Post from My Soapbox:
IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID!
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Let's not get distracted by "Republican Barbie" who offers no new ideas on how to fix the economy. John McCain doesn't have a clue and neither did George Bush. Remember what Americans care about more than the war or anything else. It's the economy stupid! Obama and Biden both need to talk about concrete things they plan to do to stimulate the economy and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure while creating jobs right here that can't be exported or given to low wage foreign workers.

Stay ON MESSAGE! What's important? It's the ECONOMY stupid! Remember that and we WILL win in November!

Reader Comments
  
I agree...
By From The Hip Sep 4th 2008 at 12:04 pm EDT (Updated Sep 4th 2008 at 12:04 pm EDT)
I've not watched much of the RNC, but I've yet to hear one person address this issue.
  
Why
By SciBlue Sep 4th 2008 at 12:46 pm EDT (Updated Sep 4th 2008 at 12:46 pm EDT)
Can you not question her credentials without calling her demeaning sexist names?
Re: Why
By Alex Sep 4th 2008 at 6:12 pm EDT (Updated Sep 4th 2008 at 6:12 pm EDT)
What credentials? She doesn't have any! She wants to play with the big boys then she's going to have to weather everything that was leveled at Hillary. Why give her a free pass? She wears too much makeup and has a hairstyle from 1960!

She wants to act all morally superior, then tell me why she didn't raise her daughters better. Daughter knocked up at 17, way to set an example for the nation, and cutting funding for teen pregnancy too. This woman has a closet full of skeletons, we should be opening it and shining a light inside.
  
The economy's one of our selling points
By Democrat in Sunnyvale, CA Sep 11th 2008 at 12:18 am EDT (Updated Sep 11th 2008 at 12:18 am EDT)
I don't know if this is common knowledge but historical data shows some pretty convincing trends comparing Democrat vs Republican performance.

A striking example is the effect on employment rate. Since 1961, Republicans averaged an increase in unemployment rate of 0.6% per year and Demcrats averaged a decrease of 0.8% per year. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Link (Set the date to e.g. 1960 to see the full range)

Economic growth also looks better under the Democrats. e.g. Since 1961, The Dow-Jones Composite Index grew at an average rate of 20% per year under Democrats and at a lower 15% under Republicans. (Link. Click on Indexes/Dow Jones Averages/Index Data and enter a date range to extract data)

However, all Republican governments performed very weakly except for Reagan. A side effect of his economic policies was a very high unemployment rate (e.g. 11% in 1983).

If you look at the data, you will see that Democratic policies consistently provide steady drops in unemployment rate coupled with good economic growth. Republican policies show unstable, oscillating, high unemployment rates and in most cases (except Reagans), poor economic growth.

Also, of the 12 significant military events since 1960 lasting over 1 year, 10 began during a Republican period and 2 began during a Democratic period. The 4 major US wars (Vietnam, Gulf War 1, Afghanistan, Iraq) during this time all began during Republican periods. Link

Another interesting fact is: "In the United States at the end of 2001, 10% of the population owned 71% of the wealth, and the top 1% controlled 38%": Link

These were just 4 variables that I thought might be interesting to look at. There's lots of data out there and I'm sure that the more you look, the more you will see that a Democratic government is the optimal choice in terms of low unemployment, good economic growth, a more fair distribution of wealth and a healthier, happier, more productive and integrated nation.
Re: The economy's one of our selling points
By floyd Sep 16th 2008 at 8:17 pm EDT (Updated Sep 16th 2008 at 8:17 pm EDT)
Many conservatives seem to blindly vote republican because they believe that "it's good for business"
Here is some very interesting historical data that many republicans (and democrats) do not realize.
I believe if these economic facts were woven into the democratic message in the next few weeks....It could do a world of good!!


Charts on the subject:

Link



Another summary of facts above:

Link



Another tidbit – the rich get richer under democratic administrations:

Link


Study back to 1927

Link



Analysis of National Debt by President:

Link



http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stev elm1/partycontroldebt.png
  
real economic amunition
By floyd Sep 16th 2008 at 8:15 pm EDT (Updated Sep 16th 2008 at 8:15 pm EDT)
Many conservatives seem to blindly vote republican because they believe that "it's good for business"
Here is some very interesting historical data that many republicans (and democrats) do not realize.
I believe if these economic facts were woven into the democratic message in the next few weeks....It could do a world of good!!


Charts on the subject:

Link



Another summary of facts above:

Link



Another tidbit – the rich get richer under democratic administrations:

Link


Study back to 1927

Link



Analysis of National Debt by President:

Link



http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stev elm1/partycontroldebt.png