Pennsylvania Exit Polls: 9 In 10 Americans Think US In A Recession, Bush Says "We're Not"

With the Pennsylvania primary voting under way today, early Pennsylvania exit polls are showing that 9 out of 10 people think the country is in a recession.

As in earlier primaries, at least half of voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country. About half as many said Iraq was the top issue. Health care trailed in importance.

Pennsylvania Democrats had a sour view of the economy _ four in 10 said the country is in a serious recession and at least as many called it a moderate recession. Only about one in 10 said the economy is not in recession.

This assessment contrasts drastically with Bush's own assessment of the economy that he gave this morning, in which he dismissed talk of a recession:

"We're not in a recession, we're in a slowdown," Bush said at a news conference at the end of a two-day summit with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Bush pointed out that the U.S. economy grew in the fourth quarter and that the statistics for the first quarter were not out yet. "But there's no question we're in a slowdown and people are concerned about it, obviously," he said.

Comments

[ChristianEcon.com]

Hey the ultrarich parasites are still rakin it in; no recession.

[dgscol]

There is the Christ and the Anti-Christ.
Then there is the leader, and the Anti-Leader.
Bush is the Anti-Leader.

He should be impeached. We need reform. We need it now.
We need the unity required to oust BushCo.

[TheLar]

Why does Bush think he can change reality with words? As in "There's no civil war in Iraq until we call it a civil war!" There's no recession until we call it a recession.

PLEASE! Bush, you're not an idiot, you're a dope.

[Vyvjala]

This sub-cretin wakes up in a different world every morning................Believe nothing!.........

[quadman]

The technical description of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Fourth quarter 2007 was still positive growth (but barely). First quarter 2008 ended less than a month ago and it will be shown as negative growth. Second quarter will probably be negative as well though we don't know exactly how it will turn out, meaning that we won't be 'technically' in a recession until July 1st at the earliest. Are we slipping into a recession? Very likely. Are we there already? Not according to the established criteria.

[280park]

You're wrong that two negative quarters of GDP growth are required for recession. You don't have to look far, just the 2001 recession, to find that your relaying of a "technical" recession fails. If you think for some reason there was no recession because it didn"t fit your "definition" maybe you should ask the Three Million people who lost their jobs then.

Also, the start of recession is RIGHT WHEN things plunge (jobs, gdp, income, sales) not after they've been down for a couple of quarters.

[nirek]

Not all of us are loosing $. The welthiest 10% is getting richer and the oil co. and other big businesses are raking it in.

[TheMisanthrope]

It's not a recession. It's just a flesh wound!

[jellygraph]

Well, when has Bush _ever_ been right about anything? I would rather trust those 9 out of 10 people

[sklfcats]

Wake up old man

[Mark701]

Bush has become politically impotent. He's nothing more than a doddering old fool that no one pays much attention to anymore. Either he doesn't know what the truth is or simply refuses to acknowledge it in public. It really doesn't matter much any more because we have to pick ourselves up and deal with the catastrophes and tragedies that he and his administration were responsible for causing or exascerbating. 3000 dead as a result of his negligence on 9/11. 4000 American soldiers and 600,000 Iraqis dead as a result of his unecessary war. Millions of refuges. 1100 dead in New Orleans due to the inexperience and incomptence of the person he put in charge of FEMA. Legalization of domestic spying, signing statements, executive privelidge, degradation of the US Constitution, violation of US and international laws, violation of the Geneva Convention, the destruction of the US economy and the destruction of our credibility in the world. Does this dry drunk whose, whose narrow mindedness, limited intellect and twisted ideology have cause so much grief and pain to millions of people really wonder what his legacy is going to be?? This might be stretching the analogy but Bush reminds me of Hitler duing his last days, a madman, completely disconnected from reality, refusing to admit defeat even as Germany burned around him. Enough said.

[filo]

Bush's motto: A lie told often enough becomes the truth.

He stole it from Lenin.

[liberalpatriot1]

That's the Bush way - just keep saying that black is white over and over and over again until people believe it. Unfortunately, in this country these days, people usually do. That's why he's won two elections and McCain is poised to win in November. People are gullible - and intellectually lazy.

[ReasonableBill]

Reading the the diverse comments today, it is obvious the nation has been fractured by Bush and the ideology of those connected to the Republican Party and I think the spirit will continue with the possible nomination of Brack Obama or Hillary Clinton. Hillary and her husband are and have been playing racial and innuendo politics to win.

When it comes time for the election, I do not think those "in the know" and those taking polls realize how mad people will be and McCain may just realize the fruits of their divisive labor. Or, people may just not vote for either candidate for the office.

As far as wearing the "Flag" pin. Get serious. That show of patriotism has been since we went into Iraq as a Republican "born again" Evangelical code for "I am a member of the Religious Right and I wear the Flag pin to show it" and it looks like I am a patriot to those that don't. I remember when Pat Robertson ran for President - it was all about taxes, a popular subject, but it really was about pushing the Religious Right agenda. He did not win, but they went back home and used the same "Taxes" subject to get local boards and offices, State and now we have them in the Federal government. The influx of Justice Department lawyers are all from Bob Jones and Liberty University.

[280park]

A quick, nonpartisan read of the economy (punch line is recession) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/21/could-the-recession-have_n_97858.html

[johnnyhempseed]

O.K. lets see,the dollar is down 30%,a few trillion dollars in value are lost from the real estate market.The savings rate of Americans is at an all time low while debt is at an all time high.Food and fuel are not factored in to the G.D.P. so the official figures are fabricated upwards.Another $Trillion dollars or so of A.R.M.s are set to reset up soon ,dispite discount interest rates being constantly lowered .Consumer dept is at record levels and defaults are in the millions .Investment bankers are being bailed out by taxpayers to prevent domino effect runs on other banking houses.Oil hit $118.00 a barrel today and gasoline is $3.69 + a gallon with Diesel at $4.39.Food is up 7-130% depending on the type.Hundreds of thousands of American workers have lost thier jobs in the last two years.The collapse of the Dollar and extreme weather,coupled with bio-fuels and fuel/fertiliser pressures are causing global food shortages.With all of this ,everyone is in denial,what recession ?What me worry? These folks must be part of the 28%r Ostriches with thier heads in the sand! peas in for Earth day

[MilwaukeeDan]

johnny, great comment. To all you who think "all is well", I don't care how you or this idiotic guberment define a recession(they fudge the numbers on most stats). If you think this is still great, give it a couple more months then tell us again.

[elbzee]

The chimp's not worried... he & his buddies'll be just fine.

[freemann]

Bush stands with and has been working for the few evil that think they are above the law. Their main purpose in life is to get rich and step on others to get there. Bush is the facilitator for this group. Exxon Mobil is among those who evil and destructive elements in our world today. In fact together with other evil corporations, Exxon Mobil is far more dangerous and harmful to world peace and stability than those Muslim extremists we've been told to hate and fear of.

Bush has traded his soul in for wealth and power. The devils are controlling him now and will spit him out like a bitter seed once he's no longer useful to them.

The Republicans stand for extreme greed, evil, and inhumanity. If this nation ever trust another Republican in public office, it deserves to slip to a disgraced state of economy, as it is in now. No matter how much lies and spins pumps out by the Neo-con controlled Republican propaganda machines, the RECESSION IS REAL and IT IS HERE and NOW.

[freemann]

Is there enough evidence to NOT TRUST ANOTHER REPUBLICAN ever again??

[elbzee]

Regardless of the Democratic nominee, I will vote for that nominee ( but fervently wish its Obama). Sadly, I'm afraid this isn't quite so partisan. Ever read Charley Reese's "The 545 People Responsible for America's Woes"?

http://www.liberalsvsconservatives.com/the-545-people-responsible-for-americas-woes-t1957.html

I'm afraid I can't argue with the man.

[freemann]

it gives me a great pleasure in using my toilet with Bush's face painted at the bottom of it.

Bush is the ugliest, the most disgraced, the most stupid, the most unfit human walking this planet. In fact, by now Bush is not even qualified to be called human. He's lowered himself to the lowest order of insects. The b*stard is a disgrace to mankind.

Impeachment is not enough for this criminal. He's nothing but a run-man for a very evil group of people called the Neo-cons, who are responsible for the downfall of what used to be a great nation.

Everything this b*stard touches has or eventually become as disastrous as the b*stard's own life. And morons of America put this loser in charge. Go figure!

[edsel]

Amen to that brother

[blooddoc]

Unfortunately, Bush & Company will never be prosecuted, never pay a dime for the damage they have done to the country over the last (soon to be) eight years. History, on the other hand, will deal harshly with this bunch; Bush will give James Buchanan a run for the money as worst president in the history of the nation - his decision to go into Iraq is comparable to Buchanan's decision not to deal with secession, and the end result may be almost as damaging.

[toby25]

The thing is we AREN'T in a recession. I wonder if how many people talking about how the economy is terrible even knows what a recession is. I hate to say it but 9 out of 10 people in certain parts of PA have thought the economy was bad for the past 15 years. My inlaws live in PA and sit and wonder when the Government will bring the steel mill back or the Rolling Rock brewery.

[johnnyhempseed]

Things are just great for us 2%ers
Why all the grief from them 98%discenters ?
If they wait they'll get thier $600 bucks.
They can make half a payment on thier pickup trucks!
Or forstall forclosure at thier local banks
These low approoval ratings are what I get for thanks
These plebes are lucky I don't send tanks
The proles should be happy cause the Constitution stanks!
peas in for Earth Day

[duckfan00]

Bush: Apres nous le deuge !! ...L'Etat c'est moi!!!

[CrankyCurmudgeon]

George Bush may be our first truly anaerobic Chief Executive (I can't bring myself to call him our President). He's got his head so far up his ass he's operating completely without oxygen.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

"9 in 10 Americans don't even know the definition of a recession, this is the worst story ever posted on HuffPost."

Your economic credentials are immediately suspect when you imply you've read every story ever posted on Huffo.

Okay, so you probably voted for Bush twice. Are you obligated to defend everything he says and does?

[Podewumun]

Bush should thank his lucky stars that it's possible for humans to laugh and cry at the same time.

Elsewise, that idiot would have been hauled out of the WH five years ago and strung up on the nearest low-hanging tree limb.

[NotGuilty]

Why do you think he created "Homeland" Seecurity? To protect the Neocons!

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

What a no brainier they can figure that out but not GOP tactics in support HRC. Why 52- 48 in support of her? Why do the Right keep on supporting Party over Country.