No-Confidence Vote

Barack Obama is promising to turn around the economy-eventually. Now that he's signing his $787 billion "stimulus" bill in Denver, today's a good time to see how he's doing. Here's a handy chart on the close of the Dow Jones Industrial Average at key points in the political life of the new president.

OBAMA AND THE DOW
Nov. 4: Obama elected. Up 305 points, to 9625.
(Market loses ground rest of 2008.)

Jan. 2: First trading day of 2009. Up 258, to 9034.

Jan. 20: Inauguration Day. Down 339, to 7949.

Feb. 17: "Stimulus" bill signed. Down 271 at midday, to 7579.

So since the junior senator from Illinois has been elected, the market has also voted: with its feet. The Dow is off by 21 percent. Not exactly a vote of confidence.