"President Bush announced Monday he is creating a high-level government post to nurture the manufacturing sector, which is bleeding jobs in states crucial to his re-election.
Bush said the nation has lost 'thousands of jobs in manufacturing.' In fact, the losses have soared into the millions: Of the 2.7 million jobs the U.S. economy has lost since the recession began in early 2001, 2.4 million were in manufacturing. The downturn has eliminated more than one in 10 of the nation's factory jobs.
'One way to make sure that the manufacturing sector does well is to send a message overseas, (to) say, look, we expect there to be a fair playing field when it comes to trade,' Bush said. 'See, we in America believe we can compete with anybody, just so long as the rules are fair, and we intend to keep the rules fair,' Bush said, his audience of workers and supporters cheering.
Bush did not name the new manufacturing official, and gave no timetable for offering a nomination to the Senate. Nor did he specify what duties the new post would include." (Emphasis added.)
First, what a horrifying statistic. We've lost 2.4 million good-paying manufacturing jobs since Bush took office? More than one in ten of them? Oh my goddess. I can't even imagine what a social disaster this is.
Second, can he pander more obviously or more ineffectually? His biggest supporters are corporations that are moving offshore to avoid U.S. tax laws while Bush & Co. give their executives big, big tax breaks. Leaving the post undefined and inchoate is absolutely telling. What the hell can such a person do? Nothing. Of course, the Democrat has to pander right back, but at least Dean has come right out and said he'd be more protectionist. It's an insane position he will have to abandon after the election, naturally, but he beats Bush on that score in the campaign. Bush can't pound on "unfair trade" too much because - as this story shows - it just begs the question, "What are you going to do about it?" It all has the air of panic about it.
Update: Atrios weighs in: "Of course, [Bush is] making the right gamble. The conservatarians really only have one ideology - hating Democrats. Oh, and tax cuts." I disagree, Atrios. I think Bush can't do anything effective in this area, or it will piss off his corporate buddies.
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