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Bush Admin Shuts Down Website Tracking U.S. Economic Data

thinkprogress.org — Forbes has awarded EconomicIndicators.gov one of its “Best of the Web” awards for compiling data across govt agencies and making it publicly accessible. But as of March 1, the Bush admin has announced that it is shutting down this site due to "budgetary constraints."

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  • thenativeraver, on 02/14/2008, -5/+340What a load of *****.

    They can spend trillions of our dollars on weapons of mass destruction, but they can't keep a website up.
    • ThndrShk2k, on 02/14/2008, -3/+20Thats because they already spent the money.

      But yeah, it is BS since a website and it's administration and data cost a minimal amount.
    • TheG2, on 02/14/2008, -10/+22Maybe because the same information is listed at several different places already?
      http://www.gpoaccess.gov/indicators/index.html
      http://www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/esbr.html
      http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/briefroom/BriefRm
      • SpoBo, on 02/14/2008, -20/+7seems to me like those sources are government controlled... so they could write whatever the f*ck they want.
        • caketank, on 02/14/2008, -0/+22... sort of like economicindicators.GOV, detective?
          • SpoBo, on 02/14/2008, -3/+1How did you know I was a detective? Anyway, they didn't win any awards for being correct or did they?
        • bmdt2000, on 02/14/2008, -0/+9Wow, did you even check what the website was. Please don't rant unless you know what you're talking about.
    • InetRoadkill, on 02/14/2008, -8/+77It has nothing to do with the cost of operating the site in case you haven't figured that out yet. Bush's standard operating procedure is to silence anything or anyone that would contradict his official line of *****. January 2009 can't come soon enough.
      • strictnein, on 02/14/2008, -20/+11It's so sad that people keep giving you the big thumbs up, when the post directly above you shows that you are wrong. The data is all still available at several government sites.

        But whatever, let the anti-Bush circle jerk continue.
        • Corvidae, on 02/14/2008, -0/+6The raw data is still available for accurate un-employment, overseas money reserves, inflation or voter fraud cases. However you now have to dig through sites and compile the data yourself. This makes it less likely that people will actually do it, and less likely their numbers will be believed. It's not about hiding the raw data, it's about making people who use it, less credible.
      • didiman, on 02/14/2008, -2/+5If you actually believe that Bush personally ordered to have this site shut down then you truly are an idiot. Also, I have a bridge to sell you.
        • Enfenestrate, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Is it a cool stone one like the Brooklyn Bridge? If so, where do I sign?
        • Kurlumbenus, on 02/14/2008, -1/+5Bush would have difficulty ordering a sandwich.
    • NgrHader, on 02/14/2008, -3/+23Bush knows how to use the internets?
      • FluffyArmada, on 02/14/2008, -1/+9No, but he's learning how to use the google.
        [yes, definite article]
      • mGARANDEUR1, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2someone who works for him certainly does
    • Fordi, on 02/14/2008, -1/+24Brilliant. The economy's faltering enough for the government to cite budgetary constraints, so they shut down their economic heart monitor.

      Even the *cover story* sounds retarded.
    • BobOki, on 02/14/2008, -1/+18Domain name at .gov = $100 year
      Hosting on .gov webservers = free
      Do I see an issue here?
      • slabdigger, on 02/25/2008, -3/+6accurate content, data entry and hours of research fr.... oh.
        Not that it's much money at all, compared to the big ticket items.
        When do we figure out that government is not the enemy? It's just corruption that's the enemy. Government is us!
        • sparsely, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1Government isn't an enemy, just dangerous, unnecessary, and waaay too tempting for the power/money junkies it attracts.
        • Kurlumbenus, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Government is an enema.
        • gandhii, on 02/15/2008, -0/+2government needs an enema.
          btw.. as far as I can tell from reading the article and looking at google's cache of the site... the removed site only repeated info from other sites and locations and included an automated email notification upon changes. So BobOki's statement would still be valid.
    • jstohler, on 02/14/2008, -0/+11Slap some Google ads on it -- problem solved.
      • arugulord, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Google ads would be funny, they'd probably make their $$ back in a heartbeat, probably would be nice to keep corporate sponsorship away from a .gov site but I digress. The site must be popular and used frequently if Forbes has written about it calling it Best of the Web and saying that:

        "This might not seem like a big deal, but doing it yourself--say, trying to find retail sales data on the Census Bureau's site--is such an exercise in futility that it will convince you why this portal is necessary."

        Yes the data is pulled from other .gov sites but it's all collaborated in this one site where it seems you can quickly compare all kinds of interesting data:

        "If you don't want to pay the fees for The Dismal Scientist, this is your next best bet for up-to-date U.S. economic data. This site is maintained by the Economics and Statistics Administration and combines data collected by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, like GDP and net imports and exports, and the Census Bureau, like retail sales and durable goods shipments."

        It seems like a really useful site, ThinkProgress wrote:

        "The U.S. economy is faltering. Family debt is on the rise, benefits are disappearing, the deficit is skyrocketing, and the mortgage crisis has worsened. Conservatives have attempted to deflect attention from the crisis, by blaming the media’s negative coverage and insisting the United States is not headed toward a recession, despite what economists are predicting. The Bush administration’s latest move is to simply hide the data. Forbes has awarded EconomicIndicators.gov one of its “Best of the Web” awards."
    • sjl127, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3They need the money to upgrade their databases and servers to accommodate our fingerprints and retina scans.
    • theaceoffire, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2You can actually see how much they lost on this site on the site.
      >.> well, you could if they hadn't taken it down for how much they lost.
    • 80hd, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1So this is how you screw people over and make sure that they won't give much of a damn
    • aclockwork3, on 02/14/2008, -1/+4Yeah, this is a load of *****. "Oh ***** we're going into recession, QUICK HIDE THE DATA SO IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE EVEN TO FIND OUT IF WE ARE OR NOT" "Lets use the excuse that we don't have enough money, we can just take it and put it in our pockets just like we're doing with the oil in Iraq!!!!!!111111"
  • MassRoadKill, on 02/14/2008, -29/+87Get your food storage people. Marshall law is on the way.
    • john2kx, on 02/14/2008, -5/+73What the ***** is Marshall Law? Do you mean martial law?
    • SigmaDraconis, on 02/14/2008, -4/+30Knock it off, you ***** trolls. He's obviously talking about Marshall Law, the TV show.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Law
    • donelson, on 02/14/2008, -6/+21He means: Martial Law

      But has been educated by the US school system, (i.e. barely educated).
      • ManOfVirtues, on 02/14/2008, -1/+7Smart enough to lift heavy things, dumb enough to think its worth it.
    • zod000, on 02/14/2008, -3/+8Maybe he's referring to Marshall Law from Tekken! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Law_(Tekken)
      • donte, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3With all the money we've had to borrow from the Chinese in recent years and our inability to pay it back in any way shape or form, that doesn't sound too far off base...
    • mGARANDEUR1, on 02/14/2008, -4/+11Jesus Christ people take it easy. Your arguments sound like you are writing for Maddox. Who gives a ***** about his spelling; it's what he is talking about that is important.
      • john2kx, on 02/16/2008, -0/+1When his spelling makes what he's talking about barely comprehensible is when I give a ***** about his spelling.
    • animeguru, on 02/14/2008, -1/+6I'm forming a cadre of Martian knights charged with enforcing Martian law.

      Law 1: Under Martian law doctors and other wizards are forbidden!
      • theaceoffire, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1o.o aww man....
        //Takes off his robe and wizard hat.
    • elhaf, on 02/14/2008, -4/+1We are.....
      Marshall....
      We rule!
    • theaceoffire, on 02/14/2008, -3/+1Maybe marital law?
      //goes out to get a tux.
    • LICKDACAT, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2I expect to see martial law before the elections. King George wants to finish the job.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 02/14/2008, -1/+2That's because you're a paranoid idiot.
  • medalian1, on 02/14/2008, -4/+146It would be funny if I didn't live in the USA :(
    • kaelyiesta, on 02/14/2008, -3/+24Unfortunately, we have a lot of influence on the rest of the world so its really not funny where ever you live.
      • BeefBaron, on 02/14/2008, -14/+8No, you just *think* you do.
        • merwin, on 02/14/2008, -2/+9We started a war in the middle east, which caused incidents of terrorism to rise all around the world. Yes, I would say we have a lot of influence on the rest of the world.
        • BlackStrain, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2I live in Canada. I assure you they do.
      • EmileVictor, on 02/14/2008, -1/+8I don't know why you're being dugg down - it's depressing to all of us.
      • alanr19, on 02/14/2008, -0/+8I don't live in the US and I think its funny. You people cry like babies at stuff like this but then tell anyone who'll listen that you live in the free-est country in the world. Well the gov of my country would never do some of the crap your's has pulled on its own people.

        Good luck with that.
        • cremate, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3Tell us your country!
          • alanr19, on 02/14/2008, -0/+6Why? so you can puke out the usual ignorant american off-the-shelf country stereotypes?
          • ManOfVirtues, on 02/14/2008, -0/+7No, so we can move there.
    • bitcloud, on 02/14/2008, -0/+7I don't live in the USA.... it's hilarious

      wait a second.. no it's not. :(
    • cambob76, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2I'm in Canada wondering when a good time to move overseas is.
  • GhostyBoy, on 02/14/2008, -10/+114HEY BUSHCO!

    You're job is to protect the country, it's citizens and the constitution! Not to spend all your time COVERING YOUR OWN ASS!
    • actionscripted, on 02/14/2008, -5/+35*Your
      *its
      • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -2/+1He was educated in the US, just ignore it.
        • xXShadowstormXx, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Yeah. Because EVERYONE in the U.S is stupid. You're completely right and we're just ignorant. Maybe you should not go around spouting massive generalizations?
        • GhostyBoy, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1I was educated in Canada *****, and even if I wasn't that is an idiotic generalization.

          Also, thank you to the guy above who corrected me.
    • Nerys, on 02/14/2008, -14/+3No his job is NOT to protect the country. NO his job is NOT to protect the citizens (I can protect myself thank you very much) his job is simple. PRESERVE PROTECT AND DEFEND the constitution of the united states. Period. THATS the oath you must take to be president. He does NOT have to defend the nation OR US citizens because COMPLYING with his oath to protect defense and preserve the constitution WILL do these things automatically.
      • caketank, on 02/14/2008, -1/+6That's some mighty fine parsing for capslock, isn't it?
    • flaknugget, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1HEY AMERICA !!!

      Why did you give this idiot the top-job... twice?
      • Monk22, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1the alternatives were some how even worse
      • flaknugget, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1You're sure about that?
      • 4chin8, on 02/15/2008, -0/+2I'm not sure we elected anyone. I think Diebold chose for us and we are now just waking up to that fact.
  • SocialSound1982, on 02/14/2008, -5/+234Economy's tanking? No problem! Hide the indicators!

    Dollar's shot? No problem! Stop reporting M3 money supply and keep those printing presses rolling!
    • stackered, on 02/14/2008, -13/+1I really wish people on Digg knew more about economics. The dollar being weak isn't always a bad thing, especially for a country like the US. It'll increase exports and the market will bring the price of a dollar up. Yeah, the US economy is weak right now in some respect but it is still the strongest in the world.
      • deuceswilde, on 02/14/2008, -1/+13Unfortunately what Digg does know about economics it's largely information from a first year econ class. US GDP is 70% consumption, and a weak dollar does nothing to benefit that because it does not involve tradable goods. So in a sense, a weak currency is good "especially" for a country that's entirely unlike the US.
      • stackered, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Actually we need to raise our level of exports, and with a weak dollar this will both help do that and decrease inflation. Please tell me you weren't serious when you said a weak dollar doesn't involve trading goods... are u ***** kidding me? The dollar being "weak" is defined by its trading value and price compared against other currencies. Seriously, you need to open a first year econ textbook. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I do know enough to spot complete *****. While the weak dollar now may seem bad to us, in the end it really doesn't matter the price of the dollar in the worlds market fluctuates all the time.
    • DangerCollie, on 02/14/2008, -1/+9"Yeah, the US economy is weak right now in some respect but it is still the strongest in the world."

      Conventional wisdom. The US economy may be the biggest on a relative scale but that doesn't necessarily translate to anything meaningful to those at the bottom of the pile. Our economy doesn't have to retract very much to trigger a widespread downgrade of our individual lifestyles. Having the US economy take a step toward parity with developing nations would be a massive shock for a lot of people. It's already starting at the bottom of the scale. Life has never been easy at the bottom and it's getting tougher every day.
    • staxofmax, on 02/14/2008, -3/+5This website just has links to Census Bureau and BEA documents. I don't see how discontinuing this website is concealing information, it just makes it a little more time-consuming to find. Can we please stop with the FUD, and think for two seconds before freaking out?
      • mightydavefish, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3And an informed public is vital to a healthy democracy.
        Instead of being a dumbass and arguing FOR making it harder to see what's going on, maybe you'd care to give a few seconds thought to the matter?
      • 2612, on 02/14/2008, -2/+2But FUD is so much more dramatic!! Rage, mightydavefish, RAGE!!!
    • NeilVickers, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3M3 wasn't discontinued to disguise some hidden inflationary agenda. It was discontinued because it didn't match reality any more. Plus, of course, you can derive M3 from M2:

      "M3 is the sum of everything in M2, such as most bank accounts and retail money market accounts, as well as a few extra things, such as assets held in institutional money funds, large time deposits, repurchase agreements, and Eurodollars."

      M2 covers the base money supply, and M3 was intended to show the additional effects caused by institutional investment and management. The thing is, from the late 80's/early 90's onward banks and financial institutions started to manage their money reserves in new and different ways - ways that weren't around when M3 was initially conceived. The M3 indicator was increasingly saying that we were in a period of rampant inflation, yet we patently weren't. Inflation and bank interest rates were completely stable. M3 was finally dropped as a financial indicator when it was apparent that it no longer matched the realities of the financial marketplace.

      Are we in an inflationary period now? Not officially, but we're perilously close and any further interest rate drops run a serious risk of pushing us over the brink. That's nothing to do with the existence or non-existence of the M3 indicator though - it's almost entirely due to the gross mismanagement of our national debt and rampant borrowing of foreign funds that we've suffered through in the last eight plus years.

      Once again: The M3 measure no longer fits or models modern financial markets effectively.
      • magoghm, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1"The M3 measure no longer fits or models modern financial markets effectively." == *****
        • NeilVickers, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Well thank you for that fantastic insight. Do you actually have anything to back that statement up with? I'd be very interested to hear it. Meanwhile, how about this:

          Large organizations and financial institutions used to primarily invest their currency reserves in T-Bills. During the 90's and onwards they more and more switched from internally managed treasury investments to externally managed hedge funds. This caused massive increases in the M3 measure, as T-Bills weren't included in M3 but managed funds were. This M3 volatility, taken at face value, seemed to indicate massive 'creation' of currency. In fact it was just currency being moved out of non-M3 reported instruments into M3-reported instruments. This kind of investment behavior has become more and more prevalent through the last two decades, hence my statement that 'The M3 measure no longer fits or models modern financial markets effectively."
      • obliviousfool, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1I think the key figure would be repurchase agreements. That is, when other nations dump the dollar, we have to figure out a way to repurchase them. More in repurchase agreements signals the weakness of the dollar.

        Also, if you were going to recklessly expand the money supply and not cause inflation a great way to do this would be by increasing long-term deposits out of proportion with the rest of the money supply. That is, increase non-liquid money which can't immediately come home to roost.

        I'm not an expert on money by any stretch of the imagination, but I find it humorous to think that the Fed would like us to believe that they are helping to increase the size of the money supply while not knowing the size of the money supply. That's ludicrous. Of course they still calculate M3. They just no longer report it.

        I understand your point about T-Bills, but you could just as easily use this point to show that inflation is no longer calculated correctly. You can't pick which number gets to be correct and which number "no longer models modern markets effectively."

        At this point we're not fighting inflation, we're just delaying it.
  • hawkeye17, on 02/14/2008, -4/+155The less we all know the more they can steal.
    • AndreiOttawa, on 02/14/2008, -1/+5That sounds a lot like Soviet Russia when officials at every level were making up numbers to cover their asses
  • MarkusGarvey, on 02/14/2008, -3/+65nothing to see here...move along...move along...
    • Bojanglesmn, on 02/14/2008, -0/+5Here, here's American Gladiators. Shut up and watch this America.
      ~BH
  • jcarrion1976, on 02/14/2008, -21/+5Go here for the real economic numbers:
    http://www.shadowstats.com
  • obliviousfool, on 02/14/2008, -2/+70This seems reminiscent of when the Fed stop releasing M3 because it "cost too much to calculate."
    • CPMan, on 02/14/2008, -0/+8Yeah, but it's not like the dollar has lost a significant percentage of its value since then.


      Oh. Nevermind.
  • trebuchet03, on 02/14/2008, -6/+159Irony... Shutting down "economic indicators" due to budget constraints...
    • stackered, on 02/14/2008, -7/+6Thats actually not ironic at all. Here ya go:
      http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irony
      • blorc, on 02/14/2008, -1/+35. an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.

        His statement sounds pretty fitting according to your link, depending on how you look at it of course; however, you could assert that it's not ironic because it was expected that the Bush administration would do something like this, removing the condition that the outcome was contrary to what was expected.
      • postalblowfish7, on 02/14/2008, -0/+5posting a link to dictionary.com doesn't confirm your intellectual superiority.
    • fucknuggets, on 02/14/2008, -1/+11goddamn you alanis morissette
  • thinman1189, on 02/14/2008, -2/+76Are we really so broke that we can't even afford virtual paper and virtual red ink?
    • p0s3r, on 02/14/2008, -7/+18Do you really think that's all it costs? It's the ***** federal government. It's probably a special department with a staff of 100 retards who can't find jobs in the private sector filling out request forms and doing TPS reports all day long.
      • mightydavefish, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1WOW.
        You aren't shilling for the side hiding the data.
        You aren't defending the corruption.
        Where's the real p0s3r?
      • Monk22, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1as someone who frequents the local city hall i can confirm that one private sector worker = 10 gov employees.
    • DangerCollie, on 02/14/2008, -1/+7The Republicans don't want the numbers out there during the election cycle. McCain supported every failed economic policy of the Bush administration and it would be...inconvenient...to have those numbers out there during the run up to the election.
      Not that I think it's going to make a lot of difference. Obama will bury McCain so deep he'll be our next fossil fuel to tap.
      • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3Dugg for the last line in your comment! Man, why cant I think up such beautiful humor?
  • VeganBob, on 02/14/2008, -1/+92Give me the data, and I'll maintain the website for free.

    ... better yet, throw a couple of ads on there and it'll pay for itself.
    • chapium, on 02/14/2008, -0/+8www.bls.gov
      census.gov
    • MarkusGarvey, on 02/14/2008, -1/+5I'll help ya...we can get donations from Digg to host it..
    • aklu, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1It's a bunch of links... The site itself has no data behind it. It only cost $9/yr to register and maintain a domain... and hosting for a static site is CHEAP if not FREE.

      I smell *****.
      • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Do you live on a cattle farm?
    • staxofmax, on 02/14/2008, -2/+1This website is just a bunch of links to Census Bureau and BEA documents. I fail to see how discontinuing the website amounts to concealing economic data. Buried as FUD.
    • WaterDragon, on 02/14/2008, -0/+4Ad :
      Buy the new American paper dollars:

      Fresh from the printers, now only cost 3 cents, reduced from 4 cents for quick sale.
      Huge supply available. Everything must go.
      Credit terms available.
    • blckt, on 02/14/2008, -0/+4I've started work on putting up another version of the site, just to show I can afford something the government apparently can't

      ***** bushco, the bunch of wankers
    • jjmckay, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3Nice how your comment shows that the private sector can do for free what government does at high cost.
      • VeganBob, on 02/15/2008, -0/+3Hadn't thought about my comment from that angle. Good point!
  • Okari, on 02/14/2008, -4/+59Hope Canada enjoys all the immigrants coming their way.
    • CAD420, on 02/14/2008, -3/+14To hell with that. Reminds me of the old adage, You made your bed, now lay in it.
      We don't want 'em!
      • actionscripted, on 02/14/2008, -0/+9I'll bring hockey pucks and gravy. And ask nicely: can I please crash in your country for a bit?
        • Jeffler, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3You didn't say the magic word (Its Eh?).
          Also, I need you to kidnap someone from Washington DC while you come up...of course, I mean the only person worth kidnapping there, Alexander Ovechkin ;)
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1But I wasn't old enough to vote against these assholes at the time! Besides, I already venture to Canada on a regular basis. YOU'LL BARELY NOTICE A DIFFERENCE I SWEAR!
    • 1timeuser, on 02/14/2008, -2/+13They took our jobs!
      • codewater, on 02/14/2008, -0/+8Dhey dock ou jouuubs! damn goobacks!
    • Chaoticfist, on 02/14/2008, -3/+9Seriously it is not going to make a difference being here in Canada. Once the USA economy fulling crashes, the Canadians economy is going crumble. BUT we will always have China, Russia, and the European Union to trade with :) Just the last thing we need is a couple million bankrupt Americans comping north looking for jobs and a place to sleep.(no offense to you yanks) But you made a mess, now you have to clean up your toys.
      • Chaoticfist, on 02/14/2008, -0/+9I know my spelling was bad sorry......

        But also don't bitch about how you cant do anything about the Bush ***** ***** up. Just in December our Prime Minister was going to dump a bunch of DMCA style laws on us. But a huge number of people pretty much bitch slapped our leaders back into the corner. All this was done by using Blogs, and facebook to organize a campaign to crush the bull *****.
        • Chaoticfist, on 02/14/2008, -0/+5Again sorry for the spelling, i am drunk, and very tired, not a good combo when posting comments on digg......
      • tobycloud, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1Blogs and Facebook? Sounds like solid campaign strategy....

        If you're a celeb looking for attention....
        • Invid, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1It worked. That's the true measure of success. How's the DMCA treating you?
          • Monk22, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1just fine, i ignore it and nothing happens.
    • pyxen, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Don't forget Cuba.. we can always trade with Cuba. We're not the ones with the stick up our asses, so bring on the cigars! I really hope that Canada has created enough of a foundation by now, that we can find alternative ways to prop up our economy. Eventually maybe this'll propel us into a fully international economy, instead of relying on the States so much.

      Considering the greenback isn't going to be worth the paper it's printed on, I for one welcome the european/chinese/russian investor's into Canada's future. :P Hell.. bring on the Koreans too! I like their cars.
    • Inkreef, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2We will shoot them... like you did with the Mexicans.

      Good luck !
    • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Stay out of our country yanks, last thing we need is for you to ***** up our country as well. (no offense :)
  • ScaredOfTheMan, on 02/14/2008, -1/+39The logic is quiet clear...... "if we get the data off 'the google', then no one will ever know how bad things really are.... heeheehee heeee"
  • p0s3r, on 02/14/2008, -8/+349T in debt. WTF is wrong with you people. Bush can't do anything right.
    • p0s3r, on 02/14/2008, -17/+6Let me clarify my statement:
      (We're) 9T in debt (, he's cutting spending). WTF is wrong with you people, (the idiots bitching about this.) (To you morons,) Bush can't do anything right.
      • adooga, on 02/14/2008, -1/+9This is not going to help balance the books and you know it.
        IT'S THE WAR, STUPID!
        • merwin, on 02/14/2008, -0/+6It's impossible to balance the budget while at war. We're spending Trillions in Iraq alone.
          • bjornski, on 02/14/2008, -1/+4The GOP never had the intention of balancing the budget.

            Never. They never do.

            Just like their plans to pay off the debts. They'll never do it.

            Never have, never will.

            They'll vote to lower their "minimum payments", but they REFUSE to pay off the balance.
    • fireburner23, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1To contrary it isn't entirely Bush's fault. Remember....Congress has to pass it....Know what your Representative does and start demanding better results.
    • splashy79, on 02/19/2008, -0/+0Actually, considering that the real goal was to steal as much as possible for his cronies, and get away with it, they are doing quite well for themselves. Too bad for the rest of us.
  • actionscripted, on 02/14/2008, -2/+19O'Doyle I have a feelin' your whole family's goin' down.
    • Mark7r0n, on 02/14/2008, -0/+7But for right now, I gots to study.
      • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1Thanks for reminding me bro, I got carried away. (struggles to close firefox and open science textbook)
  • elmuerte17, on 02/14/2008, -1/+24hide the numbers and you can keep telling people the economy's in great shape... lotta people still believe what their president tells them to.
  • ndnspongebob, on 02/14/2008, -8/+1bush hides everything from the public
    even his viagra but that is the only thing i cant object to
  • Qtip42, on 02/14/2008, -3/+13Economy in recession starting in ...3....2....oh wait it already started months ago. Buy up your bullion now people. Hell tell people you'll accept euros.
    • spyd3rweb, on 02/14/2008, -0/+15Might want to look up the Gold Confiscation Act of 1933 before you buy all your gold.
      • p0s3r, on 02/14/2008, -19/+2The recession started as soon as the Dem's took congress.
        • MarkusGarvey, on 02/14/2008, -1/+9The recession started as soon as Bush became President...
          • Monk22, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1so your defenition of recession is 7 years of solid growth, a soaring stock market, record setting revenue for the gov from the bush tax cuts. and adding jobs to the economy for 7 years straight up until last month?
      • thechitowncubs, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2buy with cash and bury it :)
  • allaboutdatiki, on 02/14/2008, -3/+10Why don't they sell it to someone that can use it to turn a profit (through advertising) and continue to provide the service for free?
    • bjornski, on 02/14/2008, -0/+7Because they don't want the information known.

      As the article says, the info is available elsewhere......for now.

      They'll soon be charging for it. And if you know anything about White House documents, they're not $5 a copy. Closer to $200.

      This info is being removed from public view, not because it's expensive to publish, but because it's damning evidence.
    • jerryterhorst, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE LIBERALS WANT, YOU COMMIE.
  • masterwalls69, on 02/14/2008, -34/+35Another mark for the "screw america" column. And the sad part is...America is going to vote another FAKE into office this election.

    Vote for Ron Paul:

    He has never voted to raise taxes.
    He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
    He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
    He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
    He has never taken a government-paid junket.
    He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.

    He voted against the Patriot Act.
    He voted against regulating the Internet.
    He voted against the Iraq war.

    He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
    He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.



    • 1timeuser, on 02/14/2008, -25/+9He has paid people to spam in his name on the internet.
      Or he's a necromancer and he raised an army of zombies to do it.
      • 1timeuser, on 02/14/2008, -10/+9YES, YES! digg me down rp zombies, but when election day comes his necromancer powers will no longer be of use and you will return to your graves!
      • macwac, on 02/14/2008, -1/+7I also p0wned RP supporters when they continually submitted news to digg 3 months back.. however i realized that RP did achieve quite an incredible growth due to this (2%->10% in polls).. and it is the only way his supporters can spread his word because main stream media does not want him on air. I'm impressed - and due to them spamming i actually bothered to read about the guy and i'm not even an american and actually ended up liking his policies even though i disagree with some... try to raise the level of your comments; RP supporters have as much right to support RP as all the Obama and Clinton supporters have supporting their respective candidates - just look at digg the last month. It seems pro Obama messages are the only ones i see on digg nowadays... what is the real difference?
        • sparsely, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3I thought it was odd that the sudden disappearance of RP articles along with sudden emergence of Obama support occurred at about the same time as Digg's algorithm got revamp'd. Coincidence?! :o
    • Ludnix, on 02/14/2008, -13/+13Ron Paul is not a viable president and you need to look beyond his internet fame if you still think so.
      • Nerys, on 02/14/2008, -1/+7If you knew WHY if you truly understood WHY he is not a viable president you would be MAD as hell. but you will just blindly listen to the opinions of the 6 people who own more than 90% of every radio tv and paper network in this nation.
      • macwac, on 02/14/2008, -1/+4i think Ron Paul is a very viable president - the problem comes to him being elected. But if everyone thinks like spanner obviously mainstream media chooses the direction of the people and your vote is worth nothing. By giving a vote for the person that you believe is the best the more influence that presidential candidate will have on whoever receives office. It is about showing what the opinion of the people is.. if no one votes for a constitutionalist then obviously the other parties will screw the constitution. oh and RP actually wants complete transparency of what the government does.. so this website shutting down wouldn't have happened under his presidency. I reckon if americans end up putting obama or hillary in office neither of the two will go in and re-instate all the stuff Bush has gotten rid off. People will be super happy someone else is in office rather than Bush, but they will forget about all the amendments and laws passed by Bush and none will be reverted. Watch it happen!

        PS! [i would really like to see someone ask this question in the next youtube TV debate (if there is one).. whether if "whoever" becomes the president will revert the laws and amendments to the constitution (if it happens to the 4th amendment) back to their original form]
    • spanner, on 02/14/2008, -11/+7He also hasn't a snowflakes chance in hell of becoming president, so DON'T THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY.

      • Nerys, on 02/14/2008, -3/+11Voting for anyone except who you really want is by definition throwing your vote away or WORSE.
      • XanderDee, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1That's right listen to the Fox (aka the Bush network) for voting advice. Good one.
    • CalamariAce, on 02/14/2008, -0/+9Regardless of what candidate you support, remember that no matter what president is in office - the real change can't begin until you have a congress that is not bought and paid for by special interests. Look into not just in the presidential elections but the congressional ones as well, because even though they aren't in the spotlight as much as the president, they are just as important (well okay, not since Mr. Bush gave himself new and special powers (too bad we can't blame that one on Jar Jar Binks)).
  • eze123, on 02/14/2008, -1/+40I would say that the shutting down of the website for budgetary constraints is a good indicator of the economy haha.
  • reddragonlf, on 02/14/2008, -2/+15Anywhere, other than the US, is looking like a nice place to move to.

    Just one thing after another with Bush.
    • p0s3r, on 02/14/2008, -13/+6Why do you assholes always say this but never leave? Just go already.
      • adooga, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3They're waiting to see if you go when your heroes are all in jail. Then they won't have to.
      • cyberdork, on 02/14/2008, -3/+4He's a Ron Paul supporter, so most likely his mom won't let him...
      • nvisn, on 02/14/2008, -1/+4Actually my Irish Citizenship has already been approved and I should have my passport sometime this week. Ill be going job hunting next month. Happy now?
    • reddragonlf, on 02/14/2008, -1/+5Well, It has to do with being very anti-social. I mean, I can't say I blame it entirely, but it's certainly a good start. As well. I don't have the money or the skills to up and leave. A fry cook just doesn't make much money.
  • aryo, on 02/14/2008, -7/+17fascism at its finest.
  • fancyj, on 02/14/2008, -4/+24seriously, ***** this administration. it has gotten exponentially worse since day one and we're on that really freaking steep part right now.
  • Fizznizzlenuck, on 02/14/2008, -6/+3lol Someone already jumped on grabbing the page
    http://useconomicindicators.blogspot.com/
    • socokoolaid, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3The page is still up
      • Fizznizzlenuck, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1It's march 1st already? Well ***** I missed the boat. ;)
  • 55mph, on 02/14/2008, -2/+9First M3 was eliminated. Now this!!
  • skew009, on 02/14/2008, -2/+38Not that it matters what I say as an anonymous internet user, but the economy is going to get BAD - I'm talking > 50% devaluation of the dollar. The perfect firestorm is and has been brewing for quite awhile. The Fed has been stopping certain reports and lowering interest rates to try and delay this crisis.

    Massive debt
    High interest payments
    Huge financial obligations (Medicare, SS)
    Fiat Currency which is currently way overvalued - stopped the M3 for a reason
    Iranian Oil Bourse - will break the petrodollar, the only thing keeping the dollar afloat

    Of course as soon as this happens the IMF will profit handsomely while we all work so we can pay every cent back to the 'govt'.

    "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them, will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." - Thomas Jefferson
    • Gazoo2001, on 02/14/2008, -1/+10BushCo will try and keep the financial levee* from breaking until after the new president takes office, so the new administration will have the smoking ruins of our economy blamed on them by the unsophisticated.
      *Note: They didn't (and don't) care about real levees breaking.
      • StormTroopr, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1What's with all the river talk all of a sudden? Is there a flood coming? Oohhh.... levy. Nevermind.
      • Monk22, on 02/15/2008, -0/+1sorry i thought you were describing what clinton did.
    • XanderDee, on 02/18/2008, -0/+1Amazing how a dead man predicted the future I wonder how he did that. Oh wait that's right something to do with history and repeating.
  • tuartboy, on 02/14/2008, -16/+4I am seriously tired of people who do not understand how the government is run and blame everything on Bush. Sure, he's a total f#@!up, but congress controls the purse strings around here. If anything, blame the democratic-controlled congress! They cut the budget.
    • ajwinder, on 02/14/2008, -3/+4Of course, but the site isn't going down for budgetary constraints, thats pretty obvious. If they were cutting out the nominal fee to run this site, then we're really screwed.
    • adooga, on 02/14/2008, -1/+5Gee I wonder what all the money's been spent on?
    • bjornski, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3You mean the congress that can't get ***** done because of all of the obstructionist Republicans?

      You seem to over-emphasize just how much "control" Democrats really have in congress.

      Having "the majority" doesn't mean that anything can get done.
    • lazlonger, on 02/14/2008, -0/+5you're a moron. part of the problem, clearly.
  • Fizznizzlenuck, on 02/14/2008, -10/+2A mirror has been put up already
    http://useconomicindicators.blogspot.com/
  • ajwinder, on 02/14/2008, -4/+7We have budgetary restraints in this country?

    To be fair, I bet one of those darned tax-and-spend liberals woulda kept the site open, and our entire economic system would have crumbled from the debt that would ensue.
  • nugx, on 02/14/2008, -1/+6Scum.
  • unlawflcombatnt, on 02/14/2008, -3/+6
    It's just gotten too expensive for the Bush administration to pay economists to concoct economic science fiction. And too many people are seeing through all their manipulated statistics already. So why wouldn't they shut it down? It's not only an "expensive" program, it's a failure. It's now failing to accomplish its primary goal—deceiving the American public about the health of the economy.

    http://www.unlawflcombatnt.proboards84.com/

  • apc3161, on 02/14/2008, -0/+14This is sorta how they change the definition of inflation every few years. If you go up to the average American, they will say, well from fives years ago, my food costs 1.5 times as much, my gas is twice as much, and my rent is 1.5 times as much.

    If you go up to the government, they will tell you inflation is at 2%. GTFO
    • johnboycanada, on 02/14/2008, -0/+4Well, themedia is usually careful not to include the cost of transportation (aka fuel) in CPI (Consumer Price Index which is a measure of inflation) if prices have been sharply rising. I've questioned this practice for a while now. Why would the media say to the public, well, the CPI is high but not really. Not if you subtract fuel. It's a joke. Fuel affects prices big time. CPI last quarter was something like 7.4%. Disgusting. Then subprime crisis and the fed lowers interest rates in the middle of an ongoing inflation threat?!?! WTF??? Oh, and by the way did you hear George's budget for 2009 is about 400 billion underfunded? You're right man, the public is being dupped. The media is not reporting how bad things are.
      • bjornski, on 02/14/2008, -0/+4The CPI is a joke, and gets worse every time they tinker with what counts and what doesn't. It's a lie.
  • PxCxG, on 02/14/2008, -11/+1You people who are freaking out are so dumb. There is no shortage of federal websites that track and make available economic data. For example, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and fedstats.gov. Not to mention the Federal Reserve.
    • Nerys, on 02/14/2008, -2/+7the federal reserve is NOT federal as in government. its a PRIVATE organization no more federal than Federal Express. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.
      • caketank, on 02/14/2008, -2/+4It is NOT a PRIVATE organization like Federal Express. It's sort of governmental, sort of private-- closer to the USPS than FedEx. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_reserve#Legal ...
      • PxCxG, on 02/14/2008, -0/+2Hey idiot -- how many PRIVATE organizations do you know that have their chairman appointed by the president and approved by congress? The chairman can be removed by the president!
        For the record, moron, the Fed is an agency of the federal government -- exactly like the following agencies:the CIA, the FTC, The Environmental Protection Agency, the FCC, and NASA!
        Next time know what you are talking about before you comment and STOP LISTENING TO RON PAUL! HE DOESN"T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ECONOMICS!
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_agencies_ ...
    • farleyro, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1Those, and also Census.gov, which are all much better and more timely than economicindicators.gov. Seriously, how many people who are complaining EVER logged into economicindicators.gov before today?
      • Acewrap, on 02/14/2008, -1/+1I have looked at the site while doing some research.
    • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1You are freaking dumb.
  • Dralite, on 02/14/2008, -1/+9Is it just me or does it seem like he's going to do some crazy ***** right before he gets out and ***** up anything he hasn't already ***** up?
  • j3rownjjvjjagik, on 02/14/2008, -1/+8By shutting down this website he's pretty much admitting he's ***** with the budget and he doesn't want anyone to be able to prove it. What a ***** he is. H8.
    • bjornski, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3They've already admitted that things are severely ***** when they stopped publishing the M3.
  • paganmonkeyboy, on 02/14/2008, -4/+8Dear Mr President
    Why do you Lie so much to us ?
    Sincerely,
    Tom Brennan Jr
    • techresearcher, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1For some reason that makes me *sniff* cry. :(
  • CelebFanChat, on 02/14/2008, -5/+1george bush is such a jerk! we are sick of his bullcrap ^_^
    • shiftclick, on 02/14/2008, -3/+2And sick of you lacking a source... =)
  • Archer007, on 02/14/2008, -0/+14Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
    • Smoove, on 02/14/2008, -0/+7Unfortunately, as of April 1st the Bush Administration has decided to limit daylight to two hours a day, due to budgetary constraints.
  • EmitStop, on 02/14/2008, -0/+5March 1st is my birthday!
    What a ***** present.
    • shiftclick, on 02/14/2008, -3/+1Happy b-day. Your present from me is that you posted a stupid comment and i'd like you to know it. Mine is today (Feb 14), so I trump you and get to do WETFIW. That's a new abreviation, Merry F-ing B-day x 2!
  • krizzle, on 02/14/2008, -12/+5Thats quite some spin put on that article. Its sad that people just eat it up. The Government is cutting funding on a project that posts information that has already been posted on Government websites. Sounds like an easy cut. You guys should have been upset when they thought it was a good idea to pay people for reporting data they were already paying other people to report in another place. We can deal with going to a couple of sites to get the data instead of one. And if you can't, I'm sure you wont mind paying like 20 bucks for someone to do it for you for a year.

    I should save my breathe. You have to be pretty ***** dumb to read that article and think A)Bush has any direct involvement on managing government websites B) That all of Americas economic stats are only available on one government site, and without that site we would only assume the economy is doing well and C) That a US president actually has the ability to prevent everyone from knowing how the economy is doing.

    "But Forbes said it was such a great website! How can they shut down a good website!?!"
    Its not being shut down! The article tells you whats happening. Its such a good website the government doesn't need to waste money funding it, it will be able to fund itself!

    Man you morons are easy bait. I just thought of a great way to make money, look for my anti bush blog to come out soon!
    • caketank, on 02/14/2008, -0/+3You're just making ***** up. There's not going to be any of this site funding itself crap-- if you visit the site, it says in plain English that it's going to be discontinued on March 1st.

      If the purpose was not to obfuscate, the information would be dropped from the multiple crappy sites rather than the central, award-winning site.

      The smart money says that the ESA's budget is getting cut, and they decided to cut the website-- but cutting the ESA's budget is effectively an act of obfuscation in and of itself.
      • krizzle, on 02/24/2008, -0/+0The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) has decided to continue the economicindicators.gov website. Featuring the economic releases from ESA’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the site was started by this Administration in 2002 to give greater awareness to these economic statistics. ESA initially planned to discontinue the service due to cost concerns but given the feedback ESA received, the decision has been made to continue the site and improve its functionality.

        Good call jack ass. SIKE

  • shiftclick, on 02/14/2008, -12/+3Buried, because, well, note the source. Dumb@ass. "Hi, me stupid. Me submit to Digg dumb story, obviously made-up". Shouldn't you be at an Obama rally?

    PS - Why is .223 SOOOOO f-ing expensive. (bust out your decoder ring, fanboy)
    • otakushark, on 02/14/2008, -1/+7Thank you for illustrating your own stupidity. You certainly reflect the kind of deep thinkers that pervade the pro-Bush crowd.

      "Due to budgetary constraints, the Economic Indicators service (http://www.economicindicators.gov) will be discontinued effective March 1, 2008."
      Taken directly from http://www.economicindicators.gov/
    • thirteenthcor, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1are you kidding?! look at non-military calibers: 7.62X39 .45ACP.. Christ, .45 is almost up to a dollar a round unless you buy thousands of rounds in bulk... DON'T even ask about 5.7

      .223 is doing great, for all those popguns that this mans military continues to insist is a great war caliber

      go back to 30.06 you weenies.

  • Pimptastic, on 02/14/2008, -3/+5I think we are in need of a good old fashioned depression. Show people how bad life can really be, instead of bitching on the internet. Think of it, we are spending $1 to change ringtones on a cellphone with a $50 a month calling plan, 4 bucks for coffee, these 400 dollar mp3 players everyone seems to have to have.

    oh damn... i sound like my parents.... this is not a good sign..
    • FredFredrickson, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1I agree... Bring on the recession, I say. It'll make people think a little more before they splurge for a ***** $500 phone of a $600 game console.
  • dawurz, on 02/14/2008, -3/+23This administration stifles government information. A short list:

    * Does the intelligence community disagree with the administration's take on Iraq, Iran, or al Qaeda? Don't expect to hear about it. In October 2007, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell reversed the practice of declassifying and releasing summaries of national intelligence estimates.

    * In July 2007, Richard Carmona, President Bush’s first Surgeon General from 2002-2006, testified to Congress that when he attempted to speak publicly about stem cell research, he was “blocked at every turn, told a decision had already been made, stand down, don’t talk about it.” He also testified that political appointees vetted his speeches “in such a way that would be preferable to a political or ideologically pre-conceived notion that had nothing to do with science.” Carmona was precluded from speaking openly with reporters.

    * On June 2007, the New York Times reported that Dick Cheney's resistance to "routine oversight of his office’s handling of classified information" is so intense that he has "suggested abolishing" the National Archives unit that monitors classification in the executive branch. Because Cheney has repeatedly refused "to comply with a routine annual request from the archives for data on his staff’s classification," "the Information Security Oversight Office, a unit of the National Archives, [has] appealed the issue to the Justice Department, which has not yet ruled on the matter." In a related effort to prevent the release of information about his office, Cheney has also instructed the Secret Service to destroy copies of visitor logs.

    * The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has to date failed to produce a congressionally-mandated report on climate change that was due in 2004. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has called the failure an "obfuscation."

    * A rule change at the U.S. Geological Survey restricts agency scientists from publishing or discussing research without that information first being screened by higher-ups at the agency. Special screening will be given to "findings or data that may be especially newsworthy, have an impact on government policy, or contradict previous public understanding to ensure that proper officials are notified and that communication strategies are developed." The scientists at the USGS cover such controversial topics as global warming. Before, studies were released after an anonymous peer review of the research.

    * In 2003, the EPA bowed to White House pressure and deleted the global warming section in its annual "Report on the Environment." The move drew condemnations from Democrats and Republicans alike.

    * In October 2007, the administration deleted the Congressional testimony of the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The director’s report on the negative health implications of climate change was, according to a CDC source, “eviscerated.”

    * A January 2007 report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, UCS, and the Government Accountability Project, GAP, "found that nearly half the 279 climate scientists who responded to a survey reported being pressured to delete references to ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’ from scientific papers or reports and many said they were prevented from talking to the media or had their work edited.”

    * On February 7, 2007, Rick Piltz (who resigned his position with the Climate Change Science Program, CCSP in 2005 in protest of White House interference with climate science and now directs the Government Accountability Project (GAP's) Climate Science Watch) testified before the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that “the Administration suppressed official use of the National Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and has failed to continue the National Assessment process” and “the Administration has acted in a variety of ways to impede and manipulate communication about climate change by federal scientists and career science program leaders to wider audiences, including Congress and the media.”

    * In 2003, the administration had Phillip Cooney, a petroleum lobbyist who at the time was the chief of staff for the Council on Environmental Quality, edit an Environmental Protection Agency report “to eliminate a reference that human activities were causing global temperatures to rise and weakened language on the consequences of climate change - the edits prompted EPA officials to delete the entire climate change section from report.” In March 20, 2007 Phillip Cooney testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about his extensive edits to environmental reports over the past several years. The committee report showed "hundreds of instances" of edits that tempered information of the destructive impact of global warming.

    * In March of 2006, the administration announced it would no longer produce the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, which identifies which programs best assist low-income families, while also tracking health insurance coverage and child support.

    * In 2005, after a government report showed an increase in terrorism around the world, the administration announced it would stop publishing its annual report on international terrorism.

    * After the Bureau of Labor Statistics uncovered discouraging data about factory closings in the U.S., the administration announced it would stop publishing information about factory closings.

    * When an annual report called “Budget Information for States” showed the federal government shortchanging states in the midst of fiscal crises, Bush’s Office of Management and Budget announced it was discontinuing the report, which some said was the only source for comprehensive data on state funding from the federal government.

    * When Bush’s Department of Education found that charter schools were underperforming, the administration said it would sharply cut back on the information it collects about charter schools.

    * The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to close several libraries which were used by researchers and scientists. The agency called its decision a cost-cutting measure, but a 2004 report showed that the facilities actually brought the EPA a $7.5 million surplus annually.

    * On November 1st, 2001, President Bush issued an executive order limiting the public's access to presidential records. The order undermined the 1978 Presidential Records Act, which required the release of those records after 12 years. Bush's order prevented the release of "68,000 pages of confidential communications between President Ronald Reagan and his advisers," some of whom had positions in the Bush Administration. More here. Bush did the same thing with his papers from the Texas governorship.

    * A new policy at the The U.S. Forest Service means the agency no longer will generate environmental impact statements for "its long-term plans for America's national forests and grasslands." It also "no longer will allow the public to appeal on long-term plans for those forests, but instead will invite participation in planning from the outset."

    * In March 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services took down a six-year-old Web site devoted to substance abuse and treatment information for gays and lesbians, after members of the conservative Family Research Council complained.

    * In 2002, HHS removed information from its Web site pertaining to risky sexual behavior among adolescents, condom use and HIV.

    * Also in 2002, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission removed from its Web site a document showing that officials found large gaps in a portion of an aging Montana dam. A FERC official said the deletion was for "national security."

    * In 2004, the FBI attempted to retroactively classify public information regarding the case of bureau whistleblower Sibel Edmonds, including a series of letters between the Justice Department and several senators.

    * In October 2003, the Bush administration banned photographs depicting servicemembers' coffins returning from overseas.

    * In December 2002, the administration curtailed funding to the Mass-Layoffs Statistics program, which released monthly data on the number and size of layoffs by U.S. companies. His father attempted to kill the same program in 1992, but Clinton revived it when he assumed the presidency.

    * In 2004, the Internal Revenue Service stopped providing data demonstrating the level of its job performance. In 2006, a judge forced the IRS to provide the information.

    * Also in 2004, the Federal Communications Commission blocked access to a once-public database of network outages affecting telecommunications service providers. The FCC removed public copies and exempted the information from Freedom of Information Act requests, saying it would "jeopardize national security efforts." Experts ridiculed that notion.

    * In 2002, Bush officials intervened to derail the publication of an EPA report on mercury and children's health, which contradicted the administration's position on lowering regulations on certain power plants. The report was eventually leaked by a "frustrated EPA official."

    * Also in 2003, the EPA withheld for months key findings from an air pollution report that undercut the White House's "Clear Skies" initiative. Leaked copies were reported in the Washington Post.

    * For more than a year, the Interior Department refused to release a 2005 study showing a government subsidy for oil companies was not effective.

    * The White House Office of National Drug Policy paid for a 5-year, $43 million study which concluded their anti-drug ad campaigns did not work -- but it refused to release those findings to Congress.

    * In 2006, the Federal Communications Commission ordered destroyed all copies of an unreleased 2004 draft report concluding that media consolidation hurt local TV news coverage, which runs counter to the administration's pro-consolidation stance.

    * After Bush assumed power in 2001, the Department of Labor removed from its Web site "Don't Work in the Dark -- Know Your Rights," a publication informing women of their workplace rights. (via the National Council for Research on Women)

    * The Department of Labor also removed from its Web site roughly two dozen fact sheets on women's workplace issues such as women in management, earning differences between men and women, child care concerns, and minority women in the workplace. (via the National Council for Research on Women)

    * In February 2004, the appointed head of the Office of Special Counsel -- created to protect government employees' rights -- ordered removed from a government Web site information on the rights of gay men, lesbians and bisexuals in the public workplace. (via the National Council for Research on Women)

    * In early 2001, the Treasury Department stopped producing reports showing how the benefits of tax cuts were distributed by income class. (via the Tax Policy Center, from Paul Krugman)

    * In 2006, as a number of groups sought records of visits by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates to the White House, the administration quietly made an agreement with the Secret Service, making sure that White House visitor records would no longer be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

    * On October 19, 2007, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a "final rule" that thwarts "public access to early warning information about motor vehicle safety hazards." According to Public Citizen, "today's final rule restricts public access to much of the 'early warning data' submitted by the auto and tire industry under the 2000 Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act (TREAD Act) to assist in the early identification of motor vehicle safety defects."

    * On November 2007, a U.S. District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the White House from destroying back-up copies of millions of e-mails deleted (the White House says accidentally) between March 2003 and October 2005.

    * On May 23, 2007, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) "sued the Department of Education for violating the Federal Records Act (FRA) by failing to preserve copies of emails of official Education business sent by agency employees through the use of non-governmental email accounts."
  • theendlessnow, on 02/14/2008, -10/+3A US Government HATE site (masquerading as a President Bush HATE site) says something and we're giving it some kind of credibility?? I'd check your sources. But I know that hate is the thing that makes America great.... not sure why folks here haven't already taken matters into their own hands yet.
    • infinitiesedge, on 02/14/2008, -1/+3Sorry... America isn't great anymore.
    • inajeep, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1How do you type with your fingers in your ears and all that screaming you do so you only go with what you think you know and don't retain any new info?
    • blckt, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1The Economic Indicators site itself says it will be closing down due to "budgetary constraints" on March 1, *****
    • Acewrap, on 02/14/2008, -0/+1What the ***** are you spewing about?
  • jakbrud, on 02/14/2008, -0/+19I want the war to be shutdown due to "budgetary constraints."
  • pintomp3, on 02/14/2008, -2/+7those republicans, always looking for ways to reduce spending..
  • PeppermintPig, on 02/14/2008, -3/+5At the rate of destruction to the economy, I wouldn't be surprised if the next candidate, likely a Democrat, was left with a nightmare... I mean, even worse than it is now.
  • jeffsback2223, on 02/14/2008, -2/+3Just one more threat to bush's ultimate power extinguished.
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