gross domestic product

Some time ago, when the economy really started tanking, I had a commenter who repeatedly tried to convince me with all these crazy rightwing talking point (Johnny McCranky could've taken some lessons from this guy), that the "economy was fundamentally strong" and we were nowhere near a recession.  

Ben Stein and I actually agree on something:

The sad truth of the last two two-term Republican presidents is that their economic premise, the key part of their economic game plan, simply has not done what it’s supposed t

Yep. The latest stats are out and the Gross Domestic Product grew by 1.9% over the last quarter, which was a few percentage points less than the economists expected. They’d forecast a 2.3% increase. They attributed the growth to the stimulus package - that $1,200 per couple tax rebate thing.

The Washington Post says, "According to most broad measures of how the economy, it's not all that grim."

Soft? You betcha. In recession?

Starting tomorrow the United States Senate will begin debate of the Lieberman-Warner Cap and Trade bill. It is my hope that a good Cap and Trade bill emerges and is passed. Unfortunately, I have doubts that a good bill will emerge. There are too many interests who will want the bill drawn in such a way as to benefit them that I suspect the final product will be flawed.

James Pethokoukis wonders where the recession is:

What do you call a recession where the economy keeps going up and up, even if a bit sluggishly?

Very little difference between Dem and GOP presidential candidates regarding cities:

I was disturbed to read in a Jim V post this evening that the purported cost of the war in Iraq is $3 Trillion (believe it or not, someone has written a book about it!). That is a staggering sum. “Dang,” I thought (Jim facilitated me), “think of all the things we could have used that money on . . . think of how much we could have done for future generations?!”

First I wondered if that

Republicans in Tennessee are touting the economy as on course for a “record-setting boom” spouting figures and statistics without citation. The TNGOP released a statement yesterday shouting that “Democrats . . . are clamoring, almost cheering for a recession.” As usual, Republicans are not afraid to ignore facts and fi