PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

We had a special guest in the room this morning. An expert in economics deigned to sprinkle droplets of wisdom on the parched PalTalk masses. It may look like cindylulu is the one giving us her carefully researched facts on the state of the nation's dollars, but, I assure you, she was acting as conduit to some genuine fiscal electricity. I'll let you read to find out just who cindy was a beard for:

cindylulu: another 211,000 jobs were created while the unemployment rate remained at "virtual full employment
Jesus Claus: cindy, that last statement is just nonsense
cindylulu: Real GDP increased 3.5 percent in 2005. The economy has been growing for 17 straight quarters, and the composite index of leading indicators has risen the past 6 months, indicating continued growth
cindylulu: what statement?
Jesus Claus: GDP growth is weaker than in previous recoveries
Jesus Claus: the savings rate is negative
Jesus Claus: job growth is only recently above break-even
cindylulu: Consumer Confidence rose to 107.2 in March - the highest level in nearly four years
Jesus Claus: new jobs are an average of $9,000 less in pay than lost jobs
cindylulu: Real household net worth is at an all-time high of $52.1 trillion, and the median net worth of American households rose 1.5 percent between 2001 and 2004.
Jesus Claus: and adjustable rate mortgages are heading up
cindylulu: Real disposable incomes have risen 2.2 percent over the past 12 months
Jesus Claus: hosehold net worth includes housing
Jesus Claus: which is in a bubble
cindylulu: Real consumer spending has increased 3.2 percent over the past year, and nominal retail sales are up 6.7 percent over the past 12 months
Jesus Claus: spending and sales being up is actually worrisome, if savings rates are negative
Jesus Claus: if saving is negative, new purchases are on credit
Cardinal Fang: cindy .. tell that to katrina victims
cindylulu: College Graduates face the best job market in five years
Jesus Claus: considering that Bush's policies made the recession worse
cindylulu: Manufacturing activity grew for the 34th consecutive month in March
Jesus Claus: it's a good thing there is finally a recovery
Cardinal Fang: cindy .. that is el-toro-poo-poo
cindylulu: Non-manufacturing business activity grew for the 36th consecutive month in March
Jesus Claus: how could there not be a recovery?
Jesus Claus: Bush only extended the recession, he didn't repeal economic laws
Jesus Claus: this recovery is actually much weaker than previous recoveries
cindylulu: i know there is a recovery i am just surprise that you admitted it
Jesus Claus: if the recession ended in November of 2001, how could there not be a recovery
Jesus Claus: ?
cindylulu: The American economy has now added jobs for 31 months in a row
Jesus Claus: how many jobs in 31 months, cindy?
cindylulu: created more than 5.1 million new jobs for American workers
Jesus Claus: because you need 250k plus just to break even
Ms Maggie: what are those jobs and what do they pay
Jesus Claus: 5.1 million new jobs in 31 months?
Jesus Claus: let's do the math then
cindylulu: The unemployment rate is now down to 4.7 percent -- that's below the average rate of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s
Jesus Claus: average rate?
Jesus Claus: you don't measure ue by decade averages, cindy
Jesus Claus: that's just dumb
cindylulu: Real after-tax income has grown by more than 8 percent per person
Jesus Claus: UE was around 4.0 when Clinton left
Jesus Claus: went up to like 6.5
Jesus Claus: now it's down
Jesus Claus: but that doesn't address discouraged workers
cindylulu: but what was the average for the 90's?
Jesus Claus: oh my
Jesus Claus: cindy cindy cindy
cindylulu: Americans have an income that is $2,100 higher this year than it was in 2001
Jesus Claus: 5.1 million jobs in 31 months is only 165k average
Jesus Claus: that is about 100k below break even
cindylulu: and what wrong with 165k?
doppleganger_1: The increase in American economy over the last 18 mnths is CONSUMER DRIVEN mostly on CREDIT CARDS
Jesus Claus: Clinton never got below 200k per month, i'm pretty sure
cindylulu: france would love 165k
Jesus Claus: 165k doesn't beat population growth, cindy
Jesus Claus: and Clinton always beat that
cindylulu: More Americans own their homes than at any time in history
doppleganger_1: France only needs 35K to equal America
Jesus Claus: cindy, home ownership ALWAYS goes up!!!!!
Jesus Claus: ALWAYS!!!!!
Jesus Claus: goddamnit, sister
doppleganger_1: n they exceeded that last year with 62 000 jobs created
Jesus Claus: home ownership goes up EVERY TIME IT IS MEASURED!!!!
cindylulu: Minority home ownership has reached record levels.
Jesus Claus: it is driven by population growth
doppleganger_1: better check would be the number of REPOSESSIONS
Jesus Claus: minority home ownership also goes up constantly
cindylulu: Consumer confidence is at its highest point in nearly 40 years
Jesus Claus: now, can you tell us if its RATE of growth is fast or slow?
doppleganger_1: Consumer CREDIT is at an all time high
Jesus Claus: savings have actually become NEGATIVE
cindylulu: productivity is high, inflation is contained, manufacturing activity is growing and the small business sector is thriving
doppleganger_1: Just like the national Budget deficit lol all done on CREDIT
Jesus Claus: according to who, cindy?
Ms Maggie: She's reciting propaganda. Of course, she can't explain it.
Jesus Claus: cindy, can you give us a link?
cindylulu: The economy has expanded for 17 straight quarters. And last year the American economy grew at a healthy rate of 3.5 percent. That's the fastest rate of any major industrialized economy
Jesus Claus: i think you are pasting
Jesus Claus: cindy, are you pasting?
pk51: wrong cindylu lu
Jesus Claus: ciiiiiiiiindy
cindylulu: of course i am pasting
Jesus Claus: oh, ciiiiiiiiiiindy
Jesus Claus: then tell us from where
doppleganger_1: Consumer CREDIT driven Cyndy ...that aint REAL money
cindylulu: i always paste
Jesus Claus: plllllllllllease
doppleganger_1: Thats real DEBT
Jesus Claus: then tell us from where
Jesus Claus: I want to know who I'm arguing with
cindylulu: president bush's speech last week
Jesus Claus: because it isn't you
Jesus Claus: what?
doppleganger_1: lmao at "President Bush's speech"
Jesus Claus: hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Jesus Claus: hahahahahahahahhahahahahhahaha
Jesus Claus: you are pasting from a speech by the Liar in Chief?
cindylulu: the speech president bush gave last week
cindylulu: yes i am
Jesus Claus: ok, but, he lies a lot
cindylulu: lol jc
Jesus Claus: you know that, right?
pk51: Bush economy: http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=46967
Ms Maggie: What did you expect Jesus? LOL
Jesus Claus: you know he's a big ol' liar
cindylulu: jc been argueing with the president and he didn't know it
pk51: http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=46967
Jesus Claus: oh, i'm not surprised that Bush spins, cindy
Jesus Claus: not at all surprised

That's right, kids. cindy thinks that George W. Bush is actually a valid and trustworthy source
for economic information. Hell, if Bush told me water was wet, I'd want a notarized affidavit. The fact that cindy isn't even able to discern which statistics are just blatantly spun (hint - since population is always growing, so is employment and housing) makes me suspect that we are just being hosed with more bullshit. Listen, cindy, when I want smoke blown up my ass, I'll pay a dominatrix to do it. Not that that has anything to do with lying. I just like that sort of thing. What?

JC