The stimulus took effect in the second and third quarters of 2009 and it helped to stem the tide. People criticize the stimulus but I have defended it passionately over the past two or three years because it effectively put a floor under the economic free fall that we were in and allowed us time to catch our breath and start digging out of the hole. Since GWB had some input and influence over the stimulus I suppose that he should be given some credit too. Because the stimulus didn't create 5 million jobs or instantly pull us into massive economic expansion many people have said it was "big government run amok" but in reality it was sound fiscal policy and without it we would be in a much worse place.
I guess the biggest surprise for me is that there are only 7 things the GOP don't want me to know. I thought the list was much longer than that...