Hands Across the Border

President Bush reached south and north of the border yesterday for backup in what has become an intensely partisan battle over international trade.

Steven Lee Myers writes in the New York Times: "President Bush pulled the leaders of Mexico and Canada into an unusually direct involvement in his domestic political efforts to expand free trade on Tuesday when his two North American allies joined him in a foray into both Congressional politics and the presidential campaign.

"President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada lent their weight to what has been something of a lonely campaign by the president as he has traveled the country to make pro-trade speeches and angry statements about the 'petty politics' that he sees threatening one of his administration's major legacies.

"They joined Mr. Bush in sharply criticizing a decision by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to scuttle a vote on a free trade agreement with Colombia. And indirectly but unmistakably, they rebuffed calls by the two Democratic presidential candidates to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or Nafta."

James Gerstenzang writes in the Los Angeles Times: "Mexican President Felipe Calderon was particularly blunt, warning that weakening the 14-year-old pact would damage the Mexican economy and could create 'even greater migratory pressure' on Mexicans to cross the border to look for work in the U.S.

"'We agreed that this is not the time to even think about amending it or canceling it. This is the time to strengthen and reinvigorate this free trade agreement,' he said. . . .

"With the U.S. economy in a slump, the Democratic presidential candidates have questioned free trade and NAFTA in an attempt to appeal to voters in states hard hit by the loss of manufacturing jobs to lower-cost producers in other countries."

Recession? What Recession?

Here's the transcript of yesterday's joint press availability.

When a reporter asked "how deep and how long will the economic recession be in the United States," Bush replied: "First of all, I -- we're not in a recession. We're in a slowdown. We grew in the fourth quarter of last year. We haven't had first quarter growth statistics yet. But there's no question we're in a slowdown. And people are concerned about it, obviously. I'm -- of all the three of us standing up here, I'm probably the most concerned about the slowdown. After all, it's affecting the people who I have the honor of representing."

He spoke optimistically about the economic stimulus package he signed in January, and then -- surprise -- insisted: "The key is for Congress not to raise taxes during this period of time, and send a signal that they're not going to raise taxes."

John D. McKinnon writes in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "Mr. Bush's statement that the U.S. economy isn't in recession drew criticism from Democrats. 'It seems like President Bush is living on another planet,' said Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.). 'Coupled with runaway spending on an unending war in Iraq, President Bush's legacy can be summed up in a single word -- denial.'"

Michael Abramowitz writes in The Washington Post: "Bush's comments on the U.S. economy were consistent with his refusal to describe current economic conditions as a 'recession,' commonly defined as two consecutive quarters in which gross domestic product falls. Although that has not happened, the Federal Reserve has reported that economic conditions have weakened, with manufacturing output down 0.5 percent in the first three months of this year, consistent with a recession. And in congressional testimony this month, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said that a 'recession is possible' -- but that growth could pick up later in the year."