The boom is over. The bubble has burst. And real economic forces are beginning to assert themselves. The stock market has taken a hard fall back to earth.
Consumer spending is at a standstill.
The manufacturing sector has turned downwards. The world economy is in the doldrums. The job market is starting to weaken as layoffs begin. And energy prices are out of control. Combine those economic facts with what is sure to be a War on Capitol Hill, and 2001 will be the first year of dramatic economic uncertainty since George W's dad was booted out of office in 1992.