Question US

Is George W. Bush responsible for the economy?

right this time August 23, 2009 03:43:07

Just prior to the inauguration of President Obama it became popular for right wing talking heads, from Fox News to Rush Limbaugh, to begin referring to the "Obama Recession." After Obama was officially sworn in these same partisans wasted no time saying that his Presidency was already a disaster. Further more any suggestion that Obama inherited an economic mess from George Bush was brushed aside as blame placing and excuse making.
Now comes the problem for the GOP and hard-right talking points. Housing sales just hit a ten year high. Several leading economists have actually credited the "cash for clunkers" deal as having had a positive stimulative impact on the economy. A massive banking crash unlike anything since the Great Depression has been averted and some banks are starting to pay back their loans from the government with interest. The stock market has hit its highest mark of the year. Unemployment seems to be starting to level off some. Factory production and demand is up.
So with Obama's team apparently pulling off what many would have thought was a miracle six months ago what do the Republicans do now? History is one clue. When Bill Clinton turned around a staggering economy, floated all boats on an economic tide of prosperity, balanced the Federal Budget and created a surplus, the Republicans began to say that this was really the work of George H. W. Bush. Even though the economy looked terrible during his administration, they argued, he did all of the right things that would eventually create prosperity during Clinton's Presidency. Clinton was just taking credit for the hard work of his predecessor. So the question is if things are starting to get better sooner than anyone thought possible will the new Republican talking point be that it was really George W. Bush who saved the day for President Obama?

Here is what I think . . .

85%

11 votes

If the economy is bad it is Obama's fault but if it gets better it will be because of Bush.

8%

1 vote

Is this a trick question?

8%

1 vote

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Comments
  • Dan November 07, 2009 00:18:40
    Dan

    Is this a trick question?

    How many fu**ed up fundamental flaws and lies can YOU find in this Obama statement? After serving as President for 10 months already - more than long enough to accept responsibility for his many mistakes and achievements (sorry, can't think of one at the moment), Obama says

    "My, uhhh, fellow Amerikuns...I have saved thousands of uhhh jobs which were lost recently by the uhhh Bush administration. As revealed in my uhhh transparent government uhhh you can plainly see that uhhh national unemployment has not uhhh risen above 8%, as promised! You may not uhhh know that I was recenlty awarded the Nobel piece prize for uhhh doing great things for Amerikuh. The uhhh fabricated story of national unemployment being over 8% is nothing but a uhhh FOX News Republican lie and I will uhhh do everything within my power to uhhh have them removed from the TV and radio. Remember, Amerikuh! We are in the uhhh road to recovery! Yes we can!"
  • Cognito22 September 08, 2009 14:06:10
    Cognito22

    Here is what I think . . .

    The federal regulators of Wall Street and of Savings and Loans (banking), especially Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, are to blame.

    Blaming Bush or Obama is a simpleton's view of the mess.

    Grow up.
  • 1348933 August 28, 2009 18:30:23
    1348933

    Here is what I think . . .

    Yes. George W. Bush is responsible for the economic mess. But don't take my word for it -- read the linked article by Bruce Bartlett, a leading Republican economist who was one of the original supply-siders. He helped draft the Kemp-Roth tax bill in the 1970s.

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/...
  • edwardwillispcf August 23, 2009 22:11:27
    edwardwillispcf

    Here is what I think . . .

    part of is bush and the rest is obama
  • Conservative in California August 23, 2009 05:31:44
    Conservative in California

    Here is what I think . . .

    Read Thomas Sowell's book on the matter...If you really want to know the answer, but I suspect many don't care to know the answer, but merely blame Bush for everything. You've done it for 8 years. I wouldn't expect you to stop now, just because Bush is not the President.

    Fannie, Freddie, Bill Clinton, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Maxine Waters, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelick, Rahm Emmanuel, Community Reinvestment Act...all guilty

    Why no Congressional investigations to date? Democrats love to have investigations over all things. Since it went down during the Bush years, you'd think Democrats would be all over further embarrassing Bush, right? Well...Bush tried 17x as early as 2001 to reform Fannie and Freddie and all 17x he was rebuffed by Barney Frank et. al.

    Now do you see why Congressional investigations have not been suggested by Democrats. Biggest financial crisis since Jimmy Carter, and Congress doesn't care to know why it happened so it can be prevented from happening in the future??? Of course not, Barney Frank already knows why it happened. He and other Democrats caused it in their attempt to give taxpayer money to poor minorities to buy votes. Disgraceful!
  • mavericky ~ In Godot We Trust August 23, 2009 04:20:10
    mavericky ~ In Godot We Trust

    Here is what I think . . .

    It's not the fault of either president (solely, anyway). The economy cycles; always has, always will. This time there just happened to be a whole slew of things that went wrong at the same time and caused more of a problem than normal.
  • Me August 23, 2009 04:03:07
    Me

    Here is what I think . . .

    I think that the left likes to blame everything bad on the right while taking complete credit for all the good.
    I think that the right likes to blame everything bad on the left while taking complete credit for all the good.
    I think both sides have their fair share of blame for the mess this country is in and need to stop throwing stones at each other before their respective glass houses completely shatter.
  • TWISTER61 August 23, 2009 04:02:14
    TWISTER61

    Here is what I think . . .

    OBAMA is the cult leader now...get over BUSH!
  • Doodlebug August 23, 2009 03:48:53
    Doodlebug

    Here is what I think . . .

    Let me ask you this. Was Reagan's first term where unemployment reached 10.5% and we had run-away inflation and he had given the defense industry a $1.5 TRILLION stimulus package, did they right say it was Reagan's economy? No, they blamed Carter. (After one year in office, Carter's approval rating was higher than Reagan's)
  • Jerry August 23, 2009 03:48:09
    Jerry

    If the economy is bad it is Obama's fault but if it gets better it will be because of Bush.

    it might have been bad when he got into office but Obama is making all kinds of plans that is costing money so he's making things much worse
  • thakatchaser August 23, 2009 03:47:58
    thakatchaser

    Here is what I think . . .

    Hell yeah the economy is in a mess is because of Bush. No republican to this date had been fiscally responsible for this country.
  • SuMmEr In JuMbIe I tRuSt TO... August 23, 2009 03:46:27
    SuMmEr In JuMbIe I tRuSt TOkiO HOTel

    Here is what I think . . .

    it is bushes fault
  • Иαтнαℓʏ™ ~ Яαωя August 23, 2009 03:45:53
    Иαтнαℓʏ™  ~ Яαωя

    Here is what I think . . .

    I blame it on the alcohol.
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