By definition, a recession is two consecutive QUARTERS of declining GDP. So it is far too early to be declaring that we are in a recession. I still believe that some bright young doctorate candidate should do his or her thesis on how we suddenly seem to be facing a recession just as a presidential election arrives. Oh, there's always an underlying weakness in the economy at the time, but do partisan hacks place their political goals ahead of their economic ethics, and talk up that underlying weakness into a full-blown recession? It certainly is coincidental that we had recessions just as Clinton was leaving office, the 2003 mini-recession as the 2004 campaign kicked off, and now, a recession looming just as we head toward the 2008 election. Are we talking ourselves into recession, simply to make it a key issue in the coming election? If so, it appears that the Democrats are succeeding this time around. Either way, it's important to note that investors can make money in a recession just as easily as they can during the boom times. It's a natural part of the economic cycle, and nothing to be feared.