Jesse goes 2 for 2:
Today, in Davenport, IA, George W. Bush lauded Iowa’s 4.3% unemployment rate as proof of the success of his policies. In November of 2000, Iowa’s unemployment rate was 2.5%.
We’re turning the corner…
2.5% was before the Clinton recession. The unemployment rate rose to close to 5%, and is now dropping.
The unemployment rate in Iowa during the miracle economy of the Clinton years? 3.8% (and that figure, unlike the 4.3% current figure and the 4.0% figure from last month and the figures in the graph, is seasonally adjusted).
*** Update ***
Jesse, with typical grace and wit, responds, and is wrong again. I give up on him. It must be hard work to so consistently miss other people’s points and behave like a pompous fool. But then- he is learning from the master.
Dear Jesse:
We understandthat 4.3% unemployment is higher than 2.5%- we will credit you with being clever and witty for noticing. Really, though- there are reasons for why this is the case, and why Bush’s statement is accurate. I am sure they have all bounced off your bitter, thick skull.
Media Matters.
Jesse Taylor- reason enough to vote for George Bush.
walter
John Cole – reason enough why some people shouldn’t have blogs
catherine
ah, yes. you totally cleared up why jesse was wrong by saying you give up and not responding to his valid points except to say there are “reasons” for why bush’s statement is “accurate”. good job.
John Cole
Catherine-
A.) That button on the left labeled ‘shift’ works. Try it.
B.) Jesse’s idiotic post is that because the unemployment rate is 4.3%, higher than the 2.5% when Bush took office, it makes Bush look stupid to say we are turning the corner.
Now, if we had not had the recession, the 9/11 attacks, the uncertainty of the markets due to corporate malfeasance), etc., and the unemployment rate had not risen to nearly 5% before dipping to near 4% (again, not seasonally adjusted, as Jesse’s figures are), then he would have a point.
However, the clear fact of the matter is that all of those thingsDID happen, and the unemployment rate IS dropping (look up at the graphwith all the pretty colors), so Jesse trying to ridicule the President for making an accurate statement is simply partisan hackery.
Also- the built in assumption that is also flawed is that Bush somehow CAUSED the unemployment rate to move from 2.5% to 4.3%, and that it would never have happened if Bush were never elected.
In short, Jesse’s analysis is all wet. Now ignore everything I have said, and go back to pandagon and tell every one you ‘really told the moronic brownshirt fuck what was what.’-
dylan
A) The space bar, long, skinny and probably the most visible key you can see from that cave you must live in; has its own use as well. Try it.
B) 2.5% is better than 4.3%, when it comes to unemployment. Please answer the question or at least debate the pertinent point. Wow!The unemployment rate dropped in six of the last 10 months on your pretty colored graph. Why didn’t we hear about this “corner” that we are about to turn in June of ’03? Because its a bunch of crap. You’re wasting your time defending it.