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Bush Says He's Concerned About Economy
September 18, 2008 10:58 AM
ABC News' Julia Hoppock reports: President Bush today said he was concerned about the state of the financial markets and announced that he cancelled his scheduled trips to Alabama and Florida in order to focus on the economy. Bush was slated to attend two GOP fundraisers, but has sent Vice President Cheney in his place.
"The American people are concerned about the situation in our financial markets and our economy, and I share their concerns," he said in his first public statement on the economic crisis since the government bailed out insurer American International Group.
In his two-minute speech, Bush did not specifically outline what further actions would be taken to ease one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, but said that he had met with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and would meet with him again this afternoon. The president tried to reassure the American public that the federal government would be actively engaged in working to stabilize and strengthen the struggling market.
"As our recent actions demonstrate, my administration is focused on meeting these challenges. The American people can be sure that we will continue to act to strengthen these financial markets and improve investor confidence."
Bush took some heat this week for not addressing the economic crisis more directly; his last public remarks were made Monday. In a press conference yesterday, White House spokesman Dana Perino said that Bush was apprehensive about holding a news conference, in general, because he didn't want to distract from the presidential campaign.
"I grant you, that it's been a while," Perino told reporters. "And I understand that people want to hear from the president during this time."
September 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (98)
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Bush is such a dim bulb. You can't have confidence in him being able to handle an economic crisis or any other crisis.
He's been in so far over his head it's ridiculous. We need sharp people to handle the great challenges of our times.
Obama/Biden '08
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Sep 18, 2008 11:13:43 AM
This guy should just shut up and get the hell out of the White come Jan 09. He is a complete failure. I feel ashamed that we the American people elected such as neophyte into the most powerful office in the world.
I hope we don't make the same mistake for the 3rd time by electing John McCain
Posted by: Ro | Sep 18, 2008 11:13:47 AM
Guys....THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES....I cannot believe any of you would even CONSIDER voting a Rep back in office>>>>
Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 18, 2008 11:15:35 AM
Hey Dubya... "concerned" is the best you can do? People are "concerned" about whether or not they'll get to the dentist on time. They're more like "frightened" about whether or not they'll have a job next week. Maybec crawl back to Crawford and chop some wood instead of pretending to lead the country. It's obvious you're phoning it in these days.
Posted by: HeidiL | Sep 18, 2008 11:18:26 AM
Last night Palins challenge was "Let's play stump the candidate"
I think she should follow through with that challenge
Posted by: watching | Sep 18, 2008 11:25:29 AM
I am certain Bush will not talk about the real reason the economy tanked - his administrations deregulation of the financial system. Bush allowed or was oblivious to the pending disaster. Either way how can we justify another McBush/ Palin (don't even get me started on HER) GOP fiasco!
Posted by: Bender | Sep 18, 2008 11:25:39 AM
I thought he might speak today. He got slammed pretty hard by Chris Matthews last night for not doing a presidential address on the economy.
Posted by: Paul | Sep 18, 2008 11:26:51 AM
Big whup! Wish he had been concerned back when his pal Lindsay Graham was calling us all whinners.
Posted by: jenny | Sep 18, 2008 11:27:55 AM
Great work Bush, now we get to elect a "welfare/warfare" queen in McCain/Obama to finish off the mess you and your pathetic democrat enablers in congress started. Hope you and Cheney have fun in Dubai while the US BURNS!!! (Say hi to Prince Saud and all of the hijackers from Saudi Arabia for all of us!) And be sure to take those traitors who enabled you (Pelosi and Reid) WITH YOU when you go!!!
Posted by: hmn | Sep 18, 2008 11:31:45 AM
John McCain endorsed GWB in 2004, which appeared a calculated move at the time to make the GOP base happy and bolster his 2008 chances of winning the GOP nomination. He won the nomination and here we are.
Less regulation equals more bailouts in the financial sector.
Posted by: SET | Sep 18, 2008 11:35:37 AM
Oh dear! I wonder if Obama can do something, he may as well just go in, tell Bush to leave and hand out some money- he can borrow a few dollars from the guy advising him from Fannie mae- you know the guy who ran it into the ground paying himself 90 million in the process. Doesn't matter that he hasn't won yet. After all didn't he try to negotiate with the Iraqi's from setting troop time limits with Bush -waiting until he rode into office?
Posted by: david | Sep 18, 2008 11:35:56 AM
LOL The headline of the article is the understatement of the century, and I could totally hear those exact words coming out of George's mouth.
Posted by: Paul | Sep 18, 2008 11:37:23 AM
Do you have a comment about this issue? It's easier to talk about rumor and innuendo than real issues.
Bush/McCain policies have failed our economy.
Posted by: David Distracts | Sep 18, 2008 11:38:18 AM
Bush hasn't been honest with the american people for almost 8 tears- he's not about to start now- I wish he would just dissaper - SHUT UP!.
I do not want a 90% McBush taking office. McCain has shown on several occasions he is clueless and will offer only sound bites and no specifics on helping the economy.
Posted by: Bender | Sep 18, 2008 11:42:24 AM
Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley, the second-biggest independent U.S. securities firm, may sell a larger stake to China Investment Corp. and is in talks about a possible merger with Wachovia Corp., a person familiar with the matter said.
If this is true, Bush and friends keep walking in poop, I can't wait for McNuts to continue the downfall...
Posted by: matt | Sep 18, 2008 11:47:23 AM
Why is anyone surprised that Bush is going to leave the Presidency with the country in shambles. He did that with everything else he had done, his investors lost money in his oil company and his baseball team. Sound familiar?
Posted by: The Unshrub | Sep 18, 2008 11:48:26 AM
He is introducing the new feature film coming out...
"Deregulation and the Bail Out II -2008"
It's the trillion dollar sequel to the first one (which only cost us half a trillion dollars)
"Deregulation and the Bail Out - The Rise of the S and L crisis"
The sequel finds our trusty partners...John Mccain and Charles Keating have separated their contract giving, deregulation lobbying, jet-sharing ways...have parted company (as Keating went the way of Prison at the end of the first one and John went on to be that "maverick" leaving his partner in the dust)
we now find John Mccain has a new partner...Phil Gramm same battles same lobbying
but now they are writing the nations economic policies.
ugh
throw these bums out.
Posted by: dl | Sep 18, 2008 11:50:52 AM
WHERE ARE THE FEDS?
Are you waiting for the elections so you can keep your jobs?
What are you doing about how we were sold out in Iraq with oil contracts going to China?
What are you doing about Rangel and his tax evasions and sweetheart deals?
What are you doing about a Presidential nominee doing presumed negotiations with a foreign country?
What are you doing about an organization that receives U.S. funds yet has $$ to make political donations? And has investments in foreign countries?
What are you doing to help protect us against Voter Fraud?
WHERE ARE YOU?
Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 18, 2008 11:52:35 AM
Some more of that Compassionate Conservative stuff. Sounds like McCains Populist Conservative crap.
Just like the S&L debacle, we now have the This, both caused by deregulation championed by the Republicans.
Free market system at work.
Posted by: Thinking | Sep 18, 2008 12:01:52 PM
Liberals, Ugh! Same ole, "ME, ME, ME". All the while US Soldiers are saving your A....
That is the big difference between Democrats and Republicans. Dems think only of themselves and Republicans think smarter, more intelligent and of others.
I don't feel sorry for you when McCain/Palin are sworn in to the White House..
Posted by: BMR Robert | Sep 18, 2008 12:03:08 PM
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