The Moose out of front should've told you

In a rare instance in his presidency, 43 began sounding like 41.  Talking about the economy, Bush explained that there was nothing he could do and nothing he really would do and even if there was Democrats wouldn't let him.  It was classic 41 "na gonna do aht."  To a fair degree, he is right. The economy is still struggling from years of devaluing our currency which is now revealing itself in a myriad of economic problems. Granted it was useful to prop up American manufacturing numbers which at this stage is the only thing propping up the economy. However, they are also exasperating the gas price crisis.

For nearly his entire administration, Bush resisted conservation.  Vice-President rejected conservation as a national policy; instead referring to it as a "personal virtue."  It took six years to overturn a tax loophole awarding "small business" from buying the heaviest of SUVs.  While Bush fought against tightening CAFE standards, the tax code was rewarding people for buying the worst offenders.

A coalition of Democrats from auto manufacturing states and related interests fought endlessly to protect the SUV from any form of regulation - fuel mileage, safety standards, emissions - SUVs were sacrosanct.

Instead of being in position for Detroit to meet CAFE standards by 2010, we're now stuck with seeing progress by 2015, 2020.   Bush and Cheney did this to protect his numerous allies in the energy industry.  The Democrats did it to protect jobs in Michigan.  However it does little to help Detroit in the long run.

Japanese and European auto makers have been operating under stricter standards than we're proposing for the future for years.  Honda sets their own fleet mileage and emission standards.  If California had it's way tomorrow, Honda wouldn't miss a beat.  Meanwhile Detroit is terrified of being forced to play catch-up.

However, gas prices will force them to play catch-up and once again they'll be caught wrong-footed.   When gas is pushing $5 a gallon, consumers will be looking for the most fuel efficient cars possible and they'll be looking largely to the Japanese brands.

The recent report of consumer spending does not bode well for an economic recovery.  

Personal consumption grew just 1.0% in the first quarter compared with 2.3% growth in the fourth quarter of 2007. The decline was led by a 6.1% decrease in purchases of durable goods and a 1.3% decrease in nondurable goods.

With the devaluing of the dollar, increased transportation costs, stagnant wages and tightening money markets, it is very difficult for the American consumer to keep spending as they had throughout the decade.  It is somewhat ironic for many conservatives to bemoan reckless borrowing while promoting reckless consumerism.  The two go hand in hand headlong into a wall.  

Bush has never been one to responsibility for any of his actions or lack thereof and there's no reason to think he'll start now.   The approach to the dip in consumer spending is to throw money into the economy.  While it is a step above simply printing the money, it's not much of a step.  If the recipients are sensible, they'll take the money and pay down debt and given the fear over the economy I think they will.

Republicans have always rejected the idea of throwing money at a problem.  In this case, they're just throwing it into the air.  Targeted tax breaks would have been much more effective to address some of the fundamental problems in the economy.

• Increase incentives to buy more fuel efficient cars.  That will save consumers money for years to come and help reduce our dependency on foreign oil.  
• Increase  incentives to make homes more energy efficient by replacing old HVAC systems, insulation, windows, light bulbs, or renewable energy sources.  This will not only save homeowners thousands every year, but will reduce the strain on our increasingly overtaxed energy grid. 
  
• Promote loans and other incentive programs for the development of manufacturing plants in the United States producing solar and wind power technology.