No matter what the debate over economic indicators, many people are enduring financial stress and struggling to pay the mortgage. Alan Greenspan, the respected former chairman of the Federal Reserve, has agreed with other experts who see prospects for a recession at about 50-50.
''Instead of taking action, President Bush says the economy is safe and sound,'' said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel. ''Middle-class Americans and economic experts all agree on something the president still refuses to admit: the economy is struggling and families need real help.''
Bush and Congress, stuck in a budget stalemate for months, have blamed each other for not acting fast enough to help families. In his comments Monday, Bush said lawmakers could help ease the burden by passing measures to expand the energy supply and make health care more flexible and affordable.
The audience of about 80 people listened with respectful silence. Yet a line that normally gets Bush applause — ''I'll veto any tax increase'' — drew none.
The White House, eager to put Bush in a community environment, chose the Yak-A-Doo's restaurant in a Holiday Inn (where the marquee advertised karaoke night on Wednesdays and live bands on the weekend). Inside gathered the members of the Rotary Club of Stafford, the Fredericksburg Rotary Club, the Rappahannock Rotary Club and the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
To keep an authentic setting without upstaging the locals, Bush's team put up no banners or backdrop this time. Gone was the usual announcement of the president's presence over the public address system. He just seemed to show up, prompting some surprised applause.
After the meeting began with the normal business routine of the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, Bush was introduced as the guest speaker. Yet even that was a bit hard to hear, because someone forgot to turn off the Christmas music for a couple minutes. It did not resume again until the president finished speaking and taking questions from the crowd. He headed out of the room to the tune of ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.''