Weary factory workers hear Bush tout jobs

[Snellius]

CANTON TOWNSHIP -- In two years, Sam Donke lost two jobs in the auto supply industry and found a third, taking a 30 percent pay cut.

On Monday, the 47-year-old Westland man sat on a makeshift stage nearly bumping knees with George W. Bush, as the president of the United States touted his economic policies to a blue-collar crowd.
...
Monday's event, at Dynamic Metal Treating Inc., illustrated how the younger Bush hopes to avoid the same fate. Bush took the stage with the owners of two small auto supply companies and four workers for what was billed as a conversation.

The six Metro Detroiters involved in the conversation rehearsed for hours Sunday. At times, Bush prompted them to mention prearranged topics, reminding one worker that he'd been able to refinance his home at low interest rates and another that he'd saved $2,700 through recent tax cuts.

The White House created a backdrop especially for the occasion, meant to project Bush's empathy for industry. Each of three banners were emblazoned with the words "Strengthening America's Economy" over fabric bearing the image of steel beams and rivets.

Bush emphasized the recession officially began in 2000, before he took office in January, 2001, and reminded his audience of the economic impact of September 11, corporate scandals and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/politics/0312/05/a01-339960.htm

[radfringe]

1. NOT MY FAULT says Bush

"Bush emphasized the recession officially began in 2000, before he took office in January, 2001, and reminded his audience of the economic impact of September 11, corporate scandals and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."

once again quick to pass the blame

[roguevalley]

5. There was no recession until he talked the economy into one. Everyone

at the time was screaming at him to shut up but he said
we were in a recession and LO AND BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He wanted the impression of one or an actual one to
justify big tax cuts to 'boost' the economy. The nitwit.

[mmm]

10. Exactly right

[Fovea]

12. He deliberately converted

an economic dip into an economic dive, and sabotaged the I.T. industry.
George is compassionate to extraction monopolists, screw anyone else.

California should file a class action suit against Cheney, Lay, and Perot.

[Cocoa]

19. the trifecta

the Sept. 11 attack, which he let happen, the corporate scandals, which he let happen, and the wars, which he lied to that factory worker to wage.

[zbdent]

20. Technically, it did start in 2000 - hear me out

December 12, 2000, the recession began. At the time, RWers were saying that the Gore effect on the stock market would send it crashing if "Gore was given the Presidency". As soon as Bush was installed, these people had to shut their pie-hole because the stock market really started falling as soon as Bush was named Resident. (Until 12/12/2000, there was no real mention of the NASDAQ part of the "stock market").

Alan Greenspan, sensing which way the wind was blowing, reversed his M.O. (under the guy who was still his boss, who also had given him free reign to do as he saw fit, and barely moved interest rates up, and very slowly at that) and started dropping the prime interest rate like Rush on painkillers. All from Bush's orders.

The ensuing show of "panic" by the guy who held the reins on economic stability gave the "people in the know" the reason to pull their bucks out (while still saving their own asses), and the economy started hitting the skids.

Mind you, the economy gets rather static in an election year, because the country is holding its breath, wondering what the new flavor is going to be for the next four years.

So, in 2000, the economy was on hold, slowing, but not hitting reverse. Starting in December, the economy was starting to go into reverse (under Bush's direction, even though he wasn't officially Greenspan's boss yet), ergo a "recession". 2.5 months later, the real indicators started showing the economic MPH was in the negatives.

[Racenut20]

2. That darn Clinton again. scheeeze ! Whats a poor boy to do bout him

[54anickel]

3. ARRRGH!

The six Metro Detroiters involved in the conversation rehearsed for hours Sunday. At times, Bush prompted them to mention prearranged topics, reminding one worker that he'd been able to refinance his home at low interest rates and another that he'd saved $2,700 through recent tax cuts.

He's is a pathetic, self center, loosing little bastard. See, he thinks EVERYONE thinks like him "What's in it for me". Forget those poor kids in Iraq and the Iraqis dying everyday, forget the elderly, the veterans, the children left behind, robbed pensions, etc, etc, etc.

This little man just pisses me off to no end!

[hatrack]

7. Boy, he sure knows how to get in touch with ordinary Americans!

He's always ready for their honest opinions and ideas, provided they're carefully scripted and rehearsed for days in advance.

What a FUCKING FARCE!

Stay home, George - no one cares about your bullshit photo-ops!!!!!!!!

[54anickel]

11. I would have loved to have been selected to have that "scripted"

conversation. I'd play right along.
Yep, refinanced and saved $2700
Jobs going great and even getting OT
Blah, Blah, Blah
But you know my neighbor down the road, well he's been out of work for over a year, now flipping burgers and waiting tables, his son recently came home from Iraq in a "tranfer tube", and the back will be foreclosing on his house next week.
I am just so thankful to you Mr president that I am fotuneate enough to pay for for sons funeral.

[Bandit]

4. Lies, Lies and more lies

Bush emphasized the recession officially began in 2000, The recession Officially started in March of 2001. Three months after bush* was selected to office. I guess it all depends on the meaning of recession.

[Buckminster Fush]

13. March 15, 2001....

The day the recession OFFICIALLY start Shrub, get your f'ing facts straight when you are screwing us in the rear end without the common decency of a reach around.

[KayLaw]

6. Liar

We all know the recession started in March 2001, so just shut up!

[kskiska]

8. Why don't they just hire actors

and be done with it? Less rehearsal time, no worry about costumes or fluffed lines.

[montanacowboy]

9. When Americans

refuse to attend these photo ops, and refuse to be used by the *, then these things won't happen anymore - remember, he needs a willing audience and yes men and head shakers on the podium.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

14. $2,000.00 a plate...

<snip>
"He's a plain speaker, and I admire his honesty and really believe he cares about the American people and moving the country forward," said the 41-year-old legal researcher. "I'd be here if it was $10,000."

Legal researchers make enough to thow $2K arond like that?

[ClintonTyree]

15. The Bush Department of Truth...................

or propaganda to everyone else beside the neo-cons. The misinformation campaign instituted by this administration is on par with the Nazi's. That fact cannot be denied. They control everything; the people, the scenery, the dialogue........it's shameless. The worst thing is that a majority of Americans believe it. What does that tell us about our society?

[0007]

16. I'm goddamn sick and tired of that .....

"We want the playing field to be level, so we can compete in a fair way."

What a guy that junior is, 'eh? Gonna level the playing field, huh?

[DemonFighterLives]

17. I know he doesn't read the papers

He also doesn't hear the news. Do we have to listen to his BS at the same time as the news of the economy was on a down note. Really sick of the banners too. Our country is broke. Drop the dam banners and stand there like a man and take your hits without the props.

[Insider]

18. psyops works, plain & simple

...three banners were emblazoned with the words "Strengthening America's Economy"

three...so there's not a chance to miss the message in a single photo/vidoe shot. psyops works, plain & simple.