Free Republic

Slow jobs recovery baffles economists, government officials. Anthony Whitmore lost his job as a die press operator at Midland Steel Products in Cleveland 10 months ago and holds little hope of finding work. In Chester, Chris Rabzak, a former aerospace engineer with a law degree, is stretching out his master's program in business administration rather than jumping into the labor market. ''Every month some economist comes out and says that next month or next year things will get better. I don't believe them anymore,'' said Rabzak, 36. ''In this economy, I'm not optimistic about finding a job,'' said Whitmore, 40....

President George W. Bush hit back at Democratic critics of his administration's job-creation efforts on Tuesday, branding them as "economic isolationists" who would raise new trade barriers and damage the US economy. The comments came as part of what appeared to be a co-ordinated administration effort to respond to growing political pressures over the anaemic pace of US job growth, which has helped push Mr Bush's likely Democratic opponent, John Kerry, ahead of the president in several recent polls. In a speech in Virginia, Mr Bush said: "There are economic isolationists in our country who believe we should separate ourselves...

President George W. Bush hit back at Democratic critics of his administration's job-creation efforts on Tuesday, branding them as "economic isolationists" who would raise new trade barriers and damage the US economy.The comments came as part of what appeared to be a co-ordinated administration effort to respond to growing political pressures over the slow pace of US job growth, which has helped push Mr Bush's likely Democratic opponent, John Kerry, ahead of the president in several recent polls.In a speech in Virginia, Mr Bush said: "There are economic isolationists in our country who believe we should separate ourselves from the...

The jobs crisis and the GOP Posted: March 10, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 Creators Syndicate, Inc. President Bush and his advisers are puzzled and worried. Economic liftoff took place right on schedule in July when the tax cuts took effect. In the last six months of 2003, the economy blazed along on a growth path of 6 percent. But where are the jobs? Last week's jobs report, with hundreds of thousands giving up the search for work, and manufacturing jobs disappearing for the 43rd straight month, jolted the White House. What is going on? They're calling it a...