Bush leaving dismal fiscal legacy

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In the early 1930s, President Hoover told the American public who were one-third unclothed, one-third unfed and one-third unemployed that the American government did not believe in handouts, and that people have to lift themselves up by their bootstraps. He said that was the American way.

President Bush, who refuses to believe we are in a recession but just in a "rough patch," told the American public reeling from foreclosures, inflation of gas and food prices, a falling dollar, increasing unemployment, and increasing personal debt that the government cannot reward people who made poor decisions because it would be unfair to those who didn't. However, he agreed with the Federal Reserve that they should lend billions to a major investment bank who made the worst decisions by gobbling up subprime mortgages that had little or no equity behind them.

Down the road, Bush's failure to understand the economic state of the country will have extraordinary consequences. We are a debtor nation that borrows $12 billion each month to help pay for a war that is in its fifth year. We borrow the money from China, which has become rich from interest owed and our outsourced industry. The dollar is sinking each week, making us a debtor nation that the world sees as a failure of the administration.

It is noteworthy that Bush came to the presidency with a reputation that he failed in most ventures as a businessman. He obviously has done a lot worse as president. You can bet the Republicans will also do a lot worse in the next election, thanks to their unswerving support for debt and war and President Bush.

What a legacy he will have left us with!

Lowell Greenbaum, Augusta

(The writer is chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party.)

Comments

DrGunby68

Here they come Lowell...and what did you say that was factually incorrect?

DeborahElliott2

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH He said the "R" word! Tisk tisk tisk...Everyone knows that that is so W-R-O-N-G cause everyone hates Democrats anyway and they can get away with that but the "R" word?? OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!

Dark_Knight

We'll bounce back. We always do.

SoonerorLater

One third unclothed? Is Mr. Greenbaum suggesting that one third of the US population was naked? What an idiotic statement, but of course, he is the head DIMocRAT so they will say he did not mean it. Also, he is spouting off "facts" without providing justification. The unemployment actually DECREASED from 4.9% to 4.8% from January 2008 to February 2008, again a distortion of the facts. I would hope Dems would expect more from their leader and that he would do some research before he opens his mouth and makes statements that are untruths. "The world sees as a failure of the administration" I am going to assume that Mr. Greenbaum has kept the documentation from his surveys of world leaders to produce evidence that "the world" actually holds this opinion. Another instance of the left making statements they cannot back up, and then will not answer the tough questions but will deflect attention away from their mistatements with a smoke and mirrors act. Mr. Greenbaum, please substantiate some of your comments so we can fully understand your intent.

SoonerorLater

One more stat for Lowell and Gumby, the inflation rate fell from 4.28% to 4.03 percent from January to February as well.

He_Who_Must_Not_Be_Named

Greenbaum and "Dr" Gunby, what is the point of saying Hoover doesn't believe in handouts? Is it to compare him to Bush and say he doesn't either? Are you saying he has said to pick yourselves up by the bootstraps? If so, at least he's giving you bootstraps. What is this rebate check if not a handout? Now I understand for a good many of us we can justify taking it by saying it was our money to begin with. How about the great many people who pay no taxes that will get this "rebate"? If you give nothing and get money handed to you.....what would you call that "Dr" Gunby and Mr Greenbaum?

He_Who_Must_Not_Be_Named

A good portion of the teens and young adults these days are 1/3 unclothed....but that's the style isn't it?

He_Who_Must_Not_Be_Named

So Greenbaum and "Dr" Gunby, is what you are suggesting handouts? Breadlines? Cash giveaways? Wealth redistribution? Flatout socialism/communism? Bailing out the investment banks to keep the market from crashing...YES...horrible for the American people right? If he had let them just fall apart you would be writing that he sat by and watched the economy go down the tubes when he should have stepped in. Just admit you won't be happy with anything he does and will not be disappointed in anything a democrat does and at least I can respect you for your honesty.

Pinchgut

Spoken like a true DemoNazi.

patriciathomas

Lowell, good job. Partisan spin is why you hold your position and you do it good. Your facts are presented out of context and your message is about endless failure, so you're still on the Democratic trail. No matter how hard you preach, socialism will remain the wrong path. (DrGunby, you make a pitiful lap dog.)

shivas

Mr. Greenbaum has exposed the primary difference between Liberal and Conservative fiscal policy. Conservatives wish to bail-out the corporation with welfare, while liberals wish to bail-out the common man who was duped by the corporation. And, why is it not considered socialism when the corporation receives a bail-out and welfare payment? That's where we get to hear the conservative spin.

SoonerorLater

Duped by the corporation? It was the "common man" who borrowed more than he could afford, did not read his contract, ran up to much on his credit card, or tried to play the housing market and lost. Your leftist "spin" always portrays the common man as a simpleton who needs the government to look out for his best interest, thus government must play a large role in managing our lives. You assume the common man has been duped as opposed to either taking risks or just acted out of pure ignorance (that is a very distinct possibility).

SoonerorLater

justus, just a few short clicks away on AC online, your hero Harry Reid says that by not extending the tax cuts, the budget can be balanced y 2012. You state that the country will be broke, again making statements with no backing with facts. Something must be on this guy? Are you and the leftist henchmen going on a witch hunt? Seems like you are hell bent on assigning blame, and again I state the agents of blame look backwards to the past, where problem solvers and those seeking to make this country great are forward looking.

Bizarro

Greenbaum is a bright and articulate gentleman. It is sad to see him reduced to a political lap dog and hack. It is well beneath him. I don't really care about his views and political party but just it is so sad to see someone of his stature tout (often incoherently babble) the party line. Rather than the hate Bush mantra I think he would do better to methodically and logically explain the Dem strategy and plans and in some details. Offer a better way and point out the differences in failed strategies. Oh, wait I forgot it is an election year.

soldout

History will show Bush as a good presidfent who protected this nation as the ones that follow won't have the courage or will to do.

S.C. Dawg

This guy is a leader? No wonder the followers are so screwed up. Another wacko yaking up his morning forecast of doom and gloom. Amidst a party mired in scandal, racial hatred, gender slamming, he professes that Hillary or Obama are a move in a positve direction? Pathetic!

dashiel

Good catch He Who Must Not Be Named. (4:38 am and alert!) I think Dr. Greenbaum must've been channeling FDR whose word sensitivity demanded that he use the term "ill-clothed" not unclothed, which, as you observed is certainly an historic parallel that applies to NOW as well as then--even though I don't think anyone was visionary enough to have anticipated such pervasive tribal signs as body piercings, tattoos, and lucite claws. If there's any way to derive a profit from it, I predict that we will soon be dancing around fires. However distasteful it must be to most posters here, Bush is still a bonehead with a philosophy very similar to that of Homer Simpson: "Stupidity got us into this mess and stupidity will get us out."

He_Who_Must_Not_Be_Named

LOL...can't help but laugh at Homer.

Signal Always

Congress controls the purse strings. ...and many of these issues started escalating once they regained power. Don't let these socialists fool you people, they don't care about spending. If you don't believe me, look at what their candidates are promising. You'd think Santa Clause and the Candy Man were running against each other. I have heard NO one talk about fiscal responsibility on the Democratic side. True, Bush isn't a fiscal conservative, but what you're trying to promise is exactly the same, only wrapped in different colors.

justthefacts

52 straight months of job growth before this recent setback, more people working than ever before, more people going to college than ever before, more people own homes than ever before, more money invested than ever before, crime rates are down, divorce rate is down and abortion rates are down. Everything is not perfect, there are problems, but don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

Signal Always

The government needs to stop trying to fix the friggin' market. The market will correct itself. Also, printing more money is one of the reason the dollar has been devalued. Yes, there are problems, but this is still the greatest country on the face of the Earth and I'll give anyone on here a 1st class one-way ticket to anywhere of his/her choosing if he/she wishes to vacate the premises ....forever.

NotyourDadsBuick

Hehe. History will not show Bush as a good president. After all, he can't change the fact that 9-11 occurred on his watch. Blame it on Slick Willie all you want, but he was long gone when it occurred. And for anyone to suggest that this country's economy is at all sound is just irresponsible. Greenbaum hits valid points regarding our current economic situation, and I know the truth is really stinging right now, especially because Lowell's blather is typically off the mark. But not this time. You can criticize it all you want for pointing out problems without offering solutions, but everyone is allowed to kvetch now and again. That's what the internet is for.

Signal Always

Pearl Harbor occurred on Roosevelt's watch. Your point again? As for Clinton being long gone, 9 months isn't long gone. 9/11 was planned during the Clinton Administration. Try again.

howcanweknow

It's corporations that create and offer jobs to the common man. If such corporations cease to exist, then the common man does not eat -- unless more government programs are created to feed the jobless. Bailing out the common man is not a bad thing, but it's only giving him an occasional fish to eat. Creating a solid economic environment for business creates jobs and allows the common man to fish for himself, and thereby stand on his own 2 feet (and not on the gov't dole). So, strengthening the business climate of this country is not always a bad thing.

Little Lamb

Is Greenbaum trying to say that Clinton will fix the Bush legacy?

NotyourDadsBuick

I think this says it all: "I think our economy is down because we built to many houses." President Bush. My eight-year old son has a better grasp on the economy and living within a budget than does the President, Congress and the rest of the federal government on both sides of the aisle.

Signal Always

Yeah, once the Dems regain power in Congress they'll fix all of this. .......oh wait.......

imdstuf

Yeah RJH, believe someone that says extending tax cuts will lead to a balanced budget. That makes as much sense as our mayor saying a baseball stadium will bring in $21 million a year to the economy down there. Those are just statements with no facts behind them. I don't blame Bush entirely for the economic situation as recessions are part of the natural cycle. I do blame him for has unsolicited attack on Iraq, him letting the biggest backers of terrorism (Saudi royal family) fly out of the US unquestioned on 9/11 and for not holding corporations responsible. I did not used to think the government should interfere with them, but guess what? The honor system does not work. Thinking they will want to do well to keep themselves goin for many years is a false notion. These days CEOS jump around. They want to make profit as good as can be in the short time they are with a company, then when the things they do to make said profit cripple the company for the long run, they take their 401K. jump out the door and head elsewhere. these are the kids getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar so unfortunately left unchecked they will bring the country down.

johnny24

In a free market, the economy will go up then it will go down as it always has. The executive and legislative branches of government cannot control market forces unless they over regulate, taking the power from the consumer and/or producer. The great thing about the free market is that we the people control it all. We will decide to buy or not to buy, to sell or not to sell. No president has that power or ability. If so we would define it as a facsist market. Greenbaum seems he expects a fascist market.

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