1115.org

On Tuesday we had all that grim news about the economy. But there was really no cause for alarm, after all. President George W. Bush has stepped up to the plate, and President George W. Bush has reassured America:

I don’t think we’re headed to (sic) recession.

And he should know. Because he’s the President. And as Dana Perino certified,

He gets a regular briefing; he’s very interested in making sure that he is kept up to date.

Nobody can be better informed about the economy than a very interested President who gets a regular briefing to stay on top of things.

Which is why lesser minds might be puzzled by this:

On one issue particularly worrisome to American consumers, there are indications that paying $4 for a gallon of gasoline is not out of the question once the summer driving season arrives. Asked about that, Bush said “That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that. … I know it’s high now.”

But, come on, anyone can see that old George is just playing with us. He knows how a little humor helps us all to cope with adversity just a little better. And Bush, thank God, remains enough of a regular guy that he can see the funny side of $4 gasoline and of a moribund economy poised to get even more moribund. I know that I skipped off to the doctor’s office for an MRI this afternoon with a new spring in my step, instead of worrying like I might have done about the rising cost of my private health insurance policy.

It’s true that “Bush’s view of the economy (is) decidedly rosier than that of many economists, who say the country is nearing recession territory or may already be there”. But, hey, what do they know? Are they the President of the United States? Do they get a briefing every day (or whatever “regular” means, coming from the mouth of Dana Perino)?

And it’s clear that Bush is being perfectly realistic. Because he frankly declared: “no question, we’re in a slowdown.” That’s a truth-telling president, that is.

In the interests of fair and balanced reporting, I’ll go ahead and report the views of one Chris Dodd too, but do please try and remember that he’s not the President of the United States (even if he wanted to be):

The (Senate Banking Committee’s) chairman, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., described the nation’s economic situation as “very serious, if not perilous.”

Dodd said: “Growth is slowing. Inflation is rising. Consumer confidence is plummeting, while indebtedness is deepening.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, incidentally, was testifying before Dodd’s committee today. In the course of which testimony, he said:

I realize that my testimony wasn’t the most cheerful thing you’ll hear today … but I do very much believe that the U.S. economy will return to a strong growth path with price stability…

He sure got that right. The most cheerful thing we heard today was George Bush on the economy. Thank God for President Bush!