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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (512378)	12/18/2003 1:05:19 PM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 769670

Then why do YOU keep harping on it ad nauseam Kenneth?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (512378)	12/18/2003 1:43:48 PM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 769670

Data Sends Dow, S&P to 18-Month Highs

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (512378)	12/18/2003 1:44:46 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

30-, 15-Year Mortgage Rates Dipped

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (512378)	12/18/2003 2:51:23 PM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 769670

Jobs, Manufacturing Data Send Stocks Up Thursday December 18, 2:38 pm ET By Vivian Chu NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose on Thursday, after a batch of economic data showing a surprise drop in weekly jobless claims and a surge in regional factory activity reassured investors the strong economic rebound is well on track. First-time claims for state unemployment benefits a rough guide to the pace of layoffs, plunged more than expected to 353,000 last week, falling to the 2 3/4-year low they hit in early November, the Labor Department said. In other economic news, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said its monthly gauge of manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region jumped to 32.1 in December from 25.9 in November, defying forecasts for a decline. New orders, a sign of future growth, also hit a 23-year high. "The economic data continues to reinforce the idea of a strengthening economy," said Paul Cherney, chief real-time market analyst at S&P Marketscope. "Today's initial claims show employment is coming into line with expectations for an improved employment picture, and the Philly Fed index was also very positive. One reason why we're not showing even more upside is the market's already discounted much of the good news we're getting now," Cherney said. biz.yahoo.com

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (512378)	12/18/2003 4:06:42 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Democrats Trail in Polls, Battling Self-Inflicted Wounds By John Jessup Washington Correspondent December 18, 2003 In the wake of the capture of Saddam and several successful military raids, the President's approval ratings are up. CBN.com – WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats are trailing badly in the polls, especially after the capture of Saddam Hussein. And now they are suffering from self-inflicted wounds, with reckless remarks and conspiracy theories about President Bush and the war in Iraq. In the wake of the capture of Saddam and several successful military raids, the President's approval ratings are up. A recent poll shows 63 percent of American adults think President Bush is doing a good job. Only 34 percent think he is not. Those numbers are problematic for Democrats, especially now as conspiracy theories about the Bush Administration's handling of the war in Iraq and rumored advanced intelligence on terrorism appear to be in wide circulation among Democrats. One such theory about the September 11th terrorist attacks came from Howard Dean. In an interview on National Public Radio, Dean said, "The most interesting theory that I have heard so far is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis." Dean says he does not believe Bush was warned, but he has not backed off from bringing up the rumor on a national broadcast. The President calls the idea "absurd." Former Clinton Secretary of State Madeline Albright has been busy trying to put out her own fire. Political analyst Morton Kondracke said Albright asked him if he thought the Bush administration had Osama bin Laden hidden away, and would bring him out before the election. After Kondracke repeated Albright’s statement on TV, Albright issued a statement saying she was only joking. Kondracke, and two other people in the room at the time, say it did not look like she was. And other Democrats have come up with wild theories about the Bush administration. In September, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy claimed the Iraq war had been "made up in Texas." And Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) is facing harsh backlash for comments he made about the timing of Saddam's capture. Critics say these unrestrained remarks wind up hurting the party and are counterproductive. In addition to his statements about the President, Dean has made a lot of reckless remarks this year. His contenders the nomination hope to use them to sweep away some of his support, attacking his lack of experience and credibility, for what they call wild remarks and distorted truths. But despite all this, Dean still leads in the polls for the Democratic nomination. cbn.com