Does The Media Ever Lie About The Economy?
"Bush Defends his $670 Billion Tax-Cutting Plan"-- AP.
Ah, don't you just love headlines like that? You'd think, from this, the President was some sort of criminal defendant, a la, 'President Bush, facing a 10-count criminal indictment for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to provide tax cuts prosecutors say are for the rich, defended himself in court today...' Well, you get the picture.
So, Democrats say we're in the middle of a deep depression (sure the economy the past 12 months grew by 3% and unemployment averaged 5.7% but that doesn't count because there's a Republican in the White House, which means unless the economy is growing by 5%, no 7%, no 8%, minimum, and unemployment is 1%, max, well, then, sorry Charlie, it's a deep depression -- so says Dan Rather. For Democrat presidents, the economy is officially booming unless it's SHRINKING by 5% or more and unemployment tops 25% -- see FDR and Jimmy Carter).
But, wait a minute, didn't this 'recession' or 'depression' or 'whatever' begin on Clinton's watch? (Commerce Dept. figures show the economy heading south throughout 2000 and had already slipped into recession by the time Bush took office).
What a dumb question. You still don't 'get it', do you? How many times must Dan Rather tell you?
Okay, one more time: If there's a Democrat in the White House, the economy is always booming, even if it's not, and everyone is prospering, even if they're not. Heck, ever notice how the 'homeless' magically disappear when there's a Democrat in the White House? Why, 3,000,000 homeless people suffering under Reagan each found custom dream homes and French Chateaus near the ocean as soon as Clinton became president. Poof! No more homeless problem.
Then, no sooner had heartless Bush took office, they were back -- back on the streets! But alas! now the number is 4,000,000, or 8,000,000 or whatever. (See the New York Times' special series, "If you vote Republican you'll be homeless and jobless and earth will burn up by Global Warming").
This GOP Prez=Depression/Dem Prez=Prosperity principle is how the booming Reagan 80s are now the days of soup kitchens, swelling unemployment, burgeoning bankruptcy, plummeting stock prices, impoverishment and homelessness -- oh those horrible, miserable, dreadful Reagan years! The Clinton 90s? Bubba, thankfully, ended the 12-year Reagan/Bush economic 'slump.'
And -- get this -- he did it even before he became "president." How so? Check this out: From June through December of '92, when Bubba spoke of "the worst economy in 50 years," the economy was actually sizzling at 4.1% GDP growth. So what was the media saying during this? The CBS "Evening News" with Dan Rather groused endlessly about the 'the faltering Bush economy,' and oh how much America needs Bubba to fix it. ABC's "World News Tonight" with Peter Jennings hammered away every night at the 'flagging Bush economy,' and oh how much America needs Bubba to fix it. The NBC "Nightly News" with Tom Brokaw became a series of nightly symposia on the 'ailing Bush economy,' and oh how much America needs Bubba to fix it.
Was the media lying, then? No, of course not! I'm stunned you'd even suggest such a thing -- shame on you. No, here's what really happened: The economy, back then, was mired in deep recession, even while growing because (sheesh, I thought I already 'splained this!) there was a Republican in the White House, and, sorry Charlie, but 4.1% won't cut the mustard -- unless there's a Democrat in the White House, in which 4.1% becomes dazzling proof the economy's booming. Remember: Anything less than 8% growth, under a Republican, equals recession; anything above - 5% negative growth, under a Democrat, equals robust economic recovery.
Bearing this in mind, since Dan Rather, we know, is always right, that nothing good can ever come from Republicans, then the solid 4.1% growth rate on Bush's watch must have been -- had to be! -- the Bubba-Rebound!
I know, I know, you probably think I'm just yanking your chain, so let me hereby present the (smoking gun) evidence.
Under the heading, Rebounding economy seen as boost, the Associated Press, days before the '96 Clinton re-election, wrote this: "All of a sudden, the 'Clinton crunch' that Bob Dole and the Republicans have been complaining about seems to be turning into the 'Clinton rebound...'...business activity has picked up speed...gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic health rebounded to a..." 6% growth rate? No. 5%? Nope. 4%? You're getting warmer. 3%? Answer: 2.8% in the first quarter! Wow!
What was GDP growth in the third quarter '96? Are you sitting down? (Drum roll, please?): A whopping, sizzling, booming 2.2%! The press celebrated it as good news for Clinton.
Now, compare that with 3.9% third quarter growth in '92 (under Bush the elder) -- when the media talked endlessly about the ailing/flagging/faltering Bush economy.
Keep that in mind next time a report comes out and you hear how gawd-awful our economy is doing. Chances are, the media's up to its old tricks.
Question: How badly do Democrats want the economy to tank for '04? Well, bad enough to let the cat out of the bag.
Washington Post reporter Terry M. Neal on Thursday wrote "that while there has been much focus on President Bush's tax-cut plan, Democratic critics are hoping for one scenario: By the 2004 election it will be clear that the tax cuts have done little to help the faltering economy, while driving up deficits and derailing future economic stability. This anticipation is at least part of the explanation for why so many Democrats are lining up to challenge a president who at this point looks unbeatable."
Well, my friends, there you have it.
The Democrats are hoping for the worst, all to win the back the White House '04. They can give a lick about the country -- winning elections is paramount.
Remember *that* next time you hear them gripe about somebody questioning their "patriotism."
No Smoking Gun!
Meanwhile, chief U.N. 'Smoking Guns' inspector Hans Blix said Thursday he has yet to find any, er, 'smoking gun' in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters in New York before briefing the U.N. Smoking Guns Security Council, he noted that "we have now been there for some two months and been covering the country in ever wider sweeps and we haven't found any smoking guns."
His partner, chief nuclear inspector Mohamed Elbaradei, also fielding questions, was asked if he'd seen any smoking gun. "No, so far, I've seen no smoking gun. Absolutely no smoking gun."
Gunter Pleuger, U.N. German ambassador, told reporters after the briefing he'd seen not a hint of a smoking gun. "There's no evidence of a smoking gun, near as I can tell."
Critics say that perhaps if Blix and the boys spent more time in Baghdad and less time in New York, they'd have more luck.
Besides, the Empire State is the last place I would expect any smoking gun anyway, given the state's tough gun control laws. Heck, you'd be hard pressed to find even a cigarette with Michael Boomberg as Mayor.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials seized on the news, noting that Iraq, like New York, has very strict gun control laws, so that no one should be surprised no smoking gun had been found. "We told you we had no smoking gun," said a gleeful Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin, Iraq's chief liaison officer to the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection of Smoking Guns Commission (UNMOVISGC).
The General added that Sarah Brady, fierce gun control advocate who heads the Brady Center to Prevent Smoking Gun Violence, had been a personal inspiration to him.
"We even plan on holding our very own Million Mom March here in Baghdad next month -- that shows you how much we're against smoking gun violence!" Amin said, beaming with pride. "President Saddam is so committed to fighting smoking gun violence, that nominees to the bench must pass a strict 'no-smoking-gun' litmus test. We've just finished setting up local Million Mom chapters throughout Iraq and marchers will form a human shield to stop evil Bush from invading Iraq!"
In Washington, the Brady Center Thursday issued a press release, praising Saddam for his commitment to fighting smoking gun violence.
"With the coming Million Mom March in Baghdad, we strongly urge Bush to postpone any invasion, if only to avoid civilian casualties," said the release.
Kidding aside, all the pieces in Bush's plan are neatly falling into place.
Bush set out to...
--Prove how useless these weapons inspectors can be.
--While Saddam plays cat-and-mouse with inspectors in Baghdad, rapidly build up our force strength in the region.
--Assemble an anti-Saddam coalition -- i.e., 'coalition of willing nations.'
--Give Saddam enough rope to hang himself.They don't call it Strategery for nothin'.
Great job, Mr. President.
Anyway, that's...
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"
