You mean that war that most democrats supported? You guys tend to forget that it wasnt just the GOP that sent us to war. But when it comes to crunch time, the left is ready to get the hell out. They have no desire to see the end of our mission, and are using disgusting tactics to taint what our soldiers are doing.
What does Bush have to do with people having to get new jobs? Nothing. Why are we in a record deficit? Just Iraq? People forget about 9/11, and Katrina. These things cost money, and lots of it. I love how the left suddenly cares about the debt, but constantly call for more social programs? Where should the money come from? Oh right, the wealthy.
Unemployment in the U.S. is measured not by who recieves benefits from the government. Rather, it is a sampling poll done by the BLS which asks whether citizens have worked for pay the week the call is made. This has been done every month since 1994, according to the BLS. They even acknowledge what you said, and say it is not a reliable system, so they don't operate that way.
www.bls.gov
Most economists I've heard blame the rising bankruptcies and foreclosures on the amount of debt people in this country are taking on. I don't think it is any secret that many Americans live far beyond their means, and there has been talk for a long time about it catching up with us at some point. Many things can lead to bankruptcy, from things like credit card use (a big one) to high divorce rates. Indications still show that things are going ok for the economy. U.S. News and World Report claims that in June pay rates rose .5%, which was higher than expected. The job growth in this country has been steady, sometimes lower than expected, but often far surpassing expectations.