Crocodile Tears Over the Economy

Bubble Watch

Robert Manor and Kathy Bergen note in the Chicago Tribune: "Bush spoke before a hand-picked crowd of mostly friendly listeners at the Union League Club of Chicago. He took no questions from the audience or press."

Fratto's Folly

Think Progress points out this exchange from yesterday's press briefing by White House spokesman Tony Fratto:

Q: "Senator Clinton said on Saturday that the U.S. economy was slipping towards a recession. Is that a view the White House shares; why or why not?"

Fratto: "I don't know of anyone predicting a recession."

Think Progress then helpfully lists several such predictions from leading economists.

Education Watch

Maria Glod writes in The Washington Post: "President Bush urged the Democratic-led Congress on Monday to revive a stalled effort to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind law before he leaves office, but he pledged to veto any bill that 'weakens the accountability' measures at the core of one of his signature domestic achievements. . . .

"'I know No Child Left Behind has worked,' Bush said, as he urged Congress to revise the law to increase flexibility for state and local agencies without loosening the annual testing and enforcement provisions that give it teeth.' . . .

"Bush's remarks came on the eve of the anniversary of his signing the bill, which was passed with broad bipartisan support and is considered one of his most significant domestic accomplishments. As attention shifts to the presidential election, chances for action in Congress are dimming. If the law is not reauthorized, it will remain in effect as is."

From the transcript of Bush's speech: "Look, I recognize some people don't like accountability. In other words, accountability says if you're failing, we're going to expose that and expect you to change. Accountability also says that when you're succeeding you'll get plenty of praise."

Middle East Watch

Jonathan Finer and Michael Abramowitz report from Jerusalem for The Washington Post: "In the six weeks since Israeli and Palestinian leaders left Annapolis, Md., pledging to end 'bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples,' violence has escalated over long-standing territorial disputes and security concerns, leaving little optimism here on the eve of President Bush's visit that the fledgling dialogue will bring peace. . . .

"A poll published Monday by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 59 percent of Palestinians consider the Annapolis process a failure. A poll conducted in Israel at the end of December by the same organization and the Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at Hebrew University found that 75 percent of Israelis believe the same thing. . . .

"'It's almost a tradition that lame-duck presidents make a swing to the Middle East, including Israel,' said Michael B. Oren, a prominent historian of the Middle East at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem. 'It is traditionally a victory lap. This is a victory lap without a victory.'"