If you listen to the network talking heads, the inside the D.C. beltway pundits and especially to Republicans, President Obama has made one fiscal mistake after another since taking office. There are the bank bailouts, the auto industry bailouts, the stimulus package, the attempt at health care overhaul, etc., etc. It’s a wonder that we’re all not on the street corner selling pencils. But then listen to what the economy is REALLY saying in the form of deeds rather than words:
- S&P’s 500 Index has risen more than 41 percent since Obama took office.
- The gross domestic product grew at a 5.9 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with a forecast of 2.0 percent a week before Obama’s inauguration.
- And the forecast for continued GDP growth this year is 3.0 percent, versus 2.1 percent in the survey taken 13 months earlier.
- Monthly job losses have abated, from 779,000 during the month Obama took office to 36,000 last month. That’s a 95% decline.
- Corporate profits have grown; among 491 companies in the S&P 500 that reported fourth-quarter earnings, profits rose 180 percent from a year ago.
- Durable goods orders in January were up 9.3 percent from a year earlier.
- Inflation is tame, and long-term interest rates remain low.
The details from Bloomberg’s are here.
But for those who will take any opportunity to heap blame and withhold credit from this President:
Posted on March 10th, 2010 by jack-of-all-thumbs
Filed under: Rants and Musings
I agree whole heartily, spin is in the new blame game.
I’ve been 100% behind him and deeply want to continue to be, but I’m withholding judgment on that war we discussed pending further study (and because our country’s call on these things hasn’t been unerring in the last sixty years). And I’m tying myself into some comic knots trying to understand the Alan Simpson appointment…I think I’ve come up with a scenario that makes Obama look like a genius, but it’s taken some creativity. Boy, do I want to believe!
Way too much fun. Thanks for doing the research for me!
I don’t like every decision that Obama has made. However, I’ve never liked every decision that any president made. I am satisfied with President Obama and I’m definitely in STFU mode when it comes to all the whining and lying about his agenda. Now if he’ll just get us out of those pesky wars, end DADT, and change his mind abot offshore drilling.
He’s batting better than average as far as I’m concerned. Yep — I have some concerns, but overall I’m pretty pleased. I have no problem with rational dissent and criticism….but I have a hard time finding it.