What sort of Presidents start recessions?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

so much whining so little time

[Brad and Vika 129]

Rather than focusing on the top of the chain - focus on the House and Senate would be more appropriate since their behavior/actions (or inactions) are what really drives/steers the country. IMO

OK -- if you analyze the chart with control of congress in mind, here are the numbers: Republicans have been of both houses of Congress for no more than 336 months in the past 80 years. Recessions started with republicans were in control of both houses of congress have lasted 65 months, or 19.3% of the time Republicans controlled both hosues.

Democrats have dominated control of Congress since Republicans lost it in 1930, and have controlled both houses 624 months in the last 80 years. Recessions have lasted 115 months during that time, or 19.0% of the time.

Control of congress doesn't seem to matter with respect to the amount of time the country is in recession -- but control of the White House does!

Why are you trying to bring statistical data and logic to VJ?

This means nothing to people who have already bought into the fears created by the GOP.

Apparently, fear is much more convincing that data.

This data doesn't prove squat. Recessions are a normal part of the business cycle. So by your so called logic we should vote for only Democrats forever and ever so that we never have another recession?

Talk about fear mongering!

While we are at it...how many more rainy / sunny days have there been when there were Republican presidents vs. Democrats? This should prove who really controls the weather too.

I agree - recessions/contractions in the economy are part of the normal business cycle. So Obama is blessed by crisiis right now. COming in as a Democrat at the bottom of the recessionary trough, he will escape the single largest image problem most Dem Presidents have - the perception that they spend too much. Here, we are demanding that the government try to spend our way out of this mess, even if it hurts us long term. Funny that when other countries go into recession, we tell them that they must reduce their spending, and let poorly run businesses fail. When it happens here, there is a whole different standard applied.

Huh? Who's the "we"????

I wondered that myself - but apparently the majority of Americans, since Congress is falling all over themselves to put the money out there. I read somewhere that the application for a piece of that $700 million is two pages - and no restrictions on use (for banks participating). Unbelievable.