Free Republic

Hillary Rodham Clinton pointed to the 1990s as a time of broad-based prosperity under her husband, former President Bill Clinton, contrasting it Friday with policies under Republicans that she said promoted tax cuts for the wealthy and the emergence of “an entire shadow banking system.” The potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate offered her most extensive remarks on the economy since departing the State Department as the nation’s top diplomat, portraying her husband’s two terms in the White House as a period of steady job growth and opportunity for many Americans. …

Sen. Barack Obama shed new light on his economic plans for the country, saying he would rely on a heavy dose of government spending to spur growth, use the tax code to narrow the widening gap between winners and losers in the U.S. economy, and possibly back a reduction in corporate tax rates. snip While Sen. McCain has argued that tax cuts -- particularly on business -- spur growth, Sen. Obama rejected that as flawed economics. "I've seen no evidence that...would actually boost the economic growth and productivity," he said.

IT'S AN UTTERLY remarkable American story that Barack Obama, by means of extraordinary energy, intelligence, charm and eloquence, is on the verge of being the first black to secure the Democratic nomination for President, but no one who has been paying attention can buy his pledge of change. He offers more of the same. Beginning most notably with FDR's New Deal, the federal government has been extending its reach in America, ignoring constitutional restraints, usurping the responsibilities of other levels of government and involving itself in virtually every aspect of our lives to the point where we now face a...

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement responding to remarks by President Bush this morning on the nation’s economy:“The President’s statement this morning fails to grasp that middle-class families are working harder but earning less, while facing record gas prices, failing mortgages, and rising home heating bills.  If President Bush thinks this is success, I would hate to see his definition of failure.“Even as middle-class families are struggling, the President’s budget plan gutted energy independence, cut home heating assistance for seniors, undermined cancer research, robbed promised funding from K-12 education, and slashed Pell grants and college financial...