Will Bush’s economic warning matter?
The president pushes Congress to pass the financial rescue plan.
“It’s not just Wall Street,” said the New York Post in an editorial. President Bush’s warning that “our whole economy is in danger” was just the slap in the face that Congress needed. If Washington doesn’t set aside its differences and pass a responsible version of the $700 billion financial rescue plan, we’re all in trouble.
If only Bush had something to offer beyond "fear itself," said The New York Times. His words would carry more weight if he spoke hard truths about how a "shocking" lack of oversight contributed to the meltdown, or the fact that the nation can’t afford more tax cuts for the wealthy. Instead, his televised speech on the crisis was “just another reminder of something that has been worrying us throughout this crisis: the absence of any real national leadership.”
There’s a good reason why Bush has taken a back seat in this crisis, said David Broder in The Washington Post. His second term in office has “so depleted Bush’s personal credibility that he is crippled as a national leader.” Besides, the point men on the financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, are the ones with the expertise.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Magazine solutions - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
'Box Trump in for real if he pulls another stunt. Put him behind bars.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published