Job Creation During Recent Recoveries

I hadn't seen the comparisons yet between the recovery during Bush's first term and Obama's first term so here it is. These statistics are gathered from BLS.gov. The starting points are Nov. 2002 and Jun. 2009, the ends of the two most recent recessions. Net job creation for Obama after 15 months was -657,000. Net job creation for Bush Jr. after 15 months was -1,278,000.

If Obama were to follow the Bush trend, next month the U.S. would lose 156,000 jobs and lose another 198,000 the month after.

I think we can all agree that a Democratic majority in the House/Senate and Democratic controlled White House has been much better for our economy and jobs.

Stephen Colbert/Jon Stewart Rally on 10/30/10

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
March to Keep Fear Alive
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

Rally to Restore Sanity.

March to Keep Fear Alive.


It's on! I'll see you all there!!!

Christine O'Donnell Claims Hillary Voters for Her Own

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty.)

"I do want to point out that we have broad based support, we've got a lot of Hillary Democrats working behind us -- with us -- because they're frustrated with what this administration is doing," O'Donnell (R-DE) said this morning on Fox News.



ORly?

I know it's been a while

But soon I'll get back to this blogging thing.

Why Are So Many So Called Left Wing Blogs So Anti-Obama?

My guess is this.

Many of these web sites are new. They came about during the anti Bush years and thus developed a following of individuals that were accustomed to finding fault in everything the acting administration did.

This worked out fine during the primaries and the general election as they still had the opposition to aim all their fire at. Well, that all came to an end when Democrats controlled the House, Senate and the White House. They needed something to keep their clicks going and their followers donating to their pet causes.

They didn't bother to find a new method of doing business as the old business model is the only thing these sites know so they turned their guns on their allies and opened fire. When I say allies I mean in the sense that they are much more likely to side with legislation being worked through Congress with the bunch in control now than if there was a Republican controlled Congress in session.

I'm not sure what it'll take to encourage them to turn their guns on the real opposition and not all of it on those that are no doubt pushing through legislation that at least addresses some of their concerns.

Depression Avoided According to Zandi and Blinder

"In a new paper, the economists argue that without the Wall Street bailout, the bank stress tests, the emergency lending and asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, and the Obama administration’s fiscal stimulus program, the nation’s gross domestic product would be about 6.5 percent lower this year.

In addition, there would be about 8.5 million fewer jobs, on top of the more than 8 million already lost; and the economy would be experiencing deflation, instead of low inflation.

The paper, by Alan S. Blinder, a Princeton professor and former vice chairman of the Fed, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, represents a first stab at comprehensively estimating the effects of the economic policy responses of the last few years."

Read more at:

The New York Times

What Has Obama Accomplished?

I'll let Benen summarize.

"In the larger context, Wall Street reform also gets added to the list of breakthrough accomplishments of the last 18 months, a list that now includes health care reform, an economy-saving Recovery Act, a long-sought overhaul of the nation's student-loan system, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, new regulation of the credit card industry, new regulation of the tobacco industry, a national service bill, expanded stem-cell research, and the most sweeping land-protection act in 15 years, among other things.

As Rachel Maddow recently observed, "The last time any president did this much in office, booze was illegal. If you believe in policy, if you believe in government that addresses problems, cheers to that.""


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_07/024745.php

Israel Overreacts, Deployes Commandos

Protesters and activists are provocateurs, that's what they do. I don't believe the measured response is to deploy Commandos storming down ropes out of helicopters.

Israel over reacted is my first take on this just as they over reacted with their barrage on Gaza over a year ago and their counter attack into Lebanon over three years ago.

Israel needs to learn the restraint that comes with having a powerful military. It's a maturity their country hasn't learned yet.

It's part of being a responsible Democracy.

Upon Closer Examination of the Sink Hole

Fascinating!

The BP Gulf Spill ™

The BP Gulf Spill ™

Rand Paul Wins Kentucky Primary - Next Stop 2012?

Now it seems that the tea-party, well the original ones at least, got one of their own in the Senate.

It will be interesting how Republican Senators conduct themselves when Rand wears his Libertarian views on his sleeve on the floor and speaks of legalization or even expresses his anti-Iraq/Afghanistan positions. Things will get interesting none the less.

He might be one of the more straight up individuals on the Senate, not beholden to many. He could very well likely be a yes vote to approve of spending cuts in all departments and agencies of the U.S. Govn't from Department of Defense of which he would like to reduce spending to the Department of Education, of which he'd like to eliminate.

I'm probably way out ahead but, I could see him continuing his ability to tap into independents and leaning libertarian Republicans and Democrats across the country and run for the White House in 2012.

Game Changer?

If this oil mess doesn't get plugged up in a week, I predict climate legislation getting through Congress much more smoothly much in the way the Wall Street crash enabled these financial reforms making their way through Congress seem to be going with very few hiccups.

See, this administration had a bit of an uphill battle with health care reform. A majority of Americans like their health care. This admin isn't going to have to explain to anyone oil is a problem and every single American felt the repercussions of the banks and financial firms exploding.

Crist Wins Florida Senate Race, Says Will Caucus With Dems

Once again, Republicans snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Can't say you didn't hear it here first!

Checkbook Tax?

So, according to Greg Sargent @ ThePlumeLine , Frank Luntz is spreading more misinformation by providing the talking point that the fund large investment firms will be paying into in the event of a catastrophe will be funded by a checkbook tax on every day consumers by increases in fees, etc.

A few points Mr. Duntz.

This fund is going to be bank-rolled by the large investment firms that aren’t covered by FDIC. Rather than Checkbook Tax call this the “Hedgefund Managers Checkbook Tax” since the majority of the burden will be carried by those big time wall street guys playing in derivatives, CDS, and other investments middle America doesn’t get involved in directly.

If you don’t want to pay for the investment firms to deal in their own casino, don’t bank with them.

Use your local banks that are covered by the FDIC.

If the big banks will raise fees leave them.

That’s whats great about competition and free market. If the fees get outrageous, Average Americans can pick up and leave and put their money somewhere else.

You don't have to bank with BofA or Citi. You can bank with your local bank.

Anyways, Luntz, you're a slug.....where's my salt shaker.

Christ Leaves Republican Party

That's it! He's had enough of their shenanigans!

Oh, what's that? Oh, you mean Charlie Crist.