Bush's message on economy takes beating

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5624615/

President Bush’s election-year message that the economy is strong and “getting stronger” is being shaken by a three-pronged assault of weak employment growth, higher oil prices and a slumping stock market.

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With less than three months until Election Day, the economic data have taken a sharp turn in favor of Democratic challenger John Kerry that hardly could have been anticipated even a few weeks ago.

Friday’s report that the economy added only 32,000 jobs in July was the latest evidence of a summer slowdown in growth, shocking forecasters who thought employers added 200,000 to 300,000 jobs. It was the second straight month of weak job growth, and it added credibility to Kerry’s refrain that Bush has failed in his handling of the economy, analysts said.

“It allows Kerry to say with some justification that the recovery may be sputtering and that the job market is very soft,” said Greg Valliere, chief strategist of Schwab Washington Research Group. “A lot of people thought when he was saying that earlier in the summer that he was a Cassandra, that he was exaggerating things. But now he can make both those claims.”

[Demeter]

1. How To Recognise a BUSH Recovery Process

Hello, my name is Al, and in 2000 I voted for Bush. I'm a GOP-aholic.

[depakid]

2. "people thought... that he was a Cassandra"

err... hate to break it to you, Greg... seeing as how you're a "chief strategist" and all, but Cassandra didn't exagerate. She was right.

Trouble was, no one listened to her.

[jacksonian]

3. excellent point - nt

eom