Like a Cloud, Economic Woes Follow Bus Tour

The New York Times ^ | August 4, 2003 | ELISABETH BUMILLER

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

CRAWFORD, Tex. - President Bush slipped speedily into vacation mode this past weekend at his furnace of a ranch in Central Texas, where he spent Sunday fishing, clearing cedar and going for a walk with the first lady and his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice. But before the president ducked out of public sight, he made sure to address one of the biggest re-election anxieties of Karl Rove, his chief political adviser: the nation's continuing loss of jobs and the uncertainty about the economy.

"This week, three members of my cabinet — Treasury Secretary John Snow, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao — visited business owners and their workers in the Midwest," Mr. Bush said in his weekly radio address on Saturday. "They received reports that the economy is picking up."

Well, yes and no.

Anyone on the trip, which was a very un-Air Force One-like, two-day, six-city bus journey across Wisconsin and Minnesota (Ms. Chao dined on Tuesday night at Burger King), could see that the cabinet members charged with promoting the president's tax cuts also heard a lot of anger from workers about foreign competition and laid-off relatives and friends.

"Right now I am very disillusioned with the Republicans' policies," said Michael Retzer, a Republican and a consultant to a supplier for Harley-Davidson. Mr. Retzer told Mr. Snow at a Harley plant near Milwaukee that he did not see how the tax cuts would stimulate the economy when so many consumers would spend the extra money on goods made overseas.

Later, in the kind of confrontation with a disgruntled citizen almost never seen on the president's trips, Mr. Snow tangled with an unemployed software programmer at the drive-through at Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers in Wausau, Wis.

"He said, `But your tax cuts haven't done anything for me,' " Mr. Snow recounted the next day to reporters, as the bus traveled through Minnesota. "And I said, `Well, now, let's just take a second and talk about that.' "

Here in McLennan County, Tex. — which includes the nearby city of Waco, the one-stoplight town of Crawford and the president's 1,600-acre ranch — the number of people unable to find work jumped to more than 6,000 in June 2003 from more than 4,000 in June 2000, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"That's pretty much a general slowdown that mirrors the rest of the country," said Cheryl Abbot, an economist at the agency's Southwest Regional Office in Dallas.

Although the McLennan County unemployment rate jumped from 4 percent in June 2000 to 5.7 percent in June 2003, it was still lower than the national unemployment rate in June of 6.4 percent. But the jobless rate for Texas that month was 7.5 percent, and more than 800,000 people in the state could not find work, up from 527,000 people in June 2000.

An unscientific series of interviews with Crawford businesspeople and churchgoers Sunday revealed plenty of support for Mr. Bush, whose presidency has brought a surge of tourists to the once-shuttered main street but uneasiness about the economy and nervousness about his policies.

"You look at the tax breaks he's cut for everybody and I wonder how he's able to do that," said John Dutschmann, 32, a sales manager for a concrete products company who had just attended services at Crawford's First Baptist Church. Mr. Dutschmann, a Democrat who supported Mr. Bush in 2000, said he was still behind the president, although he had trepidations about the economy. "We just put our trust in him, and we hope he knows what he's doing," he said.

Paul Stripling, 67, a Republican and executive director emeritus of the Waco Baptist Association, who had also attended services at the First Baptist Church, said that Waco had not felt the economic crunch as much as other parts of Texas and that Mr. Bush "is doing the best he can with a very precarious situation."

Brent Duncan, 40, a hotel owner who was talking with other parishioners after services at Crawford's United Methodist Church, said that his business was doing well — he is building a hotel in the nearby town of McGregor — and that he would probably vote for Mr. Bush in 2004. But Mr. Duncan, who described himself as a conservative Democrat, said that his support was not guaranteed.

"Let's see who the Democrats put out," he said.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mr. Bush has little on his public schedule this week, although Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld is to make an appearance Friday.

But next week, as part of a monthlong campaign to try to convince voters that sunnier economic days are just around the corner, Mr. Bush will meet at the ranch with his economic team, then take his economic message around the country in day trips from Crawford. His tone will be upbeat, which was evidently the tenor of the report he heard from his cabinet secretaries after the Midwest bus trip last week.

As Mr. Snow put it, "I'm going to go back and tell the president, `Mr. President, I ran into a lot of people who asked me personally to express my gratitude to you for worrying and thinking about us.' "

Mr. Snow did not say if he would mention the man in the drive-through at Culver's.

[samuel_adams_us]

Dear President Bush and members of the 108th congress of the United States of America:

We the people of China would like thank you for your representation within your government without any taxation. We appreciate the free education granted to us via the tax dollars of the citizens of the United States and we also appreciate the business you provide us via those same tax dollars. We are so happy that you are willing to represent us, the people of China, without taxation all the while discontinuing your representation of the citizens of the United States, while taxing them and giving us their tax dollars. As much help as you have given us, exporting all of your jobs here, giving us billions in aid, making sure your citizens give up their jobs for us, free education, we almost think that your families are from China. As far as your displaced citizens, we know that you would prefer that they were slave labor like our citizens, whom we have displaced with their own tax dollars, that we would like to start a relief fund and help provide for their unemployment benefits as you continue to provide for us and ignore your own citizens. Soon I am sure it will be the United States of China as we are all proud here to have you on board. Mr. President, we are so happy you are just like your father, ignoring your own citizens and giving the rest of the world all of your money. We in kind will continue to ship Ginseng Root to the United States to help feed the unemployed until the eventual collapse of your country.
Sincerely,

Xiang Dauo.

[Texas_Dawg]

Willie Green, The New York Times, AFL-CIO, Democratic National Committee... peas in a pod.

[BushCountry]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!

[kaktuskid]

More like feces in a toilet bowl...

[Texas_Dawg]

"Right now I am very disillusioned with the Republicans' policies," said Michael Retzer, a Republican and a consultant to a supplier for Harley-Davidson. Mr. Retzer told Mr. Snow at a Harley plant near Milwaukee that he did not see how the tax cuts would stimulate the economy when so many consumers would spend the extra money on goods made overseas.

A Republican... and he's opposed to tax cuts and has no idea who the economics of tax cuts work? I'm really sure that guy's a solid Republican. (/sarcasm)

[Texas_Dawg]

"how" they work...

[Huck]

The President went fishing? For what, bass? Did he catch any? What'd he use? Spinnerbaits? Soft plastics? Man, what is with these reporters???

[Huck]

A Republican... and he's opposed to tax cuts and has no idea who the economics of tax cuts work? I'm really sure that guy's a solid Republican. (/sarcasm)

Sounds like a pitchforker.

[Texas_Dawg]

Willie Green is just that guy in the corner of the room ranting about nothing in particular but just wants to make people think he cares or knows more than them about something. Everyone just kind of looks at him and thinks, "Awww... now that's too bad", and just goes back to what they are doing back on Planet Earth.

[Willie Green]

Texas_Dawg hates a prosperous American Middle Class, blames Americans first, tells them they don't work hard enough and have to accept the same wages and benefits as Mexican and Chineses peons.

[BushCountry]

There is now a much more widespread expectation of strong economic growth. As many as 52% of respondents expect FY ’04 gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 6.5%. A significant 37% even expected the GDP growth to hit the 7% figure. This is much higher than the growth recorded in recent years. Some research agencies have already put out GDP projections of 6 to 6.5% for FY ’04.

This are the latest figures relating to the GDP for next year. If we hit over 6% (low end) the country will be at full employment. It always happens in a booming economy (Bill Clinton's 20 million jobs). I know it is hard to tell someone who is unemployed to have a little patience, but soon, real soon, it will be an employee market again.

Also, American companies are in a business cycle where they must upgrade their I/T to survive. They held back too long due the to terrorist threat and their aging equipment is degrading. Look for renewed spending as the cash flows in.  Below is the listing for the fastest growing jobs. 

Job Search - Job Listing - Fastest Growing Jobs [1998-2008]

• Data Communication Analysts +106% change
• Computer Security Specialists +106% change
• Computer Engineers +103% change
• Computer Systems Analysts +85% change
• Computer Support Specialists +85% change
• Page Layout Workers +76% change
• Chiropractors +70% change
• Paralegals +68% change
• Medical Assistants +62% change

Monster Job Search for I/T jobs produced over 5000 hits, actually closer to 10,000.

 Save this search and email me jobs

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Date		Job Title	Company	Location
Aug 3		Field Engineer	Atlantis Partners	US-MA-Boston
Aug 3		Oracle Programmer	Management Recruiters Intntl	US-IA-Central Iowa
Aug 3		Systems Analyst - singl.eView	Management Recruiters Intntl	US-IA-Central Iowa
Aug 3		System Engineer	PRA International	US-VA-Charlottesville/Harrisonburg
Aug 3		SAP PP: SALES & OPERATIONS PLANNING Configurer	Blue Dolphin Software Inc.	US-KS-Kansas City
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative	Volt Services Group	US-NC-Cary
Aug 3		BILLING SPECIALIST to $25k+ -	Appleone	US-CA-Long Beach
Aug 3		Novell Engineer	Modis, Inc.	US-OH-Columbus/Zanesville
Aug 3		Customer Service Representatives - Cable Industry	Appleone	US-CA-Los Angeles
Aug 3		DB2 UDB Administrator	PSR	US-NE-West/North Platte
Aug 3		OLAP Developer	PSR	US-NE-West/North Platte
Aug 3		Customer Service Lead to $28k+ - Call Center	Appleone	US-CA-Santa Ana
Aug 3		CSR to $35k+ - Insurance	Appleone	US-CA-Riverside
Aug 3		Tech Writer to $45k+	Appleone	US-CA-Torrance
Aug 3		Loan Processor to $40k+ -	Act 1	US-MA-Burlington
Aug 3		CUSTOMER SERVICE to $21k+ - Cable Industry	Appleone	US-CA-Newbury Park
Aug 3		Customer Service Representatives - Cable Industry	Appleone	US-CA-Santa Ana
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative to $35k+ - Manufacturing	Appleone	US-CA-Diamond Bar
Aug 3		AS 400/AIX Technical Support to $60k+ - X	Act 1	US-CO-Boulder
Aug 3		Network Analyst to $83k+ - Hi-tech	Act 1	US-CA-Mountain View
Aug 3		LOGISTICS CLERK to $25k+ - Manufacturing	Appleone	US-CA-South El Monte
Aug 3		CLAIMS PROCESSOR to $22k+	Appleone	US-LA-Bossier City
Aug 3		TEAM MANAGERS to $65k+ - Finance	Appleone	US-PA-Reading
Aug 3		INTAKE SPECIALIST- LAS VEGAS	Act 1	US-NV-Las Vegas
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative to $19k+ - public utilites	Appleone	US-PA-Mechanicsburg
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative to $25k+ - Medical Equipment	Appleone	US-CA-Fullerton
Aug 3		RECEPTIONIST to $25k+ - Insurance	Appleone	US-CA-Simi Valley
Aug 3		Access Developer to $73k+ -	Act 1 Technical	US-AL-Birmingham
Aug 3		TECHNICAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. to $32k+ - Manufacturing	Appleone	US-CA-Azusa
Aug 3		Customer Service to $27k+ -	Appleone	US-NJ-Princeton
Aug 3		LOGISTICS CLERK to $25k+ - Manufacturing	Appleone	US-CA-South El Monte
Aug 3		CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE	Act 1	US-CA-Rancho Cordova
Aug 3		CALL CENTER CUSTOMER SERVICE to $35k+ - Manufacturing	Appleone	US-CA-Diamond Bar
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative to $21k+ - Health Insurance	Appleone	US-TX-San Antonio
Aug 3		COMPUTER ASSEMBLER to $17k+ - Computer Wholesale	Appleone	US-NY-Buffalo
Aug 3		CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATE to $26k+ - Self Storage	Appleone	US-CA-Cypress
Aug 3		Embedded Software Engineer/Designer	Appleone	US-NV-Las Vegas
Aug 3		HEBREW TRANSLATOR to $27k+ - Web Commerce	Appleone	US-CA-Beverly Hills
Aug 3		MEDICAL BILLING/CLAIMS PROCESSOR	Appleone	US-CA-Sacramento
Aug 3		Customer Service Representative to $22k+ - call center	Appleone	US-CA-San Francisco
Aug 3		CUSTOMER SERVICE to $31k+ - Customer Service	Appleone	US-CA-Rowland Heights
Aug 3		Administrative/Customer Service to $31k	Appleone	US-CA-Burbank
Aug 3		Project Manager to $40k+ - A	Appleone	US-CA-Santa Ana
Aug 3		Support to $25k+ - Manufaturing	Appleone	US-CA-Whittier
Aug 3		Customer Service/Accounting Clerk to $26k	Appleone	US-CA-Glendale
Aug 3		Customer Service Rep to $31k+ - Clothing	Appleone	US-CA-Los Angeles
Aug 3		CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION SPECIALIST to $30k+ - Credit Union	Appleone	US-CA-El Segundo
Aug 3		Reception to $21k+ -	Appleone	US-NV-Las Vegas
Aug 3		Customer Service to $19k+ - j	Appleone	US-PA-Mechanicsburg
Aug 3		Systems Administrator to $85k+ -	Appleone	US-MD-Columbia

[Huck]

Aha. I see he has a private lake stocked with bass.

http://austin.about.com/library/weekly/aa021901a.htm

Smart man. I would do the same thing. Someday maybe I will.

[BushCountry]

Florida create 100,000 new jobs last month alone.

[samuel_adams_us]

I have a job, it's my friends I care about, I come from the older generation, a true american who lists his priorites like this:

Family First,
Friends Second,
Job Third.

You remember my type, true patriot.

[razorback-bert]

I read it twice, didn't see any mention of railroads, what happened?

[Texas_Dawg]

Texas_Dawg hates a prosperous American Middle Class, blames Americans first, tells them they don't work hard enough and have to accept the same wages and benefits as Mexican and Chineses peons.

Not really. I just believe in responsibility and not looking to the federal government to guarantee me a job at everyone else's expense, like you do, Willie. Funny... if Mexicans and Chinese people are all "peons" why are you so worried about them being more suitable for your beloved manufacturing jobs?

[My2Cents]

Why should we believe anything written in the NY Times?

[Willie Green]

and not looking to the federal government to guarantee me a job at everyone else's expense, like you do, Willie.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Texas_Dawg agrees with Kofi Anan and George Bush that American Trade Policy should subvert domestic prosperity for the greater benefit of the rest of the world.

[Steven W.]

if you have any doubts about the legitimacy of this article you should see the coverage of the tour & the media bus on C-SPAN this past weekend. On the factory floor many people thanked the secretaries for the tax cuts; in the bus the press ganged up together and mocked the cabinet secretaries, joking to each other such as, "if they said it three times then they must think we are going to believe it". the press was their typical reprehensible self, while talking amongst themselves on their private bus accompanying the secretaries, and were not sparing any of their liberal hyperbole despite the fact C-SPAN cameras kept rolling.