If the economy were booming like it was beginning in 1983, most definitely that would be what the election would have ultimately looked like between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Yup. I heard the other day that we had something like five (or seven?) consecutive quarters of 7%-or-better GNP growth under Reagan. If Obama had that economy -- instead of spending twice (in terms of deficit/GDP) for less than half as much economic performance -- then that map would work.
[modify:] Here we go, I looked up Reagan quarterly GNP growth (annualized) numbers.
2Q 1983: 9.3%
3Q 1983: 8.2
4Q 1983: 8.5
1Q 1984: 8.0
2Q 1984: 7.1
Now that's a frickin' recovery.
And just think how fast unemployment would have dropped then if there weren't still late-wave Baby Boomers (born 1946-64) entering the job market. As opposed to now, when first-wave Boomers are retiring and -- you would think -- making jobs more accessible to younger workers.
Funny thing that was the last economic recovery to have a V shape. 1992, 2000 and of course this recovery's basically been L shaped when it comes to unemployment and GDP growth.
Anyways this map is implausible.
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