The Economy
November 01, 2004
#1 - Accountability
President Bush likes to talk about accountability, often in regard to educational standards, but it has been a frequent refrain in other areas. He claims to have signed the most sweeping corporate accountability reforms since Franklin Roosevelt. After the Enron scandal, he assured us "company executives with power over 401(k)s . . . [more]
President Bush likes to talk about accountability, often in regard to educational standards, but it has been a frequent refrain in other areas. He claims to have signed the most sweeping corporate accountability reforms since Franklin Roosevelt. After the Enron scandal, he assured us "company executives with power over 401(k)s . . . [more]
October 24, 2004
#9 - The Final Countdown: The Economy
Highlights - or rather, low points - from President Bush's handling of the economy: July 2003: White House budget director Joshua Bolten says not to worry: “The U.S. economy is poised to return to healthy, sustained growth….There is a substantial stimulative effect to the tax cuts that have been introduced.” . . . [more]
Highlights - or rather, low points - from President Bush's handling of the economy: July 2003: White House budget director Joshua Bolten says not to worry: “The U.S. economy is poised to return to healthy, sustained growth….There is a substantial stimulative effect to the tax cuts that have been introduced.” . . . [more]
October 13, 2004
#20 - It's About Jobs, Stupid
The Economy Unspun, op-ed in today's New York Times: Both sides in this campaign have engaged in the usual debate about how much the president can do about the economy, apart from taking credit in good times and denying responsibility in bad times. There is truth to the notion that . . . [more]
The Economy Unspun, op-ed in today's New York Times: Both sides in this campaign have engaged in the usual debate about how much the president can do about the economy, apart from taking credit in good times and denying responsibility in bad times. There is truth to the notion that . . . [more]
October 11, 2004
#22 - He's Spinning out of Control
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, "Webs of Illusion": It's understood that incumbents campaigning for re-election will spotlight the good news and downplay the bad. The problem for President Bush, with the election just three weeks away, is that the bad news keeps cascading in and there . . . [more]
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, "Webs of Illusion": It's understood that incumbents campaigning for re-election will spotlight the good news and downplay the bad. The problem for President Bush, with the election just three weeks away, is that the bad news keeps cascading in and there . . . [more]
September 24, 2004
#39 - Going, Going, Gone
From "What are we bid for a clue?", by Francis Volpe in the Carlisle, PA Sentinel: There's a net loss of about a million jobs since 2001. Medicare and regular health insurance premiums are skyrocketing. Federal deficits are at a record level in absolute dollar figures. These are all signs . . . [more]
From "What are we bid for a clue?", by Francis Volpe in the Carlisle, PA Sentinel: There's a net loss of about a million jobs since 2001. Medicare and regular health insurance premiums are skyrocketing. Federal deficits are at a record level in absolute dollar figures. These are all signs . . . [more]
September 20, 2004
#43 - Passing the Buck
“I went to Washington to fix problems, not pass them on to future Presidents.” George W. Bush President's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota September 16, 2004 Interesting. Because, from where we sit, Bush seems to have passed quite a few problems off to future generations and . . . [more]
“I went to Washington to fix problems, not pass them on to future Presidents.” George W. Bush President's Remarks at Victory 2004 Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota September 16, 2004 Interesting. Because, from where we sit, Bush seems to have passed quite a few problems off to future generations and . . . [more]
September 14, 2004
#49 - He Makes Promises He Can't Afford to Keep
From today's Washington Post, "$3 Trillion Price Tag Left Out As Bush Details His Agenda": The expansive agenda President Bush laid out at the Republican National Convention was missing a price tag, but administration figures show the total is likely to be well in excess of $3 trillion over a . . . [more]
From today's Washington Post, "$3 Trillion Price Tag Left Out As Bush Details His Agenda": The expansive agenda President Bush laid out at the Republican National Convention was missing a price tag, but administration figures show the total is likely to be well in excess of $3 trillion over a . . . [more]
September 09, 2004
#54 - The Economic Black Hole He's Created
If the Bush-Cheney campaign is having trouble coming up with real issues to talk about, we're here to help. How about we start with the big sucking sound we're hearing from the economy: Even if the United States saved billions of dollars by withdrawing all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, . . . [more]
If the Bush-Cheney campaign is having trouble coming up with real issues to talk about, we're here to help. How about we start with the big sucking sound we're hearing from the economy: Even if the United States saved billions of dollars by withdrawing all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, . . . [more]
September 06, 2004
#57 - His Policies Aren't Helping American Workers
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, An Economy That Turns American Values Upside Down: The Labor Department reported last week that 144,000 payroll jobs were created in August. Let's put that in perspective. The number was below market forecasts. It was also below the number of jobs . . . [more]
From Bob Herbert's editorial in today's New York Times, An Economy That Turns American Values Upside Down: The Labor Department reported last week that 144,000 payroll jobs were created in August. Let's put that in perspective. The number was below market forecasts. It was also below the number of jobs . . . [more]
August 23, 2004
#71 - 20th Century Defense
President Bush defended his pursuit of a costly missile defense system on Tuesday and said those who oppose the idea do not understand the dangers the country faces in the 21st century. [. . .] Bush said a system to shoot down any incoming missiles armed with chemical, biological, or . . . [more]
President Bush defended his pursuit of a costly missile defense system on Tuesday and said those who oppose the idea do not understand the dangers the country faces in the 21st century. [. . .] Bush said a system to shoot down any incoming missiles armed with chemical, biological, or . . . [more]
August 14, 2004
#80 - Another Record
From the AP wire, via today's Winston-Salem Journal, "Trade deficit reaches new high": The U.S. trade deficit hit a record $55.8 billion in June as the country's foreign oil bill surged to an all-time high, the government reported yesterday. Soaring energy costs also showed up in wholesale prices for July, . . . [more]
From the AP wire, via today's Winston-Salem Journal, "Trade deficit reaches new high": The U.S. trade deficit hit a record $55.8 billion in June as the country's foreign oil bill surged to an all-time high, the government reported yesterday. Soaring energy costs also showed up in wholesale prices for July, . . . [more]
August 09, 2004
#85 - The Dark Side of Tax Cuts
I suppose there are people who still believe that enormous tax cuts for the very wealthy will lead to the creation of millions of good jobs for working people. In the twilight of his first term, the president, stumping for votes in regions scarred by the demon of unemployment, continues . . . [more]
I suppose there are people who still believe that enormous tax cuts for the very wealthy will lead to the creation of millions of good jobs for working people. In the twilight of his first term, the president, stumping for votes in regions scarred by the demon of unemployment, continues . . . [more]
August 02, 2004
#92 - Economic Shenanigans, Part II
Bush's Biggest Deficit: Consistency (BusinessWeek) In its latest fiscal forecast, released on July 30, the Bush Administration projects the deficit for the year ending on Sept. 30 will hit $445 billion. That would be $70 billion more than the record $375 billion deficit we hit last year. According to the . . . [more]
Bush's Biggest Deficit: Consistency (BusinessWeek) In its latest fiscal forecast, released on July 30, the Bush Administration projects the deficit for the year ending on Sept. 30 will hit $445 billion. That would be $70 billion more than the record $375 billion deficit we hit last year. According to the . . . [more]
August 01, 2004
#93 - Economic Shenanigans, Part I
Commerce Department Deletes Recession From Record (see Reuters article here) Conspiracy theorists may now add this one to the books: Months before the November election the Bush Administration covered up the 2001 Recession. That's right. Never happened. Didn't start under Clinton. Did not exist under Bush. Recession? We don't see . . . [more]
Commerce Department Deletes Recession From Record (see Reuters article here) Conspiracy theorists may now add this one to the books: Months before the November election the Bush Administration covered up the 2001 Recession. That's right. Never happened. Didn't start under Clinton. Did not exist under Bush. Recession? We don't see . . . [more]
July 22, 2004
#103 – The Bush Job Recovery Plan: Bait & Switch
“More Jobs, Worse Work” – Stephen Roach in the New York Times: The state of the American labor market remains the defining issue of the current economic debate. Through February, the United States was mired in the depths of the worst jobless recovery of the post-World War II era. Now, . . . [more]
“More Jobs, Worse Work” – Stephen Roach in the New York Times: The state of the American labor market remains the defining issue of the current economic debate. Through February, the United States was mired in the depths of the worst jobless recovery of the post-World War II era. Now, . . . [more]
July 05, 2004
#120 - The American Paycheck: a Reality Check
"The Sluggish Wage Recovery" from the New York Times: It would be wrong to read too much into one month's statistics, but there is plenty of reason to worry that this expansion is not raising wages as much as American families need. The American economy added 112,000 new jobs last . . . [more]
"The Sluggish Wage Recovery" from the New York Times: It would be wrong to read too much into one month's statistics, but there is plenty of reason to worry that this expansion is not raising wages as much as American families need. The American economy added 112,000 new jobs last . . . [more]
June 02, 2004
#153 - He Doesn't Listen to the Right People
From yesterday's AP wire via The Boston Globe, "Iraq costs are $119.4 billion and rising; lawmakers ponder how money might have been spent: Even by Washington standards, the $119.4 billion that President Bush and Congress have provided for the first two years of the war in Iraq is real money. . . . [more]
From yesterday's AP wire via The Boston Globe, "Iraq costs are $119.4 billion and rising; lawmakers ponder how money might have been spent: Even by Washington standards, the $119.4 billion that President Bush and Congress have provided for the first two years of the war in Iraq is real money. . . . [more]
May 20, 2004
#166 - The Bush Touch
More Republicans driving the nation's economy. Let us know when you find the "compassionate" part: On April 24, 2003, President Bush visited a Timken Co. bearings plant in Canton, Ohio, where he praised Timken's productivity and said his plan to end the double taxation of stock dividends would mean "companies . . . [more]
More Republicans driving the nation's economy. Let us know when you find the "compassionate" part: On April 24, 2003, President Bush visited a Timken Co. bearings plant in Canton, Ohio, where he praised Timken's productivity and said his plan to end the double taxation of stock dividends would mean "companies . . . [more]
May 03, 2004
#183 - The Cost of the War Just Keeps Getting Higher
From Bloomberg.com today, "Iraq Costs Surge, May Force Bush to Shuffle Funds, Seek More": U.S. military operations in Iraq may be $4 billion over budget by August, forcing President George W. Bush to shift money from other Pentagon accounts or ask Congress for more money before the November election, say . . . [more]
From Bloomberg.com today, "Iraq Costs Surge, May Force Bush to Shuffle Funds, Seek More": U.S. military operations in Iraq may be $4 billion over budget by August, forcing President George W. Bush to shift money from other Pentagon accounts or ask Congress for more money before the November election, say . . . [more]
March 16, 2004
#231 – It’s Not the Recession, Stupid
From "Deficit Study Disputes Role of Economy" in today's New York Times: When President Bush and his advisers talk about the widening federal budget deficit, they usually place part of the blame on economic shocks ranging from the recession of 2001 to the terrorist attacks that year. But a report . . . [more]
From "Deficit Study Disputes Role of Economy" in today's New York Times: When President Bush and his advisers talk about the widening federal budget deficit, they usually place part of the blame on economic shocks ranging from the recession of 2001 to the terrorist attacks that year. But a report . . . [more]
March 12, 2004
#235 - Reclassification, Not Recovery
From the New York Times via the Indianapolis Star: Is cooking a hamburger patty and inserting the meat and trimmings inside a bun a manufacturing job, like assembling cars? That question is posed in the new Economic Report of the President, a thick annual compendium of observations and statistics on . . . [more]
From the New York Times via the Indianapolis Star: Is cooking a hamburger patty and inserting the meat and trimmings inside a bun a manufacturing job, like assembling cars? That question is posed in the new Economic Report of the President, a thick annual compendium of observations and statistics on . . . [more]
March 07, 2004
#240 - His Tax Cuts Gave Us a Deficit, Not Jobs
From today's San Diego Tribune, "February hiring falls far short of predictions": The nation's employers added only 21,000 new workers last month, fewer than the lowest economists' forecasts and far below the number of job seekers hitting the unemployment lines. In a further sign that the three-year "jobless recovery" is . . . [more]
From today's San Diego Tribune, "February hiring falls far short of predictions": The nation's employers added only 21,000 new workers last month, fewer than the lowest economists' forecasts and far below the number of job seekers hitting the unemployment lines. In a further sign that the three-year "jobless recovery" is . . . [more]
February 20, 2004
#256 - More Information about What He Isn't
From Wednesday's AP wire, via Yahoo! News, via Helpful Reader E, "Bush Backs Off Forecast of 2.6M New Jobs": President Bush distanced himself Wednesday from White House predictions that the economy will add 2.6 million jobs this year, the second embarrassing economic retreat in a week and new fuel for . . . [more]
From Wednesday's AP wire, via Yahoo! News, via Helpful Reader E, "Bush Backs Off Forecast of 2.6M New Jobs": President Bush distanced himself Wednesday from White House predictions that the economy will add 2.6 million jobs this year, the second embarrassing economic retreat in a week and new fuel for . . . [more]
February 11, 2004
#265 – His Fiscal Expediencies are Threatening (Again) to Create an Insolvent America
Treasury Secretary John Snow spent last weekend kvetching with the Group of 7 finance ministers in Boca Raton, Florida. The Europeans are beginning to panic over the sinking value of the U.S. dollar, which is jacking up the price of European exports and slapping around economies across the Continent. Of . . . [more]
Treasury Secretary John Snow spent last weekend kvetching with the Group of 7 finance ministers in Boca Raton, Florida. The Europeans are beginning to panic over the sinking value of the U.S. dollar, which is jacking up the price of European exports and slapping around economies across the Continent. Of . . . [more]
February 10, 2004
#266 - The President Unhinged, Part II
More sounding off from Sunday's Meet the Press interview on NBC. Russert: The General Accounting Office, which are the nation's auditors President Bush: Yeah. Russert: have done a study of our finances. President Bush: Um hmm. Russert: And this is what your legacy will be to the next generation. It . . . [more]
More sounding off from Sunday's Meet the Press interview on NBC. Russert: The General Accounting Office, which are the nation's auditors President Bush: Yeah. Russert: have done a study of our finances. President Bush: Um hmm. Russert: And this is what your legacy will be to the next generation. It . . . [more]
February 05, 2004
#271 - His Administration's Heavy-Handed Tactics Are Alienating His Own Party, Too
From Reuters, via Forbes.com, "Senior Republican leader says Bush gets bad advice": A senior Republican congressional leader told President George W. Bush on Wednesday that he was getting bad advice on highway legislation and should reconsider a veto threat. "I am extremely disappointed with the 'take it or leave it' . . . [more]
From Reuters, via Forbes.com, "Senior Republican leader says Bush gets bad advice": A senior Republican congressional leader told President George W. Bush on Wednesday that he was getting bad advice on highway legislation and should reconsider a veto threat. "I am extremely disappointed with the 'take it or leave it' . . . [more]
February 03, 2004
#273 - Budgetary Woes
Yesterday the President presented his $2.4 trillion budget for fiscal year 2005 - "a plan to help make America a more secure, more prosperous, and more hopeful country" (the White House's words, not ours). Heavy on national security expenditures and promises to cut domestic spending, the President's budget has a . . . [more]
Yesterday the President presented his $2.4 trillion budget for fiscal year 2005 - "a plan to help make America a more secure, more prosperous, and more hopeful country" (the White House's words, not ours). Heavy on national security expenditures and promises to cut domestic spending, the President's budget has a . . . [more]
February 01, 2004
#275 - The Illusory Middle Class Tax Cut
From Reuters, " IRS: Tax Cuts Would Expand Minimum Tax Bite" Unless Congress acts, millions of U.S. taxpayers will be shocked in April 2006 as they do their taxes and discover they owe the government much more than thought, according to the Internal Revenue Service's taxpayer watchdog. "These are compliant . . . [more]
From Reuters, " IRS: Tax Cuts Would Expand Minimum Tax Bite" Unless Congress acts, millions of U.S. taxpayers will be shocked in April 2006 as they do their taxes and discover they owe the government much more than thought, according to the Internal Revenue Service's taxpayer watchdog. "These are compliant . . . [more]
January 29, 2004
#278 - The Cost of War, Part 2
Via Reuters, "Bush Sees No Need for More Iraq Funds Before 2005" The White House said on Friday it has no plans "at this point" to seek more money this year for military operations in Iraq, putting off any politically sensitive request until Congress convenes in 2005 after the U.S. . . . [more]
Via Reuters, "Bush Sees No Need for More Iraq Funds Before 2005" The White House said on Friday it has no plans "at this point" to seek more money this year for military operations in Iraq, putting off any politically sensitive request until Congress convenes in 2005 after the U.S. . . . [more]
January 25, 2004
#282 - The Cost of War
$97.6 billion is enough to fund 1,768,400 four year college scholarships at public universities, build nearly a million affordable housing units, send 9,857,000 children to a year of Head Start and provide 29,880,000 children with a year of health care. And the numbers keep rising. . . . [more]
$97.6 billion is enough to fund 1,768,400 four year college scholarships at public universities, build nearly a million affordable housing units, send 9,857,000 children to a year of Head Start and provide 29,880,000 children with a year of health care. And the numbers keep rising. . . . [more]
January 24, 2004
#283 - His Grasp of the Economy is Not Complex
Economy Lessons at the Nothin' Fancy Cafe Remarks by the President to the Press Pool Nothin' Fancy Cafe Roswell, New Mexico January 22, 2004 11:25 A.M. MST THE PRESIDENT: I need some ribs. Q Mr. President, how are you? THE PRESIDENT: I'm hungry and I'm going to order some ribs. . . . [more]
Economy Lessons at the Nothin' Fancy Cafe Remarks by the President to the Press Pool Nothin' Fancy Cafe Roswell, New Mexico January 22, 2004 11:25 A.M. MST THE PRESIDENT: I need some ribs. Q Mr. President, how are you? THE PRESIDENT: I'm hungry and I'm going to order some ribs. . . . [more]
January 23, 2004
#284 - The Right's Not Happy With Him, Either
President George W Bush is facing mounting anger from the conservative Right who accused him of letting government spending run out of control. Forty Republican Congressmen have formed a rebel group committed to curbing federal spending. The move followed an attack on Mr Bush and the Republican-dominated Congress by six . . . [more]
President George W Bush is facing mounting anger from the conservative Right who accused him of letting government spending run out of control. Forty Republican Congressmen have formed a rebel group committed to curbing federal spending. The move followed an attack on Mr Bush and the Republican-dominated Congress by six . . . [more]
January 11, 2004
#296 - It's the Economy, Stupid
And it's still not improving, at least for those searching for work: Job growth came to an unexpected halt in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday, and rather than hunt for scarce work, tens of thousands of people disappeared from the labor force. Most forecasters had said they . . . [more]
And it's still not improving, at least for those searching for work: Job growth came to an unexpected halt in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday, and rather than hunt for scarce work, tens of thousands of people disappeared from the labor force. Most forecasters had said they . . . [more]
January 10, 2004
#297 - We're Headed to Mars
With his head in the clouds, Bush hopes we'll all focus on the stars instead of his domestic agenda. President Bush will announce plans next week to establish a permanent human settlement on the moon and to set a goal of eventually sending Americans to Mars, administration sources said last . . . [more]
With his head in the clouds, Bush hopes we'll all focus on the stars instead of his domestic agenda. President Bush will announce plans next week to establish a permanent human settlement on the moon and to set a goal of eventually sending Americans to Mars, administration sources said last . . . [more]
January 08, 2004
#299 - He's Taking the Global Economy Down with Him
From today's Guardian (UK), "US 'endangering world economy'": The International Monetary Fund last night warned that the gaping US budget deficit, ballooning trade imbalance and falling dollar were posing a serious threat to the health of the global economy. It sounded the alarm in a critical report on US fiscal . . . [more]
From today's Guardian (UK), "US 'endangering world economy'": The International Monetary Fund last night warned that the gaping US budget deficit, ballooning trade imbalance and falling dollar were posing a serious threat to the health of the global economy. It sounded the alarm in a critical report on US fiscal . . . [more]
January 07, 2004
#300 - The Department of Anti-Labor
A proposed Labor Department rule suggests ways employers can avoid paying overtime to some of the 1.3 million low-income workers who would become eligible this year. The department's advice comes even as it touts the $895 million in increased wages that it says those workers would be guaranteed from the . . . [more]
A proposed Labor Department rule suggests ways employers can avoid paying overtime to some of the 1.3 million low-income workers who would become eligible this year. The department's advice comes even as it touts the $895 million in increased wages that it says those workers would be guaranteed from the . . . [more]
January 04, 2004
#303 - What We Can Expect from a Second Term
From today's New York Times, "Bush's Budget for 2005 Seeks to Rein In Domestic Costs": Facing a record budget deficit, Bush administration officials say they have drafted an election-year budget that will rein in the growth of domestic spending without alienating politically influential constituencies. They said the president's proposed budget . . . [more]
From today's New York Times, "Bush's Budget for 2005 Seeks to Rein In Domestic Costs": Facing a record budget deficit, Bush administration officials say they have drafted an election-year budget that will rein in the growth of domestic spending without alienating politically influential constituencies. They said the president's proposed budget . . . [more]
January 03, 2004
#304 - He Doesn't Put Money Where His Mouth Is
From the AP wire, via the San Jose Mercury News, "Bush Decries Critics of New Education Law": Gearing up for a possible election year fight on his education initiative, President Bush defended his "No Child Left Behind" law against critics who say it's been shortchanged and assumes all students learn . . . [more]
From the AP wire, via the San Jose Mercury News, "Bush Decries Critics of New Education Law": Gearing up for a possible election year fight on his education initiative, President Bush defended his "No Child Left Behind" law against critics who say it's been shortchanged and assumes all students learn . . . [more]
January 02, 2004
#305 - The Jobless Recovery
From today’s International Herald Tribune, "Coming to terms with the logic of outsourcing": In the next decade, as many as 6 million U.S. jobs may be sent to India, Ireland, Israel and other nations by companies in search of lower costs and a tech-savvy, English-speaking work force, Goldman Sachs Group . . . [more]
From today’s International Herald Tribune, "Coming to terms with the logic of outsourcing": In the next decade, as many as 6 million U.S. jobs may be sent to India, Ireland, Israel and other nations by companies in search of lower costs and a tech-savvy, English-speaking work force, Goldman Sachs Group . . . [more]
December 19, 2003
#319 - He Spends Money on the Wrong Things
From today’s Washington Post, " Survey Indicates More Go Hungry, Homeless Aid Lacking as Greater Demands Conflict With Improving Economy, Report Says": More cities have had residents turned away from emergency food and shelter assistance this year than in any year since 1997, according to a report released yesterday by . . . [more]
From today’s Washington Post, " Survey Indicates More Go Hungry, Homeless Aid Lacking as Greater Demands Conflict With Improving Economy, Report Says": More cities have had residents turned away from emergency food and shelter assistance this year than in any year since 1997, according to a report released yesterday by . . . [more]
December 16, 2003
#322 - Read Our Lips, Junior: No New Tax Cuts for the Ridiculously Wealthy
Okay, George - you pulled a dictator out of the hole...now how about pulling the budget out, too? Despite market volatility and pleas from his own conservative base, U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday played down the need to propose a more concrete plan to reduce record federal budget . . . [more]
Okay, George - you pulled a dictator out of the hole...now how about pulling the budget out, too? Despite market volatility and pleas from his own conservative base, U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday played down the need to propose a more concrete plan to reduce record federal budget . . . [more]
December 07, 2003
#331 - His Administration "Governs Like There's No Tomorrow"
From Paul Krugman's editorial in Friday's New York Times, "Looting the Future": One thing you have to say about George W. Bush: he's got a great sense of humor. At a recent fund-raiser, according to The Associated Press, he described eliminating weapons of mass destruction from Iraq and ensuring the . . . [more]
From Paul Krugman's editorial in Friday's New York Times, "Looting the Future": One thing you have to say about George W. Bush: he's got a great sense of humor. At a recent fund-raiser, according to The Associated Press, he described eliminating weapons of mass destruction from Iraq and ensuring the . . . [more]
December 01, 2003
#337 - The "Big Hole" Keeps Growing
From "Big Hole in Bush's Growth Plan" in the Christian Science Monitor: The US federal budget is "out of control," warns Goldman Sachs economist Ed McKelvey. "Any thoughts of relief ... are a pipe dream until political realities adjust." A growing number of economists agree. Still, the Bush economic team . . . [more]
From "Big Hole in Bush's Growth Plan" in the Christian Science Monitor: The US federal budget is "out of control," warns Goldman Sachs economist Ed McKelvey. "Any thoughts of relief ... are a pipe dream until political realities adjust." A growing number of economists agree. Still, the Bush economic team . . . [more]
November 12, 2003
#356 - He Can't Even Keep Promises to His Own Conservative Base
So much for the end of the era of big government... Confounding President Bush's pledges to rein in government growth, federal discretionary spending expanded by 12.5 percent in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, capping a two-year bulge that saw the government grow by more than 27 percent, according . . . [more]
So much for the end of the era of big government... Confounding President Bush's pledges to rein in government growth, federal discretionary spending expanded by 12.5 percent in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, capping a two-year bulge that saw the government grow by more than 27 percent, according . . . [more]
November 11, 2003
#357 - He Violates International Agreements for Political Gain (Again)
The World Trade Organization issued a final ruling yesterday that the steel tariffs imposed by President Bush violate international trade rules, raising expectations that the White House will soon repeal the tariffs to avoid imminent European retaliation. The WTO decision gives the European Union and several other countries the right . . . [more]
The World Trade Organization issued a final ruling yesterday that the steel tariffs imposed by President Bush violate international trade rules, raising expectations that the White House will soon repeal the tariffs to avoid imminent European retaliation. The WTO decision gives the European Union and several other countries the right . . . [more]
October 06, 2003
#393 - Trouble Ahead
From the Straits Times (Singapore), "Washington's risky dollar brinkmanship": The United States trade deficit is at record heights. It also has a yawning fiscal deficit, which puts further pressure on the dollar - foreigners finance the fiscal deficit, selling their own currencies to buy US Treasuries, causing the dollar's value . . . [more]
From the Straits Times (Singapore), "Washington's risky dollar brinkmanship": The United States trade deficit is at record heights. It also has a yawning fiscal deficit, which puts further pressure on the dollar - foreigners finance the fiscal deficit, selling their own currencies to buy US Treasuries, causing the dollar's value . . . [more]
October 04, 2003
#395 - His Administration Created a Hidden Task Force, and Then Ignored Their Findings
From the New York Times, "Report Offered Bleak Outlook About Iraq Oil": The Bush administration's optimistic statements earlier this year that Iraq's oil wealth, not American taxpayers, would cover most of the cost of rebuilding Iraq were at odds with a bleaker assessment of a government task force secretly established . . . [more]
From the New York Times, "Report Offered Bleak Outlook About Iraq Oil": The Bush administration's optimistic statements earlier this year that Iraq's oil wealth, not American taxpayers, would cover most of the cost of rebuilding Iraq were at odds with a bleaker assessment of a government task force secretly established . . . [more]
October 03, 2003
#396 - He Won't Admit Mistakes
Worse, with unemployment, poverty and the percentage of Americans without health insurance rising, he makes taxpayers foot the bill for his folly: The Bush administration is seeking more than $600 million from Congress to continue the hunt for conclusive evidence that Saddam Hussein's government had an illegal weapons program, officials . . . [more]
Worse, with unemployment, poverty and the percentage of Americans without health insurance rising, he makes taxpayers foot the bill for his folly: The Bush administration is seeking more than $600 million from Congress to continue the hunt for conclusive evidence that Saddam Hussein's government had an illegal weapons program, officials . . . [more]
September 30, 2003
#399 - He Doesn’t Connect the Dots
From Thomas Friedmans’s editorial in the New York Times, via the Salt Lake Tribune: The United States and Europe, argues Clyde Prestowitz*, the trade expert and author of Rogue Nation, should actually shrink their farm subsidies, even if developing countries don't immediately reciprocate. If only the Bush team connected the . . . [more]
From Thomas Friedmans’s editorial in the New York Times, via the Salt Lake Tribune: The United States and Europe, argues Clyde Prestowitz*, the trade expert and author of Rogue Nation, should actually shrink their farm subsidies, even if developing countries don't immediately reciprocate. If only the Bush team connected the . . . [more]
September 27, 2003
#402 - He Governs on Behalf of the Rich
We know, no surprise. But still. From More Americans in Poverty in 2002, Census Study Says, via the New York Times. The number of Americans living in poverty increased by 1.7 million last year, and the median household income declined by 1.1 percent, the Census Bureau reported today. It was . . . [more]
We know, no surprise. But still. From More Americans in Poverty in 2002, Census Study Says, via the New York Times. The number of Americans living in poverty increased by 1.7 million last year, and the median household income declined by 1.1 percent, the Census Bureau reported today. It was . . . [more]
September 19, 2003
#410 - Total Fiscal Mismanagement
Yes, we've said it before. But now someone bipartisan and a former Reagan administration official is saying it. And he says it's much worse than we think. The federal government's budget is in far worse shape than most Americans realize, and the fiscal hole is deepening, the head of Congress' . . . [more]
Yes, we've said it before. But now someone bipartisan and a former Reagan administration official is saying it. And he says it's much worse than we think. The federal government's budget is in far worse shape than most Americans realize, and the fiscal hole is deepening, the head of Congress' . . . [more]
September 14, 2003
#415 - He's Putting Our Children in Grave Financial Peril
From "Dizzying Dive to Red Ink Poses Stark Choices for Washington", via the New York Times. When President Bush informed the nation last Sunday night that remaining in Iraq next year will cost another $87 billion, many of those who will actually pay that bill were unable to watch. They . . . [more]
From "Dizzying Dive to Red Ink Poses Stark Choices for Washington", via the New York Times. When President Bush informed the nation last Sunday night that remaining in Iraq next year will cost another $87 billion, many of those who will actually pay that bill were unable to watch. They . . . [more]
September 13, 2003
#416 - He Doesn't Play Well With Others
From "America set to torpedo trade talks", via the Guardian (UK): Fears are growing that the United States could effectively walk away from crucial trade talks in the Mexican resort of Cancun aimed at solving the deepening economic and social crisis afflicting billions of the world's poorest people. As the . . . [more]
From "America set to torpedo trade talks", via the Guardian (UK): Fears are growing that the United States could effectively walk away from crucial trade talks in the Mexican resort of Cancun aimed at solving the deepening economic and social crisis afflicting billions of the world's poorest people. As the . . . [more]
September 10, 2003
#419 - Six Reasons from Bill Buckley, but We'll Just Count Them as One Because of the Sarcasm
From yesterday’s editorial on Yahoo! News by William F. Buckley, "Bush Is Evil": In a private forum the question arose, Why do they hate Bush so? And ... what will they do with that hatred? How far can they carry it? How will it affect the next presidential election? The . . . [more]
From yesterday’s editorial on Yahoo! News by William F. Buckley, "Bush Is Evil": In a private forum the question arose, Why do they hate Bush so? And ... what will they do with that hatred? How far can they carry it? How will it affect the next presidential election? The . . . [more]
September 09, 2003
#420 - Bailouts are Business as Usual
From the Washington Post, July 30, 1999: "Bush Name Helps Fuel Oil Dealings": Thanks to his and his family's ties to wealthy investors around the country, including prominent Republicans, Bush was repeatedly able to raise money to invest in oil drilling, especially when prices were booming and tax breaks were . . . [more]
From the Washington Post, July 30, 1999: "Bush Name Helps Fuel Oil Dealings": Thanks to his and his family's ties to wealthy investors around the country, including prominent Republicans, Bush was repeatedly able to raise money to invest in oil drilling, especially when prices were booming and tax breaks were . . . [more]
September 02, 2003
#427 - He Gives Lip Service to Those Most in Need of Government Help
Bush's radio address for Labor Day extols the virtues of American workers whose "spirit of hard work and enterprise" and increasing productivity have made the country strong in these crucial economic times. He congratulated himself on the Jobs and Growth Act providing tax relief "at just the right time" so . . . [more]
Bush's radio address for Labor Day extols the virtues of American workers whose "spirit of hard work and enterprise" and increasing productivity have made the country strong in these crucial economic times. He congratulated himself on the Jobs and Growth Act providing tax relief "at just the right time" so . . . [more]
August 31, 2003
#429 - Forget 525, Here's 5.8 Trillion Reasons
More dire economic news, via the New York Times. Even if the economy rebounds strongly over the next few years, the federal budget deficit could climb for the rest of the decade if Congress adopts proposals strongly supported by President Bush, the Congressional Budget Office said today. Offering a sharp . . . [more]
More dire economic news, via the New York Times. Even if the economy rebounds strongly over the next few years, the federal budget deficit could climb for the rest of the decade if Congress adopts proposals strongly supported by President Bush, the Congressional Budget Office said today. Offering a sharp . . . [more]
August 28, 2003
#432 - He Screws Over Federal Employees, Then Blames It on the War Rather Than His Irresponsible Tax Cuts
His latest outrage - and we do mean outrage - as articulated in the San Francisco Chronicle: Citing a national emergency that has existed since the 2001 terrorist attacks, President Bush said Wednesday he will cut the pay raises that most civilian federal employees were to receive in January. In . . . [more]
His latest outrage - and we do mean outrage - as articulated in the San Francisco Chronicle: Citing a national emergency that has existed since the 2001 terrorist attacks, President Bush said Wednesday he will cut the pay raises that most civilian federal employees were to receive in January. In . . . [more]
August 03, 2003
#456 - No Rest for the Fund-Raiser
From Thursday’s press conference: "We will not rest until Americans looking for work can find a job." Well, maybe a little rest... . . . [more]
From Thursday’s press conference: "We will not rest until Americans looking for work can find a job." Well, maybe a little rest... . . . [more]
July 25, 2003
#465 - Fiscal Irresponsibility Meets Photo Op
From the San Jose Mercury News: Standing in front of thousands of tax-refund checks that soon will be in mailboxes across the country, President Bush defended his economic policies Thursday and declared that "better days are ahead" for Americans. In the first of a series of events intended to shore . . . [more]
From the San Jose Mercury News: Standing in front of thousands of tax-refund checks that soon will be in mailboxes across the country, President Bush defended his economic policies Thursday and declared that "better days are ahead" for Americans. In the first of a series of events intended to shore . . . [more]
July 24, 2003
#466 - He’s Creating Jobs, Alright - They’re Just Not Here
Unless you’re a regular reader of New Delhi’s Business Standard, you may have missed this from a January 31, 2003 article "Bush’s party to raise funds via Noida, Gurgaon": HCL eServe, the business process outsourcing arm of the Shiv Nadar-promoted HCL Technologies, has bagged a project to undertake a fund-raising . . . [more]
Unless you’re a regular reader of New Delhi’s Business Standard, you may have missed this from a January 31, 2003 article "Bush’s party to raise funds via Noida, Gurgaon": HCL eServe, the business process outsourcing arm of the Shiv Nadar-promoted HCL Technologies, has bagged a project to undertake a fund-raising . . . [more]
July 17, 2003
#473 - His Priorities Are a Mess
From Sunday's Dayton Daily News, "Bush still knocking Head Start": Of all the things the federal government needs to fix, President George W. Bush's obsession with Head Start is perplexing. As important as Head Start is to the almost 1 million children who are served by the early childhood education . . . [more]
From Sunday's Dayton Daily News, "Bush still knocking Head Start": Of all the things the federal government needs to fix, President George W. Bush's obsession with Head Start is perplexing. As important as Head Start is to the almost 1 million children who are served by the early childhood education . . . [more]
July 16, 2003
#474 - We Can't Trust His Estimates, Either
From today's San Francisco Chronicle, "Federal deficit to hit record this year - dramatic increase in White House's estimate of shortfall": The White House Office of Management and Budget projected that this year's deficit would reach $455 billion, $151 billion more than previously estimated. In 2004, the White House said, . . . [more]
From today's San Francisco Chronicle, "Federal deficit to hit record this year - dramatic increase in White House's estimate of shortfall": The White House Office of Management and Budget projected that this year's deficit would reach $455 billion, $151 billion more than previously estimated. In 2004, the White House said, . . . [more]
July 11, 2003
#479 - By His Own Reckoning, He Needs to Leave
Yesterday there was this tidbit from Bush’s African adventure: Mr. Bush also repeated his call for a change of government in Zimbabwe, which borders Botswana to the east. "It's a shame that the economy has gotten so weak and soft," Mr. Bush said of Zimbabwe, which has been deteriorating economically . . . [more]
Yesterday there was this tidbit from Bush’s African adventure: Mr. Bush also repeated his call for a change of government in Zimbabwe, which borders Botswana to the east. "It's a shame that the economy has gotten so weak and soft," Mr. Bush said of Zimbabwe, which has been deteriorating economically . . . [more]
July 03, 2003
#487 - More Work, Less Money
From Bob Herbert's column in today's New York Times Op-Ed section, "Picking Workers' Pockets": The Bush administration, which has the very bad habit of smiling at working people while siphoning money from their pockets, is trying to change the federal Fair Labor Standards Act in a way that could cause . . . [more]
From Bob Herbert's column in today's New York Times Op-Ed section, "Picking Workers' Pockets": The Bush administration, which has the very bad habit of smiling at working people while siphoning money from their pockets, is trying to change the federal Fair Labor Standards Act in a way that could cause . . . [more]
June 29, 2003
#491 - He's Not Protecting Us
Sure, the Bush administration has reduced our taxes, but it has also depleted social services while allowing the states to go broke. And in the meantime, Bush and his cohorts are failing to adequately perform a basic task: protecting citizens. Today the Washington Post reports that a bipartisan panel of . . . [more]
Sure, the Bush administration has reduced our taxes, but it has also depleted social services while allowing the states to go broke. And in the meantime, Bush and his cohorts are failing to adequately perform a basic task: protecting citizens. Today the Washington Post reports that a bipartisan panel of . . . [more]
June 10, 2003
#510 - He's Not an Economist, but He Plays One on TV
From yesterday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Bush, economists differ on dollar's slide": President Bush repeated his support Monday for a "strong dollar" and blamed its recent slide on Europe's higher interest rates. Private economists say a far bigger factor in the greenback's decline is America's record trade deficit. Bush indicated that he . . . [more]
From yesterday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Bush, economists differ on dollar's slide": President Bush repeated his support Monday for a "strong dollar" and blamed its recent slide on Europe's higher interest rates. Private economists say a far bigger factor in the greenback's decline is America's record trade deficit. Bush indicated that he . . . [more]
June 08, 2003
#512 - He Never Worked a Hard Day in His Life
How many of you think George W. Bush knows the price of a gallon of milk? Or what one can and cannot buy with food stamps? He certainly doesn’t know what it’s like to work for hours on his feet, to look for change under the couch for bus fare . . . [more]
How many of you think George W. Bush knows the price of a gallon of milk? Or what one can and cannot buy with food stamps? He certainly doesn’t know what it’s like to work for hours on his feet, to look for change under the couch for bus fare . . . [more]
June 06, 2003
#514 - Texas Is Still Paying
From today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution,"Texans paying for Bush's spend now, pay later plan": Leaders in Washington and Austin have signed deals with the devil -- the devil in the details about their budget austerity, the devil in the assumption that the next budget cycle, or the one after that, will deliver . . . [more]
From today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution,"Texans paying for Bush's spend now, pay later plan": Leaders in Washington and Austin have signed deals with the devil -- the devil in the details about their budget austerity, the devil in the assumption that the next budget cycle, or the one after that, will deliver . . . [more]
May 31, 2003
#520 - We Can't Afford It
Remember those heady days in the late 1990s when we didn’t have a budget deficit? Every quarter we’d get a sunny report from Tom Brokaw and those nice folks at NPR telling us that our nation’s surplus was even more than we thought! Well, those days are over. Under the . . . [more]
Remember those heady days in the late 1990s when we didn’t have a budget deficit? Every quarter we’d get a sunny report from Tom Brokaw and those nice folks at NPR telling us that our nation’s surplus was even more than we thought! Well, those days are over. Under the . . . [more]
May 28, 2003
#523 - Tax Relief for the Gilded Set
So, we have a tax bill that few Americans are clamoring for, that the country cannot afford, and that hurts the poor and gives back disproportionately to the rich. There are so many, many problems with the bill Bush signed today that it's hard to begin. We only have space . . . [more]
So, we have a tax bill that few Americans are clamoring for, that the country cannot afford, and that hurts the poor and gives back disproportionately to the rich. There are so many, many problems with the bill Bush signed today that it's hard to begin. We only have space . . . [more]
001-025 | 026-050 | 051-075 | 076-100 | 101-125 | 126-150 | 151-175 | 176-200 | 201-225 | 226-250 | 251-275 | 276-300 | 301-325 | 326-350 | 351-375 | 376-400 | 401-425 | 426-450 | 451-475 | 476-500 | 501-525
Powered by
