During his speech last night, more than once he referenced how strong the economy was under his tenure as President.

 

Does he deserve that credit?

Yes.

If there wasn't economic sucess, don't you think he would get the blame?

If there wasn't economic sucess, don't you think he would get the blame?

 

:thumb: Exactly!

We exactly did he do that made those eight years a success?

Whether it was because of his policies or the fact technology boomed during this time, he was still the President and he gets the accolades that come along with that.

 

Pitino recruited the kids, but Tubby brought them to the title.

Whether it was because of his policies or the fact technology boomed during this time, he was still the President and he gets the accolades that come along with that.

 

Pitino recruited the kids, but Tubby brought them to the title.

 

Seems like I've read on here that Pitino's players won the championship and Tubby was just a mindless drone.

President Clinton deserves some credit. The shrinking deficit and eventual surplus helped. He can take some credit for that. His tax policy helped achieve the balanced budget. At least some control of spending by Congress also helped. Stable energy suplies and the increases in productivity related to the technology boom were beyond his control. They were also part of the expansion. Presidents can claim some credit for what happens on their watch, mainly tax and spending relationships, but a lot happens that is beyond their control.

President Clinton deserves some credit. The shrinking deficit and eventual surplus helped. He can take some credit for that. His tax policy helped achieve the balanced budget. At least some control of spending by Congress also helped. Stable energy suplies and the increases in productivity related to the technology boom were beyond his control. They were also part of the expansion. Presidents can claim some credit for what happens on their watch, mainly tax and spending relationships, but a lot happens that is beyond their control.

 

 

I agree with your points. Some other concrete actions taken during the Clinton administration that likely had a positive effect on the economy were welfare reforms (reduced spending and encouraged more people to join the workforce) and the passage of NAFTA.

I agree with your points. Some other concrete actions taken during the Clinton administration that likely had a positive effect on the economy were welfare reforms (reduced spending and encouraged more people to join the workforce) and the passage of NAFTA.

As unexpected as it may sound, I agree with you 100%. I can't believe I am saying this, but from what I understand, for a left-leaning politician, Clinton was as good as they came economically. He certainly benefited greatly from the internet and its possibly unparalleled effect on the economy, but he did some good things as well.

Yes.

 

Realistically, the President has only a slight ability to manipulate the economy. Tax policy, spending (both vis-a-vis the deficit and its effect within the economy), trade, and maybe appointments to various economic departments affect the economy. And even these can either be ruined or overcome by the economy as a whole. I suppose that there is a degree of chance involved with policy decisions. However, it is very difficult to look at his terms in office and find an absence of success in any area of the economy, which tends toward the idea that Clinton had a deft understanding of it. At the very least, especially for those who argue the stock boom carried him, he had the sense enough to not screw it up.

Presidents get way too much credit when the economy flourishes and way too much blame when it goes sour.

 

That being said, it probably isn't a total coincidence that the best economic environment in the last 20 years happened with a president from one party and a Congress controlled by the other.

Yes, and no. How's that for a political answer?

As much as the Republican controlled Congress gets.

Presidents get way too much credit when the economy flourishes and way too much blame when it goes sour.

 

That being said, it probably isn't a total coincidence that the best economic environment in the last 20 years happened with a president from one party and a Congress controlled by the other.

:thumb: I agree, westsider. Clinton and the Republican Congress each deserve some credit for keeping each other in check.