By the end of 2001, any economic policy that didn't immediately pump massive amounts of capital into the free market would have resulted in a severe recession or depression and we'd still be there. By the time the Clinton recession and associated equity market crash was over, more than $6 trillion in investment capital was wiped out. Thats enough money to make those 2.9 million unemployed people millionaires twice over. Its sure as hell what happened to the jobs. Any politician that tells you they will "create jobs" (laughing uncontrollably) is completely full of shit. I don't care what party they are from.1.6% increase in economic growth since Bush took office, the slowest rate of increase over an equivalent period for any administration in 50 years.
OOPS! Did I write "Clinton recession"? Why, yes, I did. Look at the timeline. A few days after Bush had his 1st full cabinet meeting, we were already in recession and it was up to him to clean up the mess that was handed to him. Bush's economic policy didn't kick in until 2002. Generally, it takes months or even years for government policy to have an effect on the economy (excluding FED policy). Fortunately for us, Mr. Bush's unprecedented release of capital into the economy via tax cuts had an immediate effect that staved off a much deeper recession.