Help with debunking 30 second GW ad my RW sister sent to me

[myccrider]

This is the first subject I've started for discussion in a forum - so be kind! :)

My sister, who is a Christian fundamentalist RWinger living in Texas (isn't THAT a lovely combination :silly: ), has recently put me on her distribution list for anti-Kerry and pro-Bush propaganda. This is new behaviour as we normally avoid discussions about politics and religion to keep peace in the family. Since most of my family lean to the right, many of them are on this distribution also, along with people I don't know at all.

My sister has forwarded several urban legend-type email alerts/warnings in the past too, which I have debunked in replies to all on the original distribution. (I have tried to stay as non-partisan as possible and only go after the lies/distortions. My thinking is that this will be received with a more open mind than if I rant about the evil Republicans, which most of them are :P) The last was the one about how members of congress (especially those evil Democrats) get the 'Golden Fleece' retirement worth millions without paying into it while the rest of us only have Social Security. She IS gullible - what can I say? :crazy: <sigh>

The point here is that most of these people know I'm a liberal, progressive Dem, have received debunk-type responses from me in the past, and are probably not going to be swayed (or not much) by my response. OTOH, not all of them are wingers, I don't know the politics of everyone on the list (so might sway someone), and I refuse to just let this bullshit stand without some response!

Last night I received this gem -

http://members.cox.net/macallan_the/GW/GWBush1_Start.htm

which is a pretty slickly produced ad lauding GW's economic "accomplishments" to the tune of "Taking Care of Business." Some of the claims I can refute, but thought some of you might be able to help me figure out a response to others and/or contribute information/links.(It would be cool to use as many right leaning sources as possible.)

Also, if this ad starts getting some distribution it might be a good idea to have the facts at hand to debunk it.

Here are some of the claims I noted & my proposed response to each (so far):

1) Private sector GDP growth rate was 2.5% 2 years before GWs tax cuts and is 5.3% after the tax cuts. I THINK the correct response to this is that the growth rate reflects change since the bottoming out of the recession and is just lying with statistics. Furthermore, the deficit being created by the tax cuts is already negatively effecting the economy & will only get worse in the future

2) Unemployment was 5.6% after Clinton's 3rd year and is 5.6% after Bush's 3rd year. Obviously the difference is that many workers have become discouraged. The real UR is over 8% if you count these workers. Does anyone have a link for that fact?

3) Manufacturing is at 20 year highs. ??????

4) The market is up 45% in the last year. Just need to contrast the lows since 2001 crash to show lying with statistics again. Anyone have a link for that?

5) Homeownership is at 68.6%, the highest ever. ?????

6) Family poverty rate was 10.5% under Clinton, but is 9.4% under Bush. ?????

7) 500,000 new jobs have been created in the first 3 months of 2004. Contrast number lost since GW took office, the numbers needed per month to keep up with population growth, the numbers needed per month to recover the lost jobs and how pitiful 500k is when you look at what's needed. Again point out that this is lying with numbers again. Anyone have good links for this information?

There were a few other points I didn't catch (I could only stand to watch it 3 times.) If you watch it and want to add points and refutations, be my guest.

I'll post the anti-Kerry gem later. It's actually pretty silly - "He cain't relate to us Joe Sixpacks cuz he owns 6 houses and he wants ta raise yur taxes, too!"

tia,

[progressiveBadger]

1. #2

Didn't Clinton come into office with a higher unemployment % than 5.6, and Bush came into office with a lower unemployment % than 5.6. So, this means that while Clinton made progress, the reverse was true with Bush.

[leftofthedial]

10. yep

the Clinton 5.6% was DOWN from Poppy's 9%

The L'il George 5.6% is UP from Clinton's 3%.

[myccrider]

23. Great point...

I hadn't thought of that. I KNEW it would be best to ask this group for help instead of winging it myself! :think:

[TroubleMan]

36. show them the chart

The one will jobs going down under reagan/bush1, way up under Clinton, then way down on *. I'm sure someone here can find the link.

[myccrider]

39. Link, anyone? PLEASE?! n/t

[TroubleMan]

42. It was on Bartcop last year

but I can't find it now. I'm still looking.

[jbm]

45. try this...

hmmm..everytime I post the link I get the pic instead,but it's http://www.bartcop.com/chart-jobs-2003 (and then.jpg at the end)

[myccrider]

48. Yahoo! GREAT. Many thx. n/t

[KissMyAsscroft]

2. Yeah...

Just tell her that the Yale grad, son of a CIA director who owned a baseball team is way more of a "common man" than a Vietnam vet...

Seriously...why bother with the braindead freeps?

[NewJeffCT]

7. we have to debunk them

So many of these lies are out there that they have to be debunked. I bet a lot of moderates out there still think the Sudan offered bin Laden's head on a platter to Clinton and was turned down.

[WoodrowFan]

18. Plus

Plus, you never know how many on that list are "undecided" and might believe this RW crap unless it is debunked. I am constantly surprised how little some people know about current events and if they only hear one side, then THAT's the side they believe. I fought a long battle with this in 2000 but won over a couple votes for Gore because I could fight the RW lies with FACTS.


BTW, wlecome to the DU! :toast:

[myccrider]

24. Thx for the welcome...

I'm thrilled that I found DU. Y'all have saved my sanity (I'm originally from Texas, so it's OK for me to use 'y'all'. B-) )

And I agree about the possibility of influencing someone. It's rare, but it does happen that the occasional freeper/fundy wakes up and gets their sanity back.

[WoodrowFan]

27. y'all

ok then, I was going to ask for your "y'all" permit!! :silly:

[myccrider]

40. Well, only a real southerner can say it correctly!

I keep my birth certificate handy just for that reason. :dunce:

I figure since I was born in Texas, I should be proud of what I've managed to overcome ;)

[myccrider]

22. I totally agree...

If we keep quiet, their lies stand. Even for the freepers (like my sister), they need to be shown that these ARE lies & that the liberals are going to call them on it.

[Claire Beth]

3. unemployment...

I can speak with some first hand knowledge about the unemployment figures used. The reason unemployment figures are down is because claimants have exhausted their benefits. They go off the UI benefits records as active but they are still UNEMPLOYED. AND, * did not re-extend the benefits again and now THOSE percentages will be dropping .... it might look good on paper but that doesn't mean it is!

[tkmorris]

20. That's a good point

And one a lot of people miss.

If the GOP were to extend unemployment benefits it would cost a bit more but that is only part of the reason they won't. Doing so would rather dramatically raise the unemployment rate, making it clearer that their economic policies, well, suck. It's a classic case of 'Out of sight, out of mind'.

[kentuck]

4. How long before every statistic is proven to be outright lies?

How could anyone believe anything they say? Wouldn't that be the mark of a stupid person? For example, I have heard that they are not adding any of the cost of the war in Iraq into their budget figures as spending? Is that true? I have heard they intentionally stated that the Medicare drug reform would be $100 billion less than they knew to be the case, because then it would not have passed. Is that true?

As for unemployment rate, how many of those people that had their unemployment extension abruptly ended at Christmas have found jobs? What is the real unemployment rate? 10%? There is no doubt in my mind that they manipulated these numbers? Do you doubt that?

How is manufacturing at a 20-year high when we have lost almost all our manufacturing base? Are they counting the percentage of what is left? That would make the percentage look gaudy, wouldn't it. It is a deception. Cant you see that?

Market is up 45% but was down 44% before it went up 45%? how much progress have you made? Huh?

Figures lie and liars figure. Go figure.....

[Onlooker]

5. Here are a few links that might help

I think the Bush people are choosing their words carefully, like using "family poverty rate" instead of "poverty rate. It's difficult to find what you're looking for. But, some of these might help:

(1) GDP growth: http://www.house.gov/scott/budget_5.htm This link is political. Actually, check out all the slides in this link. They are very interesting!

(2) Unemployment rates: http://www.bls.gov/cps/prev_yrs.htm

(5) Home ownership: http://www.kltprc.net/books/mm2002/Gifs/Fig_03_2.htm

(6) Poverty rate: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-153.html

[myccrider]

43. Muchas gracias...

I'll be looking at these more carefully later, but they seem pretty good to me.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. Here's a great analogy which relates to several economic

"improvements" during the GWB term.

Imagine you accept every credit card offer you receive in the mail. You refi your house, and take an advance on every one of your newly acquired credit cards.

Now you have tons of CASH. You go nuts buying stuff and living it up. You FEEL rich, but are you rich?

Well, the tax breaks, deficit spending and artificially depressed interest rates have set up an unnatural and unsustainable economic environment. Something will hit the fan, probably in the next presidential term. (As an aside, the super-rich have REALLY made out in this environment...)

You know my definition of mayhem? When all those ARM's start to readjust and no one can afford their overpriced homes. Don't expect offshoring to stop anytime soon either. Buh-bye middle class!

[SemperEadem]

8. why waste time trying to change her belief system?

block her email. That will send the message to her loud and clear. You can bring * into a room, sit him down at a table in front of her and force him to recant everything, but if her mind is made up to believe lies and propaganda, even * won't be able to change her mind.

The best way to win a power struggle is to not even engage in the struggle. Never discuss it with her. She will be the one who is losing out, not you.

[NewJeffCT]

9. 500,000 in 3 months

That is still below average for the entire 8 years Clinton was in office and is only barely keeping up with the growing population. We need to create 150,000 to 175,000 per month to do that... I believe Clinton averaged 235,000 to 240,000 a month for 8 years.

[WoodrowFan]

19. GREAT CONTEXT!!

Nice context! good job!! :yourock:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. You can check out...

my site in the Economics area for some good links on the employment numbers (which are for shit) and other econimic factors. www.doyouknow.org (BTW, this is a great site to send those who THINK Bush is doing a great job to. Nuthin' but the facts, start to finish.)

The stock market is NOT the ecomony. We are in danger of being the shitter. The only things keeping this economy afloat are housing and the war.

Inflation is rising, even with record low interest rates. Check out the record federal deficit Check out the record trade deficit. Consumer confidence is dropping. The "recovery" is in danger of collapsing.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040414.winfla0414/BNStory/Business

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0403280352mar28,1,3606471.story? coll=chi-business-hed

http://www.comstockfunds.com (look for this commentary: The Missing 9.4 million Jobs - This Might Explain Some Of The Loss)

Much much more on the site.....

[BlueEyedSon]

14. I've only checked out the "economy" section, but your site is great!

:bounce:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Thanks!

Pass it along to everyone you know -- got to get the word OUT!

[myccrider]

44. WOW!!

I'm bookmarking that site! I just spent half an hour cruising around and am now suffering from info overload. :crazy: :freak:

What a lot of work. "Thank you" to all who maintain the site, I may sign up for the newsletter (except I hate getting even more stuff in my mailbox).

[Hell Hath No Fury]

46. Cool!

Yes, seeing it all in one place and at one time is a bit mindnumbing. I should know, I'm the person doing the updating. :)

And keep in mind that information is primarily just from the last year and a half of the administration, not the full 3+ years.

I post the newsletter here when it comes out -- just keep an eye out for it.

Hell

[myccrider]

50. Cool on the newsletter...

I'll keep a lookout for it. I check into DU several times a day most of the time.

It is hard to believe that these maniacs have screwed up, cheated, broken the law, et al, this badly without being impeached and with approval ratings above -100.

I really blame the media for that. Although I doubt it will happen, I hope that Kerry will make breaking up the media monopolies a cornerstone of his administration.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

51. Restoring the Fairness Doctrine....

would be a DAMN good start, and should be a priority of any Dem getting into the WH.

[NewJeffCT]

12. #5

that may be true, but interest rates have been kept artificially low the past few years and when interest rates rise (expect Greenspan to send them up after the election!), the housing bubble will pop and many people will be stuck with negative equity in their homes and are now making much less money per household than they were only a few years ago. I think real wages have gone down about $5K per household.

[silverlib]

13. response to #5

New home sales include the refinancing of homes. Every time someone refinances their home, they have bought a "new one." This is done to keep the home sales numbers up - it's all in how you count. Also, check this out, as I'm almost positive that HUD is holding on to all their repossessions and have not put them on the market. When these are put on the market, the value of homes is going to spiral downward.

500,000 is no comparison in new jobs compared to the millions that are lost. In counting new jobs last month, the grocery workers that went back after their union strike were counted as having found new jobs.

Also, it is my understanding that fast food workers will now be classified and moved into "manufacturing" jobs to make those numbers go up.

* counts like he reads.

[beyurslf]

16. home ownership rates are the highest in history

BUT... interest rates have been kept at the lowest level in 2 generations to combat the lingering recession. The housing bubbl has sustained what little economy we have had over the past 2 years.

Interest rates have been inching up since March. I work in the mortgage industry and as those rates have gone up our business has gone down. I have also seen home that were refi'd two years ago not qualify because they have lost value. The housing bubble is bursting soon.

[Bozita]

37. Home forclosures are at the highest rate in history...

...as are personal bankruptcies.

[Design8edGrouch]

17. R-W Fundamental Christians need to hear the truth

Since she is a self-professed RWFC, the only response that will work is to start by saying, "God is truth! And, He is never honored by lies, half-truths, or innuendos. Seldom, is He honored by the use of statistics." Then set the record straight. Do it this way every time and they will eventually get the message that not only is their support for 'all things Bush' is illogical but it also amounts to sin. After all, everything that brings dishonor to God is sin.

[cap]

21. unemployment statistics...

The unemployment rate is 6.2% add the people who aren't counted because they've fallen off the unemployment rolls and the number is closer to 10% -- we aren't talking about the number of underemployed people.

We've had the greatest loss of jobs since Herbert Hoover.

Good jobs that are lost:
3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost.
160,000 high tech jobs.

Job Creation:
The jobs that have been created have been in the low wage sectors like construction and retail. The job creation number is skewed because they are counting 71,000 grocery store workers who returned to work after a strike because they didn't want walmart wages and benefits.

Even at the claimed rate of creating jobs, given the natural rate of population growth it will take 4 years to soak up the number of unemployed people.

There are computer programmers who are working retail -- ever notice how much nicer and more intelligent looking the clerks are lately??? There are even some who are working day labor.

Remember just driving around the Clinton days with all the stores with big signs saying "Help Wanted". Look at the thickness of the want ad section in the newspaper -- it ain't as thick as it used to be.

Black male unemployment in Chicago and New York City is 44% -- cant convince me that all those guys are lazy.

BTW, how's the cost of your health care lately???? Where's good old Harry and Louise? Glad you listened to them, hunh???


How's your state and local taxes? Don't know about you but my net tax burden hasn't changed.

Since the rich aren't creating jobs here, why are we giving them tax breaks?

[ulTRAX]

25. red flag: I'm not the suspicious type.....

But if I were, I'd find it curious that your very first post is a "help me with a dumb RR'tard" question. It's right out of the Freeper DU Harassment guidelines. A person gets to post rabid Right propaganda under the guise of pretending to really want a discussion.

Please assure us this is not true.

[LynzM]

29. My first post was, too....

This one seems honest to me, I'd give 'em the benefit of the doubt, for now!

[myccrider]

54. Huh?

If I was a paranoid schizophrenic I might wonder why someone is trying to cast aspersions on my 35th post and first thread without any evidence of freepishness. Maybe this person is trying to STOP the debunking of GW propaganda; maybe this person <gasp> agrees with this propaganda!
:wow:

But...I'm not schizoid and I don't wonder those things. I think someone is just leaping before looking. Only time will tell, though.

Hi, ulTRAX, how's it going? :hi:

[robbedvoter]

26. Make sure you send your answer "reply all"

Here's a little gem:
Saturday, August 02, 2003
http://thestar.com.my/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2003/8/2/latest/13300Bushsays.asp&sec=latest
Bush says recovery might have looked strong if he'd let recession deepen
WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush suggested Friday that the
current drawn-out U.S. economic recovery might have looked more robust
if he'd allowed the 2001 recession to get worse.
"Economic historians would say that the recession of 2001 was one of the
more shallow recessions. Some would probably say, well, maybe you
shouldn't have acted and let the recession go deeper, which would have
made - may have made - for a more speedy recovery,'' Bush told reporters
after meeting with his Cabinet.
He did not elaborate, but his spokesman, Scott McClellan, later told
reporters: "We acted to address the recession. We acted to make sure the
economy came back to a path of growth.''
He cited the three tax-cut and economic stimulus measures passed since
Bush took office in January 2001.

and some good Bartcop stuff on Clinton
http://bartcop.com/clintonmiracle-larry.htm
http://www.bartcop.com/kissmyass.htm

[sofa king]

28. #3 Manufacturing is at 20 year highs.

That figure is probably from December, 2003, according to CNNMoney. They also note that manufacturing payrolls are still 2.8 million jobs lower than they were December, 2000.

(I hear a lot of 'em went to work at the grocery stores.)

myccrider, I don't suppose that "He cain't relate" mail is this one here, which ends with:

"Please e-mail this information to all your friends, family and
>contacts. Class warfare is not right, but neither is being a hypocrite.
>This man wants to be our president, while claiming that he relates to
>Joe-6-pack and the common man. He wants to raise income taxes on the
>rich, well, guess what? He won't pay those taxes because he is already
>rich! He wants to make it harder for you to get rich by raising taxes
>on your income! Talk about snobbery and protecting his "class.""

This one came to me from someone I know at Kellogg, Brown & Root. Here was my "reply all" response, which you are free use, revise, whatever. You'll want to check my statements, 'cause I ain't no economist, neither:

He wants to make it harder for you to get rich? That's a good one.

Consider this: if you're not rich right now and want to be, it's our pal George Bush to whom we should be looking askance. By giving a much larger tax cut to the wealthy--both as a percentage and in real dollars--he's shifted a greater proportion of the tax burden onto us. You only have to take one look at the spiraling deficit to know that federal taxes are going to have to go back up. When they do, you'll be paying more than you did before, while your pals who are already rich are paying less by comparison.

You think you can get rich that way, sucker?

The very wealthy people out there think nothing of other taxes which affect the rest of us greatly. In Virginia, 4.5% of everything you buy is taxed. Say Mr. Rich and Mr. Poor both by the same amount of goods in their home state of Virginia, say, $10,000 in a year. Both pay $450 in sales taxes. But Mr. Rich makes $1 million a year. He's paid out 0.045% of his income in sales tax that year. Mr. Poor makes $20,000 a year. He's paid out 2.25% of his income in sales tax.

By cutting income tax, the federal government has to provide fewer services to states. States have to pick up that shortfall by raising their own taxes--and they're almost always flat taxes that affect everyone the same.

Mr. Poor just had his proportion of the tax burden raised, for which he gets less, and pays even more to the states to cover the shortfall that didn't benefit him in the first place. Fortunately for Mr. Rich, Mr. Poor is a docile fool and isn't prepared to do something about it while Saddam bin Laden lurks in the shadows with his box cutter.

Remember this always, my friend. The only people who support tax cuts for the wealthy are wealthy people themselves. That they have a legion of idiots out there who parrot their own lies only shows the sort of undue influence the wealthy exert upon the American people: they can even brainwash some of them into thinking that making the already wealthy wealthier somehow doesn't take cash directly out of their own pockets. You should pity those fools, but more importantly you should use the one thing you have--your vote--to tell 'em you see through their bull crap rhetoric.

[myccrider]

38. great response, sofa king.

Yeah, it looks like the same one. Mine had pictures of all the houses the Kerry's allegedly own and how much they're worth with other nasty little comments. Is that the same one you got?

I probably will steal some of your thoughts when I respond - thx for the generous offer.

I'll post both of my responses to "reply all" on the forum when I get them ready. Unfortunately, that probably won't be until Monday - I'm tied up this weekend & I want to take the time to find links to back up my facts.

[jmowreader]

30. You could debunk this thing, or you could send this...

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/bushnonazi.html

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/triwimp.html

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/true911.html

The simple fact is that the freepers can't relate to the truth. Like that a hueueuege portion of that 500,000 new jobs is government employment and the private sector didn't put hardly anyone on at all--and they'll need to put on a shitload of new workers to compensate for the 2.2 million decline since Clinton left. Or that the Dow is at 10,435--which is just about where it was the day President Clinton went back to private life.

So let's tell them about Bush.

Oh, and sending a picture of the current Secretary of Defense shaking hands with Saddam Hussein is good too.

[Jim__]

31. #1 looks like bullshit

Here are some GDP numbers:

Year_____GDP___________PrevYr
________________________/ ThisYr

1997____8,186.6________ 1.064
1998____8,626.3________ 1.054
1999____9,127.0________ 1.058
2000____9,708.4________ 1.064
2001____10,040.7________1.034
2002____10,373.4________1.033
2003____10,828.3________1.044
2004____11,466.0________1.059

The source for the Year and GDP is Government Statistics - Section 10 has the historical GDP table.

I know they said "private sector GDP" - I'm not quite sure what that is or exactly how it's measured. But, overall GDP growth was higher before Bush's tax cut - the 2004 number is estimated.

[ItsThePeopleStupid]

49. .gif for GDP growth

hope this works

Notice the drop coincides with change of presidents? #1 is bull.

[Toucano]

32. I don't have any links for you.

But I want to congratulate you on taking a positive approach.

I pronounce your first originated thread a glorious success! :yourock:

[myccrider]

47. Hey, go me ;-}

Not sure if I can take credit for a 'positive approach' though, I've just always been something of a contrarian & get a kick out of arguing - especially when I'm right!

:hippie:

[Room101]

33. This might help...........

George W. Bush
Resume

Accomplishments As President

· In my first three years in office over 3 million Americans lost their job. Greatest sustained job loss since the Great Depression
http://www.forbes.com/work/newswire/2004/02/27/rtr1279483.html
http://jobwatch.org/

· Shattered record for biggest annual deficit (521 billion) in US history.http://forbesbest.com/reuters/newswire/2004/02/02/rtr1238808.html

· Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period.http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4437497&type=bondsNews

· My economic policies- helped foreclosures reach a 30-year high. http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/housing/2002-09-09-foreclosure_x.htm
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/6136869.htm

· Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans. http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/supportTheTroops.asp

· Cut hazard pay for troops serving in Iraq http://www.armytimes.com/archivepaper.php?f=0-ARMYPAPER-1954515.php

· Used forged evidence in the state of the union address http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/14/sprj.irq.documents/ http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/6362092.htm

· Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in modern US history. http://www.aclunc.org/911/scorecard.html

· I went AWOL from the National Guard. http://www.awolbush.com/
Quotes and References

“If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator.” –George W. Bush-December 18, 2000 http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/18/nd.01.html

"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it," – George W. Bush - July 30, 2001 http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2001/nf20010730_347.htm

[myccrider]

52. Excellent, I can use many of these. Thank you. n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

55. ooh! this one's good. #33 reply

it's short, sweet, and to the point. and most important hammers down unrelentingly. very good. i'd just cut and paste this for a rainy day.

[Zynx]

34. I don't know where to begin.

I hope someone else has the time because that is filled with so much bullshit I can't even begin to debunk it.

[Joanne98]

35. People like your sister are simple-minded. Sorry

You have to keep it simple stupid. Bush is a liar. The numbers are phoney. Bring up Enron and Arthur Anderson. Tell her it's too complicated for her to understand. Tell her Bush is not really religious, he's a follower of Leo Strauss. It's just a show. Republicans especially the Bush family are criminals. If she votes for him she's falling for the "big trick" in Revelations and she won't be raptured. Bush is evil. She's supposed to be fighting evil not voting for it. And don't forget the affair he's having with Condi. :)

[ComerPerro]

41. Total household net worth - $44.4 trillion

Lets be generous.

44.4 trillion dollars, divided by say, lets be very generous here and go with 100 million households in the US.

Even with that VERY generous estimate, that meas the average household has a net worth of $444,000.

Now, my family does alright, but I guess we are WAY below average...

Really, what this ad says is all the truth. Bush is making sure that wealth is held by a very small, select group of people. And, sure, things are on the rebound, BUT lets notice how badly he has fucked up. Notice their graph cuts off at 2000 or 2001... If they showed graphs going back to the '90s, we would see the sharp, drastic declines after Bush siezed power.

So, the point of this ad is that

- the rich are doing very, very well
- corporations are doing well, but people lucky enough to find work aren't seeing pay raises
- due to poor economic performance, interest rates are rock bottom.
and
- Bush really really screwed the economy... but, he's sorry... Yeah...

Its pretty pathetic.

I say, ask your sister if her household net worth is close to $444,000

[myccrider]

53. Good approach...

to explaining the vast differences in wealth in America. $444k average - wow.