Correct the Record

As a follow up to Election Year Ammo I have a couple quick links to assist in correcting the record for the upcoming election which should be useful to candidates, bloggers or commenters when challenging their opponents, the media or tea baggers.

First up is responsibility for the deficit. Here's a graph derived from Congressional Budget Office numbers which demonstrates responsibility for the current issues facing the treasury. Ask your teabagger acquaintances where they were when all this spending was going on.

Second is the necessity for stimulus to prime the pump of the economy. Here's a new empirical study from two renowned economists demonstrating how much worse we'd be off but for the Stimulus package already passed.

In a new paper, the economists argue that without the Wall Street bailout, the bank stress tests, the emergency lending and asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, and the Obama administration’s fiscal stimulus program, the nation’s gross domestic product would be about 6.5 percent lower this year.

In addition, there would be about 8.5 million fewer jobs, on top of the more than 8 million already lost; and the economy would be experiencing deflation, instead of low inflation.

Note that one of the economists was an adviser to the McCain/Palin Country First! campaign. This also implicitly supports Nobel laureate Krugman's oft repeated warning that it wasn't enough and we continue to risk depression.

Third is the issue of divisiveness and the "Party of No". Here's another empirical study demonstrating the degree of bipartisanship in which the Republicans are willing to engage.

The data shows a striking difference. Politics were more centrist in the late 80s. Divisiveness didn't move much for about 18 years, but then divisiveness dramatically spiked since the beginning of the Obama administration, setting a record in 2009 and another record so far in 2010. The difference here is really quite dramatic: 29% divisiveness in 1989, vs. 70% today.

Looks like the author wants to expand his project should anyone have the data.