Bush: US not in recession

Fuck linking; in the reporting of the astounding comments of the intolerable moron, copying the whole schmeer is fair use.

We are not in recession because he says we aren't; his economic plan is to play it by ear; U.S. forces will be in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government; however we tortured prisoners, it was legal, a la Nixon; he wants to keep the pressure on Iran so they understand they are isolated.

Just thinking about the Iran comment, he seems to have some doubts that the Iranians realize they are isolated.

Now why might the Iranians be unaware of their isolation? Here is what the U.S. State Dept. says:

Trade (2007 est.): Exports--$56.9 billion: petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, carpets, fruits, nuts. Major export partners (2006): Japan (17.3%), China (11.4%), Italy (6.2%), South Korea (5.2%), South Africa (5.5%), Turkey (5.7%), Netherlands (4.6%), France (4.1%), Taiwan (4.1%). Imports--$48.1 billion: industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies. Major import partners: Germany (14.2%), U.A.E. (6.7%), China (8.3%), Italy (7.5%), France (6.2%), South Korea (5.4%), Russia (4.9%).

Now maybe $57 billion seems like a lot to you and me, but it is smaller than the November U.S. trade deficit:

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of
Economic Analysis, through the Department of
Commerce, announced today that total November exports
of $142.3 billion and imports of $205.4 billion resulted in
a goods and services deficit of $63.1 billion, up from
$57.8 billion in October, revised.

Are Bush's advisers incapable of shutting him up, or are they as deluded as he is?

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush maintains that the country's economy is not in a recession.

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," Bush says experts would say there isn't a recession, but that signs have been troubling enough to get the government to come together on a "robust" economic stimulus package.

Beyond the plan, Bush says Washington just has to "play it by ear."

Bush also touched on the war on terror in the interview. He says the issue of electronic terrorist surveillance inside the U.S. has been "difficult" for him because he understands the complexities of trying to protect Americans and doesn't want to "trample" civil liberties.

He also says a long-term relationship with Iraq would mean that U.S. forces will be there "at the invitation of the Iraqi government."

On waterboarding used to interrogate suspected terrorists, Bush says whatever was done "was legal."

And on Iran, he says he would like to keep up pressure on the government in Tehran "so that they understand they're isolated."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.