Bush again proves he's out of touch with us economically

Today in his weekly radio address, George W. Bush spoke about the economy. And he again proved that he has absolutely no idea what the average non-rich American is experiencing these days.

Here are some excerpts from today's address, with commentary:

My Administration has been clear and candid on the state of the economy.

Oh yeah? We can't know that now, because you shut down our access to key data. For some of us, ignorance is not bliss, Mr. President. And hiding the facts will not make them any less true.

This [tax rebate] package will help American families increase their purchasing power and help offset the high prices that we're seeing at the gas pump and the grocery store. It will also provide tax incentives for American businesses to invest in their companies, which will help create jobs. Most economic experts predict that the stimulus will have a positive effect on the economy in this quarter and even a greater impact in the next.

Which economic experts? Dick Cheney and Halliburton? Exxon Mobil? Yeah, that $600 rebate is going to erase all my financial worries. Now I can run out and buy a new TV to turn the economy right around, and then take it home and watch FOX News for further reassurance, right? Mission accomplished again.

While getting more money back in the hands of Americans is a good start, there are several additional steps that Congress needs to take to ease the burdens of an uncertain economy.

When all else fails, blame Congress.

Americans are concerned about energy prices. To increase our domestic energy supply, Congress needs to allow environmentally safe energy exploration in northern Alaska, expand America's refining capacity, and clear away obstacles to the use of clean, safe nuclear power.

Yeah, the answer to our energy crisis is to drill more holes in the now-pristine Alaskan wilderness and to build more nukes.

Americans are concerned about their tax bills. With all the other pressures on their finances, American families should not have to worry about the Federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. So Congress should eliminate this uncertainty and make the tax relief we passed permanent.

Um, except that your tax cuts primarily benefit the richest 1 percent. They're not the ones who are feeling the pain of this economic mess we're in.

America is now facing a tough economic period, but our long-term outlook remains strong.

Yeah, and you also told us in your radio address three weeks ago that "American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress" in Iraq.

But we know now that we cannot believe you.

And these are all reasons why a new CNN/Opinion Research poll has found that you are the most unpopular president in modern American history.

So please just stop it!

The real solution is to get a Democrat into the White House this fall and, even more importantly, to elect a much larger majority to both houses of Congress. We need a supermajority to get past the Republican Congressional roadblocks.

Otherwise, I fear, we can just look forward to more of the same.