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Boston Properties Chairman Mort Zuckerman on the 2012 election and politics taking over Washington’s ability to boost the economy and job growth.
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For more on the stand -- over tax cuts here the efforts to restore prosperity.
The European debt crisis and much more we're joined now by -- -- from a billionaire populist as I often say chairman of Boston properties.
-- one of the most successful businessmen and publishers in the country great to have you with us.
-- -- let's start with hat first of all this president his campaigning -- Ed Henry just reported.
He has now eclipsed the previous record -- battleground states at this stage of the campaign for re election.
That have been established find George Bush.
With the crisis.
On the politics of everything and not on the substance of everything there out campaigning in the going to be doing it between now and the end of next year it's just gonna be non stop.
I don't know if you -- Bob Woodward on television.
He apparently had access to there program for the year and he -- everything they're going to be doing.
Between now and the Election Day is just focused on getting him reelected and that's what they're focused.
Focus on real campaigning campaigner in chief.
With the demands that -- face this nation and our allies.
In terms of the economic crisis.
-- he meets with -- head of the European council the European Commission.
To widen and there just seems to be no way to ever -- advancement toward a solution.
I think what has happened and what is happening and what will continue to happen.
Is that there's going to be a huge focus in this country on the issues which is always preeminent namely the economy and jobs.
There the administration.
Politically of course gonna -- and divert attention from that.
I don't see how they're gonna be able to do that it's getting worse and not better and he is not gonna do himself any good.
By appearing to be out campaigning instead of sitting in Washington trying to work out solutions they -- prospects for a restoration of prosperity.
Or something approaching.
Our prosperity over the course of the next year as we head toward Election Day 2012.
But I'm I'm one of the -- I'm afraid about where this economy is going if you look at the unemployment numbers there really scary.
I mean we have seen no improvement in this economy.
In terms of employment for the last couple of years and in my judgment it's getting worse and all the numbers within the numbers are very -- including.
The length of time that people are being unemployed what it's doing to the families what it's doing to the ability of people to get into -- job market.
I mean we we have 25 million people who are either unemployed or unemployed underemployed.
It's 20% of the workforce we have not seen that since the Great Depression.
I would be much happier if he stayed in Washington trying to work our programs with the Democrats in congress started to do something about this instead they're just playing politics with the issue.
And when you say that your talk about Republicans and Democrats and and on the campaign trip home with these folks.
Seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
There is no.
Direct discussion of changes in business practices -- public policies that would lead.
To any kind of immediate consequence in the affirmative report for job creation.
But in -- in our system basically the precedent does seem to be the leader of the country to take the leadership when there's a crisis this is a crisis for this country.
And I have to do is look at the 48 and 49 million people in America who are living below the poverty line and the 25 million people who are out of work or under employed.
If this is what -- precedent should be concentrating on and that is what the country who wants it wants him to focus on.
And I think it's a big mistake and who show up next -- in the poll.
It's showing up I think already if I may say more today for the first time -- the its poll showing that this president's popular.
And job -- -- at this point in his term as president.
Is actually lower than I mean considered to be one of the worst presidents of the twentieth century that is Jimmy Carter.
Almost unthinkable he had been hovering above that all levels and he has now breached if he is now below even Jimmy Carter.
-- like I you know I think in the sense there is alas a parallel I've written about this before and I think it is -- -- Of competency or the lack of competition that both of them brought to the presidency.
And this is one of the real problems -- -- -- President Obama is a very fine man but he lacked the experience and the leadership capacity.
To do what have to be done when we reached a crisis we are in a crisis now and it is clear that they are failing in terms of the addressing of this issue.
Europe how how significant the crisis how how urgent -- crisis is the sovereign debt issue.
But the liquidity crisis then the debt crisis that places because it almost all of -- I mean it's unprecedented it's absolutely astounding -- -- -- is unprecedented and therefore unpredictable nobody knows how far this is gonna go but I don't see how they get out of the problems.
Because they have and now collapse of the confidence in the financial market.
Germany had trouble selling a dead issue.
France is having trouble the rest of Europe isn't just in terrible shape financially and the only way they're going to be able to that there's no Central Bank -- really.
Meet these problems on like that we'll sort by the European Central Bank has been unwilling to step up twelve -- because who's gonna be asked to back up the European Central Bank the Germans than Germans -- think why should we -- for everybody else's.
You know -- legacy and they seek to deflect to the International Monetary Fund and by extension of course the primary supporter of the international monetary -- United States is really the potential for an enormous crisis.
Which will spread to the United States and indeed around most of the economies of the world.
That is a real real real crisis and I don't see how they get -- but I hope they do.
Right -- are -- thank you for being with us per --
