For Democrats, Economy's Surge Poses Challenge

New York Times ^ | 11/02/03 | DAVID LEONHARDT

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Media sources such as CNN's MONEY have been downplaying the state of the economy for a year now, using selective statistics and the commentary of Krugman types.

It's a shame that average Americans cannot even rely on supposedly neutral financial sources any longer. Facts don't matter to leftists, only the agenda and the goals matter.

[oceanview]

people make up their own minds based on what they see happening at their jobs, and with their own personal finances.

we are still losing manufacturing and tech jobs offshore at a dramatic rate: growth is in service, health care, government.

if Bush wants a Reagan style recovery, he is going to have to deal with the trade issue, else jobs and most especially wages will be very soft. When Oracle and Bank of America send 2000 jobs to India, and Walmart hires 2000, the net effects is negative.

[John H K]

Question:

In the early 1980s, did you or would you have advocated a ban on the import of foreign cars?

[oceanview]

we did, and still have, a 25% tariff on foreign light trucks.

[oceanview]

how are you going to stop the semiconductor industry from going to China? All of it, manufacturing first, design is starting to go now too. You can't compete with them on cost, its impossible, they have an infinite supply of labor, a lower standard of living, currency manipulation, etc. We all know the score. So should we just let it go? Just let the whole technology base go to China and India? Are you seriusoly going to tell us that the semiconductor insutry is a "buggywhip"?

Why is India trying so hard to take the IT industry, and China the semiconductor industry, if they are "buggywhips"? Are they stpuid?

[zencat]

"Media sources such as CNN's MONEY have been downplaying the state of the economy for a year now, using selective statistics and the commentary of Krugman types."

That's true, and while the economy has been a little soft, it's nowhere near as bad as the media and Democrats portray it. Reagan had to deal with unemployment of over 10%, Bush 41 had around 8%. The highest under W. was 6.4%, has since fallen to 6.1% and will continue to drop as the economy heats up.

And while try as they might, the nice thing is that even the liberal rats in the media can't hide rising stock markets, Dow 10,000, increasing 401K statements, and unemployment falling into the 5% range.

[xrp]

the Democrats now say that one good quarter does not erase three sluggish years

Maybe Democrats should check the actual GDP growth figures, which are positive for 8 quarters in a row.

[oceanview]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1012684/posts

[GO65]

As usual, every Democratic candidate has blown it on this issue. What they ought to be saying is that the boom is a result of massive deficit spending (even though it isn't, it is a contributing factor).

[John H K]

I'm just curious as to exactly what you're suggesting as a solution.

Tariffs are a tax, mind you.

And I'm curious as to how long the list of countries that radically improved their economies by banning imports or drastically raising tarriffs is.

[John H K]

You didn't answer my question......

Would you have banned the import of foreign cars in the early 80s? (Or "de Facto" banned them by the imposition of ENORMOUS tariffs.) Honestly?

People were going far more nuts about the country being destroyed by the Japanese then, then they are about the Chinese and Indians today.

[Tall_Texan]

"It's the economy, stupid."

except when it's good, and then it's "Bush lied".

[GO65]

Eyup. If the recovery is as real as it seems and the economy keeps adding jobs (57K in Sept., supposed to be 60K-80K for Oct. and up to 200K per month by next March) it will be a W landslide

Assuming no further terrorist attacks in the U.S. and an improvement in Iraq.

[oceanview]

harpseal has a good list of remedies that he posts quite often.

we already have taxes all over the place. there is no reason that our tax system can't be structured to serve the US first.

Right now, under the new accelerated depreciation rules, Intel can buy foreign made capital goods, build a new plant in China, and get a tax writeoff in the US. That is total insanity.

[oceanview]

What Japan did in the auto industry is quite different then what is happening now. Japanese businessmen didn't stand outside GM and Ford corporate headquarters and coax upper management to move their US plants & jobs to Japan. They developed their own industries and competed fairly (to some degree, they did engage in dumping) and took market share.

What is happening now is that our own US companies are selling us out. US top management is teaming up with offshore interests to sell us out, and we aren't structuring our policies to stop it. China isn't developing their own semiconductor industry, Intel and Motorola are sending the US semi industry to them. India isn't developing products to compete with Oracle and taking market share from them, Oracle management is sending the company to India 1000 workers at a time.

Its totally different then the 80s. We must open our eyes and see what is happening. Globalism changes the economic equation, we cut taxes in the US, and a large portion of that fiscal stimulus goes to foreign countries, we lose the multiplier effect in the US. That's why this recovery will be nothing like the Reagan recovery.

[gcruse]

Having to depend on, thus hoping for, a rotten economy, has to be one of the more depressing ways to run for office. No shining city on the hill for these guys. Might as well call themselves the Bond Market Boys and be done with it. And they will be done...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Translated: We the Editors and Reporters at the New York Times hope the economy tanks, so that one of the nine Democratic Presidential candidates, namely Howard Dean, can 'rescue' America from the clutches of the evil, capitalistic Bush Regime.

You're completely wrong.

They are not "Nine Democratic Presidential candidates."

They are the "Nine Dwarves." ;^)

[finnman69]

if the economy improves, they will say Bush is not spending enough money on Dem gimme gimme social issues.

[mrtysmm]

Excellent post....right on the money!

[RobFromGa]

When the War started, the Leftist/Democrats screamed: "Quagmire, we'll need thousands of body bags, Bush's plan sucks, we need more troops, and complained of a complete and utter lack of planning from Day 1 till the statue fell.
After we trounced Iraq in record time, with few casualties and almost zero collateral damage, and sent the Baathist thugs to the mattresses with Saddam, they screeched: "We knew the War part would be easy, but we'll never Win the Peace." and they dragged out their ancient Quagmire signs from behind the VW bus rusting in the back yard and hit the Protest Circuit.

The same thing is happening again with the Economy. The Leftist/Democrats screamed: "The economy was the worst in American History, all the way back to Christopher Columbus." Now that the tax cuts and the end of the 9-11 hangover appears to be buoying the economy, they are changing their tune once again.

Now, they are saying: "Sure the Economy is doing better, everyone knew it would improve with the refund checks, but where are the jobs and it won't last long anyway cause the checks are spent and the deficits are out of control. Next quarter it'll crash and we need a Medicare program for prescription drugs. And, BTW, did you know the Bush Administration is out to kill the environment and starve old people and orphans."

It's right out of the Dem playbook: They just change the subject whenever the gas runs out of whatever anti-Bush vehicle they've been driving on the Nightly news for months.

That's the outcome of the Democrats devious three-tiered political strategy-- which combines 1) a really stupid core constituency devoid of logical analysis skills (except over/under point spreads), with 2) complete control of the stupid people's Media options, and 3) a cackling cabal of pyschotic control freaks who lust for power at the expense of our county's security.

It's a rare trifecta. It's also a recipe for entry into "History's grayeyard of forgotten lies". They must be defeated soundly and they will be. Zell Miller is right.

Will the last Democrat into the dustbin, please blow out your organic candle?