corrente

Watching Lou Dobbs tonight (Friday night that is), Dobbs reminds us:

DOBBS: Massive job cuts today in the battleground state of Ohio. These job cuts come from a company whose performance was lauded and praised one year ago by President Bush standing right at their plant. The president visited the Timken company in Canton, Ohio last April as part of his "Big Jobs and Growth" tour. [President Bush pointed to Timken's remarkable productivity. Productivity at Timken had risen 10 percent from the previous year. Today, Timken announced plans to close three plants in Canton, Ohio, cutting 1,300 jobs despite the productivity, of their labor force. As many as 20 percent of those jobs could go overseas.

Clarification note: The "presidents" tour wasn't really called the "Big Jobs and Growth" tour. Its was called the "Jobs and Growth" tour. The word "big" belonged to Dobbs. He was being sarcastic. Whoever the dolt is at CNN who transcribed this stuff, or where-ever they transcribe this stuff, they apparently don't have a very keen ear for the language. But of course i shouldn't be surprised should I? Considering the nature of the mainstream television media today. Anyway, rolling along....

Since the president's visit last April, Timken has laid off more than a quarter of its [O]hio workforce. President Bush, by the way, said high productivity, quote, raises the standard of living for the American people. 1,300 people at those plants in Ohio tonight probably disagree with the president's assessment now.

See: LOU DOBBS TONIGHT: Interview With Governor Ed Rendell; President Bush's Poll Numbers Plunge, Aired May 14, 2004.

The Canton visit, and speech at Timken, took place on April 24th, 2003. See: President Discusses Plan for Economic Growth in Ohio Remarks by the President to Timken Company Employees Canton, Ohio.

9:56 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all, very much. (Applause.) Thanks a lot. (Applause.) Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate you letting me come by to say hello. (Laughter.) I'm honored to be in Canton, and I'm honored to be here at the Timken Company.

Tim was telling me that you all have been in business since 1899 -- turns out that's when William McKinley, of Canton, slept in the same room I'm sleeping in. (Laughter.) Tim told me that this is a company -- we are a "roll up your sleeves" company, a can -- it is a can-do environment. Which is one of the reasons I've got so much optimism about the future of our economy -- because of the "roll up your sleeves" attitude by thousands of our fellow Americans, because of the business sense of "we can do whatever it takes to overcome the obstacles in our way". I know you're optimistic about the future of this company. I'm optimistic about the future of our country. It's important that Washington, however, respond to some of the problems we face.

One of the problems we face is not enough of our fellow Americans can find work. There's too much economic uncertainty today. And so three months ago, I sent Congress a package that would promote job growth and economic vitality. For the sake of our country, for the sake of the workers of America, Congress needs to pass this jobs growth package soon. (Applause.)

And that's why I thank you for letting me come and talk to you about some of the problems that we face here in America. I appreciate the Timken family for their leadership, their concern about their fellow associates. They're working hard to make sure the future of this company is bright, and therefore, the future of employment is bright for the families that work here, that work to put food on the table for their children.

I appreciate so very much Jim Griffith, the CEO of the company, for setting up this wonderful setting for a speech. I want thank you all for taking time out of your work to come and let me share some thoughts with you. I want to thank you for loving your country.

Yeah, sure, and i'll bet good buddy Timmy "can do" Timken is a wonderful "roll up your sleeve" fund raiser too. And maybe those 1,300 former "fellow associates" will find work at the new Hoover blanket factory just south of Uniontown.

Ay yi yi.

UPDATE: Sid the Fish (see comments) writes:

I did a little digging through the archives. The Timkens and their cronies have coughed up more than a million bucks for the Republicans. As far as I'm concerned, that money came straight out of the pockets of the 1300 people who are now unemployed.

Sure nuff, Sid goes trolling for Timkens and you can see everything that he reeled in over at Sid's Fishbowl. Thanks Sid.