Bush Team Lacks Clear Economic Plan, Critics Say -WP

[Rose Siding]

High oil prices, a stagnant labor market -- and the lack of a more forceful response from the Bush campaign -- have sparked worry among White House allies that the administration's economic team has been too content cheerleading in defense of past policies instead of setting more detailed plans for a second term.

While the economic recovery hummed along, there were few complaints about the low-key styles of Treasury Secretary John W. Snow, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans, National Economic Council director Stephen Friedman and Council of Economic Advisers Chairman N. Gregory Mankiw -- especially after the internal bickering that marred the tenure of Bush's first economic team. But recent news, from slowing economic growth to wilting job creation, has changed the landscape. With the Republican convention a week away, allies and opponents are clamoring for more specifics.

"You either define yourself on these big issues or the Democrats will define you," said Richard K. Armey, the former House Republican leader who co-chairs the new conservative advocacy group, FreedomWorks. "John Kerry will do just fine with what he thinks your secret plan is if you don't tell us what it is."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27055-2004Aug23.html?nav=rss_politics/elections/2004

[Born Free]

1. bush lacks clear plan for anything

The bush team's record shows they had no plan for anything other then allowing more of a shift of the tax burden to the working classes. Under the bush teams control America has beentaken down a dead end street.

[VaLabor]

2. Bush does too have a clear economic plan.

See, people always assume an economic plan should be designed to help people.

His plan is simple:

Squeeze the middle class.

Enrich the rich.

Forget the poor.

And crush the unions.

[Skittles]

3. YES INDEED

Bush's economic plan clearly calls for enriching the already-rich and screwing the rest of us.

[teryang]

4. You forgot

Steal as much money as possible and call it "national defense."

[struggle4progress]

5. It's Grover Norquist's plan to permanently bankrupt the Federal Govt!

A plutocrat's dream! :grr:

[Bozvotros]

6. Seems clear to me too.

Its just that it has no value or makes any sense for anyone besides his favorite club of corporate cutthroats. But it is quite clear.

Republicans were hoping Bush would provide a bit more fig leaf to cover the obscenely big shafting he is giving ordinary folks.