The economy and the Presidency are not connected

[fencesitter]

This was a patent statement in 2004 when the economy was fumbling and re-selection was in process. All Bush supporters I spoke to said the President has no control over the economy. This is true to a point, but economic policies initiated by the pres can change the direction of who benefits and who suffers. True? Carter suffered in the recession of the 70's. Was it his fault? Reaganites say he revived the Carter economy with tax cuts and deregulation. Just how much is the President responsible over the US economy?

[MADem]

1. That's true, when the president fails to LEAD. NT

[goddess40]

2. This pResident and reality aren't connected either nt

[central scrutinizer]

3. read your memo

If the economy is going great, and the Republicans control one or more of the Presidency, Senate, or House then they deserve the credit.

If the economy is going bad, and the Democrats control one or more branches, then they are to blame

If the economy is going bad, and the Republicans control all three, go back in time and blame the first Democratic-controlled entity you find.

If the economy is going great and the Democrats control all three, go back in time and give the credit to the first Republican-controlled entity you find.

[rkc3]

4. Sounds about right.

Every conversation I've had with the nutters on the economy falls along those lines.

What's funny now is that the economy was in a recession when bush took over, then went gangbusters (?), and is now slowing down again. It was Clinton's fault for the recession, bush got the credit for the turnaround - but can they realistically claim it's Clinton's fault for this current failure?

[central scrutinizer]

5. sure, why not?

When has consistency ever stood in the way?

[Infinite Hope]

6. To a limited extent...

The president has some control in terms of innovative policy initiatives, but the Congress also shares in that. Political Science teaches that the more local the government, the more control they have. Local governments have the largest impact on your economy by far.