E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe next 72 hours will be crucial in striking a big debt-limit deal… For now, there’s plenty of optimism a deal can be reached… Today’s bad jobs report: Economy added just 18,000 jobs in June, whilethe unemployment rate increases to 9.2%… GOP losing ground with seniors and in the Midwest?… Do independents really matter?… New York Times runs pre-obituary for Pawlenty… Rick Perry and Texas’ death penalty… Dems grab candidate to replace Weiner and are nervous about next week’s CA-36 special… “Meet the Press” to interview the two Tims -- Geither and Pawlenty… And T-Paw stumps in Iowa, while Huntsman campaigns in Florida tomorrow.
*** A crucial next 72 hours: Here’s a rare monthly Friday when the jobs report ISN’T the top story (even as bad as the numbers turned out to be). What is: the debt talks. The next 72 hours -- with staff work today and tomorrow, and with another congressional meeting on Sunday -- will be key to reaching a deal. As GOP Sen. Roy Blunt (who was a former top House leader and knows how to count votes) said yesterday, “They’ll get there pretty quickly, or they won’t get there.” Here’s what we learned from yesterday’s meeting: 1) the Democratic and GOP leaders agreed on the necessity to raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2; 2) six of the eight congressional leaders in attendance said their preference was to go big in deficit reduction; 3) the two who said their preference was a mid-sized deal were Eric Cantor and Jon Kyl, veterans of the Biden talks where the $2.5 trillion deal was essentially written; and 4) Democrats don’t want significant cuts to come from Medicare and Social Security. And on that last point, President Obama meets with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at 10:00 am ET.
*** Plenty of optimism -- for now: Heading into these next 72 hours, we can say that there’s plenty of optimism that a big deal can be reached. The outstanding questions: Can Dems and Republicans persuade a sizable portion of their members to accept the deal? Will both sides give up their top campaign weapons (for the GOP, spending and taxes; for the Dems, Medicare)? And can Boehner get Cantor to back the big deal, because Boehner needs Cantor on his side especially if he's going to lose 70-75 Republican members? If there’s a framework by Sunday (or even an agreement to draw up the framework by NEXT Friday at the latest), it would be more an agreement on specific TARGET numbers, though not something that gets done immediately. In other words, there would be a mechanism to: 1) increase the debt ceiling, 2) make a lot of immediate cuts, 3) agree on some future cuts, and 4) tackle tax reform in the next three to six months to raise additional revenues that would take effect Jan. 1, 2013.
*** Another bad jobs report: As for today’s job report, the numbers aren’t good, despite earlier indications that the numbers would be better than last month. Per the AP, the economy added just 18,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate increased to 9.2%. The numbers are a devastating blow to the markets, to the American psyche, and to the political psyche in Washington. Obama makes a statement on the jobs report at 10:35 am ET.
*** GOP losing ground with seniors? Whether it’s due to the current Medicare debate, the end of the health-care fight (in which the GOP clubbed Democrats on Medicare), or something else, Republicans are losing ground with seniors. In our combined NBC/WSJ polls for the first half of this year (so 4,800 total interviews, including 711 seniors), 44% of seniors identify themselves as Democrats, versus 35% who identify themselves as Republicans. So a nine-point spread. But in our merged NBC/WSJ polls from 2010 (12,502 interviews, including 1,931 seniors), Democrats held just a two-point edge among seniors, 42%-40%. Why is this important? Because last year -- when they won control of the House and made gains in the Senate -- Republicans overperformed with seniors. According to the exit polls, the GOP won the senior vote by more than 20 percentage points, 59%-38%. But in 2008, McCain beat Obama among seniors by eight points, 53%-45%. And in 2006, Democrats split the senior vote, 49%-49%.
*** GOP losing ground in the Midwest, too: Something similar is happening in the Midwest, too. Per the merged 2011 NBC/WSJ polls, 42% of respondents in that region identify with Democrats, versus 31% who identify with Republicans. So an 11-point spread. Yet back in our 2010 merged data, the Dem edge was just four points, 41%-37%. What’s more, party identification in the other regions (Northeast, South, West) is essentially unchanged from 2010 to 2011. These shifts -- among seniors and folks in the Midwest -- explain why some Democrats don’t want the White House to budge an inch on Medicare and Social Security in the debt talks.
*** Do independents really matter? And since we’re geeking out with numbers today, political scientist Alan Abramowitz makes this counter-intuitive point: Independent voters don’t matter as much as some claim. “Research … has consistently found that the large majority of self-identified independents are ‘closet partisans’ who think and vote much like other partisans. Independent Democrats and independent Republicans have little in common. Moreover, independents with no party preference have a lower rate of turnout than those who lean toward a party and typically make up less than 10% of the electorate. Finally, independents don’t necessarily determine the outcomes of presidential elections; in fact, in all three closely contested presidential elections since 1972, the candidate backed by most independent voters lost.” Our one quibble: The FINAL 10% of undecided voters are true indies, and they can swing a close election.
*** A pre-obituary for Pawlenty? Why is the Ames Straw Poll so important for Tim Pawlenty, even if he and his campaign downplay his performance in it? Because he needs some good news to stop the early campaign obituaries. Today, the New York Times writes, “Tim Pawlenty was first in line to enter the Republican presidential race. He is now fighting to avoid becoming the earliest major candidate to be shown the door.” Ouch. Another ouch: Pawlenty said he hasn’t yet caught fire in Iowa because “this week is the first time that I’ve campaigned in earnest in Iowa” (when he’s campaigned plenty in the Hawkeye State). But T-Paw does get a favorable story in the Wall Street Journal op-ed pages from Kimberly Strassel. “Running in a highly conservative primary as the former head of a proudly liberal state—one perpetually beset by economic woes—certainly holds its downsides. But Mr. Pawlenty isn't shying away from that past. He's intent on turning his own feisty leadership of Minnesota into his main selling point for the nomination.”
*** Rick Perry and Texas’ death penalty: If Rick Perry decides to run for president, the death penalty will be an issue for him (see: Cameron Todd Willingham and the 2009 New Yorker piece on his execution). And last night, Texas executed a Mexican national, despite an appeal by the White House. The AP: “A Mexican national was executed Thursday evening for the rape-slaying of a San Antonio teenager after the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a White House-supported appeal to spare him in a death-penalty case where Texas justice triumphed over international treaty concerns… Police never told Leal after his arrest that he could seek legal assistance from the Mexican government under an international treaty, and his case had prompted appeals on what it could mean for other foreigners arrested in the United States and for Americans detained abroad. His appeals lawyers said such assistance would have helped his defense.”
*** Dems grab their Weprin to replace Weiner: For the Sept. 19 special election to fill ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner’s (D) old House seat, Democrats yesterday selected state Assemblyman David Weprin. Per the New York Daily News, "Weprin, who has close ties to the borough's political machine, will become the candidate to represent Congressional District 9, which spans sections of Queens and Brooklyn." And check this out: "'I've never tweeted in my life and I don't spend any time in the gym,' Weprin added in a slap at Weiner, who was forced to resign last month amid a salacious sexting scandal - including nude workout pics." Note: The winner of the Sept. 13 race probably won't be in Congress for long, given that this House seat probably won't survive redistricting.
*** Dems getting nervous about CA-36: And for next week’s special congressional run-off in California to replace ex-Rep. Jane Harman (D), Dems are starting to get a bit nervous about a race that -- at least on paper -- they should easily win. The contest is between L.A. City Councilwoman Janice Hahn (D) and businessman Craig Huey (R); Obama got more than 60% of the vote in the district in ‘08. "We’ve been saying for a while that this one is closer than people think – whenever you have a multi-millionaire willing to self-fund it’s never a slam dunk,” one DC-based Democratic operative emails First Read. “It was a safe seat for Jane, but not necessarily Dems."
*** Meet’s Sunday lineup: The two Tims: “Meet the Press” this Sunday interviews Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty. The program’s midweek “Press Pass” featured a conversation with Mort Zuckerman.
*** On the 2012 trail: Pawlenty today stumps in Iowa, hitting Waterloo and Cedar Rapids… On Saturday, Herman Cain and Gary Johnson address the Conservative Leadership Conference in Nevada, while Jon Huntsman campaigns in Florida.
Countdown to CA-36 special run-off: 4 days
Countdown to Wisconsin recall primaries for GOP senators: 4 days
Countdown to Wisconsin recall general/primaries for Dem senators: 11 days
Countdown to Wisconsin recall general for GOP senators: 32 days
Countdown to Iowa GOP straw poll: 36 days
Countdown to Wisconsin recall general for Dem senators: 39 days
Countdown to NV-2 special election: 67 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 123 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 213 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up
Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @aliweinberg
Leave a Comment:
According to a CRS report, since 1962, Congress voted through 74 separate measures to raise the debt ceiling. Of those 74, 10 occurred in the past decade according to National Journal reports. This is not a unique problem created by President Obama by a long shot. When the GOP/TP claims it is they are lying through their collective teeth again. As noted below in a CBPP Report almost 50% of the total debt we will be facing by 2019 comes from the previous administration’s gross mismanagement and failed economic policies. Funny the GOP/TP keeps forgetting to mention that little piece of information.
If Congress failed to increase the debt limit, a broad range of government payments would have to be stopped, limited or delayed, including military salaries and retirement benefits, Social Security and Medicare payments, interest on the debt, unemployment benefits and tax refunds, Government Contracts and Social Programs etc. This would also tarnish our credit ratings as indicated by a recent S&P warning and only God knows what impact this would have on the World Stage. Just look at the ripple effect of a small country like Greece has on Global Markets for example and can you imagine the ripple effect a country like the USA would have??
President Obama has put everything on the table for DISCUSSION. The GOP/TP instead has issued an ULTIMATUM to the American People. The GOP/TP does not want to address the Debt Ceiling and are betting on the total collapse of the American Economy. That is their agenda in a nut shell.
With that being said, what is not on the table is cutting benefits to Medicare and Medicaid but rather the cost structures that are driving Medicare and Medicaid need to be fixed – this is long term repair of the problem. These two entitlements have problems that need to be fixed and President Obama is open to that and has said so. But he will not sacrifice these programs to pay for the tax cuts for Millionaires and Billionaires. Also Social Security is safe. First, Social Security does not impact the deficit. It is a lie from the right saying that it does. The problem President Obama wants to address in Social Security is its Life Span at 100% funding for the next 75 Years, NOT cutting the benefits. So let be clear on those. President Obama is going after the causes of the increases and not gutting the benefits. In fact Medicare’s costs are rising at about one-half of the rate for Private Health Care Insurance, making Medicare a better buy than Private Health Insurance. This is another reason not to even think of Privatization of Medicare.
This is what the GOP/TP keeps denying and then turning around and trying to blame President Obama and claim it is his fault that we need to raise the Debt Ceiling. This is just not true by a long shot. The facts as outlined in this detailed report are that the previous administration put us in the toilet and no matter who was elected President he/she would be faced with many years of reconstruction. It took 8 years to get into this mess and no president, Republican or Democrat, can reverse the damage in 2 plus years. Especially if you take into consideration that the GOP/TP for the last 2 plus years have done everything in their power to try and make President Obama fail.
They have stalled over 400 Bills in the Senate with outright objections (blocks) or filibusters demanding 60 votes. They (GOP/TP) have opposed virtually every Bill that has anything to do with creating jobs and/or helping Small Businesses. Go look up their record of virtually 100% “Obstructionism” on legislation that would have moved this country forward, like the $50 Billion Dollar infrastructure bill for example that would have created 35,000 jobs for every 1 Billion Spent. Note: The $50 Billion is not all in Payroll Dollars but includes raw materials like steel, concrete, pavement etc so be careful when the GOP/TP tries to spin this number. It also does not take into consideration the multiplier effect where secondary jobs will also be created to support the infrastructure construction as well. This is a win-win scenario that would have increased revenues at both the federal and state levels, reduce UI claims, reduced Food Stamps, Medicaid etc costs as well.
Their collective rhetoric from the right is still that “cutting taxes for the millionaires and billionaires create jobs and stimulates the economy”. THEY DO NOT, PERIOD. People, just look at the last 10 years where the top 2% has had the lowest effective tax rates in the last 50 years and where are the jobs and the stimulus to the economy. IT DOES NOT WORK and the proof is right in front of us.
The only way out of this mess according to virtually every leading economist (Republican and Democrat) is spending cuts AND increased revenues must be done together. The GOP/TP will not accept the increased revenue piece of the equation and until they do we are doomed to failure.
The GOP/TP is not concerned with the Deficit/Debt one iota. The GOP/TP is not for what is good for America; it is about more power and wealth for them and the he!! with everybody else. That is an ideology guaranteed to fail over time. It has in the past for every country that has tried it and right now it is not working very well here in the good old US of A.
Today’s jobs report pretty much confirms that we can now call this economy the “Obama recession non-recovery”. Lefty liberals have been whining and complaining for about two and a half years that Barry “inherited” the bad economy from GWB. Well, he didn’t inherit this dismal non-recovery. It’s his, and his alone. Last year we had Joe Biden declaring the “Summer of Recovery”. Will he now be honest with the American people and declare 2011 the “Summer of Non-Recovery”?? It will be intersting to see how the FR lefty liberals try to put a positve spin on this disastrous news. All I can say is:
“You’re doin’ a heck of a job, Barry.”
From CNBC.com:
Jobs Picture Gets Even Worse as Rate Swells to 9.2%
ECONOMY
CNBC.com
| 08 Jul 2011 | 08:36 AM ET
U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in June, with employers hiring the fewest number of workers in nine months, dampening hopes the economy was on the cusp of regaining momentum after stumbling in recent months.
Nonfarm payrolls rose only 18,000, the weakest reading since September, the Labor Department said on Friday, well below economists' expectations for a 90,000 rise.
Many economists raised their forecasts on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected reading on U.S. private hiring from payrolls processor ADP, and they expected gains of anywhere between 125,000 and 175,000.
The unemployment rate climbed to 9.2 percent, the highest since December, from 9.1 percent in May.
The government revised April and May payrolls to show 44,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. The report shattered expectations that the economy was starting to accelerate after a soft patch in the first half of the year.
The private sector added 57,000, accounting for all the jobs created, with government employment shrinking 39,000 because of fiscal problems at local and state governments.
Economic activity in the first six months of the year was dampened by rising commodity prices and supply chain disruptions following Japan's devastating earthquake in March.
White House Headaches
Signs the labor market is struggling is a major blow for the Obama administration, which has struggled to get the economy to create enough jobs to absorb the 14.1 million unemployed Americans.
The economy is the top concern among voters and will feature prominently in President Barack Obama's bid for re-election next year. So far, the economy has regained only a fraction of the more than 8 million jobs lost during the recession.
At the same time, the Federal Reserve—which wrapped up a $600 billion bond-buying program last week designed to spur lending and stimulate growth—appears unlikely to take any further steps to boost the economy.
The economy needs to create between 125,000 and 150,000 new jobs a month just to absorb new labor force entrants.
Details of the report showed widespread weakness, though factory payrolls rebounded 6,000 after contracting in May for the first time in seven months, with the recovery reflecting a step-up in motor vehicle production.
Construction employment fell 9,000 last month after declining 4,000 in May. Government employment declined for an eighth straight month as municipalities and state governments continued to wield the axe to balance their budgets.
The report also showed the average workweek fell to 34.3 hours from 34.4 hours. Employers have been reluctant to extend hours because of the uncertainty surrounding the recovery.
Average hourly earnings slipped a penny, more evidence that wage-driven inflation is not a risk.
© 2011 CNBC.com
I agree Navy... Even Prince William and Wife better be careful when they step foot on America soil. The Republican TEA Partiers will see him as that little kid that walks on their lawn, 'Hey boy!! Get off my lawn!!'
Reverse intolerance toward being un-American. But hey, what's practiced in England is practiced in America all thanks to FOX News run by Club Murdock. If representing the Republican/ TEA Party is the way that evil and villainous characters operate then we don't have to worry about Capitol Hill, we just have to look to our very own Reps in our own backyards. As I see the Lawmakers from the Republican Party flock to FOX News I can only imagine that the cohorts have funneled private information and have given the ok to pry into our lives all for the sake of that thing called 'power'. And certain people feed on the tripe as if it is manna.
Evil is being revealed in this time as the drum beat of Greed and Arrogance draws closer to the doorsteps of the blind. Republicans need to wake up to the fact that you vote against your own best interest when you keep people like BackMan and CantOrWont in office. These people only care about your vote but not you. Their tent is so small and tight, I even doubt they have room for their own family members. Republican TEA Party Lawmakers are simply modern day Roman Empire Wannabes.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
18,000 jobs, and dropping month over month. 9.2% unemployment, and rising month over month.
These job numbers are indefensible. Obama and his minions can't spin this tragic employment environment anymore. The truth is the truth, Obama and his Keynesian economic policies have failed. His housing recover plan has failed. His bailout of GM and Chrysler has failed. His taxpayer funded subsidizing of the Green Energy industries has failed. His refusal to explore and drill for oil has failed. His out of this world deficit spending has failed. His refusal to address the debt has failed. His constant populist attacks and increased regulations on businesses, both small and large, have killed the job making machine this country once had. There are 14 million unemployed workers in the country, another 10 million are under employed, and the ones that are employed fear everyday that they too will be fired.
This has to end. Obama must go. If he had any integrity or character, he'd resign. The main stream media can no longer cover for Obama, they too will have to turn on him and start speaking the truth. There are no more excuses for Obama. It's not Bush. It's not the weather. It's not the earthquakes in Japan or the tornado in Joplin. It's not the Republicans. It's not the corporate jet manufactures. It's not the oil companies. The problem is Barack H. Obama and no one else.
Taxi 2 / Thelma and Louise Redux
(What the heck ….. it’s the weekend)
Seems that a lot of great shows end up either making a sequel, or are re-done. What would be cool is to combine 2 old favorites, right?
How’s this …………. Thelma and Louise as taxi drivers in Arizona?
First, you have to pick up where the original story ended……
After gasing their teal Thunderbird, holding hands and driving off the cliff ……. They realized what suicidal idiots they were and immediately bailed out of the convertible T-bird. Still holding hands, they fell and fell, but fortunately they landed on a giant pile of backpacks put there by illegal immigrants trying to work their way to a sanctuary city and free degrees at USC.
When Detective Hal stops at the edge of the cliff, he sees all the illegal aliens and realizing it is a no-no to interfere or ask any questions to certain groups, he abandons the investigation.
Next scene:
You have some poor family where the stupid dad wearing a cowboy hat drove their car into a ditch. They had called for a taxi …… and sure enough Thelma and Louise are now taxi drivers. They get in the car and as they are pulling way, Thelma sees the cowboy hat that reminds her of J.D. (who she had shacked up with and who had stolen their money).
Thelma quietly reaches into her purse and pulls out Louise’s big gun and whispers to herself …. “no that’s not it” as she puts it back and grabs Louise’s i-phone. Since broadband access is now available to every Wile E. Coyote home and desolate canyon in America due to Obama’s 2009 stimulus, she pulls up J.D. only to find his real name is Brad Pitt and after her, he had shagged Gwyenth Paltrow, the movie star!
Well now she is really crazy and blames it on the dad with the cowboy hat. She says it will cost a trillion to get you out of that ditch. They say OK. Thelma settles down, starts playing with the i-phone some more and finds out the S.O.B. married the cute girl on “Friends” after her and after Paltro! She yells at the family ……. I want another trillion! They say OK. She yells it is your bad hat policies that is causing all of this and settles down again.
Well after an hour or two, she picks up the ole i-phone, and since she still has great broadband access thanks to Obama ……. HE IS SHACKED UP WITH THAT CRAZY CHICK ANGELINA JOLIE WHO HAS WON AN ACADEMY AWARD, TWO SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS AND THREE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS. WHO PROMOTES HUMANITARIAN CAUSES AND IS NOTED FOR HER WORK WITH REFUGEES AS A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES ….. REFUGEES …..WHAT THE H..E..DOUBLE.. L WAS I IN THE FIRST EPISODE – I WAS A REFUGEE!
So they start driving to the next nearest cliff …. Give me all the money I want ….. WE’RE BROKE ….. LaLaLaLaLaLa …Give me all the money I want …. WE CAN’T SPEND ANYMORE ……. LaLaLaLaLaLa …Give all the money I want … and if you don’t give it to me YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE US DRIVE OFF THE CLIFF ……
Yea, I know the above was childish – it was written for liberals, they have a child like understanding of politics and reality. The Rating should be CG-13 (Not intended for older than 13 or conservatives.)
But seriously, who is gassing it to the cliff other than Thelma Reid and Louise Obama ……
Libs are everyday talking about the repubs holding America hostage ….. how absurd ….. what repub is in the driver seat known as President of the United States? What repub is the Senate Majority Leader? Yea the repubs have the House – 1 out of 3 only buys a back seat and everyone knows it.
Anyway ……. Just a different perspective.
[Footnote To Hollywood Producers: I realize the plot doesn’t make sense in that after their realization of being suicidal idiots by driving off the cliff the first time – it not plausible that they would do it again. However, I would suggest that further character development in the final script would establish that they are liberals…….. Obviously liberals never learn from previous mistakes.]
[Footnote To Liberals: No actual illegal immigrants were injured or hurt in the writing of this blog.]
[Footnote to Heartless Conservatives: The teal T-Bird did survive its injuries, but has never been restored to original factory condition.]
[Footnote to Bev and Feisty: Redux?…. the x is silent.]
All Rights Reserved …….. (already too much crap in Hollywood and besides – everyone has already seen this bad movie)
Headline: Top Obama adviser says unemployment won't be key in 2012
Source: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/170309-plouffe-says-jobs-rate-not-key-in-2012
For Plouffe, this is just a wish, a fantasy, delusional thinking on his part. It's obvious that, after Obama, Plouffe is the chief liar for the administration. Why would all the unemployed and underemployed people in this country vote for Obama again? What ideas does Obama have that will help them gain employment? 4 years wasn't enough for Obama to take a bad economy and make it much, much worse? Now Obama and Plouffe have the gall to say Obama somehow deserves 4 more years. 4 more years of what? Massive unemployment. Massive debt. High and higher gas prices. Massive health care costs increases.
Sorry David Plouffe, you are flat out lying. The economy will not only be a issue in 2012, but it will be the only issue. And Obama fails every test there is on it.
Louis J:
How true. I agree. You have a great weekend my friend and kep up the excellent posts.
Today the job numbers are down and the unemployment rate ticked up. THANK YOU GOP/TP, your Agenda is working.
How come you have not passed one Jobs Bill or Stimulus Bill?? I thought you guys wanted to be leaders?? I guess not. Just proves my point that the GOP/TP is going to sit on their hands and do nothing to help this country move forward.
You guys ran on a ticket of creating jobs and stimulating the econmy, you control the House so where are your plans to create jobs and stimulate the economy. You do absolutely nothing except worry about women's reproductive organs, then complain there are no jobs.
How about those tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires that are supposed to create jobs. We have been on that plan 10 years now, would have thought we would see something by now.
These numbers just prove your Tax Cuts for the 2% is not working, you are not showing any leadership in the House.
So what else is new??????
Bob, Joanna, and Joe
Yesterday a Republican was crowing on here about the improving economy being the result of the Republican majority in the House. Today its back to "Obama owns this economy."
I don't care who owns it, I want the policy makers to address the jobs situation and quit battling each other for their own partisan careers. (PS I think the legislation reducing swipe fees banks charge retailers will have a positive impact down the road. One way to get the money the banks hold, back into Main Street. More of that, please.)
The jobs report is worse than it looks at first glance.
Take the number of jobs created- 18,000 is a pretty poor number. A look at May tells more of the story: May's already weak number, (54,000), has been revised to 25,000. April saw a similar downward revision.
Now consider May and June together- in order to hold unemployment steady, the economy should have added 300,000 jobs for that period; instead, only 43,000 were added in total, before revision. So, how did the unemployment rate only tick up by two tenths of a per cent?
Today's BLS tells the story- for June alone, another 272,000 people were moved out of the labor force.
No wonder David Plouffe is opining that people will not pay attention to the unemployment rate when deciding for whom to vote next year.
He is delusional, but faced with the abject failure of the man whose campaign he is running, he has no other choice than to whistle past the unemployment graveyard.
The economy would have to add 350,000 jobs every month between now and December 2014 to get unemployment down to 5%.
Source: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/170309-plouffe-says-jobs-rate-not-key-in-2012
The economy added 18,000. last month, 54,000 the month before (although that's been revised downward to be 44,000 less jobs in April and May). So averaging those numbers, with 36,000 jobs added each month, it would take until 2044 to get to 5% unemployment.
And Obama intends to run on his record next year. Good luck with that Barry.
So go tell it to the "Republican" that said it. He/she is obviously wrong.
So do you agree Obama's economic policies have been a total and complete failure?
First Read on June's jobs numbers:
"The numbers are a devastating blow to the markets, to the American psyche, and to the political psyche in Washington."
Absolutely dead on, Mr. Todd.
No way to put a pro-Administration spin on this one, is there?
Amy:
All this is showing us is the failure of the GOP/TP. They are in control of the House and to date they have done not one darn thing to move this country forward. They campaigned on JOBS, JOBS but not one bill has been proposed. So they blame President Obama for what is really their failure to provide any leadership to move this country forward. This one is on there watch since they have had more than enough time to propose something in the House instead of abortion legislation and repealing Medicare and Medicaid and huge tax cuts to the 2%.
Sorry righties, not buying your false indignation - You guys are the problem, not President Obama and the people are starting to see you for what you really are. "Obstructionist" and Liars. What a combination.
Where is the leadership you promised. Where are your plans to create Jobs and Stimulate the Economy. What are you going to do to improve Education. All things you promised in 2010.
Mixed Bag
First Read on June's jobs numbers:
"The numbers are a devastating blow to the markets, to the American psyche, and to the political psyche in Washington."
Absolutely dead on, Mr. Todd.
No way to put a pro-Administration spin on this one, is there?
Well, Mixd Bag the spin stops here...
You cannot expect an increase when the republi/clowns are playing on the fears of the established businesses in this country. All of this distraction is being used to force them to feel they must freeze their hiring assets
Why don't you read Amy B. Portland, ME message?
Yesterday a Republican was crowing on here about the improving economy being the result of the Republican majority in the House. Today its back to "Obama owns this economy."
JoAnna & No Jo-
David Plouffe has insisted all along that the 2012 presidential election will be a "choice"...not a "referendum".
Not sure why he prefers choice over referendum.
Why is he so frightened of a voter referendum on President Obama's stewardship of the nation?
So much for the failed president and his statement of a scalpel approach. This is a machete approach and now he flip flops again. He knows the conservatives were right about this is a spending problem and not a revenue problem. The conservatives have won and rightly so. It is insanity to add more taxes during a double dip recession. Cut spending and bring that house in order first.
It is a recession when your neighbor loses his job
A depression when you lose your job
Recovery when Obama loses his job.
@Bev -- It is also a devastating blow to this failed administration.
Good morning, all.
It looks like it's me and Navy and Beverly against the world today.
I like the odds.
No.
I wish I could stay and elaborate, but it's my last official day of vacation, and there's places to go, people to see, and things to do. Like a shower. I overslept.
Navy and Beverly, don't beat them up too much, okay? Remember the tricks I taught you. Rubber hoses, not pitchforks.
Navy, the GOP campaigned on the fact that stimulus was a failure- and the proof is given for that, every day- and that the Obama administration was standing in the way of job creation by putting forth more and more onerous regulations day by day.
There was NEVER a call for a "republican stimulus", nor a "republican jobs" bill. They understand that, rather than stimulating job growth, government interference HINDERS job growth.
Nice try at deflection, but the facts remain- Obama is an abject failure.
And the electorate knows who is to blame for this economy.
The Republicans have a FY 2012 budget. Where is the Obama/Democrats budget? The Republicans have a plan to reform Medicare/Medicaid. Where is the Obama/Democrats plan to reform those bankrupt programs? The Republicans have a plan to reduce the deficit. Where is the Obama/Democrats plan to reduce the deficit? The Republicans have stated what is needed to be done before the Debt Ceiling is raised. Obama and the Democrats think it should be raised without any consequences.
So Navy Disabled, what the Republicans have done is shown leadership. Just what are Obama and the Democrats leading on again? Besides 9.2% and rising unemployment.
Anna Molly-
"I like the odds."
So did Custer, sweetie.
Thanks for the re-post, Bev.
And, the devastating rebuttal...of First Read.
Maybe Chuckie T and the gang will respond.
LoL I ain't Custer, Bag Boy.
Bring it on, Crazy Horse.
Mixed Bag- yes, and Axelrod said,the same thing about the midterms- voters would be making a choice, not passing a referendum.
Either way, Obama lost.
Too bad that was not true in 2008, in the primaries OR the general. I would have had as many disagreements with a Hillary Clinton OR a McCain administration, but, face it, things would NOT be this bad today had either of them been elected.
I remembered this morning a conversation I had with my son during the primaries. I did not understand why democratic primary voters thought that Obama was the second coming of Bill Clinton, rather than his wife. My son looked at me and said, "Mom, they don't see him as the second coming of Clinton. They see him as the second coming of ELVIS".
You read this board, and see how right he was. Amy, Feisty, Jody, Navy- all completely blinded by adulation.
What on earth on they going to do when he loses?
You're more like pablum.
It looks like it's me and Navy and Beverly against the world today.
I like the odds.
_______________________________________________________
AM: Looks like all the other FR lefty liberals are hiding under their beds, sucking their thumbs, and silently chanting "Yes, we can (pretend Barry isn't a dismal failure for the country)"
Enjoy your last day of vacation, Monday it's back into the shark infested waters looking for prey to bill.
Ben-636050---The Conservatives won the House in the last election, what have they done to help reduce unemployed people? If tax cuts are creating jobs, why do we still have high unemployment? As you know we are in the eleventh year of the Bush tax cut, if tax cuts worked that well, we should have low unemployment.
Anna Molly:
I could not have better company than you and Amy and Louis J.
The GOP/TP is betting on the failure of the economy and they are proud to say so. This is there agenda and has been from day one.
They control the House and they have yet to pass one piece of legislation that helps this country. No jobs bill, no economic stimulus and gutting education is all they have done.
As I have been saying, the GOP/TP is going to do nothing to move this country forward and then they are going to blame President Obama for their failure of leadership. This is what they do. They continue to be "the Obstructionist Party" and then with unmitigated arrogance turn around and blame our President when in fact this is in part their problem because they are doing nothing.
I think the American people are starting to realize this. They have had plenty of time since they took over control of the HOuse to propose at least on jobs bill. They did not, so they are part of the problem if not the problem.
They can lie and spin it all they want. Where is the jobs they campaigned on, where is the stimulus they campaign on???? Nothing, they just sit on their butts and do nothing and then blame everybody else. I find that repugnant and un-American.
You have a right to complain if and only if you are actively in the game. If you are going to sit on the side lines and get in the way of progress then you need to keep your mouths shut and get out of the way.
Just the same crap from the party of NO.
Well, let's see. From Wiki:
Yep. Just like. And thanks.
The answer to your question is still no. The reasons are as stated by Navy, immediately above.
And good morning, Louis. Thanks for reminding me, Navy.
Navy,
A huge part of any economic recovery is consumer confidence and the Republicans have been whittling away at that with their Romney/Huntsman/Bachmann/Palin/Santorum/Gingrich/Pawlenty/Cain/Trump/TBD traveling "We're all going to die!" FEAR FESTIVAL.
Yes, and Republicans in the House have done one thing and one thing only since they gained the House in 2010: played partisan politics in hopes of regaining the White House, scaring the %$#* out of seniors, the unemployed, and sick people.
One more time, Navy- the only "stimulus" the GOP campaigned on was the failure of the Obama stimulus to do anything other than stimulate the debt.
Of course, it DID create jobs- unfortunately, those jobs were in China. Here is one use of taxpayer dollars used to do so
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40565987/ns/business-going_green/t/wind-their-backs-powerful-democrats-help-chinese-energy-firm-chase-stimulus-money/
$450 million borrowed bucks that taxpayers will have to repay.
Obama is a complete, abject failure who should never have been elected.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired
So let be clear on those. President Obama is going after the causes of the increases and not gutting the benefits. In fact Medicare’s costs are rising at about one-half of the rate for Private Health Care Insurance, making Medicare a better buy than Private Health Insurance. This is another reason not to even think of Privatization of Medicare.
It is so easy to peddle fear instead of facts Navy This is why it's important the America people think, if not educate themselves before jumping off the cliff.
While some remain bamboozled the Wall street barons are forging out ways to put SS and Medicare on the stock market
--A huge part of any economic recovery is consumer confidence and the Republicans have been whittling away at that with their Romney/Huntsman/Bachmann/Palin/Santorum/Gingrich/Pawlenty/Cain/Trump/TBD traveling "We're all going to die!" FEAR FESTIVAL.
I agree Amy and the mere fact that the Media Sensationalizes it makes the agenda all the more apparent that they only want to see America Fail. When the Republican Party has not put a Jobs Bill forward and there is no reporting on it, then that pretty much says Journalism is dead.
But yet you have time to post a bunch on other stuff. So if you so have time to "stay and elaborate", lets hear your great explanations of Obama's economic successes AM.
And besides, I thought you were "done with [me]". Make it so. Truly.
@Seattle -- Well since they were extended, this failed administration owns the tax cuts. The answer is evident unless you have your head so far up yours or the prez's you know what. The SBA report clearly shows that the are too many regs to comply with to start a business, business can't commit unles it knows what is going to happen in taxes, etc., and obamacare is hurting business of all sizes so they will not hire. The party of No and thankfully So -- or we would have been in worse shape. There are many, many more reasons why businesses are not hiring. True hiring will begin once this failed president is out of office. So if you want to see hiring, vote for ABO -- Anybody But Obama.
Sorry, Bev-
The jobs numbers this morning from the Labor Department ARE facts.
You can't spin them OR rebut them, can you?
I could spin them. How much are you paying for weaving straw into gold?
Gold is pretty expensive right now, so I don't come cheap.
Hi Anna, Navy, Amy, LouisJ, and Beverly, you're not alone but even if you were, the posters from the right have done a fine job of doing exactly what Navy wrote that they do without your pointing it out. Notice how each one of them quotes some horrible economic news and then blames it on this administration and ignoring the facts presented by Navy? They don't even try to make a valid causal link, they just say it was caused because of the policies of this administration and expect everyone to take them at their word.
I especially like the spin about how the stimulus didn't work when every non-idealogue economist, left and right, agree that it created over 2 million jobs. Even Bruce Bartlett, one of Reagan's economic advisers and vice-Chairman of the JEC under Reagan, says that the stimulus worked as much as it could but it was too small. Why was it too small? Because the Republican/TP Inc. blocked any attempt to make it larger or to add to it after the first one was passed. They knew that if they allowed legislation to pass that would help Amerericans, they would not have a good chance at the polls. They know that their policies would not win and need the distraction of an economic crisis to distract the voters from their true agenda.
The Republican/TP Inc. party is very good at causing problems and then blaming everyone else but themselves. This is the party of personal responsibility? I think not. They sound more like children, to me.
Joe in Albany, did you make the $100.00 contribution to the Obama re-election campaign, yet? I don't care if you gave, or how much you gave to anyone else, I just want to know if you paid off on the bet you lost.
Of course there's optimism- they are GOING to strike a deal by August 2nd. Both parties are just driving their cars as fast as possible towards each other and seeing which will turn first in economic chicken.
Whether the deal is in the country's best interests has yet to be decided but it seems pretty clear that the deal will be watered down cuts and some more taxes. To me it's like reading the recipe that clearly says add 1C sugar, feeds 12 and our government interprets that to means adding 50C sugar tastes better and feeds 300,000,000 when in fact it will only destroy things faster. Fine, cut $2 trillion in 10 years- whop-de-do. We overspend that EVERY year.
Oops. For a moment there, I forgot.
Your wish is my command. And my pleasure. Really.
Here is the "jobs bill" the republicans campaigned on
http://www.gop.gov/pledge/jobs#body
As you can see, there were four separate components- two of which have been implemented, two still in the works. Somehow, I think they are being stymied in the Senate, which is still in the hads of Democrats.
Not for long.
Obama's failures are not the fault of the republicans- they are his own. He got the spending he wanted when his party controlled the House and the Senate- all he managed to do was add four till ion to the debt.
Democrats ran barefoot through our money, spending as if there would be no day of reckoning. They were wrong, as shown last November, and they see what is coming next year.
Even the Democratic controlled Senate knows this- hence, the bipartisan vote defeating Obama's completely ridiculous budget 97 to zero. I notice he is still in a pet over that- he has not proposed another.
You inflicted this disaster on the country. Your party will pay the price next year, as you did last year.
Unfortunately, America will pay the price for many years to come.
$800 billion dollars, 2 million jobs. $400,000 per job.
Those are some pretty good jobs.
I thought I would post this just to show how bad it has gotten for the Democrat party in the way of fundraising.
Letter to Senator Patty Murray, Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Senator Patty Murray, Chair
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Dear Senator Murray:
For many months now, your colleagues in the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee leadership have engaged in a series of disparagements and ad hominem attacks about us, apparently as part of a concerted political and fundraising strategy. Just recently, Senator Reid wrote in a DSCC fundraising letter that Republicans are trying to “force through their extreme agenda faster than you can say ‘Koch Brothers.’”
So you can imagine my chagrin when I got a letter from you on June 17 asking us to make five-figure contributions to the DSCC. You followed that up with a voicemail* indicating that, if we contributed heavily enough, we would garner an invitation to join you and other Democratic leaders at a retreat in Kiawah Island this September.
I’m hoping you can help me understand the intent of your request because it’s hard not to conclude that DSCC politics have become so cynical that you actually expect people whom you routinely denounce to give DSCC money.
It is troubling that private citizens taking part in the discourse have become the targets of White House and DSCC fundraising missives, and we would certainly encourage you to rethink that approach. Ultimately, I expect voters will see through that and will weigh the issues on the merits alone. But in the meantime, if you could provide me some insight on what exactly you are asking of us and why, I would be most grateful.
Sincerely,
Philip Ellender
President, Government & Public Affairs
Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC
Riddle me this - How come you on the Left give The President(2 1/2 years into his Presidency) a pass with the "he inherited a unmitigated disaster" but hammer the Republican controlled House that is basically 7 months into the current session?
Like Jim Rome says "Scoreboard sucks when you're getting your a$$ kicked"
Ben-636050
@Bev -- It is also a devastating blow to this failed administration.
Really the only thing that is devasting is the faliure of your brain's ability for your listening and critical thinking.
I repeat
You cannot expect an increase when the repugs are playing on the fears of the established businesses in this country. All of this distraction is being used to force them to feel they must freeze their hiring asset.
For instance, Michelle Batwowan was on FOX NOISE this morning saying the American people don't want tax increases for the rich. clearly, polls prove her to be wrong.
If you think this administration has failed, what do suppose a republi/ clown could do differently? The operative word is differently
Thanks, American!!!
I saw that early this morning, but the jobs report drove that,piece of chutzpah rightmout of my head.
I am wondering if Nashville Fan will have some insight- I happen to know she is not one of the group on the way to St.Louis, and this is, after all, her hobby horse.
US Navy,
Obama is unique, the problem is unique. Obama is spending $10 billion a day - BORROWING $4 BILLION.
No President in history has every been that irresponsible.
The cost of the Bush wars was $760 billion. Bush's revenue for 2007 was 18.5% of GDP - HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE LAST SEVENTY YEARS!
Obama literally is OVERSPENDING THIS YEAR ALONE MORE THAN TWICE WHAT BUSH SPENT IN 8 YEARS ON THE WARS!
and HOW IS ABOVE AVERAGE REVENUE A COST!
Anybody heard that before? Yet when it came time, the dems were screaming bloody murder over puppets and cowboy poetry. Almost every day you whine, cry and demagogue over the world's largest abortion business having funds cut. On and on ....
What an idiotic, malicious deceit.
What is the debt payment number Navy? Do you even know?
Why would Obama cut payments for social security, to our military? He doesn't have to. There's plenty of money for that.
Why wouldn't he just cut foreign aid, billions to Brazil to drill, billions to Venezuela for new refinieries, billions everywhere.
The UN? Why do we pay for 40% of the UN costs, why do we pay 10 TIMES what China, the country we borrow it from, pays? What about the IMF? Hardly any of those guys even like us.
Why are paying 75% of all the Libya costs?
Why does the wife take $800,000.00 safaris? Why does Obama take AF 1 to fly 150 miles? On and on and on.
Obama can pay for Social Security and the military and all other important stuff. He has cut other stuff. He doesn't want to cut. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. He is just using the SS stuff to scare America so he can get what he wants.
By themselves, in fact, the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will account for almost half of the $20 trillion in debt that, under current policies, the nation will owe by 2019.
And speaking about forgetting to mention little pieces of information ...... you never mention the cost of TARP, the one spending spree that an argument could made actually helped the economy. In fact the recession officially peaked in September 2008 and ended in July 2009, before any Obama measures even had a chance to not work. If anything saved the economy, it was TARP. Yet that is never mentioned in your cut-in-paste.
And didn't TARP cost more than the wars?
You repeat the same crap day after day, it is refuted and you repeat the crap the next day. Now you repeating the same crap in the same post.
Too funny.
Matthew:
Happy Friday. It is playing out now right before our eyes. The same old debunked lies being repasted by the right, the failure to provide any leadership and then blame everybody else when things go wrong except in this case the failure to provide any leadership is and was their plan all along.
They are using the fear (much manufactured by the right to begin with) to divide this country. They sit on the side lines and complain and whine but do nothing to help. In fact they do every thing they can to get in the way and then blame the players.
The stimulus did work and it did save jobs. That is fact as supported by leading economists (republican and democrat). CBPP, CEPR, CBO, NYT, WSJ, WP, Stochman, Zandi, Krugman and a bevy of people and impartial think tanks have written extensively on this. The big argument was that the Stimulus was not big enough and should have been more targeted, but it did work. Also a big portion of the stimulus was in tax cuts not job creation but the GOP/TP seems to forget that little fact and try to label the whole dollar amount as stimulus. Also many governors (mostly GOP) misused the stimulus funds to shore up their own failed State Budgets like Perry and T-Paw to name a few and it never get into the economy at all. The GOP forgets that also and how about all the ribbon cutting ceremonies they attended and took credit for - they forget that as well.
The GOP/TP is lost and they have nothing to offer this country. So what do they do - "They bet against the American People" and pray that unemployment stays high and the economy tanks. They will then blame President Obama even though it is their plan that caused the failure to begin with.
Mixed Bag
Sorry, Bev-
The jobs numbers this morning from the Labor Department ARE facts.
You can't spin them OR rebut them, can you?
Would believe Private payrolls rose by 157,000 in June?
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Private-sector employment rose 157,000 in June, according to Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s employment report released Thursday, in what could be a signal that the recent economic soft patch may not last long.
The headline number surprised Wall Street, coming in more than double the 70,000 increase expected by economists. Read more on U.S. stock futures taking comfort from ADP payrolls.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/private-payrolls-rise-by-157000-in-june-adp-2011-07-07
Yes, Mixed Bag when you concentrate on the facts there is no reason for snark. If that doesn't give you hope, then you can keep sliding down the repups rabbit hole of despair, doom, and gloom.
I wouldn't suggest it though
It seems like the liberals here are either ignoring Wasserman-Schultz, or calling her a liar.
She very clearly said Obama and democrats own the economy. She is Obama's chosen spokeswoman.
Because you ran in 2010 on this platform, assault our current president - who has created jobs by the way - every chance you get but have done nothing to help. I am just exposing the hypocrisy that you people seem to think is a virtue - It is Not, it is Repugnant.
President Obama is the only one who is trying to create an environment for jobs. The GOP/TP blocked the infrastructure bill - remember that. They opposed the Small Business Bill - remember that. This is just a continuation of their lies.
No the GOP/TP got caught speaking out of both sides of their mouths again and we are just pointing it out. President Obama has done something to create jobs, the GOP/TP has not.
Thanks for playing, you are dismissed.
@no joe, no bo, nj
You're welcome. I guess when the ship is sinking, you'll grasp at any rope to survive.
I just remembered reading several post here at First Read from obviously "liberal" posters about how evil and sinister the Koch brothers are and yet they don't mind sticking their hands out for that dirty money....it would make me laugh if it weren't so sad. I wonder how long ago the Democrats decided to change their talking point on the Koch Brothers? some people must have missed that memo...afterall, money is money....right?
Didn't the President campaign on ending the recession? You seem to neglect the fact that the President's party controlled the House and had a filibuster proof majority in the Senate during his first two years. If anyone is talking out of both sides of their mouth it is you Navy.
Heck even the head of the DNC recently said that "we own the economy"
Keep your head in the sand and you'll get kicked in the...
And for the record, I'm NOT a Republican
You, and your little (former) LibsRUs friends, just get more and more desperate everyday trying to prove that Obama has even a sliver of a clue. Defending him is getting tougher every day, isn't it Disabled? And yes, it is panic time for you and the (former) LibsRUs crew, and it certainly shows with all of the Leftist posts, both here and on other blogs.
The voters will give Obama the same message in Nov/2012.
Navy, he may be trying, but, at some point, you need to start succeeding.
He is failing.
The economy lost 445,000 jobs last month, so the net add was only 18,000- for now. Given the trend in revisions, I am pretty sure that number will be negative next month.
You are in the position of defending the indefensible. Your little crowd may congratulate you on your "great posts"- but you are preaching to an ever shrinking choir.
This is not grammar school where you get "A's" for effort. The proof of Obama's abject failure is all around. Refusing to see it does not render it invisible.
ONE OF THE MORE COMMON “BIG LIES” PROPAGANDISTS OF THE RIGHT PUT OUT IS THAT THE “STIMULUS FAILED.” The idea, of course, is to affect public perception by repeating the falsehood repeatedly.
This is a tactic that has its roots in the 1930’s, but was adopted as a mechanism by right-wing conservatives in the 1970’s and 1980’s. It was first employed to try to convince Americans that anyone outside the John Birch Society was a Communist or at least fellow-traveler. Amazingly, even as the soviet state collapsed, some of those lying idiots were still publishing books making that absurd claim.
So, deprived of that mantra, the conservatives decided that the “evil empire” was the United States itself – in the form of the government of the nation. They are still pursuing that line – bolstered by the ineptitude fostered during three Republican Administrations since 1981, when only ideological purity sufficed to win a Federal job and the top administrators set to work to dismantle the effectiveness of nearly every agency. If they wanted to say government didn’t work right, they had to make the prophecy true by ensuring it didn’t work right.
Result? Well, how about FEMA after Hurricane Katrina? Or how about the entire regulatory system and the Bush Recession of 2007-2009?
Now the right wing ideologues are chanting their lies about the “failure” of president Obama.
We knew that was garbage long ago. Take a look:
---------------------------------------------------------------
I seeded this article to the ‘Vine on Oct. 19, 2010. Stimulus a failure? BS. Typical propaganda from the right-wing nut jobs whose only dream is utter destruction of the United States government:
---------------------------------------------------------------
http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/111059/a-town-saved-by-stimulus
KOKOMO, Ind. -- Kokomo is going back to work.
A year and a half ago the fate of this car town, home to four Chrysler plants and a Delphi facility, was as uncertain as the American auto industry itself.
Now, thanks largely to the federal government, the town's unemployment rate has gone from over 20% to under 14%.
Economists disagree over the real nationwide impact of the massive stimulus jolt orchestrated by President Obama. But here in Kokomo, the Recovery Act and Obama's auto bailout have jolted Kokomo back to life -- keeping big industry from fleeing and attracting newcomers as well.
"We wouldn't be standing here," said Brian Harlow, a 32-year Chrysler veteran who grew up in Kokomo and now is based at the company's headquarters outside Detroit. "It would have been a ghost town."
Chrysler, which had idled 3,500 hourly workers in Kokomo a year and a half ago, recently announced $350 million in new investments that will make the city the hub of North American manufacturing for its next-generation transmissions. All those people have been put back to work, and 700 others have been hired.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here’s another piece, this one just published days ago.
Analyst Ezra Klein summarizes the baloney sandwiches the Republican right is now handing out about the stimulus and its relative success:
http://www.theliberalcurmudgeon.com/2011/07/ezra-klein-cbo-economists-call-stimulus.html
Paul Krugman has repeatedly and correctly argued that President Obama should have pushed for a bolder stimulus package. Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, on the other hand, has frothed with misinformation, irrationally stating that since the government lowered the initial report of the number of jobs created, the stimulus resulted in a loss of jobs–a falsehood held by Fox News viewers. Then there are the Republicans who railed against the stimulus in Washington while lobbying for its funds at home and taking credit for its successes. Ezra Klein points out the bottom line: the stimulus package, however inadequate, was indeed a success, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other economists:
Most authorities don’t think the stimulus failed. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, for instance, says it created between 1.2 million and 4.6 million jobs “compared to what would’ve happened otherwise.” IHS Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s Economy.com all estimate that the laws ultimate impact will be roughly 2.5 million jobs. Economists Mark Zandi and Alan Blinder put it at at 2.7 million jobs.
…Any serious assessment of the stimulus needs to include some variation of the six words that appear in the CBO’s study: “compared to what would’ve happened otherwise.” If the stimulus created three million jobs even as the economy lost seven million jobs, the stimulus worked. If it created only one million jobs, it performed far worse than the administration promised.
Either way, the stimulus was swamped by an economic crisis it was never large enough to neutralize. But that doesn’t make it unsuccessful.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The right wing nut jobs who keep repeating the mantra of “failure” are attempting to cover up the decades-long and doubly-demonstrated failure of their own ideology. It is typical of the stunning cynicism of the conservative movement – which has consistently said one thing, and then done the opposite.
@Bev -- The sign of a lack of intelligence and brain power, immaturity and most importantly a sense of impending doom and loss is when one reverts to name calling and personal attacks.
So, were Conservative Republicans lying when they claimed responsibility for better than expected jobs numbers in the December through February period, or are they lying now when they claim to have NO responsibility for poor jobs numbers now?
The answer can't be "neither", because to say that would be to admit that the GOPTP is an impotent force, capable of having no impact upon America. The answer can be "both", however, and in fact it is.
In fact the answer IS "both". In the December through February period Conservatives were lying because they had not yet taken over the House of Representatives or had been in their new seat of power long enough to have had any impact on the economy. They were the crassest of opportunists, trying to take credit for improvements that occurred IN SPITE OF THEM, not because of them.
Now they've been in power for months. We've had sufficient time to see what they're willing and able to do. The answer, unfortunately, is "nothing positive." The increased power they're enjoying is enough to turn the limited gains Democrats were able to engineer over Republican obstructionism into a complete stall in economic improvement. The promised gains that Republicans promised for retaining the Bush tax cuts on the top 2% turned out to be illusory as expected. Tax cuts to improve the economy have failed yet again.
Worse yet, heady with power the Conservatives are playing chicken with the entire economy through the debt ceiling. No one knows if the debt ceiling will be raised as needed to prevent a government shut down or first ever default on US debt. When (NOT if) it's eventually raised Republicans are likely to demand still more of their failed policies, dragging down the economy even farther.
Employers are responding to the specter of that impending threat. The future of the United States is at stake RIGHT NOW. Radical Conservatives will crush America into their aristocratic model, forever condemning us to second rate status with a class-based society or sensible people will ensure that we continue to be a flexible, vital, nation of promise and prominence.
THAT is why the economy is behaving the way it is. the "uncertainty" that Conservatives whine about constantly is real, it's weighing mightily on the economy...and it's all of their own making.
Ben-636050
@Bev -- The sign of a lack of intelligence and brain power, immaturity and most importantly a sense of impending doom and loss is when one reverts to name calling and personal attacks.
How true, have you written your extreme right wing leaders to ask them to "cease and desist" inflammatory rhetoric including their fear-mongering and LIES? How about Fox Noise?
We need to force the Republicans on board with the jobs bills the Democrats keep bringing forward. The Republicans are continuing to stall the whole process, in order to make the President fail.
Disabled Vet: I'm on a borrowed computer at the present, but I,m going back to mine in a couple hours and await your response. I'm temporarily breaking my vow of celibacy of associating with your "group" in order to ask you about your comment at 1.26 above. You gripe about the GOP/TP having control of the house and have done nothing for jobs. Well the dems had both houses prior and didn't they do as much? If you have reliable links to refute me post them and I'll read them. You also said they sit around and blame everyone else. You know as do I that the blame game is always in high gear on both sides, except that the dems will still be blaming "W" for the state of the economy 50 years hence. In retrospect, your posts, the few I read, are always the same. Please write something new and informative. First Read is in dire straits for lack of intelligent writing.
Thanks for this, Bev;
That's all you need to know. This soft spot in the recovery is ENTIRELY OF GOPTP CREATION. Their attacks on government employment have been sufficient to nearly offset the work the private sector is trying to do to make us strong again. Conservatives know this, too;
http://www.nationaljournal.com/economy/gop-prescription-spending-cuts-and-lower-wages-equal-more-jobs-20110325
There it is. The PLAN for Conservative's attack on the middle class, already showing results in terms of a poor jobs report. It's time to give the Republican Party the credit they deserve...their desire to see the American economy fail is working beautifully.
The ADP story was YESTERDAY at 9:15EDT before the BLS numbers were released this morning. Of those 157,000 how many are seasonal part-time summer jobs?
Oh and May's dismal job numbers were downgraded as well.
John A, thanks for putting the current failure of Conservatives into proper context here; http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/07/08/7041128-first-thoughts-a-crucial-72-hours?threadId=3168903&commentId=55742684#c55741949 The John Birch Society, crazy, unhinged to the point where they were publicly disavowed by responsible Conservatives including Barry Goldwater and William F Buckley has BECOME the Conservative movement. Thinking people have always recognized them as an unrealistic group with ideas that just don't hold water. Now the Koch brothers have spent vast amounts of money to turn the failed pet project of their father into the dominant voice of the Right.
History will not look well upon this time when Republicans mainstreamed crazy.
I can say this on this debt ceiling debate....the American are not being fooled by the republican party...in 2012 millions more will come out and vote than in 2010, and the only reason why the republican have what they have is because the democrats didn't turn out..its their fault, but we ( i voted in 2010) wont make the same mistake again. Even republicans are upset with thier party, either its the teabaggers who wont be satisfied until the nation is tanked, or its the moderate republicans who are turned of by the former...either way the republcans are screwed.
Now to the politics of the debt ceiling, Boner can do a thing without democrats in the house, and the house cant do a thing without the Democratically controlled senate, and both cant do anything without the presidents signature, either Boner makes a deal that raises taxes on the rich, or nothing happens and the republican party gets all the blame. The democrats strategally hold all the cards.
As far as the trial baloons sent out, its to keep the republicans guessing and scrambling to hold thier position.
Wow, Bev-
You actually DID it!
You actually put a positive spin on the Labor Department's June jobs numbers released this morning!
First Read couldn't do it...not Chuckie T, nor Mark & Dom & Ali.
None of the major news organizations has been able to.
I'm impressed, Bev.
Although, a bit concerned about your increasingly tenuous grip on reality.
And one more point: Bombardier Learjet which maufactures corporate jets that the President demonized recently, employ about 900 UNIONIZED machinists.
Yeah, those "evil" CEO's are really out to screw the middle class.
I see the right wing is ravenous today.
Nothing but criticism and taunting for the President and the Democrats. But you on the right can be very proud. After all, this is exactly what you said you intended to do: Make the President fail, scupper any and all of his policies, initiatives and programs. You said so yourselves. Several times.
So you own this as much as anyone. Probably more, since you did it intentionally. Congratulations. (snark)
It's hard enough to govern when you have the everyday challenges, natural disasters, unprecedented worldwide economic conditions. When you add to that one whole block of the country that fights you at every turn, that hobbles your votes in the legislature, the idealogues every issue, the result is exactly what we have. Not only has this block done very little of a positive nature, they have consistently championed petty causes: blocking judicial appointments, defunding Planned Parenthoood, denying a womans right to choose, disenfranchising voters.
Be proud conservatives/Republicans/Tea Party. Just look at what you've done.
John B, an addendum to your post:
At this very moment, the ultra-right and libertarians feel they are on the brink of a victory of historic proportions. After decades of frustration attempting to dismantle completely the "liberal" state that had brought America so much progress and prospecrity, the conservative movement believes that their 2010 electoral victory was the springboard to finally achieving their dream:
- Shut down regulatory agencies, particularly the most-hated EPA, OSHA, SEC, FTC, FDA, and others
- Complete "privatizing" government by handing over everything from highway engineering and bridge design to Medicare to private industry (on the now-discredited claim that private business will do those things cheaper and better than government)
- Eliminate Social Security and funnel the money into the stock market
- Hamstring organized labor, disenfranchise likely Democratic voters, and complete the corruption of election processes themselves
- Remove all restraints on the "employment marketplace" - repeal minimum-wage laws, regulations governmeng hours and overtime pay, workplace safety, child employment, benefits and anything else they can think of
The list is longer, but this covers the basics.
The result would be to further fatten those at the top, drive down wages and benefits, and much, much worse. The idea that the "free market" somehow would compensate even more efficiently to prevent such abuses is of a course a lie that has been disproven repeatedly in relatively recent practice.
But President Obama stands in the way of "final victory." So the right is attempting, through character assassination, lies, half-truths, propaganda and any other tactic available to remove that pesky threat to their dream fulfillment.
And, oops! What else? AMERICAN VOTERS suddenly seem a threat as well? What the heck HAPPENED?
Well, the answer is simple:
THE RIGHT WING BETRAYED THE VOTERS.
The elections of 2010 were not a referendum on the national deficit and debt. The voters didn't endorse the Tea Party (well, 22% did - but that sure as heck isn't a "mandate"). The public wanted action on jobs, on the economy in general, and on more cooperation and public-spirited effort in Washington.
What did they get for their trusting ballots? A boot in the face from the ultra-right.
Now the GOP/TP is desperate to ram its agenda through, fulfill its long-cherished dream of America owned by the few and enslaving the many, and an economy that is essentially a cartel state similar to that of Japan, before next year's elections. The tolling of the death knell for those Libertarian dreams already sounds in the distance.
quit misconstruing the presidents position, its a tax break for millionairs not trying to close down 900 unionized jobs....the union will better off in the long run, as the budget deficit will go down with removing this loophole, therefore the government can borrow less, therefore more for private companies to borrow and invest like this company.....you do not know what your talking about
Yes, I'm well aware how the economy works unlike 99% of the posters on this board I actually have a college degree...closing loopholes is fine but don't demonize CEO's who by the way keep millions of hard working Americans employed...providing health and retirement benefits...
Nice patronization, jinsd...
I have a college degree myself. And a lot of experience as well.
We're not demonizing businesses or CEOs. They are doing that just fine without us. And they are sitting on thier money right now. Instead of providing jobs, health care, benefits, or anything else.
Jinsd - anyone who perseveres to earn a degree has a right to be proud of that. I actually hold three .... and I know how economics works, too.
The boardroom boodlers and pirates in pinstripes are NOT the compassionate, generous souls you portray them to be. They will, and have, cut wges, benefits, and employment ruthlessly in the name of "shareholder value" - and for the boosting of their bloated salaries and bonuses - for decades. Most CEOs are overpaid and underperforming.
The disparity between the median employee's salary and that of the CEO in the great majority of companies is a violent objection to your rosy, sympathetic baloney.
Reagan-era changes in tax laws set up this outrageous condition. It encouraged CEOs to break up old, successful firms for the benefit of a few extra pennies to big shareholders. It encouraged destructive, abusive short-term business strategies that cost jobs, drove down wages, slashed benefits, and looted pension funds so that a 1/8-cent quarterly increase in average stock prices would produce a multi-million-dollar bonus packge for the CEOs. It encouraged short-term, rather than long-term, stable business operations, and started the process of wrecking the national economy.
You guys want "tax reform?" Well, reform THIS:
Raise capital gains to 90% on stock bonuses and options for CEOs and executive staff for any granted and not held more than 5 years. Raise the marginal tax rate on executives who earn more than 100% of the median employee's wage to 95%. ELIMINATE incentives for the executive suite to screw the janitor and act more in favor of corporate stability, pay equity, and decent benefits.
Raise capital gains on day-trading to 85%. REDUCE taxes on earned-interest in savings and bonds under $1,000,000 - and thus accumulate capital available to build the economy.
CEOs are human. They know what is in their self-interest. Today it's economic oppression and opportunism. Change the rules, get better results.
But don't patronize any of us with your rosy sweetness about the beneficial, paternal, all-caring CEO. That's just a total crock.
Then you wonder why you are known for the socialists you are.
Businesses exist for one reason, and one reason only-
To make money.
In ordermto maximize that goal, it is often necessary to employ people. In ordermto maximizemproductivity, salaries and benefits to ensure high morale are paid to the employees.
Businesses do not employ more or less people than they need to maximize profit. It is, therefore, in the best interests of the business owners, and the employees, to maximize profits to the best of their respective abilities.
You neednto do a little study of the 1960's through 1980. The very system you advocate led to decreased productivity, skyrocketing inflation, and high unemployment.
Obama's economic policy is leading inexorably to the same place.
How often does something need to fail before you admit it is a failed theory?
Does anyone know when the trickle down is coming? Wonder what they're doing with all that extra money...
John A, you have it exactly right. The biggest frustration I feel in my many years of management, something I see clearly due to my personal experience, is the emphasis on immediate results over long term viability. I see companies literally eating their own futures to do whatever needs to be done in order to make results look better THIS month, THIS quarter. Selling equipment and facilities to put a gain on sale to the balance sheet. Eliminating positions that pay for themselves in order to cut costs...it all works in the short term, but once the momentum created by owning those facilities and employing those important personnel fades the result is inevitably downward.
Once that downward spiral becomes nearly impossible to reverse those at the top make one last, big reorganization to make it look as if the business is spiking skyward, sell to someone else, and escape with their golden parachutes. The new buyers salvage what they can of the accounts, fire the remaining employees, and sell whatever hard assets are left.
We Americans have been sold that bill of goods since the '80s heyday of people like "Chainsaw Al" Dunlap, and it continues today with idolization of job destroyers like Mitt Romney. All are people who've enriched themselves at the expense of the middle class. Their legacy has been a stagnant middle class and an overall slowing of the economy. The first Bush recession is of note in that it's the first time since the 30's that a recovery ended before median income exceeded the level it achieved before the previous recession. This recovery is also sluggish, and it's all because Conservative economic principles have sapped all the vitality out of the middle class. Conservative, Supply-Side economics failed. It's time to put it out to pasture once and for all.
This whole mess is why our Forefathers warned against a two party system. Its isn't the fault of Republicans or Democrats, its OUR fault for only voting republican or democrat. Educate yourselves more wisely before voting. See who is supporting candidates and why. Also, before voting someone back in, look to see how much their personal worth has gone up. If a Senator's personal wealth doubled or tripled in one term, and the economy is like this, DON'T VOTE THEM BACK IN. Its a sure sign that they don't care about you, they only care about money.
We have internet, and with the dawn of the internet, there is so much information out there, outside of "left wing" and "right wing" news. Do your research, PROPERLY. Don't let one agenda you are passionate about to blind you to the 20 others a candidate has. That is also why we are in this mess.
Gotta love the Repubs on here
When Bush is President, the bad economy and loss of jobs are solely due to the house . . . the poor President has nothing to do with it.
When Obama is President, the bad economy and loss of jobs are solely due to the President . . . the poor house has absolutely nothing to do with it.
But it's good to see the GOP strategy is in full swing.
Step 1: gain control of one branch of government (check).
Step 2: do nothing, and stop anything that will help the economy. Say no to every program and focus of abortion. (check)
Step 3: push for cuts in public jobs, increasing unemployment by over a million people. (in progress)
Step 4: increased unemployment will put the country into another recession, blame Obama even though the GOP increased unemployment. (in progress)
Step 5: Cross your fingers and hope that America is too stupid to realize that the GOP did nothing to help, and actually increased unemployment, all while pointing the finger at someone else. (in progress)
Navy - Good to see you posting again. I'm surprised you haven't been collapsed yet - one can only hope that childish practice is finally over.
The jobs numbers out today are proof positive that the republican agenda is working. They consistently block any economic recovery efforts and any bills that would lead to job creation. Fortunately, the American public is clued into the Republican/Tea Party deception of lies, lies, lies. The recent polls clearly show seniors are fed up with Rep/TP tactics and antics that are designed for one purpose, to destroy the president. Rather than moving the country forward, their number one priority is to destroy the economy and place blame on the president and the democrats. Further supporting this ideology is Hatch's statement that we need to quit picking on the rich and the corporations. Really? Republicans/TP, please continue this bent that exposes your true goals. The landslide is coming that will drive your party into where it belongs, the trash bin. When and if Republicans learn to stand on their own two feet without the aid of the christian conservative right, the morally bankrupt tea party, and these ridiculous Norquist style pledge driven hacks, I will consider taking them seriously.
No Jo, you're as patronizing as jinsd.
If the sole purpose of a business was to make money, it would not matter what they sold, or for how much, or at what margin, or for what need.
Business exists to provide a product or a service. And it must be one for which there is a demand. That they make a profit is certainly important but cannot be paramount.
This is exactly where the conservative/Republican/Tea Party ideal goes off the tracks. For them, it is all about the money, everything and everyone els be damned.
Ed - very funny. Of course, I'm tempted to tell you that the shower you're under ain't rainwater .... but that would be crude, eh?
It's interesting that because of the oft-sold Libertarian view that all taxation is theft, the obvious corollary has to be that advocating various forms of taxes is automatically "socialism." This, of course is another absurd contention, meant to change the terms of the discussion and invoke automatic emotional responses from bystanders.
Another lie that was just handed out was that the 1960's and1970's were the product of failed liberal perspectives. That is so counter to historical fact that it is laughable.
In the beginning of the 1960's, when JFK took office, inflation was between 1-2% per year. In 1965, when LBJ took office, the U.S. was at a great peak in economic prsperity. The Vietnam War as expanded by LBJ, and then further expanded by Nixon, brought on economic conditions that soon led to accelerating inflation. The greatest increases took place on Nixon's watch - who famously used price and wage controls in an attempt to manage the American economy more like a true command-side socialist economist would do than anyone in history. Republican Gerald Ford was completely ineffectual with his efforts.
That was very much attributable to the resources and financial consequences of the war than many other factors. One forgotten aspect of the Vietnam era was that America spent her national inheritance on that war. Cheap metal ores, for example, particularly copper and iron, were almost entirely depleted feeding the war manufacturing industries. When the U.S. left Vietnam in 1973, it abandoned the last great supplies of relatively inexpensive copper tubing and wiring inside helcopters parked beside the vacated military bases.
Many other factors contributed to the issues of those years. "Socialism" was never one of them.
But the cant of the ultra-right goes on - avoid blame for the catastrophic failures of the Libertarian "free market" approach to government and economics, deny that the anti-regulatory predations of the Reagan-Bush years caused any problems, and for crying out loud, don't admit that September 15, 2008, the day of the Great Collapse, was anything but the Democrats' fault.
The right wing has nothing but lies and evasions. For 30 years, every time a problem came up, when the savings and loan debacle, the Enron scandal, the absence of WMDs in Iraq, or the failure of Lehman Brothers, it's always someone else's fault.
Nope, that dog don't hunt no more. The ultra-right and Libertarians should just empty their dirty pants, hang 'em out to dry, and go sell oranges on a street corner. Now, THAT'S a free market idea, yeah?
John A, I think you have read too many conspiracy books or movies as the stuff you quote sounds like things you have read in some left wing political theory class. You go off on the so called right wing crap as if there is some cabal of people bringing down the middle class. Right out of college lets brainwash the college kids 101. Lets look at a couple of things.
First, your attempt to paint right wing politics as a method of destroying the messenger using the stimulus package as your example is silly. Both sides use the art of personal destruction to destroy the messenger. Have you paid attention to the left wing media as they attack Bachmann. It has nothing to do with her political positions as whether you agree with her is one thing but the art of personal destruction is an art form in the democratic machine. By the way, I would argue that the automakers would be in the same place they are today with the lenders being the owners instead of the unions without the government bailout which is proven by the fact that they are doing just fine today they just needed their debt wiped out. Nothing else has changed you realize that and bankruptcy would have done that and probably revised their business model to hopefully provide for a longer term viability than they have today with the existing broken model.
Second your last post with an attack on the so called board rooms and CEO etc shows you just listen to whatever campus idealogue painting the evils of corporations. Give me a break. Give me one Reagan era tax law that looted anything. What a bunch of crock. You do realize it was Clinton that changed the system by creating performance based pay deductions for corporations shifting the old executive pay model to the existing one relying on large stock option portions of the total comp package which has ballooned executive pay single handedly. Thats what happens with social engineering and unintended consequences of the tax code. Name me a CEO that wants oppression? So you think the CEO of McDonalds wants oppression? You think Abbott or United Airlines or the Dole Pineapple is about oppression? You say you have three degrees and you understand economics. Nothing that you have written shows that you have any experience with basic financial behavior
Navy says:
While that may be true, the one thing Navy overlooks, intentionally, is the fact that the massive deficit spending budgets Obama has been proposing are not going to solve the problem, but make it drastically worse. The taxes Obama is talking about raising would not even put a dent in the debt and would not be enough to make up the difference between the revenues the federal government currently takes in per year ($2.3 Trillion) and the spending Obama wants to do now and into the future ($3.5 trillion and growing) let alone begin to pay down the debt. So tell US Obama supporters, under Obama's plan when , if ever, will the debt be paid down and when, if ever, will the budget be balanced? How can the debt be paid down and the budget be balanced by continued massive deficit spending? Simply complaining about the way one party or the other (in reality both) conducted business in the past and using that as an excuse to continue with even worse spending practice going forward is simply idiotic. I look forward to receiving one concrete response to my questions. Since I have been asking theses questions not one "Progressive" has been able to reply.
Maybe because the past administration got us here and the current GOP'rs have done nothing but be obstructionist azzholes. I mean, what have they actually done, Agent Smith, besides obstruct everything that the potus has tried to pass? The GOP won the last elections on jobs jobs jobs…Where are the jobs, Agent Smith?
Sure…Okay, Obama sucks. So what about the GOP and all of the BS lies they told us about creating jobs so we would be duped into voting for them? Where are all of the jobs that the GOP promised us, Agent Smith?? Obama delivered SOME jobs… The GOP have delivered NO jobs and haven't even brought up legislation to help produce them.
I know you wont answer truthfully and will likely deflect the question by asking another question. Luckily, I already know the answer. The GOP doesn't give a rat's azz about the suffering in this country. Instead they want to let the country and its people to continue going into the toilet so that they can beat Obama in the next election. It's so obvious and it's equally obvious that they are helping out their TRUE constituents, the wealthy elite.
So why in the he11 would anyone trust those pigs any more than they would trust the current administration? Furthermore, the middle class does not trust the wealthy and for good reason. It wasn't the middle class or poor who ripped off every economy on the planet with their gambling and then demanded that the middle class pay for it, Agent Smith. It was the wealthy, greedy, pigs that the GOP pigs are protecting.
And just one more note: Considering that the whores on both sides of the political fence in DC have little concern for the welfare of the citizens or the functionality of this nation, anyone who so vigorously defends all the actions of one side or the other is highly suspect. Both sides working together are necessary for successful governing.
For the curious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Smith
Have a great weekend, everyone! :-D
So you're telling me instead of jobs the rich are trickling down piss? Sheesh.....does Reagan know about this??? He's going to be pissed.
intriguing thought johnB...
Didn't you and yellowdog recently agree that "uncertainty" was long gone and no longer an issue??
Your arguments are quickly turning into "bevisms". Hope that "hope and change" thingy works out for you. I will so look forward to seeing what you will blame next on the right.
Beverly, let us say that you are correct about the Republicans, and they are standing in the way of balancing the budget. The problem with this is, even if they were out of the way, I don't see the budget getting balanced at all, but the same old thing over and over again. Just another prop under another added ton of further debt. Why would a Congress that is so hell bent on spending money that isn't theirs want to impede that spending? That would be like giving a person a large amount of drugs for years, then one day tell them they have to cut back, and will only be given a small amount. That person will do whatever they can to keep that same large flow coming in, be it they lie, cheat or even steal to get it. I for one don't trust either side in this. Why? Way to many years of the same old same old from both sides in this, and they just keep on proving themselves that way.
That was before we were looking straight down the barrel of an imminent government shutdown and potential history making default on US government debt. Republicans are holding a gun to the heads of the American public, threatening to destroy the future of our nation as a world leader if they don't get some more goodies for the wealthy elites.
That's the kind of threat even Wall Street has to take seriously.
.
As I recall it, the Nasty Redhead is a very strong supporter of this MORON. Isn’t there a saying about how “you are known by the company you keep”?? Too bad for DWS:
BTW, she HAS to be related to that MSDNC moron Mr. Ed Schultz.
From Politico:
DNC chairwoman a work in progress
By: Doug Heye
July 7, 2011 09:51 PM EDT
When President Barack Obama selected Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz to lead the Democratic National Committee, she was hailed as the best pick he could make.
Since her election to Congress, Wasserman Schultz has quickly earned a reputation as a partisan warrior and strong cable news presence who could effectively put Republicans on their heels. Being both a woman and from the battleground state of Florida didn’t hurt either.
But, like “The Hangover Part II,” Wasserman Schultz hasn’t quite lived up to her billing.
From the start, there has been gaffe after gaffe, which either demonstrates a blind partisanship that shuns facts or a wide disconnect from the average voter.
Wasserman Schultz has insisted, “We continue to be on the right track” and that Obama “helped the economy do a 180” — despite polling and economic data screaming otherwise.
On Medicare, her rhetoric has been extreme. Claiming Republicans would “throw you to the wolves” earned the congresswoman a trifecta of media rebukes: The Washington Post, calling the claim “bogus,” gave her three “Pinocchios.” FactCheck.Org said, “DNC Chair Throws Truth to ‘Wolves,’” while PolitiFact just said, “We rate her statement false.”
Meanwhile, an expert cited by the DNC to support the chairwoman’s claims labeled her comments “high-octane idiocy.”
Wasserman Schultz said last month that Democrats “added 12 years of solvency to Medicare,” later dialing it back to eight years. She had no evidence of support and was corrected, on-air, by CBS’s Harry Smith.
She has given Republicans material to use through the 2012 election cycle. Discussing the economy, Wasserman Schultz told Mike Allen — and those assembled and tweeting — at a recent POLITICO Playbook breakfast, “We are clearly responsible. I am going to take ownership right now. … Yeah we own — we own the economy.”
This led National Review’s Jim Geraghty to write that Wasserman Schultz “almost makes the [Republican National Committee’s] job too easy.”
In fact, the RNC has been a prodigious chronicler of the congresswoman’s comments, gleefully noting each correction and latest over-the-top comment. After she claimed, “If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side, we would be driving foreign cars,” the RNC pointed out that Wasserman Schultz herself drives a Japanese Infiniti.
Even before the “ownership” comment, American Crossroads launched a video lampooning the DNC chairwoman as the “Saturday Night Live” character Debbie Downer — the kind of Web ad every Republican wishes they had made.
The criticism has not remained inside the Beltway; it’s traveled with her back home to Florida.
Calling her a “chump,” the Orlando Sentinel said Wasserman Schultz is “embarrassing her party and her constituents. Stop already.”
The Liberals favorite economist, Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics, predicts the nation will have added 110,000 jobs in total in June, with 125,000 added in the private sector. Hiring by the public sector will continue to fall.
Source: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/170309-plouffe-says-jobs-rate-not-key-in-2012
Shows what he knows.
Nice posts Joe in Albany! Wasserman is doing all she can to further polarize the country between the liberal/socialist/progressive folks and everyone else!
We can only hope that neither she nor Obama will do anything to damage the agreement that's been worked out so far!
Zandi has also predicted a 4% growth rate by the end of the year if the debt ceiling is raised.
I wonder what Zandi was thinking when he saw this morning's June unemployment figures from the Labor Department.
I wonder what he'll be thinking when 2nd quarter growth numbers are released later this month.
Zandi does not think. He will simply go back to his graphs and re- jigger the numbers to support his failed thesis.
There is a reason Keynesian economics were so out of favor for so long- it is a theory that has been proven to fail over and over.
It's a pity it was ever taken out of mothballs- we are all paying for this proven failure.
I agree with Alan Abramowitz, most Independents lean one way or the other, however there have been times, I, a solid Democrat, have voted for what I thought was a qualified Republican candidate. (Back in the old days)
I think there is much less party crossing these days. As I keep telling everyone, Maine used to have a civil atmosphere at the state level but with the advent of a Republican majority in the legislature and a divisive, belligerent Teapublican governor, cooperation is out the window. The Republicans are going on a spree, cutting taxes and forcing public workers to sacrifice for the wealthiest Mainers. Changing labor laws to enable teens to work longer and later hours, changing health insurance laws to enable companies to charge seniors and rural folks higher premiums...these are some of the "business friendly" policies they are pursuing. 2012 is going to be interesting.
Oh, there's Amy, too. Good morning, Amy. Whew. Now I can go get that shower.
In the meantime, Joe, could you please clarify this for me?
Are you saying that Feisty supports Rick Perry?
Goodness, gracious. Who knew? And yes, that would indeed tell me a lot about someone.
Fox new's Pride and Joy opined: Wasserman is doing all she can to further polarize the country between the liberal/socialist/progressive folks and everyone else.
What a riot, one little lady against 300 Republican candidates and professional Tea Party spokesmodels busy on the airwaves claiming Obama is a non-citizen, unChristian, radical, timid, a tyrant, a compromiser (eech!), anti-Israel, too close to rich doners, too much into golf, ad nauseum.
Go Wendy!
I'm wondering how Debbie is going to spin the White House establishing diplomatic relations with the Muslim Brotherhood. She managed to convince a bunch of Jewish Democrats that they "misunderstood" Obama throwing Osrael under the bus- how on earth can she spin this?
Cause, I am betting she cannot.
no joe, no bo, nj
I'm wondering how Debbie is going to spin the White House establishing diplomatic relations with the Muslim Brotherhood. She managed to convince a bunch of Jewish Democrats that they "misunderstood" Obama throwing Osrael under the bus- how on earth can she spin this?
Cause, I am betting she cannot.
Dr No,
You go through so many scary lengths and you 've been proven wrong all of the time.
Psssst: President OBAMA did not throw Israel under the bus. President Obama offers help for the Middle East.
You can say Black is White and White is Black, but that does make it so!
Keep spinning and lying or you can get off the republi/clown merry-go-round.
It is not spin, nor is it a lie, bev
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-to-expand-relations-with-muslim-brotherhood/2011/06/30/AGVgppsH_story.html
Itmwould never get coverage on this site. They are not known as Team Obama for nothing.
It would not get coverage on think progress, either.
Nonetheless, it is true.
amy I'm a Mainer now living in North Carolina, and I just cant believe after all the good governors over the years Maine has had, this jerk fatso go in...where did he come from, and second? how are you folks going to force him out before his term is over...I just can't believe people in Maine actually voted for that a$$hole
FR Opening sentence... 'Here’s a rare monthly Friday when the jobs report ISN’T the top story.'
It's under big red bold Breaking News Tops Stories on MSNBC Front page 'JOBS GROWTH SLOWS TO NEAR-STANDSTILL'. If that isn't a top story, then I don't know what is. Man you guys are almost up there where FOX News is. Great!
But hey, I understand that this is the only thing you can attack President Obama on by saying a non story is Breaking News that is not a top story. I get it.
President Obama is so far ahead of you guys that you have no choice but to LEAN FORWARD. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
LouisJ:
Touche'
Navy, this site makes me feel like David against Goliath. We get to kill their hypocrisy. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. TGIF!
That's just the effect of the pablum, Louis. Don't ingest too quickly.
And remember the rubber hoses.
It's a shame we havent had better leadership since 2008. Obama's poor leadership is dragging this recession out. The time and money spent on stimulus and TARP was essentially wasted by Obama's 2.5 year anti-bank and business rhetoric. Time wasted on that ridiculous healthcare and FRank/Dodd bill. This country desperatley needs better leadership.....
UAW Pleeeeeeease
Wasn't that what the Republican sweep in the 2010 elections was supposed to bring? Seems like the recovery began to stall precisely when the Republicans began their campaign of deficit doom and gloom and "more tax cuts please!"
There you have it, folks. According to Louis, the unemployment rate is a "non-story". Just a bunch of hype to make Obama look bad.
You can't make this stuff up.
The sweep was in the House. The Senate is still solidly controlled by the Democrats.
And here is what the House has brought:
The Republicans have a FY2012 budget. Where is the Obama/Democrats budget? The Republicans have a plan to reform Medicare/Medicaid. Where is the Obama/Democrats plan to reform those bankrupt programs? The Republicans have a plan to reduce the deficit. Where is the Obama/Democrats plan to reduce the deficit? The Republicans have stated what is needed to be done before the Debt Ceiling is raised. Obama and the Democrats think it should be raised without any consequences.
So Amy, what the Republicans have done is shown leadership. Just what are Obama and the Democrats leading on again? Besides 9.2% and rising unemployment.
That is exactly what the GOP/TP ran on in 2010. So I ask again where is their leadership in creating jobs, stimulating the economy and improving education. Please showme the bills that the GOP/TP controlled House has passed - Show us the leadership or shut up.
The nation continues to go through the massage handover from the Bush years.
I disagree Louis, I think the jobs report is a BIG story. It's HUGE that Republican attacks on government employment have been successful enough to almost completely offset growth in private employment 2 months in a row. The GOPTP drag on the economy is immense and should be a TOP story.
John B.-
Interesting version of events.
You're thinking WAY outside the box.
Most of the analysis I've seen is focused on the efficacy of the Administration's economic policies.
They've been running the show since January, 2009.
By the way, John...heard any reaction from Mark Zandi to June's jobs numbers?
You know...
Not the ones from the "Conservative echo chamber", but from the U.S. Labor Department?
With Obama still in the Whitehouse and a Democratic majority still in the Senate. Political gridlock is the best option for the economy right now. Unemployment won't lower until banks can get compensated for loaning money to idiots. Obama signing that ridiculous Frank/Dodd act insured unemployment will be high until better leaders can repeal it......
John, I wasn't saying it's a non-story, I was commenting on how MSNBC attempted to twist and spin it in their opening paragraph as a non-story and yet they have it as their Top Story. But I can understand how NJ poisons people with his spin on MSNBC's spin, it's dizzying.
The numbers are what the numbers show--the Republican attack on government at ALL LEVELS has resulted in loss of government jobs that neatly steals nearly all the gain in private jobs. I appreciate your compliment on my ability to think outside the box, but in this case I don't need to...the GOPTP put it all on paper;
http://www.speaker.gov/UploadedFiles/JEC_Jobs_Study.pdf
That's DIRECTLY from the desk of GOP Rep. Kevin Brady as circulated to the entire Republican caucus by John Boehner. This isn't exactly thinking outside the box for Conservatives, however...just doubling down on the same failed economic theories that brought us to this sorry state of affairs.
John are you still peddeling the idea that hiring more government workers helps the economy? Paying people you don't need sounds like a bad idea especially when you need a multitude more private workers to pay for just one public worker. I think that is how the UAW helped GM fail......
And UAW, you're still peddling the idea that no one in government is needed. In Iowa 35 Workforce Development offices are being closed by our TP-approved governor and all the unemployed in 99 counties will need to travel to only 6 offices. Does that sound like a good idea? It isn't, in fact it's an idea structured to make the laid-off middle class even more desperate.
The Conservative war on the middle class continues.
We have to quit demonizing each other, and politicians have to quit worrying only about the next election. The house passed a budget, it would be nice if the senate would do the same and then the process could be finished. As long as people continue to play the blame game none of that will happen. We all know the debt limit should be increased, and if people would quit pointing fingers at each other and "saying well its been increased 74 times since 1960, the only reason we are having this argument is cause Obama's black and the republicans want him to fail." I don't like Obama didn't vote for him and never will, but he's the president. But all the finger pointers, race baiters, have to quit with this "well its all bushes fault" and we have to find solutions. Some of the posters on this site just keep saying well, "Republicans didn't worry about it until Obama" Have any of you ever thought its worse this time?
How about this, 10 years ago the debt ceiling was 100,000,000. (just an example not factual) and people thought well we are pretty prosperous right now, thats no big deal to raise it to 150,000.000. BUT times are different now, haven't you ever gone over your limit on a credit card, you do it a few times, you just pay the penalties. BUT if you do it every month your spouse or the credit card company cuts you off. Whats different ???? The credit card company or your spouse tells you you haven't learned from the past and you are just making things worse every month so the card is terminated. Thats the case this time, its worse this time.
There has to be compromise, I'm sick of hearing "well the republicans won't increase taxes" Well per Pelosi today, there won't be any cuts to the entitlements. SO NOW WHAT DO WE DO????
Morning everyone,
Be nice to see some reality in a jobs report. Something like a survey of who is now underemployed, who is milking the unemployment comp for all it's worth??
Used to be we had a little bit of pride and work ethic. This was destroyed by the Obama mega-recession.
It would be nice to see the GOP/TP get off their collective butts and do something. They have had control of the House long enough to at least submit one JOBS Bill and/or Stimulus Program.
Instead we get abortion bills, renaming buildings, etc. Only 18 Bills out of the House putting the GOP/TP controlled Congress on target to be the most dysfunctional in US History.
I keep telling you all, the GOP/TP is not going to do one thing to move this country forward and then they are going to blame everybody else for the failure to provide any leadership at all.
You guys are just proving my point every day and the sage continues with the Debt Ceiling that the GOP/TP is also going to boycott.
Edward-1075991
considering the fact that it is 9:30 AM on the east cost and all of you guys (except the Navy who is retired) who are blogging instead of working seem like unemployed.
Edward-1075991==Are you saying all the people collecting unemployment benefits now just started collecting January 20, 2009. I hope I just read your post wrong and you could not be that misinformed.
Your corporatist masters could be hiring if they wanted to hire. They've got lots of cash. Rick Perry could have spent his state's stimulus money on jobs projects instead of trying to hide his own state deficit. Tim Pawlenty could have done the same. Republicans in Congress could have proposed something directly in aid of businesses that actually hire people. State governors in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, and New Jersey could have done something other than destroy workers' right AND kill jobs through draconian budget cuts.
@kuche -- hardly. I only wish I were unemployed. What are YOU doing here, by the way?
Kuche,
No, I am retired from a very lucrative public sector job. You know, the kind with a REAL pension??
Companies with good leadership are not going to spend alot of money expanding while Obama is still in office. That money needs to go back to the owners/shareholders to cover thier expenses of healthcare and retirement planning. Thier will be a better time to invest in America. I would save the money for that time....
Anna Molly-
The same corporatist masters whose money elected President Obama?
Those corporatist masters?
That's as good a reason as any to despise them, isn't it, AM?
Yep. If you want to pick a fight, you chose the wrong topic.
You know how I feel about that.
And exactly what I would do about it, too.
UAW Pleeeeeeeease
What?!?! You really think companies aren't hiring because President Obama is in office? How very patriotic of these CEOS we're supposed to revere. Or is it Wall Street that is punishing Obama for passing financial reforms?
Amy they arent punishing Obama. They are just reacting to the situation Obama created. Look the economy isnt going to improve past the level it is at now until banks can get compensated for the risk of loaning money to idiots again. That ridiculous Frank/Dodd bill insured unemployment will remain high. It's a shame the time and money spent on Stimulus, Tarp was wasted by Obama's poor leadership and anti-business rhetoric.....
"And exactly what I would do about it, too."
Reelect President Obama?
Except that the TARP (which was a Bush plan by the way) and the Stimulus did work and did create jobs. Do you know what segment is creating some of the most jobs right now?? The Auto Industry.
We could have had a better job outlook if the GOP/TP would have helped instead of blocking Job Bills and Cutting Jobs at State levels to take those so called savings and use them for tax cuts to the corporations and top 2%.
No UAW - the GOP/TP has the dirty little hands all over the jobs problem. You guys create the problem and then blame somebody else - you guys make Karl Rove Proud. You probably praise Murdoch as well.
So true Navy. Their main plan is to block the President at all cost.
Navy, Put this in perspective on the money spent bailing out the car companies vs bailing out the banks. What if Obama had spent the last 2.5 years bitching about how crappy those car companies business practices and executives were and how greedy those legacy UAW employee contracts were. You could count the money spent on the Auto bail out as a waste as well. Obama olny bailed out the car companies for UAW votes. His poor leadership and rhetoric wasted the money spent on the rest of the economy....
Yes. That, too. Right after we implement exclusive public campaign finance.
xxx
And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes and heroines found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born—to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand! Through the years, their roster has prospered, changing many times, but their glory has never been denied! Heed the call, then—for now, the Avengers Assemble!
"We are not going to balance the budget on the backs of America's seniors."
So said Nancy Pelosi yesterday in response to rumblings the White House was considering cuts to Social Security and Medicare as part of the debt ceiling deal. Yup, that's the leftist talking point all right. Nothing beats standing on your soapbox and proclaiming unwavering support for the well being of the nation's elderly. So Nancy, if not the seniors, then whose back do you want to use?
Here's the deal: defense spending isn't the problem, "low" taxes aren't the problem, heck even discretionary non-defense spending isn't the problem. That's all nickel and dime stuff because the real problem is in the entitlements, namely Social Security and especially Medicare. And if we really want to get serious about controlling our spending problem, we have no choice other than to tackle entitlement reform. Oh, and these programs benefit seniors.
So what to do? If Nancy has her way, any pain associated with entitlement reforms would be shifted from the backs of seniors to the backs of non-seniors, i.e. younger folks who are still working. And the pain she no doubt has in mind is to raise taxes on those who are not yet blessed by senior citizen status. Sorry Nancy, that dog won't hunt. Because what you're really saying is: "Let's not burden the backs of seniors, let's screw younger folks instead."
But Nancy, surely you know younger folks are already getting screwed. Surely you know that current workers who are paying 100% of their Social Security taxes will only be collecting 77% of their scheduled benefits beginning in about 2036. And surely you understand that oldsters like us who are part of the generation that created our debt problem won't be around to share the experience of the crushing impact that debt will have on our society in future years.
Of course you know all this, you just don't give a damn. So in addition to the screwing that's already baked in the cake, you want to screw younger folks even more by forcing them to bear the additional burden of supporting unsustainable entitlements for the very segment of society largely responsible for getting us into this fiscal mess in the first place. That is an outrageous proposition, a proposition that is morally bankrupt on its face. And on those grounds as well as the fundamental notion of intergenerational equity, younger folks will have every right to resist the attempts of you and others of your ilk to impose additional burdens on them.
No one wants to see granny eating cat food, and no one is suggesting she will be forced to do so. But nor should anyone want to see the viability of the productive segments of our society constrained by the need to provide overly generous subsidies to seniors. That's why entitlement reforms MUST include reductions in benefits. And most especially, that's why folks age 55 or older MUST NOT be exempted from those reductions.
The concept of shared sacrifice has little meaning in our society these days, it's been replaced by "let the other guy take the hit." When it comes to entitlement reforms, that's essentially the position folks like Pelosi and her buds are taking. They think they're standing up for seniors, when actually what they're doing is screwing youngsters. And they should be ashamed of themselves for doing so.
Bill compassionately states: So Nancy, if not the seniors, then whose back do you want to use?
A lot of people think that the thieving wealthy corporate bastards that sucked all the wealth out of this country should pitch in Bill, the same people that done away with pension plans, outsourced and got filthy rich by cutting workers wages to the point they could no longer save for retirement leaving them with nothing but social security, how about making these greedy bastards pay Bill? The same people that pay little or no income taxes, the ones that the working man has subsidized for 25 years, know who I’m talking about Bill? The people who made their billions off of the back of the working man Bill, that’s who should pay.
Let me see, who should sacrifice?
We just put another three quarters of a million dollars on the national credit cardmto pay for Pbama's wife, kids, nephews, mother in law, and a gang of friends to go on a Safari vacation.
Last year, it was Spain. Next month, Martha's Vineyard.
You talk about taking money from people who EARN it?
Where is your outrage over the lavish lifestyle the taxpayers are forced to subsidize?
Bill, Fairfax VA
Of course, Bill doesn't mention that maybe SOME of the costs for repairing the wrecked economy should be shifted onto the backs of the people who wrecked it: the corporate crooks who gambled with other people's money and came out richer than they were before. God forbid they should bear any cost at all. Otherwise, those "job creators" will get mad and create even less jobs than they are now.
Apparently Obama has cancelled his vacation to Montana this weekend. I guess he won't be making it to the "Rodeo Clown" class he was signed up for. Not sure if he was taking it, or giving it.
Source: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/07/07/president-obama-cancels-montana-vacation-scheduled-weekend
JoAnnaSmith1
Maybe he want his kids inhaling the toxic fumes from the rivers that Exxon has poisoned there.
Is that where you went to clown school to become the buffoon that you are, JoAnna? Must be a first class school.
Houston, that was really, epically, lame.
That's all you've got?
No Joe,
Watch as this budget/deficit debate winds down. Watch as Obama heads off on another exotic luxury vacation. He and Moochelle know their freebies are limited by the little time he has left in office, so watch as they both cram as much vacation time into their schedule as possible before their booted out of our White House.
And whats this I'm reading about Obama using Air Force One to fly 150 miles?? Doesn't he have a Marine helicopter at his disposal 24/7 for short hops like that?? Not luxurious enough for him??
Except of course that the plan is NOT to use the money gained by destroying Medicare to improve the fiscal health of the country. President Obama said it best;
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/obamas-deficit-speech-transcript/237274/
Some foreign powers have always envied America's high credit standing in the international financial market and have all along wished it was reduced. The likes of Gaddafi whom republicans are now busy defending, Kim Jong-il and Iran's Ahmadinejad just to mention a few believe that America's superiority in what she qualifies to borrow and her ability to pay her debts without defaulting is part of what is making her strong and must therefore be opposed and be reduced by all means.
Republicans have joined these enemies of America in fighting America's high credit rating from within. America's international dealings or relations with foreign countries is a foreign relations affair that need to be handled by America's Secretary of state Hillary Clinton and the President because it is a sensitive security matter that need not be politicized.
High credit limit is an aspect of a country's power and pride and to be able to borrow from the world's financial market is a good thing. It is always a good thing for even some people who post on this site to have their credit limits raised by their banks. When the bank raises your credit limit, you become happy because it enhances your financial security. It does not mean that when the bank increases your credit limit then you have to borrow everything that is there for you. You only borrow when need arises.
Raising the amount that America can borrow does not mean that America must borrow everything that has been raised; No. America can keep her new credit card even without using it and only use it when there is need. High credit limit is necessary for the security of the country and is envied by America's foreign enemies which are now very happy with what the power hungry republicans are doing. ----
This is going to be a fun day. Thanks to Edward and Joe for the laughs so early in the morning.
Obama mega-recession? Thats just too funny.
Frank,
Funny? Maybe for you, but for the rest of us, we are pissed off!
Why now?
I will answer, Frank.
Because Obama added Four Trillion dollars to the debt, and we have nothing to show for it, except, of course, high unemployment and weak economic growth.
Because he laughs about the failure of "shovel ready" jobs.
Because every day, more is revealed about how wasteful his almost trillion dollar stimulus spending was- and more proof comes out that the jobs it created were in China.
Because in full, flagrant denial of how many Americans are suffering, he and his wife spend millions on lavish vacations.
Because on top of unemployment and job losses, inflation is spiking., so families are having a hard time affording basic necessities, while he, the wife, the kids, and the mother in law are off learning to Samba in Rio, or going on safari, or living in the lap of luxury n Spain, or kicking back in Martha's Vineyard.
Because he does the only thing he is good at- campaigning- on our dime, day in, day out, and the threats to this country- both economically and from foreign governments antagonistic toward us- grow, without his notice.
Because the Middle East is in chaos because he ignored warnings that food shortages would bring about that very state of affairs.
Because he alienates our allies- Poland, the Czech republic, Israel, to name just three, while courting approval from leaders such as Chavez, who see him for the fool he is.
Those are just a few reasons, but thinking about it is giving me a headache.
nojo,
Are your ears burning yet?
Did you see Obama this morning, and if so, did he pretty much used the same speech he used last week? All I heard was we need to invest and right now.
I heard him, thetotas. He reallyndoes think Americans are that stupid that, when he says "investing" we do not know he is saying "spending".
Whatma disaster. I had never thoughtmi would live to see a president worse than Carter. November 2012 cannot come soon enough.
I guess people are right about you nojo...
alienates our allies? we're in better standing now than anytime in the past 25 years.
when hasn't the middle east been in chaos?
lavish vacations? you are just plain exaggerating.
I could go on but it's giving me a headache.
You really buy the malarkey that diplomatic relations are wonderful because Elvis is in the veiling?
Read here
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/577351/201107051910/Is-Russian-Reset-Worth-Kicking-Allies-To-Curb-.htm
You can scroll up to my answer to Bev on how Obama is kicking Israel to the curb.
Just because First Read does not cover it, does not mean it does not happen.
And the vacations are a mattermof record, or have you not been paying attention?
As I see both parties have failed us miserably, unless you happen to be in their hip pocket or you are an apologist for your beloved party.
Avg Joe:
There is a lot to be said for you post. I agree the blame is universal not just one party or the other. Now is the time for them to stop the crap. Both need to work it out but it is hard to have any meaningful dialogue when one party does not want to help, has no ideas and feels that betting against their own country is somehow a virtue.
We used to be a country that took pride in our accompolishments and shared in our failures. This is no longer true. And that is sad, we deserve better from our elected officials.
Yes US Navy I agree. So why don't you get on the phone to your Dem Senators and Congressman and tell them its time to get off their hands and start making some concrete proposals to get a deal done. Until recently they and Obama have done nothing but whine and cry and point the finger at the other side, while offering no solutions (other than continued massive deficit spending) of their own and engaging in fear mongering political rhetoric.
Frosty don't hold your breath for a reply. He has none. And now he has to deal with the fact that the real obstructionist are about to be revealed big time when the vote is taken on the Balanced Budget Amendment. I'm sure all the Repubs will vote for it. But Navy will have hard time explaining why the Dems/ "Progressives" and Obama did not get behind it. If they were really in favor of restoring fiscal sanity they would all vote for it 100% and permanently get rid of the deficit spending. Obama's bluff is being called big time and he is being exposed for what he is, a failed leader with a failed agenda.
I do not respond to misinformed lying mushrooms. They live in the dark and eat waste material. If I would be interested in anything they have I would scrape it off the bottom of my shoe and dispose of it appropriately.
Grownups who bring more light than heat...
Neftali Bendavid and Andy Kohut Talk with Judy Woodruff about political maneuvers and public opinion.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec11/deficit_07-07.html
And not a single word about the Tea Party...
What do you think? Will Pew's polling be a harbinger of surprise?
JUDY WOODRUFF: So, when you -- when you ask them about the tradeoffs they're prepared to accept in terms of, you know, how much of -- how much cutting are you, as a citizen, prepared to see to deal with the debt, what do you find?
ANDREW KOHUT: Well, surprisingly, when you ask about what is more important, preserving benefits for Social Security and Medicare, by 2-1 -- or reducing deficit or the debt -- 2-1, people say, preserve -- preserve our benefits.
There is very little give there. Now, Republicans are of the view -- more of the view that reducing the -- reducing the deficit should be given high priority. But even among Republicans, it's really interesting. There is a big income divide. Affluent Republicans say it is more important to reduce the deficit, but poorer Republicans, middle-class and lower-middle-class Republicans say, no, no, protect our benefits.
JUDY WOODRUFF: And have -- are these attitudes, Andy, that have changed over time, with all the attention that's now being given to the size of the debt and the urgency of the problem?
ANDREW KOHUT: Well, a lot -- people are willing to do a lot of things to reduce this deficit. Concern is at an all-time high.
But when it comes to entitlements, there's no movement. It really is rock-solid when we see 2-1 margins.
JUDY WOODRUFF: And, again, entitlements meaning Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
ANDREW KOHUT: And even Medicaid. Having states raise the -- make it more -- reduce eligibility for Medicaid, not 2-1, but a solid majority say, no, let's not do that.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
dangerfield,
http://www.gallup.com/poll/148394/Obama-Averages-Approval-June-Par-2010-2011.aspx
Notice that Obama's LOWEST rating is with seniors-39%.
Odd, given the media obsession with "republicans throwing granny off a clip".
Looks like yup really CANNOT fool all the people, all the time.
Maybe its just me, but this seems just a bit dramatic. The unemployment rate is not good, but the fact that it is hovering around 9% and that we are still adding jobs, versus losing 750,000 a month is not "devastating". It is evidence that the GOP needs to make good on their promise to "create jobs" from the midterm and work with President Obama to come up with some REAL ideas to address unemployment, not just keep repeating the "cutting taxes creates jobs" talking point.
Ya don't say! I mean, I could have told you that . . . that is why most of the "independents" here at First Read turn out to actually be Republicans who don't want to admit that the policies they have advocated for years not only didn't work, but actually helped to destroy our economy.
Nashville,
I love the way you speak for the Independents here.
Nash:
True. Even with the lousy numbers it is still positive with a swing of 700,000 plus.
What is being overlooked here is the GOP/TP Agenda of keeping unemployment high and trashing the economy is working. Why do you think they are so happy with these numbers?? Because it makes our President look bad but what is being missed is that the GOP/TP are the ones that are not creating the jobs as they said they would in 2010.
It is exactly what they are betting the farm on. High unemployment and a stalled economy and they will do everything in their power to do just that.
What a political party - one that bets against their own country - there is a name for people like that.
thetotas
Nashville,
I love the way you speak for the Independents here.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
That comment just PROVES that you have outed yourself as a republican! There are no independents here, they're just evil conservatives with a hidden agenda! It's a plot!
Or so I've been told...
@Navy & Nash ---- Ha Ha Ha. What in the world are you smoking LMAO!!!!!
dangerfield
How dare you call me a Republican, why I never....
Good morning Navy!
I love all the glee "independents" feel about high unemployment! Yay team! :o)
Nash-
Let me help you with the economic "big picture", since you appear to be struggling with the dynamics involved:
a) The economy appears to be slowing again...not growing.
b) The pace of job creation appears to slowing...not accellerating.
That is bad news...any way you look at it.
And you are grossly misinformed if you seriously believe that independents or rank-and-file conservatives view this as good news.
A bad economy is bad for everyone experiencing it...not simply for those who idolize President Obama.
During Reagan's first term, unemployment hit 10.8%.
We are coming out of a much worse financial crisis then we faced in 1982. I believe President Obama has managed this crisis incredibly well, and I just wish we had a Democratic majority in the House to help him. Cause the Republicans aren't. Helping.
"From mid-1978 to mid-1980, unemployment was somewhere between 5% and 6.5%. However, it jumped up to about 7.5% during the brief recession of 1980. This slowdown helped Reagan in his bid to oust Jimmy Carter. It also explains why the electorate gave him high marks early on, despite the weak job market he inherited. But in late 1981, the economy slowed again, and the unemployment rate started climbing. That's when Reagan's approval numbers plummeted. What ultimately saved him was the quick turnaround of the economy: his job approval numbers have the same V-shape as the growth rate in GDP. After peaking in June of 1983, unemployment would continue to fall on his watch, ultimately down to 5.4% when he handed the reigns over to George H.W. Bush in January, 1989."
snip
"Ultimately, if the recovery from the '82-'83 recession had been less V-shaped, I think voters would have mercilessly booted him from office."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2009/06/reagan_obama_and_presidential_1.html
"Reagan's policies are widely recognized as bringing about the second longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history, surpassed in duration only by the 1990s expansion that began under George H. W. Bush in 1991.[10][11] During the Reagan administration, the American economy went from a GDP growth of -0.3% in 1980 to 4.1% in 1988 (in constant 2005 dollars),[12] which reduced the unemployment rate by 1.6%, from 7.1% in 1980 to 5.5% in 1988, but with peaks of around 9.5% in 1982 and 1983.[13] A net job increase of about 21 million also occurred through mid-1990. Reagan’s administration is the only one not to have raised the minimum wage.[14] The inflation rate, 13.5% in 1980, fell to 4.1% in 1988, which was achieved by applying high interest rates by the Federal Reserve (peaked at 20% in June 1981).[15] The latter caused a brief recession in 1982: unemployment rose to 9.7% and GDP fell by 1.9%."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics
Mixed Bag:
I hear a lot of griping about the President. But I don't hear a lot of reality based solutions to the problem.
Word on the street is that if we just cut taxes more for "job creators", all of our problems will magically go away . . . now where have I heard that before . . . didn't President Bush tell us that too . . . and didn't he preside over the worst job creation numbers in U.S. history . . .
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/01/09/bush-on-jobs-the-worst-track-record-on-record/
Sounds like the "independents" are ready to serve America more turd sandwiches.
Bon Appetit!
Obama won the moderate vote 60-39 and the independent vote 52-44.[28]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign,_2008
Moderates and independents won the election for the president.
Who is left for you to throw under the bus?
Nashville,
California raised taxes almost three years ago, and it did nothing. In fact we are worse off . Thanks to our union backed government they are by hook or by crook determined to raised them again on us.
dangerfield:
Dramatic much? Throw under the bus?
I am sorry if telling the truth feels like wheels on your back, but that would be a personal problem. :o)
thetotas:
I know you get off on complaining, but can you tell me what you think will work?
Thetotas-
California has voted herself into the mess she's in via referendum, and any comparison to (sane?) states where you can't vote to freeze your property tax rates etc. is fruitless...
Nash,
It's what they say now when you betray those who supported you, or haven't you heard? Who do you have left to blame?
Republicans
Independents
moderates
Seriously, who's left in your universe who you haven't denigrated?
What is often overlooked when reporting on Reagan was the fact that, while unemployment did, in fact, spike early in his first term, inflation went down dramatically, as well.
From a purely economic point of view, Reagan inherited a much bigger mess than Obama. At the time, stagflation was considered institutionalized. Why? Because those doing the evaluations saw only the same, failed solutions to problems their theories had created.
By bringing in a completely new perspective on the issues, inflation was tamed, employment rose, and GDP soared.
So, what policies caused the problems Reagan inherited?
Keynesian economics. The very school Obama is following.
Proving, once again, that it is a recipe for disaster.
Nash-
"But I don't hear a lot of reality based solutions..."
In large part because you ignore them or don't listen to them.
Since there's no money for another economic stimulus package, and no political will to pass one utilizing yet more borrowed money...
What if President Obama endorsed a long-range, bipartisan plan to address the nation's debt problem, and worked to get that plan enacted into law?
Can you imagine how the business community and the financial markets would react to such a development?
Or how much economic growth would be stimulated by the implementation of such a plan?
If only there were such a plan.
Oh wait...
There is!
Mixed Bag:
It is interesting how you always pretend to be for "bipartisan" solutions, but you ignore the fact that one of the parities is peddling failed economic policy as part of the solution. So the reality is, if one of the paties is delusional, there can be no "bipartisan solution".
But then you knew that, which is why you ignored the post about how we got the worst job creation in modern history when we followed the Republican prescription for America . . . which is why I will rededicate myself to ignoring you.
You aren't independent. You aren't reality based. You just like to whine.
As I said Nash...
You don't see solutions, do you?
I offered you one such solution, and you had absolutely no response whatsoever; that is, no response other than a kneejerk, negative monologue.
The President's debt commission Plan isn't a plan peddled by one party, Nash...it is a truly bipartisan proposal encompassing three distinct methods of attacking the debt problem...spending cuts, revenue increases along with the complete reform of the current tax code, and revenue from economic growth generated by that reform.
Half of the Republican members of Congress on the debt commission voted to implement its Plan, as did half of the Democratic debt commission members serving in Congress.
There are votes in Congress for the debt commission Plan from both sides of the aisle.
What is missing is President Obama's leadership.
That's the truth, Nash.
Whether you choose to accept it or not.
MB-
You and your phony attempts to be bi-partisan are so lame! it is so obvious that you can't be bi-partisan without agreeing with the "fact" that only one group is to BLAME! That's the bi-partisan view, more proof that you are not reality based.
Stop with that Simpson Bowles debt commission BS!
You and that other liar, who keep promoting this so-called bi-partisan plan are just pretending to to be for bi-partisan solutions like supporting the recommendations of the president's own debt commission because you want to see the president and the country fail and eat turd sandwiches with the rest of the so-called independents. You have proven that you aren't a mainstream republican or an independent, or whatever it is YOU think you are because you IGNORED a post-which is undeniable proof.
Sincerely,
D
How many here besides MB and myself would support the implementation of the Simpson Bowles debt commission?
It spreads the pain, cuts spending, raises revenues, strengthens entitlements and puts the nation on a rational path to recovery. It is very reality based and has support from legislators on both sides of the aisle...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fiscalcommission.gov%2Fsites%2Ffiscalcommission.gov%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2FTheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf&rct=j&q=simpson%20bowles%20report&ei=LDIXTq7oK5KtgQf2o9WTAw&usg=AFQjCNH45aK2QlglWmjUCeMEus90bb_0og&sig2=F2LXwNWtwTaYMAbKgwWXIQ&cad=rja
It is a strage phenomena how "independents" always blame the President for all legislative failures. So much for 3 co-equal branches of government.
And "independents" never blink an eye when Republicans continue to propose failed economic policies. Nope, that there doesn't count.
And "Independents" don't say a word when right wing lies are posted, that is not a problem for them.
Nope, "independents" only care about finding ways to post poll numbers and skirt the issues.
And point out that "both sides" did stuff that actually one side did, and is proposing to do again.
Fair and balanced comes to mind.
Nash, imagine how different the picture would be were Republicans not destroying tens of thousands of government jobs per month. Imagine if all those workers were still out their spending their paychecks, keeping small businesses afloat, and creating demand. Imagine if all of those folks weren't competing in the job market with people who are already out of work.
Imagine how different it would be if Republicans weren't busy trying to destroy the American middle class.
Amen John B . . . talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!
"Our one quibble: The FINAL 10% of undecided voters are true indies, and they can swing a close election," except for your earlier statement of a lower turnout in this group......independents today are by most accounts really republicans by another name and self-identify as tea partiers.
Disagree totally with you. I am an Independent. My dilemma is I thinks the Democrats are fiscally irresponsible and the Republicans are backwards on most social issues. I tend to look at each candidates voting records rather than people who blindly vote strictly party line. Personally I think the extreme right and left have caused the division in this country. A good many of the people I know who identify themselves as Independents feel the same way.
sbv-418808
yeah not really sure where you got this info but: Dems make up about 30% of registered voters, GOP is almost exactly the same %, Independents and Others make up the remaining 40%. Independent voters are the Target for most politicians because they cannot carry an election with their 30% on it's own merit, they need and want us Independents. I agree with ksw, I do not identify with either ideology and feel there needs to be an overhaul of the system that truly only allows two parties.
I think that what is going on in DC right now is the worst thing I have ever seen in my 52 years. Negotiating for what we as Americans have to live with for the rest of our lives? Giving 10% here and 30% there, it seems so easy on a piece of paper but not out here when you live paycheck to paycheck, if you even have a paycheck and knowing that you have spent your retirement to make it through the recession and now knowing that the SS and Medicare that you have paid into for 43 years is at jeopardy and may not be there when you are old and in need of help from the very country you have been productive in and paid taxes to for your entire life.
sbv-418808
I thought about it and maybe your comment about:
For me, I was a more conservative voter but never really a hardline GOP but in recent years as the parties have become more about them and less about America I can say I have moved far enough from the right to say I have no Tea Party/GOP ideologies or loyalty to them.
ksw:
Why is it that it is the Republicans who just imploded the economy but Democrats who get labeled as "fiscally irresponsible"?
Strange.
Nashville Fan because they continue to try to refuse to look at programs that are bloated with waste (like most government programs) and continue to demonize corporations. I don't disagree with trying to increase revenue but to consider a person making $250,000 a year wealthy is just ridiculous. The same group that keeps thinking the government should tax, tax, tax most likely have 401k's and investment accounts that make money on the profits of the very companies they are demonizing.
Green energy programs on paper are a wonderful idea but do not make sense when you look at the cost with the current technology. I find it ironic that a lot of the liberal enclave in my area drive Volvo's and BMW's and tell people they should drive a Prius.
I wholeheartedly support social programs for the disenfranchised but also know the programs are rife with abuse (just ask anyone who has worked in social services).
Gee, I dunno, Nash.
Maybe it's because Democrats do things like spend $22 million on a crusie ship terminal- in Detroit.
Or $64 million to bring broadband to a rural area in Montana- that already had seven broadband carriers.
Or send $450 million to a Chinese company to build turbines for a wind farm in Texas- that just happens to be owned by a big Obama donor.
All in the name of stimulus.
And having spent those funds, and a couple hundred billion more, unemployment is still rising, and economic growth is still anemic.
Maybe it's that, and the fact that in just two years, they have added FOUR TRILLION dollars to the debt- with nothing to show for it.
Maybe that's why.
ksw:
Corporations don't need anyone to demonized them . . . the truth is bad enough. When was it that corporations became more important than actual people I wonder.
Actually Nash the truth is somewhere in the middle. All corporations aren't evil and some people are lazy and expect the government to take care of them when they make poor choices so they don't have to be responsible for thinking.
ksw:
Now you and I both know that our current system has absolutey zero checks on corporate power and they are doing any and everything that they want to, all while whining about "uncertainty".
The Founding Fathers never intended corporations to be declared people with rights of free speech and you know that there is no way that a human person can have the same influence as a corporate person.
And we both know that what created our current crisis is corporate greed not welfare queens.
It is a real shame that folks feel the need to defend the rights of "corporate people", but find human people expendable.
Beginning of the end right there.
I don't agree our current crisis is only the fault of corporate greed. I agree corporations should have regulations and checks and balances. But even if you have all the restrictions in the world on corporations, we cannot continue to be the welfare state we are and continue to let government go unchecked. Government waste and spending is out of control as well. It is not just an either/or answer.
ksw:
You really think that it is poor folks who have brought this economy to its knees? Well then there really ain't much more to discuss.
Nash you keep reading your opinion into my statement. I believe greed paid a big part in our economic woes. Bankers with no ethics loaning to people who were irresponsible in believing they needed a house they could not afford. But in this instance I hold both sides responsible. Americans with credit card debt so high they cannot afford to make anything but minimum payments. Is there corporate greed, absolutely but that is not the only problem.
Do you honestly believe the government is run as fiscally responsible entity with no waste and should continue to grow?
The Louisville Assembly Plant that makes the Ford Explorer is accepting applications for 1,800 new jobs. Now, there have been lay-offs in past years and the total empoyment number is down from the golden years but this is certainly good news.
Ford did it right -- no bailout -- this is truly a success story about how business can pull itself from the brink. BUY FORD!!!
Agree - Ford is the only viable domestic. GM has already returned to having enough cars for 122 months in the future, which was where they where right before their crash.
In other words it is failing again already. I wonder if, given their new owners if they can lay off and close plants. It will be very interesting to see that economic reality meet the politics of layoffs.
So GM has 10 years of Inventory?? Does that mean in 2021 I can buy a brand new 2011 GM car.
 x
The only one I hear constantly placing the blame is Obama. It should be interesting to hear what he is going to say today. I can hear it now, and I am not buying it anymore.
Except for the ones on this board that are blaming Obama for everything.
I suppose that given her comments Debbie Wasserman-Schultz must blame him as well. He owns it, it is no good, so therefore it must be on him.
Reading the posts to this lame article it is obvious the blame gamers got up early today. Must be nothing more satisfying then pointing the finger and blaming someone else for what is failing. It must be fun to surf the Internet until you find a blog, or an opinion article that you can identify with and quote as fact. Then you can wave your parties flag like the lemming you are, just waiting on the cliff for the go ahead to jump.
Until the American people can start owning up to their failings, don't expect anyone in Washington to do the same. You continually elect and re-elect the same people, but expect different results. That is not only the very definition of insanity, it shows how ill informed and out of touch the voters are with reality. The fact that even half the posters here can believe the stuff they spew is a pretty sad commentary.
When is everyone going to pull on their big boy pants and take control of OUR country back from the elitists in Washington on both sides of the isle? Until or unless the American voter can look beyond the partisan politics that divides this country, NOTHING will ever change. Start kicking out incumbents and you will see change. But for now it is business as usual in Washington, because of the flag waving lemmings from both sides of the isle that eat, drink, and spew the political rhetoric right on cue.
Here is an examination of the issue showing just how frequently the debt ceiling has been raised in the past decade and how the entire situation has reached the point of absurdity under both Republicans and Democrats:
http://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2011/01/united-states-debt-ceilings-whats-point.html
The Bush II Administration played a major role in the issue that will cripple the American economy for future generations and, unfortunately, the current Administration is doing very little to fix the problem.
Why is it that the new debt ceiling rapidly becomes the new debt floor?
It saddens me that the President is considering negotiating and caving to the GOP Terrorist. The Middle Class and Poor are going to pay for this mistake for many years to come. First thing is SS is not an Entitlement program, we pay for it, each and every week for me for 43 years. The Government contributes NOTHING to SS and it has actually been used for many many years to fund other programs and bailout more issues. SS is solvent for 26 more years as it is right now. They just need to pay it back what they owe it, owe us.
Please Mr. President do not cave and pay what these Terrorist want as their blackmail and Ransom and give away our future, Please!
GOP = ter·ror·ism
–noun
1. the use of violence and/or threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.
4. intimidating gang activity terrorism which is politically motivated
Ben@ post1.33== I see you had to resort to rude and crude language to answer me. But you did not answer my question as to what the Republican house has done to reduce unemployment. And with your higher degree of intelligence, once again please explain to me why do we have high unemployment after more than ten years of tax cuts. For your information G.W. Bush is only credited with creating 1.1 million new jobs during his 8 years. BTW Jimmy Carter is credited with creating 10.3 million new jobs in only 4 years.
If you get spending under control and not raise taxes, then business will have a clear indication where this country is going financially. The nose dive in the Bush administration started when the dems took control of Congress in 2006. They refused to regulate the financial markets and couldn't see that not addressing Freddie & Fannie was going to lead to the collapse of the housing market.
Ben-636050==I'm sorry but you still have not explained how tax cuts have created jobs. I will type very slowly so you will understand my question to you. Bush cut tax over ten years ago and only 1.1 million were created under his 8 years. These very same tax cuts were extended last year and we still didn't get an increase in jobs. As far as regulations, isn't it your team that wants to do away with regulations? Now with your superior knowledge, I'm sure you can explain how more tax cuts for the wealthy will create jobs, you will have to really spin it as these tax cuts have not worked for over 10 years.
Sue
Here are the BLS numbers for EMPLOYED people for 2001 and the end of 2008.
2001---130433000 2008---135254000
Now that looks like a GAIN of 5 MILLION JOBS!!
http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cesbtab1.htm
You'll have to check the non-farm non-seasonally adjusted box then scroll down and click on retrieve data to find the chart.
Great numbers if you ignore the broader reality--population increased about 3 times faster than the number of employed. It was the first recovery since the 1930s that median income didn't exceed pre-recession levels before the next recession began. Yeah, it was a recovery...the most sluggish recovery since the Great Depression...then it tipped right back into an even bigger recession.
If there's one thing that couldn't be more clear, it's that Republican stewardship of the economy is an unmitigated disaster.
Where are the jobs Mr. Speaker? Oh, the RICH created them but NOT in the USA? YES I guess I misunderstood. My solution: TAX THE RICH AND TAX THE CORPORATIONS. They are sucking the life out of our country. Thank you.
How do voters get so clueless? Are they teaching anything in schools these days other then ideological indoctrination? Have you ever heard of NFATA Hannah? Signed into law by Bill Clinton. I believe he called the Democratic Party his home. After it was signed, Ross Perot said that giant sucking sound you will hear are all the jobs leaving this country. He was right.
What this country has lost in the number of jobs since NAFTA was signed into law has never been replaced. Corporations found they could have their products made for a fraction of the cost of doing business in the United States, but still sell them for the same amount which translated into huge profits. With the corporate tax laws the way they are in this country, most of those profits remained overseas.
What you should be asking of our government Hannah, and not just the speaker is why does it cost a corporation so much more to do business in the United States then overseas? If you open your eyes to the answer, you will find both parties more then share the blame.
Rick-3416939
Why ask when the answer is already known? It's cheaper to do business in countries where sweat shops are legal. If more Americans, including children, were willing to work long hours under dangerous conditions for lousy pay, all those jobs would come right back to the US of A!
salaries are only a part of the reason companies take their operations else where. Companies Right here in Texas can open up shop across the Rio Grande River and not have to worry about environment laws and regulations, they can put their waste where ever they want, blow pollution into the air which is just a mile from the Texas border, no regulations or standards for anything. Then there is the salary.
The sad thing is these companies still get huge tax breaks and even Returns from the IRS even if they pay NO Taxes here. They get credits for being an "American" Company, take operations out of the country, sell back at full cost to Americans and with their tax credits and breaks, do not pay Tariff Tax to import into the US. Hell, why not leave?
Houston so you think the answer is that simple? Sweat shops overseas? Sure those do play a role, but only because there are no unions, no government regulations, no benefits, and require no corporate investment. But there are plenty of products outside the garment industry being made in modern ultra high tech plants requiring skilled labor that were not built in the US thanks to our government. I laugh at those that so adamantly defend their party, when in fact the American people are so routinely not even considered when it comes to passing legislation. Jobs have not left this country solely because cheaper labor elsewhere means we cannot compete.
No. As Robert mentioned, there's also the lack of environmental regulations that make foreign countries attractive, too.
Are you talking about about "hi-tech" products like iPhones, which are manufactured in China by workers who die from the toxins they ingest on the job and who live in barracks that have to have the windows barred so the workers don't commit suicide by jumping out of them to escape from their miserable lives?
If every American consumer spent just $3.30 more on American made goods a year, it would lead to the creation of an additional 10,000 jobs in America, according to Moodys.com.
It seems to me there are things American citizens can be doing to improve our economy.
So Huston we have a problem. That being the United States only talks a good game. Sure we proclaim to be for human rights, but when it comes to the profits of major US corporations we turn a blind eye. But again, you miss the answer. The United States doesn't even have the capacity to manufacture high tech products like the Kindle if Amazon wanted it that way.
We have lost our capability to produce precision optics and semiconductors. Likewise we are not even in the game for manufacturing electrophoretic displays. So we will miss out on the innovation and the industries that will spawn from those technologies. All you an say about most innovations is that they are conceived in the United States.
But our government has sold out the American worker, plain and simple. The jobs are gone because the industries are gone. We have spent the time since NAFTA bleeding jobs and industries, not re-investing in them. So no matter what the government says, the infrastructure does not exist in this country to turn on the job spigot.
The best thing our government could do is get out of the way of private industry, and even then it would take years even decades for an industrial resurgence. But with unions, environmental groups, salaries, healthcare, benefits, taxes, all standing in way it is not very likely to happen.
Rick, you started out down the right path but got lost.
NAFTA was supposed to "get government out of the way of private industry."
Conservatism isn't about consistency of thought or principle. It's about selling a series of policies designed to enrich the wealthy.
John B, Des Moines, IA it was not that NAFTA was supposed to get government out of the way of private industry, it was NAFTA that allowed private industry to go around government. Since it was Bill Clinton that signed NAFTA into law, I am lost at your "conservatism" definition in relation to NAFTA, especially since your definition also fits liberalism.
A distinction without a difference, Rick. Btw;
The HW Bush administration negotiated NAFTA
The Republican Senate ratified NAFTA
The Conservative echo chamber set up a drum beat that if Clinton didn't sign it he was "anti-business."
Yes, I think Clinton was wrong to sign it. I believe his "triangulation" strategy of trying to be Conservative on business and the economy in order to be Liberal on social issues was an abject failure.
Still doesn't change the fact that NAFTA was just one small step in the Conservative war on the middle class.
John B, Des Moines, IA just can't live with the fact that NAFTA was a true failing by both parties. Yes Clinton did sign it into law, and yes it was supported by Republicans, but it was certainly not because Clinton feared being painted as "anti-business."
The concept of NAFTA was originally "free trade". But after labor unions, corporations, environmentalists and dozens of other special interests and campaign contributors in all three countries were done, there was nothing left in it that was "free trade" except the name. It became managed trade.
Clinton signed it precisely because every special interest group that supported him, or gave him money, got what they wanted in the fine print and addendum. I understand that many Democrats still think that NAFTA, CAFTA, and FTAA is a conservative conspiracy to "roll back the New Deal." Apparently you are among them.
So paint the picture however you want, it does not change the simple fact that NAFTA has gutted this country of jobs, or the fact that BOTH parties supported it. Just another horrible example of how easy it is to buy politicians from either party, and what little concern they have for the American people in the process. It should serve as a constant reminder as to why we need to kick out incumbents from both parties on a regular basis, because it does not take long for them to completely forget who they were elected to serve.
Labor unions and environmentalists kept NAFTA from establishing true "free trade"? You're going to need to prove that one.
NAFTA sounded great at the time...I was taken in along with so many others. The picture they painted was so rosy, that the jobs exported to Mexico through NAFTA would be more than compensated for by the increasing economic activity created by a middle class of new Mexican factory workers. These newly richer Mexican workers would become consumers of goods made throughout North America and ALL would end up better off. Environmental and labor concerns would be addressed "later" in bills designed to "ensure fairness."
Turns out the Captains of Industry had no such plans. Good US jobs were exported to Mexico, then the Pacific Rim, then China in a never ending search for cheaper labor. Even now the WalMarts of the economy are exploring movement of Chinese jobs to places like Vietnam because their greed and their lack of concern for workers has no limit.
Rick, you seem to hint that the only problem with NAFTA is that it wasn't "free" enough. The history just doesn't agree with that. The real problem is that free trade isn't necessarily fair trade. Deregulation as the cornerstone of economic policy is a failure.
The MSNBC article on the bad report on jobs said that there was a net job loss in the public sector 39,000 while the net jobs added in both public and private sectors was 18,000. If my rithmatic is correct, that means that the number of PRIVATE sector jobs added was 18,,000 + 39,000 or 57,000 jobs. If the public sector was growing at about the rate of the private sector, the net jobs added would have been more like 90,000.
While right wingers claim that government jobs aren't real jobs, it looks like the cutbacks in the government jobs are having a devastating serious impact on the economy. The more federal government jobs are cut to appease deficit hysteria, the more it will slow the economy.
I think it's unfortunate that President Obama seems to have succumbed to the deficit hysteria himself. It certainly will do nothing to help him in the 2012 election. If the unemployment rate doesn't start going down, it won't matter if he's paid off the entire national debt by the election. It's the jobs, not the deficit that will decide who wins.
I disagree. It's the deficit and the housing industry that will bring this country to it's knees.
Uh, if you say so, it must be true. But I suspect most unemployed people are more concerned about their personal deficit than they are about the federal government's.
Houston:
Morning and how true. A job is a job. Tell those laid off teachers how unimportant they are, or the law enforcement or fire fighters.
The GOP/TP believes in a society based on class and this just proves it.
Good post Houston.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired
Repub Senator Orrin Hatch's claimed that the poor and middle class should bear the entire burden of cleaning up the mess his corporate paymasters created. That was basically a declaration of class war.
The people are not fooled. They know to keep the debt from growing that $16 trillion in cuts are necessary and not just $4 trillion which doesn't help a bit except to make politicians pad their behinds in excessive displays of "I did it" arrogance.
The national debt will grow from $14.3 trillion today to over $35 trillion by 2025 if nothing is done and if they manage to find $4 trillion in cuts over the next decade that still leaves us $31 trillion in debt and nearly 200% of GDP same as Japan.
This nation is headed for a big fall thanks to bad management from 2000 on.
That means both Rep's and Dem's are equally responsible and all are corrupted giving big businesses excessive tax breaks.
We need a flat tax without any breaks for any group and all charities and religious organizations need to be taxed as well.
The problem with this country is the excessive control given to Corporations over our Congress in the form of political donations. This has corrupted Congress and it gives in repeatedly to whining, bitching and unpatriotic US Corporations that demand huge tax breaks or they move their operations overseas.
For the people, by the people, of the people has perished from this earth because they simply can't see the forest for the trees.
Wake up people and smell the rats.
To get the jobs situation under control Congress must first stabilize the housing industry. Over 5 million jobs have been lost in housing and related industries (appliances, furniture, designing, etc) and that's a full TWO percentage points of the unemployment. Without a concerted effort to stabilize housing there is no hope of bringing unemployment back down to historic levels (4 to 6%).
What we do is make it easier and more affordable for people to buy houses. The market will explode, value of homes will rise and ....uh, never mind.
Stabilizing housing is very easy to do. You simply subsidize it even more than it is now to ENCOURAGE current underwater homeowners to hang on as long as possible until market forces recuperate.
And you do that by temporarily INDEXING the mortgage deduction inversely to the Carl Shiler index with a one time 'bump' up of 25 to 50%. It's costly but necessary and unemployment will begin falling as people rethink the economics of homeownership and stick it out and begin buying again.
Unless something of this sort that is year-to-year subsidy increase you will NEVER again see a stable home market.
That is the reality of seeing the forest for the trees.