[COMMENTARY] Consumers, Congress is to blame for any economic discomfort you are having, not the Unitary Executive. Got that?

In a Rose Garden press conference Tuesday, President George Bush blamed Congress for high gas prices, high food prices, rising foreclosures and more. According to Bush, the current Congress is responsible for the oil industry not creating new oil refining capacity for the last 30 years. And Congress is to blame for thwarting domestic oil exploration. And Congress is to blame for a global spike in food prices. And Congress is to blame for everything that could possibly contribute to the economic mess we’re in. So, please don’t blame Bush or anyone in the White House for this fine mess.

Besides, your stimulus checks are in the pipeline, so be patient. You might be facing foreclosure, but any day you’ll be receiving a check for $600. You could use that for a moving van, instead of just taking whatever fits in your car when the bank takes your house. If you are finding it hard to feed your children, that 600 bucks could buy some groceries. You could also use the money for a tank of gas. Think of it as a little pick-me-up in the midst of your enduring hardship. In the meantime, consider asking Congress to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and urge your representatives to permit drilling in ANWAR.

Bush allowed that there are no quick fixes to ease your pain. If you were Bear Stearns or one of the Bush Pioneers, things might be different. You’d get more than $600 because you’d need more than that to maintain the standards to which you’ve become accustomed. But if you actually need to work to pay your mortgage, feed and clothe your family, pay tuition bills, gas your car, save for retirement and meet medical expenses, expect the pain to persist.

Bush bemoaned the lack of a magic wand, saying, “If there was a magic wand to wave, I’d be waving it, of course.” Then, gripped by clear sight, he added, “But there is no magic wand to wave right now.” Was there ever?