This is NOT the Obama Economy (wish I slap Hannity every time he spews that crap). We are in a long-wave contraction; four years into a decade of deleveraging and wealth elimination. This is global. It is going to get worse before it gets better.
The biggest mistake both Bush and Obama made was treating this economic cycle like a "recession." Deficit/stimulus spending has, in the past, been helpful in easing a "recession." But we are not in a "recession." We are in a long-wave contraction. You would think that after pumping several trillion dollars into the system, they would get the message.
Obviously not.
Both sides had a seat at this disaster table. A pox on both their houses. For decades they promised goodies in exchange for votes. For decades, the American public gobbled up whatever tripe they spewed out.
We had a chance, in 2010, to do something - but we didn't have enough power to effect real change in spending. Hate to be the messenger: it's now too late.
Wealth is contracting all over the world. ZIRP and hidden inflation will eat whatever is left.
Ultimately, Obama needs to be defeated because he has weakened us considerably as a country and in the World Theater. Our two best choices were Newt and Crazy Uncle Ron (absolutely right on monetary policy but off on foreign policy). We're stuck with Mittens. God help us.
What is left out of the picture are the different philosophies of Democrats and Republicans. Bush came into office with a Clinton recession. He then coped with 9/11 economic disaster and massive cost for both the Iraqi and Afghanistan Wars.
President Bush tax cuts worked. During his first six years of his administration, until Sept 2007, he had accomplished in bringing down the unemployment numbers to 4.4%. In economic terms, that is pretty much considered full employment. He was also on a glide path with the Debt trajectory sharply coming down.
So what happen! The same disaster that always happens to Republicans. They lose control of Congress to the Democrats. The party who controls Congress will pretty much dictate where the economy philosophy of the legislation that they will produce.
If you take a look at President Clinton first years, he was very fortunate to have a Republican controlled Congress. Clinton was forced to come to the middle and agree with Republicans on important conservative oriented fiscal legislation. He also benefited from the greatest militarily downsize in the history of the nation. Not only did the Republican led Senate help him from impeachment, you can say that the Republicans in Congress saved him economically. By the time Bush came into office, the economy had taken a turn towards recession because the Democrats won control of the Congress from the Republicans.
What does it matter? Everything! Democrats change the conservative approach to government 180 degrees. They began on a spending spree, they fought tax cuts, they push for more entitlement programs, etc with President Bush bipartisan help.
President Bush won election with a new Republican controlled Congress. Again the free market approach of the Republican Congress quickly began to show positive results with increased revenue, sharp increase in national employment figures in all sectors, a strong military, etc. The media, aligned and coordinated with the radically liberal Democrats illustrated daily their perfectly bias reporting. They hyped favorable coverage to the Democrat Party and attacked or discounted all favorable data for the Bush Administration. The media focused on the Iraq War and continued to hid or sensor Bush economic successes.
In the last two years of President Bush Administration, the Democrats gain control once again of the Congress. Immediately, all legislative priorities and focus shifted dramatically toward massive increased spending on social programs. Bush in a bipartisan effort pushed a prescription drug program to his discredit.
Obama, never receives any blame for the spending spree of the Democrat controlled Congress in which he served as a US Senator. The escalating social ineptness hitting us today were spurred while Obama and the Democrats controlled Congress. It was under his watch. Obama was and is the largest proponent of spending. Although the Banking and Home Mortgage Industry encountered problems long before the Democrats took control of the Congress, they were in charge and acted as road blocks to impede any action by the Bush Administration to get a handled on the upcoming crisis.
Why is it that Obama, Reid, and Pelosi who control Congress during the critical years of spending, get such a free pass from the mainstream media? Where are the Republican leaders who are standing up to defend Bush and call out the Democrats in Congress for their socialistic spending spree while they control Congresses prior to Obama election. Obama is just carrying on what he learned as a Democrat US Senator.
“I will probably get banned from FR”
Only if you repeat yourself.