts" down the road. Three more trillion in debt (did Bill do that?), a hundred year war that currently cost $12 billion a month (sorry can't blame that one on Bubba, had nothing to do with 9/11). A collapsed economy that will remain depressed for years. A total cluster#*&k in the middle east and energy prices through the roof. How pathetic that you would defend this abomination of an administration. It's worse then defending Enron because, not only were people financially ruined, people died, and FOR NOTHING.
C. Morris,
What kind of person would defend an arrogant, incompetent, sociopath like Bush? Do you think TD is really Jeb?
Alex,
I like the Tardamuffin bit, but what does darishnafrod mean, and do I want to know?
Ghost,
Thanks (I think) for letting me know this thread was still twitching. I heard TD was a last-word kinda guy, but this is ridiculous.
Posted by: dt | January 25, 2008 12:00 AM
dt:
Darishnafrod: Synonym for FUBAR, except much, much more so.
TD Tardmuffin:
http://thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline
Punt this, Toofles:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworstpresident.htm
Posted by: alex | January 25, 2008 3:06 PM
will people who have lost their jobs and have kids get the rebate to or the just the ones who have jobs if so thats not right taxes bcause they pay taxes on everything to
Posted by: peg | February 11, 2008 6:30 PM