GOP strategists urging Bush to tout strong economy

[sabra]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060403-122154-8845r.htm

GOP strategists urging Bush to tout strong economy

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Growing consumer confidence and a stronger job market are spurring calls from Republican strategists for the White House to begin aggressively promoting the economy's performance to boost their party in the upcoming elections.

Former White House advisers predict that Joshua B. Bolten, President Bush's new chief of staff, will step up a strategy to sell the economy's progress to voters, a majority of whom still perceive it as weak.

"It's crucial that Republicans focus on the economy and begin telling the story about how strong it is, and I think we'll see that reflected in a possible new focus by the White House on the economy" when Mr. Bolten takes over, said Cesar Conda, Vice President Dick Cheney's former domestic-policy adviser.

While former White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. brought administrative skills to the job, Mr. Bolten "brings entirely different skills -- policy development and policy implementation, particularly economic and budget policy. I think he will bring that perspective to the job of chief of staff," Mr. Conda said.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. BWAHAHAHAHA! Do it, do it! Another "divorced from reality" pitch

MKJ

:rofl: MKJ

[hobbit709]

2. Strong economy my ass

When my bank account, my employment prospect, my medical expenses that I can't afford, my other living expenses-especially food are almost out of reach don't say the I "perceive" the economy as weak. I GODDAMN KNOW it's weak.

[wicket]

3. The economy may be expanding, but it isn't reaching the average worker

These people have no clue what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. Just because CEOs are doing great does not mean the average worker is! :grr:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. Exactamundo! Sounds like they're backing away from "Iraq is just peachy"

and trying "the US economy is hunky dory"

Just 'cause you say it, doesn't make it so. MKJ

[LynnTheDem]

4. "strong economy"...

:wow:

Poll: Bush Approval Hits New Low

61 percent disapproval for handling the economy is the worst since his father's 72 percent in summer 1992.


65 percent say the economy is in bad shape, and 68 percent say the nation is on the "wrong track," the most since 1996. The main reasons given: the economy, Iraq and Bush himself.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=1278080

[Demeter]

11. If Only We Were Still At that Bush 41 Economic Point!

Clinton was able to turn it around in a few years--we'll be lucky if there's any recovery from his idiot son's "presidency'.

[AnneD]

20. It's like an inside joke.....

that the average workers in this country know and the Bush admin (and Wall Street economists)is clueless to. :spray:
This economy is down the crapper, no doubt. So W and the rest of you GOP idiots...go ahead and run on the economy. Maybe THIS electon people will finally vote based on their pocketbooks (empty).

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

31. Economy sucks for workers

that the average workers in this country know and the Bush admin (and Wall Street economists)is clueless to...
I think they know, I just think that due to the Diebolding of elections, they don't care.

[AnneD]

56. No really....

I have have heard some serious economists argue that things were great and quote stats. But what they were quoting didn't make too much sense if you really thought it through from another perspective. Remember the old economic truism ....a recession is when your neighbor is laid off, a depression is when YOU are laid off.

[zbdent]

6. Dem strategists urging bush to tout strong economy

of third-world leaders' pocketbooks, where many of the "strong economy" jobs are heading . . .

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. "begin telling the story about how strong it (the economy) is"

Story, indeed.

I still prefer "The Emperor's New Clothes". MKJ

[DBoon]

8. The chocolate ration was raised from 30 to 20 grammes!

All hail the magnificent economic policies of out fearless leader!

[Tempest]

9. Yeah, tout that great 1.7% growth in the 4th quarter

What a bunch of jokesters.

Someone should tell them consumer confidence dropped in February.

[area51]

10. strong economy?

As other posters have mentioned, if the Bush admin does tout a "strong economy", it will again show how out of touch they are w/the real world (remember Bush I & the price of milk & optical scanners @ the grocery store checkout?).

If the economy's so strong, why are there so many of us struggling to find jobs? :mad:

[EVDebs]

30. Strong economy in China and India maybe.....

After all, foreigners are buying our Treasury bills etc financing our deficits...

Enough pollyanna drivel from these neocon headsuptheirbutts fools. The less ink spilled on their spins the better we'll all be.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. HeeeeeeeHaaaawww!!! Do it! Do it! Do it!

Anyone see the price of gas lately?

Oh, please, please, please! Do it!!!!!!!

:rofl:

[AX10]

13. 60% disapprove of *'s handling of the economy.

Maybe, they writer meant to say that it was "Democratic strategists" who are urging Bush to tout the economy? :shrug: <sarcasm off>

[ShortnFiery]

14. Yes, the DOW is up today because of ?

MEGA Mergers and Acquisitions. Oh boy, that's gonna hike the wage of the Average "Wage Slave" working American. Not!

[mom cat]

23. The Dow is up because the dollar is down. Therefore it takes more

dollars to buy the same stock!
Don't worry! We are printing more as fast as we can. Soon there will be plenty of green stuff to go around.

[napi21]

15. They should say that in the same paragraph they talk about GM

closing a bunch of plants and possibly having to file for bankruptcy! Sounds like a GREAT plan to ME!

[VegasWolf]

16. The economy is strong? Damn! I missed it! Where? nt

[corporatemedia]

26. It's right around the corner! eom

[salin]

17. It didn't work a few months ago, and its not going to work now...

Except for those at the very top - prolonged periods of economic insecurity on the homefront, in the face of escalating fuel and heating costs, make claims that the "economy is strong!" harder and harder to buy.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. so when the economy tanks...

it's not the president's fault, but when it's strong somehow "this" president created it? i remember this argument from my repub friends who gave clinton no credit whatsoever for the prosperity he presided over, they insisted that clinton inherited ronald reagan's economy, but the downturn in the economy in 2001 (well into *'s 1st term) was all clinton's fault. i wish they'd make up their minds, they can't have it both ways.

[donkeyotay]

41. Oh, but why isn't our president getting credit for the great economy?

Well, in part because he spent the first 5 years blaming the economy on Clinton and taking no credit for it. In fact, he seems to be an innocent bystander to all of his policies.

Catapult that propaganda! Claim credit for the great economy that's about to become even more magnificent as those ARMs go up. The GOP should definitely run on their great economy.

[MichiganVote]

19. Here's the economy figure that matters: Gas- $2.75 gallon, nuff' said

[ninkasi]

21. They are so out of touch with reality

They don't realize that good news on Wall St. very often is the result of bad news for laid off or fired workers. Even when people still have THEIR jobs, chances are they know of somebody else who just lost theirs. People who are struggling just to get by, and whose wages have actually declined at the expense of adding more pork to grossly overpaid CEO's salaries and incentives, those people don't give a rat's ass about the DOW.

They are having trouble affording enough gas to get to and from work, and God help them if they get sick, because they don't have insurance, and they worry about grandma with summer coming, the weather getting hotter, and they know that sometimes old people die because they can't afford to run their A/Cs. For people who get their money from investments, the economy probably does look pretty good, but the majority of us WORK for a living, and for us the economy is scary and uncertain.

[donkeyotay]

42. One man's good news is another's bad, and there's more than one economy

The Wall St. economy and the working class' economy have separated. They get the benefits and we get the bills. Now they can't understand why we aren't singing.

[Roland99]

22. They'll keep spinning all's great in the middle of the next Depression!

[sofa king]

24. Yeah, that'll resonate with the masses.

Unless of course the Bush Administration has been cooking the books and the underclass economy still sucks and anyone who has been an adult for more than six years knows it... then the only people who will buy that line are the ones who have actually improved their lot in life under George W. Bush.

I guess that means Republican Party has a lock on the white-collar criminals and undertakers vote this year.

[wildwww2]

25. I`m paying $13,000.00 a year more on my mortgage alone. With a fixed rate.

Than I was under the last real President Bill Clinton. Not to mention I pay more than a buck fifty per gallon for gas now. The economy is booming for rich MFer`s who are gouging poor folks like myself. Besides that it sucks.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[ribrepin]

33. Don't you mean more than two fifty a gallon.

[wildwww2]

52. I meant that I pay $1.50 a gallon more now than then. Sorry for the

confusion. Today I had to pay $2.69 a gallon. At the cheapest place in town.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[bvar22]

27. Dems need to agree...Yes, its strong

IF YOU"RE A FUCKING MILLIONAIRE, but it sucks if you have to work for a living!!!!!

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[jean]

28. That's the ticket... tout the strong economy and whip up the border issue

Yep, that RNC really knows how to manipple-ate the feeble-minded merikans.

[Speck Tater]

29. There are two economies in the US

The investor economy is doing fine because companies are robbing the working class to stuff money in the shareholders pocket. But the working class economy is doing lousy. For the same reason.

[ribrepin]

32. Yippee--Joe Sixpack is looking at the gas pump not the stock market

I paid $2.79 a gallon today.

[pinniped]

34. This Asshole was too busy hanging around the Cubs/Reds season....

opener to be bothered with any message.

I guess the wars are over.

[flaminbats]

35. was it all because of those taxcuts?

:wow:

and Republicans said big government and nation-building of them Democrats only hurt the economy! But now our economy is really booming, the wartime revenues are flooding in, no stagflation, and gas prices have been dropping thanks to this war in Iraq...ooowe thankyou Republican government!! :crazy:

[Why Syzygy]

36. So they are saying?

That Andrew Card is responsible for the despicable economy? But Bolton will make it all better?
I hold Bush, Rove, Cheney, the whole cast of PNAC characters, personally responsible.
Our "representatives" deserve an honorable mention.

[DIKB]

37. COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY

-Last year marked the first in HISTORY that someone working full time for minimum wage couldn't afford a one bedroom apartment ANYWHERE in the U.S.

-The Debt Ceiling had to be raised so that they wouldn't default on treasury notes.

-The ACTUAL unemployment is guessed to be hovering at about 10% (They stop counting you once you stop drawing).

-The oil supply in the reserves is estimated to be where it was in 1999, yet light crude is higher than $66 a barrel due to a weakened dollar.



Why it LOOKS good ?

-Due to offshore home offices, outsourced jobs, NAFTA + CAFTA, and cheaper immigrant labor goods are relatively cheap.

-Corporate profits are higher than ever, especially for CEOs and oil companies.



So go on ahead Chimpy, tout the strong economy, let the companies remain unpenalized and keep their cheap illegal labor. Blue collar citizens struggling to get by will send you and your cronies packing.

[BlueManDude]

38. Please George - take their advice!!!!! n/t

[donkeyotay]

43. Don't forget the unprecedented liquidity pumped by Mr. Bubbles

They just threw money at those fatcats for years. Here have a few billion more. Paper over all your troubles. Print some credit. Issue some stock. Now we're supposed to marvel at the effect of all that liquidity as if actual investments in the American economy had been made.

[Mithras61]

45. Re: ACTUAL unemployment rate...

The actual unemployment rate at this point is almost impossible to determine. They've been cooking the books on unemployment for many years, but this administration has done several things that cumulatively have made their UE numbers complete;ly suspect (like stopping publishing numbers of jobs lost vs. jobs added, numbers of people dropped from UE rolls, etc.). In all, I'd say that by 1999 figures, the U3 (the "official" unemployment rate) is probably somewhere near what you postulated, but the REAL unemployment rate (what used to be the not seasonally adjusted U6) is probably nearer to 15% to 18%.

I don't know anyone who lost their job in the last few years and was able to get another in the same industry, but I know lots of security guards that used to be programmers, network engineers, systems administrators, etc. and I guarantee that while they may be working, they are making less than half of what they used to make (in some cases, less than 1/4th what they used to make).

[Infomaniac]

39. Nominated. Strong Economy for the Well-heeled.

Inflation, low wage increases and gas prices are killing the buying power of those of us on the lower economic rungs. I make a decent salary. The number puts me in the top 10% of wage earners. I haven't bought a single thing I didn't absolutely need to buy for more than six months. The rising gas prices, my husband beinhg out of work and prices skyrocketing on everything from a head of lettuce to the maintenance fees on my cooperative have cut into our standard of living. Strong economy my ass. These idiots are cooking the economic figures too. The vast majority of Americans are hurting economically. What's so good about that?

[Lost4words]

40. The GOP has murdered the economy IMHO!

If you want lies, talk with a repuke!

[kineneb]

44. Herbert George Bush Hoover

Prosperity is just around the corner...

Sure, dipwad.

[PassingFair]

46. Uh Oh...you know what THAT means...

They are printing money.
It hasn't "trickled down" yet.
But they are betting it will
before the elections.

Problem is, their "sprinklers"
are so greedy and corrupt, that
the "trickle" is evaporating
before any of us gets watered....

[4_TN_TITANS]

47. I double dog dare them to do it.....

even the most simple-minded working man can see through that b.s.

[nolabels]

54. Can we triple dare them?

Even if the simple man couldn't see it he would at least be able to see the holes in his own pocket book

[Critters2]

48. If the economy were strong, immigration wouldn't be an issue

If we really needed extra workers, no one would feel their jobs were threatened by them. Commonsense puts the lie to this shit!!

[truthisfreedom]

49. bush won't be discussing the economy. bushco sucked the economy dry.

it's dead.

[DUHandle]

50. That's what you call

good, crisp information.

[HughBeaumont]

51. Just when you think they can't top themselves . . .

. . . they just Fosbury FLOP over that 9-foot high jump of stupidity, don't they????

"Yeah the economy is great" IF YOU'RE ALREADY BATHING in CASH, ASSHATS!

The average American is keeping way less and their wages flatlined since the 70s. We're paying more and more on just about everything and our wages cannot keep up with these increases. They're replacing good benefit, good paying jobs with shite that couldn't pay for the Parent's Basement Hilton.

[eyeontheprize]

53. Rent or buy

We just sold our house after a forced transfer. In the new city we couldn't do much with the equity and the payments on an acceptable home would make us house poor. So today I signed a two year lease on a house that I couldn't walk in if it were for sale.

The problem is that I haven't any idea of what to do with the equity.

[superconnected]

55. who's strong economy is he going to run on, indias?

I knew he was delusional when he told us God talks to him and he's chosen.

I guess I can only hope he keeps it up so his dim-witted base voters can finally acknowlege Pat Robertson insanity problem isn't a fluke among republicans, it's an epidemic.

[Trish1168]

57. please do!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, you guys do that!!

[neuvocat]

58. Two problems with that:

Reagan was able to get away with doing that trick because he was a great con man. Bush isn't and never has been. There's also the internet where people can actually talk about the speeches that politicians give. They compare notes and there's a much more reliable sounding board to compare notes.