The Bushies are trying to wish the recession over.

Reports of recovery are much exaggerated
Be very sceptical of predictions of a strong US economic resurgence, warns the Observer's economics editor, William Keegan

Well, I wonder. Can this be the same US economy that has a balance of payments deficit of 4% of gross domestic product and rising, where there is no sign whatsoever of a recovery in business investment after the 1990s bubble, where General Motors says it has about 1m units of excess capacity in North America, and where protective tariffs on steel imports of up to 30% are about to be imposed?(...)

Mark my words: there are turbulent times ahead for the US and world economies as the foreign exchange markets gradually begin to question the American economy's insatiable appetite for overseas finance, and those imbalances begin to unwind - as all historical experience suggests they must.
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STEEL TARIFFS TO BOOST U.S. CAR, APPLIANCE PRICES

President George W. Bush said he will impose tariffs of up to 30 percent on steel imports, giving U.S. steel producers a gift they've long awaited.(...)

The European Union is expected to file a complaint about these new tariffs with the World Trade Commission, and Japan and South Korea, two other steel-producing countries, will probably also complain.
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So much for free markets. I think free markets must only work in one direction for the Republicans.