Now that’s an accomplishment!
Thanks to uggabugga, we find out about George “The W stands for Walrus” Bush’s Most Excellent Record of Achievement:
The Accomplishments
Opening Markets for American Goods
Exports have reached record levels during the Bush Presidency. [Emphasis in original.]
Not only is this listed as an achievement — it’s ranked over there at the very top (le num?ro un, as we might say back home.) Is it true? What’s the answer we’re looking for. What is it? It’s right there on the tip of our tongue… Ah yes:
Sadly, No!
Surely we jest you say! Surely there’s no way that the number one achievement listed by the administration on its web page about said achievements could be little more than meaningless bullshit?
To which we can only say: way.
In 2000, US exports (in millions of dollars) totaled 1,070,980. In 2001, 1,006,653. In 2002, 975,940. In 2003, 1,020,503. (U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, PDF file.)
For the first 6 months of 2004, exports reached 561,105, compared to 525,092 for the first 6 months of 2000. Which seems like things got better, except that adjusted for inflation this is a small decrease in the value of exports, not an increase (see NASA’s GDP Deflator Inflation Calculator.)
From 1960 to 2003, the value of US exports declined (in non-inflation adjusted dollar terms) in only 7 years. From 1981 to 1985, in 1998, and in 2001 and 2002 (although 2003 exports were still lower than 2002’s.) From 1992 to 2000 exports increased by 73%.
If (if!) exports maintain their current level for the rest of the year, Bush will have been witness to an increase of 4.9% in the non-inflation adjusted value of exports.
That’s his number 1 accomplishment on trade according to his web site.
And people call us Bush haters for wanting him out of office.
PS: From 1960 to 2000, the 4-year increases (in %) in the value of US exports: 28.5%, 39.5%, 47.6%, 112.3%, 7.1% (Reagan I,) 48.1%, 43.1%, 38.1%, and 25.8%. As should be obvious, no President has seen exports diminish over a 4-year period during that time. Bush managed to sit by and see them go up by the smallest margin in the last 43 years.
(With help from Blair.)
Sadly, No! On Bush’s self proclaimed number one achievement
http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/000918.html…
The 4.9% number is for four years?
That is abso-bloody-lutely pathetic…
Seb,
Why do your facts hate America?
They say exports are at “record levels.” They don’t say they’re at record high levels. Exceptionally poor performance can also be a record. Bushco is always careful not to lie, just phrase things misleadingly.
Turning The Corner On Trade
Thanks to President Bush’s leadership, we have experienced record growth in the exportation of American goods abroad. Sadly, not….
Seb, you speak French very well for someone who comes from Germany!
And just how much worse would those figures look if they were translated into ?uros?
Eh, I think you might be missing a number… 1960 to 2000 should contain 10 4-year periods, right? I count nine numbers. Also nice to see that the particular accomplishment that this administration is most eager to take credit for was actually best handled by Carter, apparently.
We’re good at what we’re good at, and we’re good at what they’re good at. Why does anyone other than anti-choicers and homophobes vote for these people?