Please tell me how the recession of 2008 was so much worst than that of when the Tech Bubble Burst? Or how about the crisis with inflation back in the Carter years that Reagan had to deal with. Or! What about the recession that lead to Clinton coming into office.
And what was Bush to do? Democrats controlled all of congress past 2006.
I believe the record speaks for itself, in regards to Bush.
Job growth: annual average (payroll survey):
Clinton: +2,835,000
Bush: -455,000
Economic growth (change in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product):
Clinton: +3.7% per year
Bush: +2.5% per year
Inflation (change in consumer price index):
Clinton: +2.8% per year
Bush: +3.4% per year
Median household income, change:
Clinton: +1.7% per year
Bush: -1.6% per year
Number of Americans in poverty (average change per year):
Clinton: -800,000
Bush: +1.5 million
Number of Americans without health insurance (average change per year):
Clinton: +145,000
Bush: +1,885,000
Federal surplus/deficit (annual average):
Clinton: +$5 billion
Bush: -$350 billion
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau, White House Office of Management and Budget, National Assn. of Realtors.
I am simply trying to say, as before, he is not the worst, or the best. We libertarians have to keep our perspective, lest the neo-cons continuing using us for their own nefarious ends for more years to come. It's time to espouse our principals, and to do that, we need to keep a keen perspective on the realities of the situation, and not demagogue.