Earlier estimates found economic activity contracted in only the third quarter of 2001, due mostly to a dramatic, temporary slowdown in activity after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Since one popular rule-of-thumb definition of a recession is two or more consecutive quarters of shrinking GDP, it became possible, based on the revised data, to say a recession began in January 2001.

Now January 2001 was when Bush entered office and you don't just go from robust economic growth to a recession in one day.  So in fact there was an economic slowdown in Clinton's second term that turned into a minor recession in the very early part of Bush's term and before the 911 attacks.  Only after Bush lowered the tax rates did the economy began to recover and only then did record revenues flow to the Treasury from the tax cuts that caused robust economic growth. You see here is where some economics education would help you Archie, the U.S. economy is like a big ship that turns slowly so imprudent policies take some time to take effect as do policies meant to right the ship.  Any other so-called facts you want to spout Archie......talk about BS....but then again maybe CNN Money was wrong and only you have the truth that you have been keeping from the rest of the world...until now.....LOL

And now Archibald, the money quote from the big guy himself from the NY Times and the context of the quote was the impact of taxes on economic growth: