Right-wingers have a strong emotional need to think that Bill Clinton did a lousy job as President. Even when it comes to the economy. But whether he did a good job or not is not a matter of opinion. It can be QUANTIFIED:

Dow Index when Clinton took office: 3300
" " " " left " : 10,600

Unemployment rate when he took office: 7.5%
" " " " left " : 4.0%

Annual deficit when he took office: - $290 billion
" " " " left " : + $237 billion

Oh, and gas cost $1.52/gallon

How has Bush done on these same metrics?

And before you attempt to change the subject, crime went DOWN 8 straight years. It has since gone up. And don't repeat the standard GOP lie that he "decimated" the military-- military spending went from $267 billion (Bush I's last year) to $379 billion Clinton's last. And it was the military that Clinton built that won the Iraq War so quickly. Bush's people blew the occupation.

Alright first there never was a surplus. That's a little deception due to counting social security payments as regular taxes. (The SS money that was invested that is supposed to pay for all the retirements coming up was invested in government bonds and the money used right away.)

The point being that the "surplus" was from the government owing less to outside parties by writing itself IOUs with the social security money. But the net debt kept going up.



Did get close to even a bit.

However the president only has so much affect on the economy. Bill Clinton was riding the dot com bubble. And despite what may have been said he can't take credit for that as Al Gore did not, in fact, invent the Internet.

Bush got to be around when the bubble inevitably burst. Ditto for the housing market bubble. Which, when it comes around again, should be a hint that unless you get in early following the speculators just makes you the end guy on a sort of pyramid scheme.

But I think he should get some credit for Welfare reform in particular and for advancing free trade.

But he did draw down the military for good or bad.

A lie oft-repeated is still a lie:

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

so why give credit where credit is do when you won't give credit where credit is do?

Unemployment has been lower under W than Clinton.

When you give Bush credit for keeping America safe for 7 years in which nobody though it was possible, I'll start considering giving credit where credit is do.

And this thread is a joke b/c you are taking away any credit from Bush for the military victor over Saddam's Iraq and at the same time asking others to give clinton credit

I thought it was possible. So there.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

You can pat on the back whoever you want, but the reason for the Clinton success, is due in large part to a republican congress. they kept each other in check. The country is better off when one party doesn't control the legislative and executive branches of government.

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For real coverage of the Iraq war see
http://michaelyon-online.com/

Conan! What is best in life?
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women

Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don't give a **** how crazy they are!

Actually I just meant it as good natured ribbing. But the point is they can't take much if any credit for the dot com boom.

Yep remember how bad Clinton's first two years no way he ever gets re-elected if the Dems stayed in power of Congress.
But I will give Bill credit for not fighting back against Newt and co.

When a $5 Trillion industry, like the Business and Personal Computer industry did in the 90's, emerges from next to nothing during his administration I'll let you know.

As far as the Military goes, Clinton had a Republican controlled congress that spent the money on the military in spite of the President. Bush is saddled with a Democrat Congress cutting the funding on the military to spite the President.

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Would you rather have a walk on part in the war or a lead role in a cage?