Dean: President's meeting with economic team was a meaningless gesture.

[madfloridian]

Bush Plays up "Strong" Economy"

"President Bush yesterday tried to reverse public disapproval of his handling of the economy by taking credit for a robust economic expansion, notwithstanding high gasoline prices.
"The economy of the United States is strong," Mr. Bush told reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, after meeting yesterday with his principal advisers on domestic policy.
"My policies allow more Americans to keep more of what they earn, to have more control over their daily lives -- from health care to education to their retirement," he added. "I'm pleased to report that the strategy is working."
Yet 56 percent of Americans disapprove of Mr. Bush's handling of the economy, according to a poll conducted last week by Ipsos Public Affairs for the Associated Press. A CBS poll this week showed the disapproval level at 52 percent."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said the president's meeting with his economic team was a meaningless gesture.
"A combination of rising interest rates, rising debt and fewer good-paying jobs are making it harder for America's families to make ends meet," he said. "The president should use his Texas vacation to spend time overhauling his economic policies, not staging photo ops."

[Wetzelbill]

1. Bush meeting with his economic team is like Jenna Jameson

meeting with an abstinence advocate.

[dhinojosa]

3. Nice!!!! LMAO!!! nt

[dhinojosa]

2. Dean has a way with words. "Meaningless Gesture" LMAO! nt

[Wetzelbill]

4. he does doesn't he?

:)

[madfloridian]

5. He gets his digs in, doesn't he?

I agree with his choice of words. They are geared to get maximum reaction. That is what people have not really gotten yet. :)

[dhinojosa]

9. That's what Kerry needed actually....

I remember in the campaign Kerry would say "W stands for Wrong! Wrong for Principles, Wrong for Values, and Wrong for America". We would just look at each other awkwardly, a few clapped, a few had some forced out wooos. But really the crickets made the most noise.

[madeline_con]

6. "... the strategy is working."

Let's see. Fighting tooth and nail to screw up Social Security, a new WalMart on every corner to employ Americans, Creationism in Science class.

Yes, his strategy IS working. He thinks it's a good stratgey, that's the problem!

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Did you see those shit asses in their "dude ranch" attire?

What a laff. Who are those know-nothing inbred corporate bastards trying to kid?

[Ouabache]

8. Bush manufactures another PR stunt for his abysmal economy

Republican PR stunts are about the only thing still manufactured in America, anymore.

[OKDem08]

11. he has no credibility

he is merely a puppet

[madfloridian]

10. I like Ted Kennedy's statement.

"Low- and middle-income families across America have not felt this financially squeezed and anxious about their jobs in many, many years," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.
"If the Bush White House and Republican leaders in Congress really want a strong economy, they would shelve their September plan to lavish yet another tax break on the wealthy few," he added. "They would focus instead on increasing the minimum wage and lowering the cost of health care and education for everyone."

Very true. People have never been so anxious.

[EST]

12. The only thing holding this economy together at all

and allowing any notion that there is some sort of strength in the economy is the enormous inflation in the housing market and the cashing out of that false value. This does produce real wealth for a few but it will end, leaving millions unable to afford their mortgage payments. It's probably a very good thing so many of these newly rich bought SUVs-at least they'll have some place to sleep.

[madfloridian]

14. House taxes in our area are going up 30% this year.

You are right. It will price homeowners out of the market. Just think about retired people who thought they were ok, maybe a paid for home....just barely getting by.

30% this year, more next year to make up for the tax cuts for the Bush buddies.

[EST]

18. Yep

You've described my own plight.

[madfloridian]

22. And the plight of many. Sadly.

Not only are taxes going up on property, but insurance rates are soaring. Home and health insurance rates especially.

I hope all the right wingers who hate taxes realize that the tax cuts just pushed it down to the middle class, who can barely keep their heads above water.

[EST]

23. I suspect they do.

I also suspect the more prominent tax haters don't hate taxes at all, merely the taxes that have a direct effect on themselves.

[kentuck]

13. That's why he is the best Chairman...

He speaks truth to power.

[madfloridian]

16. It takes someone who is not afraid to do that.

And is willing to accept the consequences for doing it.

[gratuitous]

15. Hey, he spent another whole day on it

Remember his Waco Economic Summit back in 2002? No? Well, don't feel bad, none of our faultless media outlets do either. This is an exact rehash of what he said and did back then:

http://money.cnn.com/2002/08/13/news/economy/bush_forum/

Bush: economy's foundation strong

Forum in Waco designed to demonstrate the administration has a clear economic policy.

August 13, 2002: 2:12 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - President Bush, speaking at the end of an economic forum designed to reassure Americans that he's paying attention to the economy, said Tuesday that he is confident the U.S. economy is on the mend

"There may be some tough times here in America, but this country's gone through tough times before, and we're going to do it again," Bush said at the end of the President's Economic Forum in Waco, Texas. "The foundations of the American economy are strong."

___________________________

Bush popped in on one or two sessions, then headed back to Crawford, promising that he'd read the transcripts of all the discussions. Will any of our dickless journalists ask him about that? Magic Eight Ball says "No fucking way."

[madfloridian]

20. I remember seeing the news media spin that conference.

Bush was sitting there looking all puffed up and important, and of course grinning. There is a difference now. I think more people know he is lying now.

That made me very angry that day. I had just started coming here to DU, and I remember feeling relief to find that others could see through his BS as well.

[Demobrat]

21. It was right before 9/11, wasn't it?

When his poll numbers were at about 39%, so they put on one of these dog and pony shows to make it look like they had a grip?

[stevietheman]

17. Here's the Bush economic plan...

1) Make rich people richer.
2) Fuck the rest.

That's it.

[Sgent]

19. The more I see of Dean

the more I like him.

I didn't vote for him in '04, but would today, and am extremely happy with his performance with DNC Chair (although he did have a few growing pains).