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President Obama touted the lowest unemployment rate in 19 months during a visit to a Maryland window manufacturer, where he also announced changes to his economic team.
The jobless rate fell to 9.4 percent in December as a strong holiday shopping season helped boost hiring among retailers and the manufacturing, health care and hospitality sectors added jobs.
But the report was mixed. Overall, the economy created a lower-than-expected 103,000 jobs during the month, and it's unclear whether the drop in the unemployment rate will be sustained. The economy added 1.1 million jobs over the course of the last year, amounting to an average of 94,000 a month, a pace that many economists say must be doubled to significantly bring down the unemployment rate.
After touring Thompson Creek, a company that plans to take advantage of new tax provisions passed during the lame-duck session of Congress, Obama talked up the performance of the private sector.
"We know these unemployment numbers can bounce around from month to month, but the trend is clear," he said. "We saw 12-straight months of private-sector job growth. That's the first time that's been true since 2006."
The White House has said that jobs and the economy will take center stage this year as the president looks to accelerate recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression.
He's almost certain to face resistance in the Republican-controlled Congress to any new spending to spur growth. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) called today's job numbers "encouraging," but said new policies were needed to reduce uncertainty, restore confidence, cut spending and grow the economy.
Economic team moves
Today, the president looked to a veteran presidential adviser who has had success in the area of economic policy in the past. He named Gene Sperling, currently serving as counselor to the treasury secretary, to replace Larry Summers as head the National Economic Council. Sperling served in the same role under President Clinton.
"One of the reasons I've selected Gene is he's done this before," Obama said. "In his tenure in the Clinton administration in the late 90s, he helped formulate the policies that contributed to turning deficits to surpluses and a time of prosperity and progress for American families in a sustained way."
Jason Furman, who was already on the president's economic team, has been promoted to assistant to the president for economic policy and principal deputy director of the National Economic Council. Obama also nominated Katharine Abraham as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and Heather Higginbottom as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The new staff announcements are part of a "major retooling" meant to breathe new energy and bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to the White House as the president looks ahead to the 2012 presidential campaign.
Yesterday, Obama tapped William Daley, who served as commerce secretary in the Clinton administration, as his new chief of staff. That move was expected to help strengthen ties with the business community -- which has nearly $2 trillion sitting on the sidelines that the White House wants to see invested to help jumpstart job growth.
The president plans to continue his outreach to the business community with a speech Feb. 7 at the Chamber of Commerce and he made a point at the Daley announcement of saying his fellow Chicagoan had led major corporations and had "a deep understanding of how jobs are created and how to grow our economy."
"Making it possible for businesses to succeed is how we ensure that our economy succeeds and all our people succeed. It's how we create jobs and that's what's guided my administration over the past two years," Obama said Friday.
More staff changes will be announced in the coming weeks, including a replacement for White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, who is moving to an office a few blocks away to become a paid consultant to the president.
Obama also used his trip to the window manufacturer to urge more companies to follow its lead in taking advantage of a new tax provision that allows companies to deduct 100 percent of investments in equipment for the next two years, a provision the Treasury Department estimates will accelerate $150 billion in tax cuts for 2 million businesses over the next two years and help lower the average cost of investment by more than 75 percent.
"It is a great opportunity for companies to grow and add jobs," he said. "Now is the time to act. Companies who are listening out there, if you are planning or thinking about making investments some time in the future, make those investments now and you're gonna save money and that will help us grow the economy."
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I'm glad the economy is looking more optimistic and hope this keeps up. I also hope the public doesn't buy Frank Luntz's talking point " health care is a job killer" like they did "government take over".
I would love to see Bill Burton as Press Secretary. He is young, handsome, and articulate. I think he'll be able to communicate better to the young liberals who are angry and discouraged.
I agree Bev - but I also like Karen Finnerty? (can't think of her last name at the moment). lol
Either one would be A-OK with me! ;o)
I am going to miss Robert Gibbs quick wit!
Beverly, yes I like Bill Burton as well. Evidently this will be David Plouffe's decision.
David Plouffe is coming to town. How cool is that?!
I always liked Robert Gibbs as well. A good guy.
This is Good news, but it also indicates there's a Longway to go in providing Jobs for those that wantem.
Here's a little tidbit i heard this morning. Incoming Ohio Gov. John Kasich(Conservative) has appointed his Cheif of Staff & promtly gave him a $47,000 raise from what the previous Gov(Democrat) had paid his. This new CoS for Ohio is now being paid as much as President Obama's CoS is Paid. Wonder if all those Conservative GOP'ers in Ohio expected Kasich to be so conservative with thier $$?
3 days into the new Republican House:
Where are the JOBS ?
Ladies
Gibbs has been with the prez since his senatorial days. It seems like they are inseparable. I'm going to miss his wit too, the way he'd fake out reporters at times when they wanted to play games, and his nurturing nature.
Yeah, Gibbs is great - and he'll still be around, just in a different capacity.
Rick - yeah, crazy: Kaisch won't be re-elected once (I love it when it's evident this early!)
Keep up the great work Mr. President. You make 2012 more fun every day, (and it's already lookin' pretty fun!)
Rick, enough with the "where are the jobs?" It was dumber than dirt when the Republicans said it, it ain't gettin' any brighter just 'cause WE'RE saying it!
I didn't expect much outta Kasich. So far, I'm not disappointed!
I am going to miss Robert Gibbs quick wit!
Quick wit! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Now that's funny. The only thing Gibbs was "quick" about was looking like a deer in the headlights when ever someone asked him an intelligent question. That guy was dumber than a pet rock and showed his stupidity on a daily basis. lol
The libs should be embarrased that such an idiot was ever press secretary. Ahh well, as they say, ignorance is bliss
You libs need to get a grip. The ONLYreason the unemployment rate fell was due to an ever increasing number of discouraged job seekers. That's the only way O can impact unemployment, have everyone give up and go on public assistance.
"The libs should be embarrased that such an idiot was ever press secretary. Ahh well, as they say, ignorance is bliss"
C'mon, man- leave Dana Perino outta this. She was kind of a cutie in a weird sort of boy-ish, little girl way.
It appears that the Dude-in-Chief is staffing with a number of people from the business community. does this mean he is going to roll over again like he did with the continuation of the Bush credits?
And I just love the wit of gibbs too, uhmmmmmmmmmmm. Maybe the new guy will return phone calls to the members of the fourth estate.
You saying you wouldn't tap Perino Drive By?
I know, you're a Maddow kind of guy, right.
He's always had people from the business community, safecracker. That fact just seems to have escaped the pathological liars who create Conservative narratives.
True, true JohnB - liars like Limbaugh, Beck, etc.
...and...I'm guessing the largest single-month gain in private sector employment in the 65 years that they've tracked that number might also have something to do with it ... (ps. on a personal note, does the name "hobiedanbillreed" mean anything to you?)
Let's celebrate with fireworks NOT.
The unemployment rate is 9.7% - down from 9.9% last month.
This is NOTHING.
The unemployment rate was 7.8% when Obama got into office.
It was less than 4% when Clinton left Office.
Oh that's right John B., he had Larry S., that economist who was involved in the Enron company. And the lady professor from UC Berk who is the scholor for economics of the obama plan.
Who else John, names escape me at the moment.
December always goes down due to temp employees hired for Santa work. Next month it goes back up and I see many companies pulling the plug at the end of this year. Who could blame them? Americans from the fringe left think a profit is illegal. If a profit is bad where will you buy your groceries? Why would anyone care to employ a worker at his own cost? Mostly I think, what the hell is wrong with you?
Karen in LA.: When your neighbor loses his job it is a recession. When you lose your job it's a depression. Jobs were not Obama's concern for the first year. All of us wondered where his head was at. It was buried in health care 70% of us didn't want. A power grab for them and another penality for business. Obama will go down in history as the most negative and anti business, anti American president ever. We thought and knew Carter to be the biggest failure but now he has company. It is very unlikely Obama will get a second term nor should he. He has repeated everything Bush did clear down to tax repeal. Those evil Bush tax cuts, remember? Democrat politicians are nothing but a bunch of liars. They put the "L" in liars. The servicemen are still deployed fighting those that wish to kill us and have already in case you forgot. Gismo is still open. The big evil tax cut for the rich in effect. All conversation still tapped by big brother and has even been expanded under Obama. All these are what you blame Bush for and refuse to blame Obama for. Who is the hypocrit?
The unemployment rate in January 2001 was 4.7%. In January 2009, it was 8.5%. In January 2011, it is 9.4%. You can search for the data yourself here: http://www.bls.gov/data/#historical-tables Where did the biggest increase occur again?
Good point DrDr (cool 'name de...' too!)
Republican Governance = Thunder-f*&k EVERYTHING, then piss on the Dem's for fixing it too slowly !!!
Lucas (of LucasOil, maybe ?!? Sounds like it!) : Go back to watching Fox... (and be sure not to miss your hero, Bill O'reilly GET SCHOOLED before the SuperBowl!)
Yes, ever-so-slowly the economy is improving.
BTW: David Cutler, Ph.D. , a Harvard professor estimates that health care repeal would destroy up to 400,000 jobs per year over the next decade. I as assuming the GOPTP will argue these estimates as it is more important to them that health care be repealed than Americans find employment.
It looks like a threefer to me: 30 million uninsured Americans get healthcare, keeps the deficit down, and more jobs available in the workforce.
BTW: David has a real Ph.D.
Unlike some people we know! ;o))
Creating jobs, keeping the deficit down, and insuring the American people are not priorities for the republicans. Their top three priorities are: Keeping big corporations happy, keeping the uber-rich happy, and embarrassing the president.
Luckily for them they have idiots for supporters that will vote for anyone with an R after their name or anything proposed by republicans regardless of the consequences.
"It looks like a threefer to me: 30 million uninsured Americans get healthcare, keeps the deficit down, and more jobs available in the workforce. "
I'd agree with you whole heartedly, Ron- except for all those DEATH PANELS! (snicker)
RI: "It looks like a threefer to me: 30 million uninsured Americans get healthcare, keeps the deficit down, and more jobs available in the workforce.
Yeah, good news all the way around. Btw, who's paying for all this, George Soros?
Ron:
It doesn't matter how many expert economist speak out against the HCR repeal effort, the Republican/Tea Party has decided to defer to the noted "Economist" Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
For Speaker Boehner to say out loud, in public and on video that he puts no stock in the CBO numbers is chilling.
They have a new talking point..."Job Killing Obamacare" and anything that does not support that narrative is not in their lexicon.
Well if a Harvard economist says you can insure 30 million people and it will save money then it must be true. Of course there may be some disagreement amongst those of us who don't believe in fairy dust and unicorns.
I wonder, has Dr. Cutler ever run a business? Had to make a payroll? Did Dr. Cutler meet with any insurers this year to pich a plan for his employees?
Yes, as you can tell I'm just jealous I'm not a professor. At Harvard, which has a Gi-normous endowment. Nothing but cold, real world realities there in the Ivy-league.
Sheila, MD
You are absolutely right, Any information that is different from their talking point is rejected by the GOPTP. But it is our responsibility to report data from creditable sources to counter the "Job Killing Obamacare" nonsense.
I bet we have both noticed that when Boehner likes the numbers from the CBO, he reports them. When there is cognitive dissonance between his beliefs and facts, then he puts no stock in the CBO. Kinda like "Heads I win, Tails you lose.
What I find utterly ridiculous about the Republicans using the term "job killer" is the fact they refuse to address the Corporate tax loopholes they put in place that pay businesses to send jobs overseas, that my friend is the real "job killer".
Dr Cutler received his economics Phd from MIT and seems to have specialized in the health care industry. He served a bit in the Clinton administration and was Barack Obama's health care advisor, check that, senior health care advisor. Looks like he's yet another academic with little to none real world experience.
But I'm certain his predictions all work out fine and hang together, at least on the chalkboard.
So essentially it looks like someone in the Obama administration confirms that the Obama administration is correct.
JoAnnaSmith1
But I'm certain his predictions all work out fine and hang together, at least on the chalkboard.
Unlike Glenn Beck's chalkboard those predicted numbers are real.
"So essentially it looks like someone in the Obama administration confirms that the Obama administration is correct."
Yes- it's a principal gleaned from the bible: It's correct, because it SAYS it is.
JoAnnaSmith1
But I'm certain his predictions all work out fine and hang together, at least on the chalkboard.
So essentially it looks like someone in the Obama administration confirms that the Obama administration is correct.
And the CBO.
Spanky-
Well if a Harvard economist says you can insure 30 million people and it will save money then it must be true. Of course there may be some disagreement amongst those of us who don't believe in fairy dust and unicorns.
Careful, Spanky! There may be monkeys flyin' outta your butt!
JoAnna, you take pains to point out the man's work experience in two administations and then say he has no real world experience? What??
Working for the government is not the real world fielden. In the real business world, if you can't make your budget, you can't print your own money or demand that your rich customers need to pay their "fair-share" and pay you more. You may actually have to do something hard, like prioritize, say no to doing some things, and maybe even lay off some of your staff.
Fielden? You cannot be that dense. Can you?
The facts are whatever she says they are, fielden. Funny how such a sterling example of the "party of personal responsibility" is "entitled" to her own, personal facts, isn't it?
So the fact that the Obama regime thried to sneak in the fact that if doctors want to be reimbursed by Medicare they have to discuss end of life option (aka "Sorry Grandma but we cant give you a new hip because that money needs to be spent on a younger person who is too stupid to realize that liberalism doesnt work") isnt the same as a death panel?
Lets face it....if the socialist President would have hasd his way they would just come out and say "Death panels are a new part of MY Kenya.....I mean America....(under breath) "stupid teleprompter"....
But since the majority of American are not socialists, liberals, progressives, no label, communists, democrats, RINOS....whatever you guys call yourself this week.... he couldnt get away with it....
Thank God....
Larry, how 'bout you document your claim that doctors can only be reimbursed if they have an end of life conference with Granny?
Otherwise you're just repeating whatever lies have been fed to you.
ron, indiana - Lmao! you state...
...estimates that health care repeal would destroy up to 400,000 jobs per year over the next decade
Other than the fact that those jobs don't exist today, how can they be destroyed? Makes me wonder if the majority of these jobs are really government jobs being created to oversee the regulations generated by the two health care bills. You know oversight committees, bureacrats, secretaries and aides, office supplies, office space, utilities, etc. Increasing the numbers of government workers and its resulting drain on Americas taxpayers seems like such a good plan! Keeps the deficit down? Not hardly!
... 30 million uninsured Americans get healthcare
How so? Will the government pay their premiums if they can't afford them? Seems like the government will fine those who don't have insurance. Quite the conundrum here.
...more jobs available in the workforce
Of course there are, when you are at the bottom everything is looking up, Looking up means that it will take another 6 - 7 years just to make up for the jobs lost during this recession. Ohhhh, I forgot, the recession was all bushes fault and the democrats were asleep at the wheel when the car crashed. Lmao! This recession isn't the first and it won't be the last.
...Yes, ever-so-slowly the economy is improving.
Yepper, the economy is slooooowly improving and unemployment is falling. Almost seems that the government didn't need to spend so much on the stimulas for jobs as it appears the $$$ spent didn't speed up job growth or the # of jobs. By that reckoning lets tell the conservatives to not worry about job creation but rather focus on getting spending under control and the tax codes changed. That should instill some more confidence into the taxpayers and business owners.
BTW - unemployment % have nowhere to go but down as people continue (at an increasing rate) to drop off of the unemployment roles due to discouragement, reaching the max. allowed weekly claims and having to take reduced SS.
... BTW: David has a real Ph.D.
What is a real PhD? Define please.
"Btw, who's paying for all this, George Soros?"
Well, we know it won't be the Koch brothers now, don't we? And what part of "keeps the deficit down" = unpaid for to you?
And btw, if working for the government for your whole working life is not a "real job" guess who has NEVER had a real job? That'd be Mitch McConnell.
Dr. why limit yourself, you could add pelosi, reid and others to your list as well! Sorry, I can easily accept a constitution amendment on term limits and changing house terms from 2 years to 4 or maybe even 6 like the senate.
The Democrats worked very hard during their first term in office to save and jump start the economy that was on a dangerous downward trend.
Before the midterm elections, Democrats tried their best to explain to voters that all the things they had been busy putting in place to save the economy and make it grow again were good and would gradually begin to generate positive results. A number of voters closed both their eyes and ears and were not ready to listen because they had expected overnight results. This made them make a big mistake of voting in the same Republicans who created the mess back to congress.
We give thanks and credit to the Democrats for their effective policies that have now started to generate economic growth and employment. They really worked hard under very difficult circumstances with the other party just siting on the fence to watch.
Sam, nice thoughts and 100% factual.
Sam...... You mean those Republicans in Senate who couldnt even stop a bill if they wanted to until Scott Brown was elected in Massachusetts and those Republicans in the House that couldnt stop a bill until January 5th?
Those Republicans?
Maybe you want to ask yourself how a party that for the better part of the last two years had COMPLETE control of both houses and the White House still couldnt get anything accomplished.
I know....It was Bush's fault right?
Never mind, Bush, Larry- let's talk about all the jobs. Where are they?
Hey- better yet, let's talk aobut immigration, since Boehner and the boys don't seem to want to discuss it.
Drive, did YOU just go off topic?
Have you no shame. Ain't nobody round here talking about the illegals. It's about the unemployment rate. Now, sure illegals certainly effect the unemployment rate, but that's another topic for another day, right? And the "boys" did discuss it just the other day remember? The Dream act failed. Hasta La Vesta, baby.
I really get tired of explaining that while the Democrats had control of both House and Senate, it was not a supermajority that precluded the filibuster. In the House, there was a simple majority, and any member could (and did) filibuster any legislation they didn't like. In the Senate, there was again, only a simple majority until July 2009 when Al Franken was seated due to a recount. In August 2009, Ted Kennedy died, vacating a seat that was filled by Scott Brown in January 2010. So to recap, no filibuster-proof majority in either House or Senate except for 1 month in the Senate.
Not sure if anyone's still recording predictions, but here's one from me...3.5% GDP growth in 2011. It could go as high as 4%, but that's an outside.
I can't claim this for my own, I'm just seeing this in almost every piece of economic forecasting I see.
minutes
ago
Obama touts unemployment rate; lowest in 19 months
Interesting headline, but don't yo mean he 'flouts' unemployment rate?
Good afternoon Ron
Yes, ever-so-slowly the economy is improving.
BTW: David Cutler, Ph.D. , a Harvard professor estimates that health care repeal would destroy up to 400,000 jobs per year over the next decade.
That's way I think its critical the public does not buy the Frank Luntz's talking point " health care is a job killer". The Republicans are using this talking point because they know the economy is fragile. Since the numbers may bounce around the Republicans think they have a good talking point to attack the jobs issues with.
Most of Fox's viewers really don't even know some components of the law haven't even taken effect yet. Or that insurance premiums have gone up because the insurance companies are trying to cash in before the law goes into effect due to that industry's greed.
There are parts that are not in effect? Why not? It was the democrats who wrote the law, then voted to implement it, right? Did they cow tow to "industry greed" or is that just you butt talking again?
Bev. do you regularly hang out with Fox viewers? How is it you know what they know or don't know? If it is not first hand, from what source do you derive your information?
Spanky-
There are parts that are not in effect? Why not? It was the democrats who wrote the law, then voted to implement it, right? Did they cow tow to "industry greed" or is that just you butt talking again?
A Bridge to 2014
Other changes including new benefits, protections and cost savings will be implemented between now and 2014.
The Affordable Care Act builds a bridge to 2014 when a new competitive insurance marketplace will be established.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/healthcare-overview
The Act is divided into 10 titles.[51]
The Act contains provisions that became effective immediately; others that became effective on June 21, 2010 (90 days after enactment); on September 23, 2010 (six months after enactment); and provisions that will become effective in 2014.[52][53]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Provisions
Bev. do you regularly hang out with Fox viewers? How is it you know what they know or don't know? If it is not first hand, from what source do you derive your information?
Yes, I do know. Many of them hang out here on First Read. That's how I know what they don't know; Spanky-.
Score!
Drive By, did you score a tea bag session with Bev? Good for you buddy.
And Bev. you do understand that this here is just you "hanging out" with yourself and your keyboard, right? Do you get any actual interaction with people other than this? This is kind of the opposite of where everybody knows your name.
Come on Bev, put the keyboard down, turn off Fox News and get outside sometime. It'll broaden your horizens.
"........... put the keyboard down, turn off Fox News and get outside sometime..."
Uh, you're dispensing this advice to someone ELSE, 'bagger -boy?
Spanky its horizons not horizens! Since the E and the O are so far apart on the keyboard I'll mark that one up to intelligence and not just a simple typo.
I sure am Drive By. I think id'd do Bev a world of good to stop watching so much Fox and to stop thinking hanging here is like being with real people. Unless your actual name is Brive By Observer. Is it?
And thank you for the compliment. As I have repeatedly said - I love tea bagging. If you'd like I be happy to dispense some life advice to you, but I get the sense that you consider yourself "too cool for school."
And ucg, some slack brother. I absolutely suck at typing, having relied on ditation and a secretary (and spell her grammar and spelling, for years. But am trying to learn. I figure this is an excellent place. I can even use both hands now. Yeah for me!
I'm not going 'there'... lol
Feisty, you've been there so many times it has become boring. I understand your apprehension.
How astute of you bev...
Much like my own opinion of you and some other FR lib posters. Spin is always good when you hope that no one checks out your sources. Then there is silence. And your belief that the majority of conservatives are racists, while you are not? What a hoot!
Let's hope the Congress works with the President to spur economy and get the business sector growing again.
The business sector is growing all to be damned, creating millions of jobs, only problem is due to our lobbyists written tax code most of those millions of jobs being created are overseas.
Exactly! We nned the Congress and the President to push business to create those jobs here in the good old U.S.of A.! The tax incentives for business equipment is a step in the right direction. Let's hope the equipment they are buying is made here too!
Yeah, it's a shame. Here we thought after the 2006/2008 elections we had people in Washington representing Americans and not the lobbyists, and we thought those those pesky tax codes would have gotten changed. Never happened. It's sad really.
Hey, but we got free health care! And that's supposed to create bunch of jobs! Well, at least according to Dr. David Cutler.
Yeah JoAnna because we wouldn't want those hospitals and clinics getting paid for the services they provide.
What is it with you anyway?
That HCR repeal smokescreen the GOP leadership is spouting. What a joke not to mention a waste of time and tax payer dollars. Thanks again Agent Orange!
You are correct wakeup. It's not like the Obama administration quoted a Harvard PhD about ObamaCare providing 4 million jobs in the next 10 years, and that same Harvard PhD is the health care advisor, check that, senior health care advisor for the Obama.
No smokescreen there I'm sure.
JoAnna....where is the GOP Jobs plan? What is the job-creating alternative? What is your plan for stopping jobs from going overseas?
Well Tim, I guess the #1 thing to do for jobs would be to get a trillion dollar jobs stimulus bill rammed through Congress, no need to worry about what's in it either, we'll work the details later. We should extend jobless benefits from 24 weeks to 48 weeks, no, 70 weeks, no, 99 weeks, oh, lets just make them an entitlement, because we wouldn't want to force people to take a job because their benefits ran out. Devaluing the dollar would be helpful, well, until oil exceeds $100 a barrel. And to make sure oil goes over a $120 a barrel, lets stop all drilling for it off all of our coasts! Well we're at it, lets have the federal government run deficits of $1.4 trillion a year and not worry if it busts any budget, because there is no budget. And lets continually raise the debt ceiling, because, well, who really cares? And lets top it off with the Grand Daddy of all Entitlements, free health care for everyone!!
What? Those have all been tried? And they didn't work?
Well, maybe we should do the opposite.
Oh, and one more thing Tim. Lets play political games with people and not let them know with any certainty until the last minute what their tax rates will be, and at the last minute extend them, but just temporally, so the long term uncertainty remains. And lets constantly bash businesses and say they are corrupt, evil, and aren't paying their fair share in taxes, aren't hiring people, and have the President say about them "Whose a** should I kick today", that should help.
Those have been tried too? And they didn't work either?
Well, maybe we should to the opposite.
Here's some more Tim. Lets make the Obama administrations economic team consists only of career academics and career politicians. With them in place, they can implement all the great and wonderful economic theories they've been toiling with in university classrooms for years. It could be their grand experiement and the proof of their concepts using the greatest economy ever on the earth as their stage. They can all admire each others Nobel Peace Prizes well drinking fine wine and smoking their cigars, and maybe Obama will stop by with his Nobel to do the same!
That's been tried too? And that didn't work either?
Well maybe we should do the opposite.
Maybe we could simply climb into the way-back machine, and go back to the GWB days and see just how all this happened. Maybe set it on 'St Reagan', for an even better look, OR concentrate on how the attempts to fix it all have failed. You know it's a huge mess when all those things Smiff mentions STILL can't budge it.
"....not let them know with any certainty until the last minute what their tax rates will be,..."
[Hint for the people: "what they were for 12 years... (and counting)".]
".... lets stop all drilling for it off all of our coasts!"
[Or, just those wells that are a mile deep, and then just until we know what safeguards need to be in place.]
"....lets top it off with the Grand Daddy of all Entitlements, free health care for everyone!!"
[Hmmmm not sure how I did it, but I missed this one. Were can I sign up for free healthcare? I AM in the 'everyone' category, aren't I?]
[some-body's fuuuuul of shiiii-iit]
Come on Drive By tell us all about all the business planning you did over the last 4 months, and the effect of the d-bags in congress decision not to enact the tax "cuts" until a couple of weeks ago had.
You did engage in business planning, and therefore know of which you speak, right? Or do you work for someone else? Unsolicited advice- you are not going to get ahead working for others.
I hope the hell I can make a decision that ulitmately is affected by tax rates, when those rates have been in place for TEN YEARS!
Mis-direct, much?
BTW- the BIGGEST decision I made was to get in on that free health care.
(Couldn't find the sign-up forms, though. You got any you can spare?)
And lets change those tax codes that will get rid of all the loopholes that allow the businesses, the evil businesses, the ones that do not pay their fair-share in taxes, from sending all of our jobs overseas. The Liberals have been complaining about this forever, and so we need a Liberal President that will works with a Liberal Congress to finally pass these laws, tax code changes, and loophole closers, to finally stop these companies from shipping these jobs to China.
Oh, we have a Liberal President? We had a Liberal Congress, with strong super-majorities in each house of Congress? So, why didn't they change these laws, change the tax code, and close the loop holes? They were busy doing what? Going to Copenhagen lobbying to get the 2016 Olympics for Chicago? Going to Copenhagen to get Nobel Peace Prizes? (Spending a lot of time in Copenhagen apparently. Well at least Oprah wasn't there. What? She was there? Oh, gosh.) Spending tons of time on repealing DADT (how many jobs did that create?) and on an arms treaty with Russia (Russia? That would have been fine, maybe 30 years ago? Aren't the Russians are friends now anyway? And how many jobs did that create?). Well at least Russia ratified the treaty too. What, they haven't? They want more concessions? Who negotiated this again?
Well, maybe we should do the opposite.
Yeah, isn't it the greatest thing? It covers 30 million of the currently uninsured, creates 4 million jobs, and reduces the deficit. How about that! And if you can't afford it, and we all know you can't Buzz, someone else will pay for it for you (But not the unions, they're exempt from having to pay. It will probalby be one of those evil corporations that pays for you Buzz), so therefore it is free!!
What a sweet deal.
And it's all certified to be true and a fact by Dr. David Cutler, Harvard, MIT, with a P, H, freaking D, and is President Obama's senior (not some flunky junior advisor) economic health advisor. And the CBO says so too, so you cannot go wrong!
Mis-direction Drive By? You work for someone else. You are speculating on a decision you might have made. I bet that's easy and fun - you get to speculate on making pretend decisions.
Some of us don't get to have that kind of fun. We have to make real decisions that effect real people - our employees. That was made much harder by the monkeys in office playing with the tax code.
But hey, thank god Obama made the right call and "cut" those taxes.
tim of seattle - overseas jobs won't be coming back untill Americans can do the same jobs at equivalent or lower cost here in the USA
Preventing jobs from going oversea? Create an exportable product that both the American and overseas consumer is willing to `buy at a fair price.
GOP jobs plan - creating an economic atmosphere that promotes consumer confidence and addresses business concerns about future taxes and regulatory costs. Creating viable and specific plans for repairing/rebuilding infrastructure, forget about bridges going nowhere and other new infrastructure. BTW - seems that obama is starting to understand this since the lame duck session.
Yep drive by you sure are full of it. ROTFLMAO!!
To anyone with a brain on offshore drilling regulations (sorry drive by) By how many miles offshore of the US can someone drill for oil without US permission? No, I don't know the answer, but am looking for one.
No human conceived plan will ever be foolproof and risk free.
What a defeatist attitude. If we won't have jobs until Americans are living at the same subsistence level incomes as the slums of Bombay or the sweat shops of the Pacific Rim we are already doomed.
So the Democrats are taking credit for the 9%+ unemployment rate.
Fine with me.
Well we can always count on you JoAnna to find the black lining to the silver cloud.
Wow, JoAnna- are you THAT desparate to zing the Obama administraton? Simply.....W O W.
But, hey- keep it up. It just makes it all that much easier for people to totally discount your nonsense completely.
So JoAnna.....where is the GOP/Tea Bagger JObs Plan? Clue: They dont have one! How about the GOP ideas on jobs....can you at least let us know what they are? DAy 3 on the job and NO IDEAS or SOLUTIONS.....just empty promises. EPIC FAIL
GOP Priorities: (1) Lame Repeal attempt (2) Investigate Obama admin (3) Read Constitution (4) Repeal Finance reform .......meanwhile #1 with the Voters is JOBS and not one Job idea or proposal from the GOP.
The GOP is out of touch with the American worker
JoAnna?....Bueller?...Bueller?
See above Tim. If you're having trouble getting there, have a 4th grader help you with using the scroll bar.
".....have a 4th grader help you with using the scroll bar."
To quote 'Radar' O'Reily: "Ahhhh...that's highly significant"
Joanna is the light!
It's the FR liberals who paint the linng black. If one ever copied their worthless diatribe and posted it as a seperate blog it wouldn't take long for it to be collapsed for being of no value, inflamatory, disrespectfull, off topic and with the occassional racist rant by the chi town honeys'
A really uplifting human interest story this past week is about Ted Williams of Columbus, OH.
Living on the street for perhaps 20 years after he fell victim to alcohol and drug abuse.
His 'golden pipes' recorded by a passerby journalist, and now Mr. Williams is on his way to hopefully full recovery and stability. He was reunited with his Mom and has received several job offers for voice-overs. MSNBC has extended their kindness to Mr. Williams for voice-overs--'Lean Forward'!
Shouldn't we all Practice Random Acts of Kindness!
chilled- that story is the greatest. So is that Williams guy.
But- am I the only one that thinks he looks like a cross between Geraldo Rivera and Fred Gwynn (Herman Munster)??
chilled
A really uplifting human interest story this past week is about Ted Williams of Columbus, OH.
I hope that Ted Wiliams' golden voice gives voiceto so many others who fell on hard times.
So many times the homeless are portrayed as lazy bums when that is not the case. The person could have had a fire, been the victim of mother nature, or suffering from a mental illness.
Shouldn't we all Practice Random Acts of Kindness!
Yes, we should. I try as often as I can whenever I encounter some one I can help. Once I even bought a lady home , gave her a bath and clothes. My family thought Iwas crazy I used/use my skills as a retired nurse in a shelter and a social agency. Believe me I see/ saw a lot that will be break your heart.
Somehow, I feel that Ted's voice is going bring us closed together in the future.
I feel a little embarrassed to share this.
True dbo, he does have a face for radio. Fortunately he also has a most amazing VOICE for radio. I wish him well and hope to hear him often in the future.
DBO/Bev
I just couldn't figure out who he reminded me of...I like your Rivera/Munster reference....maybe that's it.
Bev, there is something wonderful about doing something nice/good for someone who least expects it, and on the up side the do-gooder also benefits, and there is no reason to feel embarrassed. I'm sure the woman was grateful!
yeah, but his 9 kids whom he abandoned might disagree with your assessment. I'm just hoping he can support his family now. "fell victim.." No responsibility there folks. I suppose them drugs just jumped into the man's throat?
Let's just hope he doesn't go back to the drugs.
Well spanky, you obviously cheer Octomom since no drug or alcohol abuse has surfaced. 14 kids and counting!
Nice!
But Beverly.....The government already makes sure that we do that by taking my money and giving it to those among us who feel they dont need to work because Uncle Barry will just pull a stash of "Obama money out and give it to them....
Oh, Spank- you're such a little ray of sunshine (or, micro-dot, or blotter, or purple-haze...)
Larry-2767404
But Beverly.....The government already makes sure that we do that by taking my money and giving it to those among us who feel they dont need to work because Uncle Barry will just pull a stash of "Obama money out and give it to them....
Larry
That's not always true. If the government was taking your money then we wouldn't have many homeless and needy people. You can't complain there buddy. no one getting much of your money. Government agencies are shutting down. My money and your money is not as good as the rich money which put the burden on us; which is just about nil now; even police, teachers and firemen have been cut. Since the rich hardly contribute due to their tax loop holes they are not pulling their weight. I'm assuming you are not rich because then you brag I'm not giving them my money there too.
Chilled, thanks for the kind words. I wanted to us the homeless lady as an example without seeing as though I was bragging. I still believe there is a silver lining in Ted's story for understanding and the togetherness. Before this greedy republicans came in we Americans we not afraid of humans who didn't look like us.
Spank
I sure you'll appreciate this metaphor. Can you get it Up?
I'm a huge Dugger fan. 19 kids - and gosh darn it but poppa Dugger is still around supporting the family. Course it's not a show about an urban family, so really not surprise there.
Plus you golden boy's wife was frigging blind when he ran out. Values.
Bev, it's up right now. And you money is just as good. I'd also wager that I pay a wee bit more in taxes than you. Just a guess. Remember - progressive tax system, with a bitch of an AMT. So, Bev, how do you deal with the AMT?
Drive By, got any wisdom to share of AMT abatement?
The dude knows how he looks - that's why he chose RADIO! His face wouldn't be seen, you see.
DBO,
Obscure references typically go over most peoples heads. lol
Spanky-
Bev, it's up right now.
Man you got game!! that just proves you can teach an old dog new tricks; especially when you use that speech feature on your computer.
And you money is just as good. I'd also wager that I pay a wee bit more in taxes than you. Just a guess. Remember - progressive tax system, with a bitch of an AMT. So, Bev, how do you deal with the AMT?
Are you hesitatingly negating being a redistribution of wealth advocate the Fox Echo Chamber reverberates daily?
You know long before GW, St Raygun redistribution of wealth happened for the fat cats. As long as prosperity is shared and you got yours what is the problem?
Good night
Sweet Dreams
for those of you feel you dont or shouldnt pay taxes go to somalia where no one will protect your fat butt and there are no roads to drive on. your, i got mine attitude and screw everyone else, is what is bringing this great country to its knees. keep pushing to destroy the middle class and someday they will show up on your doorstep with guns and torches. america is a land of immigrants who are looking for a new start. while they may not find it in one place they move on and try again. for those of you, who feel they dont owe anyone anything, think again. its too easy to lose it all. pay forward
The Center On Budget and Policy Priorities:
Recovery Act Kept 4.5 Million People Out of Poverty in 2009, Helping Keep Poverty Flat
Our analysis of data that the Census Bureau released this week shows that the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was one of the single most effective pieces of antipoverty legislation in decades. In 2009, the Recovery Act’s temporary expansion of the safety net kept 4.5 million people out of poverty.
On Tuesday, the Census Bureau released several new poverty figures for 2009 that rely on alternative, broader poverty measures — ones that include tax credits and non-cash benefits. Under almost all of these alternative measures, the safety net as a whole, including the Recovery Act expansions, prevented any rise in poverty in 2009, despite the deep recession and very high unemployment. (In one of the eight measures, poverty went up but by only a fraction of the official figures, 0.4 percentage points. None of the other measures was statistically distinguishable from the year before.)
We examined the Census data to see how much of that poverty-reducing impact came from the Recovery Act expansions. We found that they kept more than 4.5 million people out of poverty in 2009.
____________________
Again, The Recovery Act was one of the single most effective pieces of antipoverty legislations in decades. This gets to the heart of how I see America and our government and what they can do during these tough times economically.
Abraham Lincoln:
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
And when they cannot help themselves, as we saw these past few years, there was a safety net for them. Thank you President Obama. Here's hoping the real recovery has begun. And more & more people are getting back to work.
It has been a tough road for so many.
"The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy organization working at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals."
better questions would be... Why quote Lincoln when the liberals want more government and redistributution of wealth. Seems that Lincoln is against everything todays libs aim to do.
Destroy the rich, pull down the wage payer, inciting class hatred by condeming the rich and coddling the poor. Then the libs are proud sponsors of permanently giving aid to those who can and should do for themselves.
Many FR libs relish the concept of taking away man's initiative and independence
The second question would be... Then why is our poverty rate and welfare still growing? I hardly think that 2010 was a banner year.
BTW - THANK YOU PAT OF BOSTON for the Lincoln quote I found it very inspiring as well as a concise summary of how many FR liberals wish to undermine and destroy America.
Thank you Mr. president for all of the hard work. 2012 is going to be sweet as you win re-election.
With the additions to his staff of business friendly staffers, do you believe the Dude-in-Chief will move more towards the center to help the economy recover, or do you believe his shift will have a negative position with the far left leaners?
During the next year Obama will need to create a high number of jobs in the private sector to off-set his negative image on this subject. As you recall, during the first two years of his administration, he and his leaders in the House and Senate did not accomplish much in this area. Nor did the stimulus programs save jobs as reported. Counting positions seemed to be a laborous issue.
With all of the issues we have in this country, Obama will need to walk on water to win re-election in my opinion.
So SafeCracker, you want More Government Employee's?
Is that the Hireing by President Obama you speak of? If so, you better ask JS1 for advice.
rick,ky - public sector jobs ARE government jobs
Private sector jobs are what pays the taxes to support the government jobs.
Definition of touts:" To solicit customers, votes or patronage, especially in a brazen way." His tout did not include our state. Unemployment is back on the rise.
The Obama administration had to change the way the unemployment rate was measured to show a decline. They admitted that they no longer count the 500 thousand that quit looking for work. They also haven't admitted a lot of the jobs in Dec were part time holiday jobs that will be lost in January. True figure of unemployment is between 17% and 20%.
Don't forget about those whose benefits have expired, they are also falling off of the unemployment rolls and will continue to do so thruout 2011.
"The Obama administration had to change the way the unemployment rate was measured to show a decline. They admitted that they no longer count the 500 thousand that quit looking for work."
You got a credible source for that?
What is wrong the Press?? Why isn't this news - this huge tax break to business?? Sometimes I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. A 100 percent deduction for equipment investment? Are you people hearing this???
that is obamas answer to being supportive of business and was part of the lame duck tax bill.
one thing i agree with you American the lame duck tax bill was lame. The significance of the payroll tax reduction which changes nothing. The payroll deduction will mean about 10 dollars more in your paycheck. Millions to big business which also means nothing since they are sitting on trillions of dollars that they have made during this recovery.
American the GDP is alot to crow about when you are comparing our situation to 2008. Interesting you neocons will tout a number out of thin air and then when there is some mmovement toward decreasing that number youminimize the significance. If a Rep was in the white house you would be shouting from the roof tops!
oxford joe - isn't a recession defined in part by GDP? Quarterly GDP's can be found on Gov. web sites just as jobs lost in the recession can also be found. If you are so hot on attacking my estimates (#'s presented on bloomberg tv on 1/7/2011) why not give us the exact nyumbers, down to single digits that the federal gov't lists.
Perhaps you would also like to give us a consensus of economists that say A GDP of 2.5 - 3% really spurs job growth. A gdp of 5-6 % would be something to crow about, regardless of party A significant increase in exports not related to aircraft, agricultural equipment and soft commodities would also be welcome news.
A republican in the WH, looking forward to 2012.
My argument would still be the same (R or D) numbers are still not enough to create good job growth.
At least I am sure that the republicans would have paid less attention to social programs and wealth re-distribution and placed more emphasis on creating economic policies that would spur business and job growth in the private sector. Since they didn't win we will never know what would have happened on that different path.