Is It The Economy, Stupid?

My ass has been up past my shoulders in alligators, anacondas and reticulated pythons at work. Ever have one of those weeks? This is mine.

In the meantime, the race is on and the Republicans are losing, the Democrats are winning, the Democrats are kicking our butts, no they're not, yes they are, look at this poll, look at that poll. And the economy, Omigod, the economy is absolutely crashing and has been crashing under the Evil Dictator Bush.

Actually, no it's not.

Many people, and certainly most Demoncats, er, Democrats, agree readily that the finest economy ever experienced by this nation was under the Clinton Administration -- finer than at any time in American history (do you see where my tongue is placed?).

And yet, despite that, please compare the finest economy ever in the history of the United States with that of the Evil Dictator Bush.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an average of roughly 3.7% under Clinton. Anything over 3% is considered good, and anything 4% or above is considered excellent. Under EDB, the economy is just about where it was during the best of the Clinton years. And that despite two massive events: first, the bursting of the stock market when most every "dot.com" you can think of tanked. Then, of course, 9/11/2001. That one day was responsible for almost the near-collapse of our entire domestic commercial air industry. Everything took a hit; many people curled into the fetal position and spending came to a lurching halt.

What about unemployment? What about that most heinous of accusations: "It's a jobless economy!" Really? Look above.

Note the hit right around -- you guessed it, 9/11. Things peaked at around 6.0 in 2003, and the unemployment rate now is just above 4%. That's a hair above the finest unemployment level during the president with the most ethical administration ever.

What about inflation? During the most stellar administration ever, inflation got down to around 1.6% in 1998. Frankly, darned decent. But also recall that President Bush stepped into a recession that he acquired from -- guess who?

So, I would posit: it IS terrorism; it IS immigration. But it is ALSO the economy and, clearly, it's NOTHING like what is portrayed in the DEM: the Defeatist, Elitist Media.

In Fornicalia, what's the first thing the Democratic candidate, Phil Angelides, would do? Raise billions of dollars in taxes. Our onerous registrations fees would reoccur. And more. He's said precisely that; it's no secret.

What do you think will occur under a Democratic House, Senate and Presidency? Will they continue tax cuts? Or will taxes increase? Will the military increase, or will it be cut? Will the mantra of "either we attack Islamists on their shores or we'll fight on our shores" continue? Or will we abandon Iran and encourage another Khmer Rouge where millions more will die?

Is it the economy? It is; and more.

BZ