" Between the tax cuts, additional spending, the falling dollar (which makes U.S. exports more attractive abroad), and, perhaps most importantly, the Fed's historically low interest-rates, the concern, if anything, was that the Bushies and the Fed have done too much. "I think, combined, it was a Herculean effort," says economist Lakshman Achuthan of the Economic Cycle Research Institute. "We've never seen this kind of stimulus." Even Alan Greenspan, no foe of tax cuts, worried during the winter of 2003 that the latest round of tax-cutting might be overdoing it."

Now, the greatest stimulus package every attempted has produced a lackluster economy, artificially propped up the stock market, driven the treasury so far into debt it will take 16 years of a Democratic administration to get it out, and still there are 2.1 million fewer jobs now than when GWB & Co. were appointed.

The deficit spending is propping up the economy the way your credit cards could keep your family going for a while can't go on.

The weak dollar, which makes US products cheaper abroad, also artificially props up the stock and bond market.

With a balance of payments account which leaves the US at the complete mercy of many different countries. If China, for instance, sold all it's US holdings, there would be bread lines extending wrapped around the block.

There's even been a "war", the classic way to stimulate an economy and unite a country. And still job losses, the economy like that guy falling out of the 20 story building, looking good headed past the 10th story, if ONLY YOU IGNORE THE BOTTOM COMING.

This is a "Aside from the bullet wound, how is he taking it, Mrs. Lincoln?" sort of analysis.

"Except for being built on mud, doesn't the hillside lot give the house a nice view?"

"Yes, Captain, we think she's going down, but so far it's only the steerage that's underwater. The rest of us are doing fine."

If this guy were an advisor to anyone, he'd be saying, "Let 'em eat cake!" And advocating the hire of several more divisions of Secret Service agents to be stationed around the White Palace, strike that, White House.

Really, after the BS rhetoric, he doesn't say much. But he sounds good. No wonder he's an editor of Ta ta ta taa ta ta "The New Republic". Some of us liked the old democracy better.

Arf