One Statistic Identifies Matt Blunt Is A Liar

One would expect that, given the "Yes, but" nature of the coverage circulating tonight in stories like "Blunt Touts Missouri Economy", which features the charming lead:

Gov. Matt Blunt touted an expanding Missouri economy on Monday, although at least one gauge of business conditions showed that expansion to be slowing.

Evidence supporting Blunt's claim:

Blunt cited the creation of nearly 39,700 jobs from January through June, when the state's unemployment rate dipped to its lowest level in more than two years. He also noted that Missourians' income grew faster than the national average during the first quarter of this year.

Evidence against:

But a monthly report on business conditions released Monday by a Creighton University economic forecasting group showed Missouri's business index fell for the sixth time this year in July to 51.5 -- the lowest rating in the nine-state Mid-America region. The higher the rating is above 50, the greater the indication of an expanding economy over the next three to six months. The report said the July rating was Missouri's lowest since September 2003.

We at DMB2008 laud the media for its efforts to find esoteric academic statistics to counter Matt Blunt's claims.

Unfortunately, we're discriminating thinkers who understand the difference between creating a climate for long-term growth, which won't provide the instant gratification the media shouts, with government spending increases on the poor, the downtrodden, and the middle clase, which has a handy upward trending metric of spending completely divorced from the effect of the spending or the success of the government programs.

We at DMB2008 laud Matt Blunt's long-term influence on the economy and dream of a time where friends and foes alike can assail Matt Blunt's voodoo economics....which will yield better benefits for the citizenry than the rhetoric or, heaven forfend, the policies of his opponents.