Bush: US is not headed into recession

[Southlooper]

Usually I tolerate our President's comments, but this really got me:

On one issue particularly worrisome to American consumers, there are indications that paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline is not out of the question once the summer driving season arrives. Asked about that, Bush said "That's interesting. I hadn't heard that. ... I know it's high now."

WTF? This has been all over the news for the last week and he "hadn't heard"?

How many months 'till 2009?

Full article:
Bush: US is not headed into recession - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[wine_o_girlie]

I hate to sound glib, but are we really surprised by this?

[kedzieb]

Ugh, I'm sorry to have to say it but I'm not surprised. Wasn't it his dad who had no idea how much milk cost?

[jennylou]

Remember, he's said before he doesn't watch or read the news, so this is not surprising to me - at all.

[laura]

Well he can say it, but that does not make it true. Like lots of other things.

[phoenics]

Mission Accomplished!

[kendriln]

Mission Accomplished!

This may be the truest thing I've heard all day!

[Delta]

I'm not sure what to make of that gas price comment. That's...not good. I guess he did just get back from Africa, but still.

And he may sound like Baghdad Bob regarding the economy, but if he had actually made a statement that in any way confirms we are headed into a recession (which can't technically be confirmed until we are in it) then the markets would have nosedived (even further.)

[SiValleySteph]

He probably hasn't bought his own gas since it was $1/gallon.

That's about what I think about that.

I certainly know gas is going up. It jumped $.30+ in less than a week and it's all over the papers here. But then again, GW doesn't read papers.

[Niobe]

Ah, blind optimism and ignorance. My two favorite traits in a leader. :rolleyes:

According to the countdown clock on my desktop, we only have to hear from him for another 326 days.

[ysolde]

I'm not sure what to make of that gas price comment. That's...not good. I guess he did just get back from Africa, but still.

And he may sound like Baghdad Bob regarding the economy, but if he had actually made a statement that in any way confirms we are headed into a recession (which can't technically be confirmed until we are in it) then the markets would have nosedived (even further.)


True. And very important. But there are ways of acknowledging the pain people are feeling without using the "R" word. And that's what a leader does.

[Delta]

But there are ways of acknowledging the pain people are feeling without using the "R" word. And that's what a leader does.

Q Mr. President, bad economic news continues to pile up, the latest today with the GDP barely growing. Are you concerned that a sagging economy and hard times will help defeat John McCain, like it did your father in 1992? And how far are you willing to go to prevent that?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm concerned about the economy because I'm concerned about working Americans, concerned about people who want to put money on the table and save for their kids' education. That's why I'm concerned about the economy. I want Americans working.

And there's no question the economy has slowed down. You just cited another example of slowdown. I don't think we're headed to a recession, but no question we're in a slowdown. And that's why we acted, and acted strongly, with over $150 billion worth of pro-growth economic incentives -- mainly money going into the hands of our consumers. And some money going to incent businesses to invest, which will create jobs.


Does he need to bite his lower lip to make it genuine? ;)

[Niobe]

Does he need to bite his lower lip to make it genuine? ;)

He could try thinking of Americans beyond those who fit in his happy image of a family with children, for one. I bet the majority of people in this country aren't thinking of their children's educations - either yet, anymore, or at all.

He could also try referring to us as "citizens" instead of "consumers".

It's also a bit odd that his way of keeping Americans working is to give them cash in hand to spend.

And I'm sure it will get business to create jobs. Somewhere. Probably China. Probably not America though.

But, for W, it's almost decent.

[Delta]

I'm not even going to get into it because I realize Bush is the devil here. I will say that Congress and Pelosi in particular were just as eager as Bush to get the (ridiculous) Election Year Rebate out there.

[Niobe]

Yeah, I mocked their reasons for it as well. :cool:

[Red'sGirl]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask:

From W's quote above, is "incent" a word? To "incent" businesses to invest?

Maybe there's a newer Webster's with it, cuz I don't see it in the dictionary.