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Congress writes the laws, the president decides whether to let them pass and how vigorously to enforce them (he's the executive branch, he executes the laws) and wars have an effect on the economy as well, as was said. Plus presidents can use the "bully pulpit" and the sweepingness of their victories to push through legislation. So Rush is wrong (what a surprise), although people often exaggerate the impact of presidents on the economy.
The President can also introduce legislation by having his legal staff write out some statutory language, then leaning on a prominent GOP committee member to introduce it into the legislative process. In fact, this happens quite often. Or the President can simply put the proposed reforms out there, and call on Congress to act, ridiculing or criticizing them if they fail to act.
Because our economy is based on faith and confidence, if we elected a real strong leader who had a great plan to rebuild our economy after the Bush Recession I think people would start buying things again and the economy would improve. I think a weak leader like Bush does not create a level of confidence and as a result few people are promoting our economic strength and potential right now. China is a perfect example of how a strong progressive government can improve an economy. Mexico is a perfect example of how poor leadership can sink an economy.
Because our economy is based on faith and confidence, if we elected a real strong leader who had a great plan to rebuild our economy after the Bush Recession I think people would start buying things again and the economy would improve. I think a weak leader like Bush does not create a level of confidence and as a result few people are promoting our economic strength and potential right now. China is a perfect example of how a strong progressive government can improve an economy. Mexico is a perfect example of how poor leadership can sink an economy.
Well, it seemed we had a real strong leader who had a great plan to rebuild our economy after the Clinton Recession.
Typical Bush-bashing while ignoring the facts. The Clinton recession did end shortly after Bush was in office, we have had about 6 years of a very good economy and we had 52 consecutive months of job growth.
Rush is correct. (and the fact that your name is "teacher" and your asking us this question.. scares me).
Rush is a complete phony who would say anything at all to uphold and defend the right-wing's propagandized image of itself. In fact, the President has a huge effect on the economy -- by what he says, by what he does, and by who he is. Bush has been a complete bust on all counts, and is one of the significant reasons why the economy has all but disintegrated from a great peak it had reached just eight years ago.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Government Spending (which impacts our economy)
The president does not spend money. Congress does.. He can only veto spending.
The Congress authorizes and appropriates money per the budget crafted by the President, rarely making more than token changes at the margin. Almost no funds at all are expended by either the legislature or the judiciary. Almost all of them are spent by the executive.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Deficit Spending
The president does not spend money. congress does, he can only veto spending.
Utter horse hockey. The President, and particularly one fascinated by the extra-Constitutional fancy of a "unitary executive", has direct control over virtually all spending. He can impound it, sequester it, reprogram it, or use a simple signing statement to divert it to or from purposes in ways that Congress never envisioned or intended.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
War and Peace (How would the decision on Iraq impact our economy?)
The president does have power to send troops overseas, but he does not have the power to conduct "war" without Congress approval. Yes, sending troops overseas does spend money, but if your talking about spurring the economy, military troops being deployed does not spur the economy.
Oh, please! Next, you'll tell us that it was FDR's policies that ended the Great Depression, not WWII. The President has authority to direct foreign policy. The uses of troops are a core component of that authority and every President in modern history has enjoyed broad leeway in that area.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Influence on the Federal Reserve Decisions (including who to elect)
Yes, he does nominate individuals of power, (along with the unwritten rule of do what he wants or else be fired) but Congress must approve the individuals, and once those nominated get the job, they have full reign. They can be fired for making the wrong moves, but thats only after the fact.
Members of the Federal Reserve Board may only be removed "for cause". Having been wrong about some economic estimate or impact does not qualify. Members once confirmed serve a term of 14 years.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Regulatory decisions (stricter enforcement of anti trust and consumer laws would have changed our economy)
The president does not create laws.
Take a civics course. The President directly controls implementation and enforcement of the laws. His executive offices and agencies write and enforce the regulations. You go further afield with each succeeding claim.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Who runs the Federal Agencies
Federal agencies
You're serious? You believe that executive agencies are autonomous entities and somehow lie outside the reach of the President? One phone call from a third-rate White House underling will shift a department's focus and attention on the spot, for crying out loud.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Faith in our leadership impacts the Stock Market
Actually the stock market adjustments happen when Congress changes.. very little changes ever happen over the president.
The stock market goes down when Cheney has his annual physical. Not that the market is actually relevant to much as anything more than a sort of on-going public opinion poll.
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Originally Posted by pghquest
Promotion of weak dollar and strong dollar policies
This is the Federal Reserve, and spending issues. The deeper the debt, (note above for who creates debt) the lower the value of the dollar.
The Fed controls monetary policy. The President controls fiscal, trade, diplomatic, and other policies that directly affect exchange rates. Simply by being the idiot that he is, Bush has hurt the dollar in that so many people around the world hate him, that they will go out of their way to acquire the goods and services they want or need from non-US sources. Just to show him what they think of him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pghquest
Yes, the president holds a lot of power for things like Veto's.. but when Congress wants something, the president is pretty much powerless to stop it.
When two-thirds of the Congress wants something, the President's power is limited. At all other times, he or she wields more concentrated power than any other player in the game. Your entire thesis in this entire post is poppycock...
Well...he has run circles around the dems for the last 7 years. Gotten a lot of what he wanted, prevented them from surrendering to Al Qaeda,etc.
Facts are facts - look at the economic numbers in his term (up until recently).
Also, I know it is convenient for dems/libs to conveniently forget 9/11 and the economic impact that had.
If a dem were in office, you guys would be crowing about the numbers.
You Bushies somehow assume that everyone who sees that your emperor is naked is a Democrat.
I voted for Bush in 2000. Worst vote I've ever cast. I've never voted for a Dem for president. Can't wait until this November to do so, though.
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Our economy is based on faith
