WRT unemployment, although I can understand you comparing the first 3 Clinton years to the first 3 Bush years, I think in reality people will be comparing the last 4 years of Clinton instead. The late 90's are fresh in peoples' minds, not the mid 90's.
1997 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9 5.0 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.6 4.7
1998 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.4
1999 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.0
2000 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.9
2001 4.2 average = 4.4
2001 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.9 5.0 5.4 5.6 5.7
2002 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 6.0
2003 5.8 5.9 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.7
2004 5.6 5.6 average = 5.5
Things are obviously turning around, but some decisive action could turn things around even faster. I think it would be possible to get to 4.9% by election time, which would ensure victory in November.
Apples & oranges mon! Apples & oranges.
There's no sense in comparing GWBush's 1st three years (following the Clinton recession) to the LAST years of Clinton's SECOND term in office.
For a fair and honest comparison, we must compare the results of Clinton's administration coming out of a recession to GWBush's administration coming out of a recession.
With all due respect, only the DemocRATs would think of comparing GWBush and Clinton in the way you suggest.
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