Funded by Koch Industries:

A.L.E.C. works on behalf of "big polluters, job outsourcers, and banksters and hurts unions, poor people and voters....by bringing together corporate CEOs and lobbyists with elected lawmakers to come up with custom-made legislation."

"Since 2007 - the Virginia General Assembly has introduced 50 different pieces of legislation that are 'carbon copies' of model legislation written by ALEC." (Hartmann)

Virginia taxpayers paid almost one quarter of a million dollars in airflight costs for GOP lawmakers (with a few exceptions) to attend American Legislative Exchange Council conferences across the U.S.

Is it OK for our representatives to pass legislation - concocted by A.L.E.C. on behalf of corporate agendas & profits - to go unchallenged, no matter the consequences to ordinary Americans?

*** Another positive jobs report:

*gasp*

How DARE the economy continue to improve despite the GNOP best attempts to keep it in the toilet?

Slow & steady it goes...

Finally, a halfway decent jobs report. It’s a good start to 2012 and I’m the one that said on Tuesday that I was looking forward to a happy and prosperous new year. If businesses are hiring, they must be anticipating profits and that means higher stock prices and higher dividend payments. Works for me.

I’m sure the FR lefty liberals will be in an orgasmic frenzy today celebrating the news. They should really also consider that 200,000 new jobs is barely enough to keep up with population growth in the American workforce. And, while 8.5% unemployment is better than 8.6%, 8.5% unemployment still sucks and, if you are one of the unemployed that still doesn’t have a job, it’s a pretty meaningless change. As reported on MSDNC:

The economy would need even faster job growth over a sustained period to make a noticeable dent in the pool of 24.4 million Americans who remain either out of work or underemployed 2-1/2 years after the end of the 2007-09 recession.

An improvement in the U.S. labor market is crucial for global markets because American consumer spending accounts for a fifth of the world's economic activity. A recovery in the U.S. would also mitigate the impact of the sharp slowdown in Europe.

With the labor market still far from healthy, the debt crisis in Europe unresolved and tensions over Iran threatening to drive up oil prices, the U.S. economy faces stiff headwinds.

Economists predict the recovery will lose a step early this year after expanding in the fourth quarter at what is expected to be the fastest pace in 1-1/2 years.

The employment report will offer little comfort to the Obama administration and could provide Republicans with more ammunition to attack the government's handling of the economy.

President Barack Obama's chances of a second term in office could depend on the health of the labor market.

*** Another positive jobs report:

And Republicans wept........

Unemployment Numbers for Dec 2011

Rate = 8.5%

+200,000 Total Jobs added

+212,000 Private Sector

-12,000 Public Sector

Weekly hours worked up 0.2%

Revisions for Oct & Nov -8,000

Total Unemployed and underemployed down to 15.2%

Great news on the jobs report. GREAT news!

And Dennis haven't had time to translate, but read that the ADP may be 350,000.

The right wing used to oppose any kind of national identification card. But A.L.E.C. has changed all that.

Today, legislation has been introduced in 34 states that imposes government-issued photo ID requirement. Thanks to such legislation constructed by A.L.E.C., Republican governors and state legislatures are pushing laws that restrict our ability to vote - and target people of color, youth, seniors and low-income citizens.

So please try not to grind your teeth:

A.L.E.C.'s founder Paul Weyrich explained "Our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down."

the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009

Maybe keeping millions out of work to put one man out of a job, wasn't such a great idea after all... lol

Good morning, everyone.

Terrific news on the jobs front. I only hope that holds true in my fair state, as well, as much as I would like to see our noble governor recalled.

But from the Heartland this morning, I bring you slightly different news.

Most of you are probably already aware of the three recent arrests made in the John Doe investigation into Scotty Walker's little nest of vipers, so I won't bore you with that, although it does make entertaining reading, especially the third arrest, which was largely collateral damage.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/walker-staff-probe-leads-to-arrests/article_a334c030-37b8-11e1-86a4-0019bb2963f4.html

Two men, including a former top aide to Gov. Scott Walker, were arrested Thursday and charged with embezzling from veterans groups, the latest break in the ongoing John Doe investigation into Walker's current and former staff.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm said former Walker aide Tim Russell and Kevin Kavanaugh, the former treasurer of a Milwaukee-area veterans group, are accused of taking money meant for veterans, wounded soldiers and families of those killed in action to spend on expensive trips and personal items.

Another Walker staffer reported the missing money, sparking the John Doe investigation in May 2010, a court document shows.

A third man, Brian Pierick, Russell's longtime partner, was also arrested Thursday as part of the probe and faces charges of felony child enticement and causing a child to expose his genitals. Pierick's alleged crimes were uncovered during the John Doe investigation when law enforcement officials seized iPhones and computers belonging to Pierick and Russell, who live together.

Some days it just pays to get up.

And even more entertaining is this little piece of news about Governor Scotty's favorite law firm. Which comes as no news to most of us who work the legal business in this town.

http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=35608

On Tuesday, a federal court rejected the arguments of Michael Best attorneys who have been trying to keep lobbyist and former GOP Rep. Joe Handrick, a consultant during the redistricting process, from being deposed, and insisting that documents about the process are privileged and off-limits to Democrats who are suing over the new maps. The three-judge panel in Milwaukee took a stern tone with McLeod and the rest of the team for continuing to hide information.

"Quite frankly, the Legislature and the actions of its counsel give every appearance of flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to hide from both the court and the public the true nature of exactly what transpired in the redistricting process," the panel wrote in its order.

The court ordered the attorneys to cover costs so that these would not be passed on to taxpayers. The taxpayers, by the way, are already out $400,000 to Michael Best to pay for those secret redistricting sessions.

Redistricting is just one of many duties Michael Best attorneys have shouldered for Wisconsin's Republican cabal.

McLeod got in a little hot water recently when he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he had a standard billing arrangement with Gableman, and that Gableman paid his bills. The firm's own general counsel had to write a letter clarifying that Gableman never paid.

After receiving an estimated tens of thousands of dollars worth of free legal help, Gableman supported Michael Best clients in five out of nine cases, more than any other judge. In two cases he cast the deciding vote in favor of people represented by Michael Best.

One of those was the collective bargaining case, which decided the fate of Walker's new law. Gableman joined the 4-3 majority that allowed the collective bargaining law to take effect — a win for Walker's attorney and Gableman's, Eric McLeod.

It is not a stretch to look at it this way: Michael Best got its man on the court, a corrupt judge got free legal advice in return for favors, and the taxpayers end up paying a whole lot of billable hours to Michael Best to represent Scott Walker, keeping it all in the family.

Puts a whole new spin on the phrase "Open for Business," doesn't it.

Yes, indeed, it does.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I've missed you.

Albany Joe:

I'm sure the FR lefty liberals will be in an orgasmic frenzy today celebrating the news. They should really also consider that 200,000 new jobs is barely enough to keep up with population growth in the American workforce. And, while 8.5% unemployment is better than 8.6%, 8.5% unemployment still sucks and, if you are one of the unemployed that still doesn't have a job, it's a pretty meaningless change. As reported on MSDNC:

Sigh.

I believe this is what WE'VE been trying to tell YOU, Joey. For about 3 years now.

But yes, as you can see, we're all positively giggling over the news.

And happy new year to you. ;-)

So Obama is running against Congress this time around. That seems to be an odd selection seeing that "Congress" will not be on the ballot against Barry this November. The Liberals around here from Morons Inc. (and you know who you are) say that Congress has "the lowest ratings ever", well, that's true if you don't count when Pelosi and Reid were both in charge of Congress. So to that end, Obama has to force these phony fights against "Congress", like doing recess appointments when Congress in not in recess. What is even more phony is that Obama cannot take responsibility for his actions, his record setting deficits, the massive increase in poverty under his watch, the violence he left when he pulled out of Iraq, the ignoring of the threat from Iran, the defunding of Social Security, and the unconstitutional ObamaCare. And Liberals - always fighting. Obama was campaigning (again on the taxpayer dime) in a Shaker Heights Ohio high school yesterday, and he told the students "I want you to know you're the reason that I ran for this office in the first place. You remind me what we are still fighting for". The students laughed at him. Even they have figuring out who's going to pay for the mess Obama has made in the past 3 years. Even they know their futures have been ruined by the man that says he's "fighting" for them.

The Morons Inc. Libs around here think Obama will easily be re-elected. Why they think that is a mystery. The man that rolled into office on his phony Hope and Change bandwagon has since that time been the most divisive President in modern times. Always blaming others, taking no responsibility, picking fights instead of working together. That's Obama. Why would anyone want 4 more years of that?

Obama 2012 - "Everyone Should Be On Food Stamps"

Yeah!!!! Amy, aint that the truth. Their talking points, ring more hollow as time and the facts come up.

Clean up in aisle 2 - another GOP head exploded!

"The US economy adds more jobs than expected, while the unemployment rate falls to 8.5%".

That is good news indeed. The Rerpublicans are watching there chances for

re-election go down the tubes. Electorate knows it was a damn thing they did that is bringing this economy back. Afterall, it was Mitt Romeny who advocated letting the auto industry fail and go bankrupt!

Imagine if President Obama had listened to Mitt! OMG.

Bye-bye Mitt, Rick, Rick, Newt et al.

Obama/Biden 2012

(Where is our Beverly?)

So what was up two days ago, when photo IDs were not required at the Republican caucuses in Iowa?

Would it have made sense for Republicans to disenfranchize their own voters? No, they only want to disenfranchize DEMOCRATS.

The news just keeps getting better. Jobs report positive (drops to 8.5%), President Obama goes after Congress and Romney, and did he really win Iowa, recess appointments and on and on. It's just getting better all the time.

The fight is on. Go President Obama.

Obama in 2012.

Anna Molly: Does Walker ever make any statements about the criminal behavior of these people?

The economy has improved as small buisiness has been creating jobs! And I can assure you that this Goldman Sachs loving president has not done much in the way of helping the small buisiness man!

@ Backhouse -- I believe it was Rachel Maddow who embarrassed the Iowa attorney general with questions about that ID thing. To deflect attention, he went on and on about how the Iowa legislature is working hard on eradicating voter fraud, while he couldn't come up with ANY examples of said voter fraud. The best he could do was point to other states and mumble vaguely about, well, we need to make sure it doesn't happen.

Too funny if it wasn't for the fact that these idiots are in control in a lot of places.

@ New Day -- Yes, I believe he said of these recent arrests that he was "disappointed" to hear about the allegations --

i.e., -- he was disappointed that people got caught. ;-)

But on the whole, he's pretty busy doing out-of-state fundraising right now, where he persuades his out-of-state donors to give money in order to fight the evil out-of-state forces that he imagines are trying to unseat him.

It's all pretty dysfunctional, really.

Good to see some decent jobs news this month. I don't know how much of it is seasonal, but given that the retail segment only added about 30,000 of the 200,000 jobs, I wouldn't think it's substantial.

Now, what surprises me is that the unemployment rate dropped. At some point, when people who have stopped looking for work start looking for work again, the unemployment rate will necessarily rise. And, counterintuitively, that will be a good thing. It's just a quirk in how the unemployment rate is calculated, since it doesn't treat those who have given up looking for work as unemployed. Now, the question is, when will this rise in the unemployment rate occur? It is probably not the best measure of the health of the job market, but it is the one most often cited and best understood by the general public. It will definitely be something to watch.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Huntsman/Grimey 2012!!

Welcome back Anna Molly! The argument about voter fraud is wearing thin, in NY it is like 0.000003%. Then it turns out to be bad handwriting or unusual names.

And

Barack/Joe 2012

It must SUCK to hear news like this. Right, JS1? I'm sorry your morning was ruined.

Maybe you can take it out on your servants. You do have servants to beat up, don't you?

Should be Grimey/Huntsman 2012 :)

Not surprising Anna Molly. Thanks, and a good new year to you.

Louis J, well said.

Backhouse, nice post; ALEC wrote the Voter ID boiler plate used by so many GOP-run states.

Dennis, thanks for all the numbers. Good news for the economy. Frustrating to think how much better it would be IF republicans in Congress had compromised occasionally and actually worked for the country instead of working to defeat President Obama.

Huntsman/Grimey 2012!!

Hey, Grimey! I just caught that--have you been doing that a while and I've just missed it? Very funny. I love it.

I've missed you

I missed my neighbor to the North & friend! ;o)

I'm not sure it was the Iowa Attorney General Rachel interviewed; he's much older and he's a democrat and to my knowledge has been opposed to the Voter ID stuff the GOP is trying to implement. Our attorney general rarely does interviews especially TV ones. I could be wrong but I think it was another Iowa GOPer who made those comments.

Huntsman/Grimey 2016!!

Huntsman is the only Republican running I wouldn't slit my throat on the day after the election, if he won. And Grimey goes with everything.

As the economy improves, albeit at a snail's pace, the narratives of the two parties must change, especially the narrative of the party out of power. It is entirely possible that the jobless rate (even with the return of the disaffected) could continue to descend throughout the year.

Despite the rhetoric, the only real "uncertainty" that holds back business hiring is uncertainty about CUSTOMERS. When business is good, you don't worry about "over regulation", you make sure you're not letting sales walk out the door. What do you say if you're running against an incumbent President with an improving economy when that is your issue and argument for change?

If the economy continues to show improvement, the administration will claim that their policies are working and that we should "stay the course". Conversely, that changing Presidents and policies would constitute "rocking the boat" when we are on course for recovery.

How will an improving jobs picture change the political landscape for the challengers during the primary season? What would 7.9% UNEMPLOYMENT in October 2012 mean for the two parties?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

“You got the trifecta -- more people working, wages up and the average work week up,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group Inc. in Pittsburgh, who accurately forecast the December payrolls gain. “You can’t really argue that that isn’t a sign of significant improvement in the job market.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-06/u-s-payrolls-gain-more-than-expected-200-000-jobless-rate-falls-to-8-5-.html

Grimey -

I second phinephancy's nomination - it should definitely be Grimey/Huntsman 2012. Oh, and can I be Secretary of Defense if you win? I saw an interview with Herman Cain the other day where he said he was qualified for that job because he'd actually been on a Navy ship once. Well, I've not only been on the tour of the USS Olympia once, I even went Christmas shopping in Annapolis last year! So can I be your SecDef? :)

Michael,

5 straight months of 100,000 job growth.

Another increase in manufacturing jobs … the longest consecutive monthly increase in manufacturing since the 70’s.

I think Mitch McConnell is a better comedian that Steven Colbert. Richard Cordray got a majority of 53 votes in the Senate for the consumer protection agency and McConnell thwarted the will of the majority with another of his routine abuses of the filibuster to block the nomination. Now McConnell is screeching about how Obama is defying the will of "the people" by going around GOP roadblocks with his recess appointments. What a comedian ol' Mitch is.

Or maybe he wasn't joking. Maybe by "the people" he meant the word in the same sense that Mitt Romney does: the people who run the big corporations. They're the only people who count to the GOP once they've conned the voters into voting for them.

Amy B. Portland, ME

Huntsman/Grimey 2016!!

Huntsman is the only Republican running I wouldn't slit my throat on the day after the election, if he won

They have hotlines for the unstable....never be afraid to ask for help.

Michael1969: They have hotlines for the unstable....never be afraid to ask for help.

If anyone would know, it would be you.

Hey, Houston! How was your "time out"? Sorry I got you into trouble. ;-)

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio

Michael,

5 straight months of 100,000 job growth.

Another increase in manufacturing jobs … the longest consecutive monthly increase in manufacturing since the 70’s.

Awesome! Be sure to thank the Consevatives in the house for making it happen. They were the force that stopped the insanity and opened the floodgates for businesses!

President Barack Obama's chances of a second term in office could depend on the health of the labor market.

Not anymore than the republicans in Congress that have blocked all his attempts at a significant jobs bill.

Joe in Albany

Joe I completely agree with you, for me a construction estimator the last 2 years have been some of the worse since i finished college and looked to get in my field.

I, like you know that 8.5 still sucks, but whats different is that the trend for this coming year has not been this good since 2008, all we need Joe, is for the politicals Dem's and reps to build on this and try not to halt or in-peed this growth playing politics.

Amy B. Portland, ME

Huntsman/Grimey 2016!!

Huntsman is the only Republican running I wouldn't slit my throat on the day after the election, if he won

Michael: They have hotlines for the unstable....never be afraid to ask for help.

Walking over "burning coals"? Slitting ones throat?

My Amy, this is really a life/death struggle for you. I guess one could call you "fully invested" (but probably not in any IRA).

Jack...

I think I've done the "Huntsman/Grimey 2012" thing once or twice. I think I'd be a great vice presidential candidate as I am pretty positive I can deliver the votes of most of my neighborhood in the swing state of Florida!! ;-)

Dangerfield...

You bring up an interesting scenario. What if unemployment creeps down, but is still high from a historical perspective? My personal thought is that the unemployment rate is going to stay near where it is or decrease very slightly due to people beginning to search for jobs that were previously not counted. However, if your scenario took place, perhaps the GOP candidate takes a historical perspective...talk about how long it's been since the recession ended and how unemployment is still relatively high. Perhaps do things like compare the average unemployment rate during the last several presidencies. Remember, they are not trying to persuade economic analysts to vote for them, they are trying to persuade the general public. And simple statistical measures are usually the best way to do that. Just my thoughts on how they might campaign in October in that situation you brought up.

Not anymore than the republicans in Congress that have blocked all his attempts at a significant jobs bill.

PASS THE BILL! PASS THE BILL!

LMAO....'member that?....significant job bill?!?! yeah right.

Yes lots of people remember that, they also remember Boehner screaming where are the jobs, they remember and that is the problem for Republicans, if unemployment goes up they take the blame, if it goes down Obama gets the credit. Politically he wins either way, unless congress makes a move and they are quickly running out of time to accomplish what they promised, but hey maybe there is something left that they can name Ronald Reagen, that might help.

My Amy, this is really a life/death struggle for you. I guess one could call you "fully invested" (but probably not in any IRA).

LOL Good one!

Hey you with the block-buster self-portrait on your Moniker,

This is what you call SIGNIFICANT: The President's American Jobs Act would create two million jobs and put our GDP up 2%.

What has GOP done to get folks back to work? Anything? What have they done to prevent folks getting back to work? How many have GOP governors fired on the pretext of budget cuts and given the money to corporations? Plenty.

Republican senators did not allow the President's AJA even to come up for DEBATE. They blocked it 3 times.

And GOP blocked 2 other Jobs Bills earlier this year. That is also 'significant'.

Dont forget the jobs that are open that people are not qualified for. We have been looking to hire 1st level design engineers and have been only able to find about 10% of current need. There are plenty of Engineers that can follow a CAD drawing and build something from it, however the concept and 1st level engineers we are getting are mostly Asian and eastern European and require bringing them here on sponsored work visa's .

Forrest Grump 2.0

they also remember Boehner screaming where are the jobs

True Dat....But if geography serves me correct, The Speaker only needs to appease and garner votes in one district in Ohio whilst Mr. Obama needs to grab the rest of the nation.

Politics is local......you libs never listen.

The libs have been screaming "where are the jobs the republicans promised last election?" Now we see a little growth and it's Obama's doing? Please explain your thinking. December has always seen in increase in jobs, it's called part time retail work.

I look around and don't see the doom and gloom I have been hearing for so long. I do live in an area that really hasn't been effected too badly by our recession but how many of you really know that many people who are out of work that really want to work? The dems spread doom and gloom until it is time to take credit for a tiny uptick? It's all to retain power. What a pathetic thing for our country.

The shellacking will continue in 2012. Just wait and see. Americans are not as dumb as liberals wish they were.

Mr. Pseudo-Dark Knight lingo:

Dat dat datdatdat, Dat Dat.

If the economy continues to improve, which it appears it will barring another Euro disaster setbacks, the GOP candidates will have to shift from the "Obama destroyed the economy" mantra back to those "values" issues and tax breaks for the rich.

If the GOP House and Senate leaders had backed half of the White House or Democrat proposals to help the economy instead of blocking bills and being obstructionists, then they could have taken some credit for the recovery. Since they bet totally on Obama failing and the economy continuing to get worse, they won't be able to run on the economy at all in November.

IT MUST SUCK TO BE THE GOP

I mean really. They don't like the chosen one, Mitt Romney, and they keep casting about looking for anybody but Romney to nominate but Rove and the RNC have already chosen Mitt because it's his turn. What's a republican to do?

And Mitt's DOA because he's a moderate and a Mormon and the Tea Party fringe and the evangelical wing of the party just cannot hold their noses and vote for him. What's a republican to do?

They are supposed to be the party of BIG BUSINESS, HIGH PROFITS and the last two jobs reports make it look like business is GOOD, which means PROFITS are up for those JOB CREATORS they keep talking about. But that's BAD, because a growing economy helps Obama. What's a republican to do?

The GOP Tea Party can't let Obama "win one" on Capitol Hill so they have to oppose and obstruct everything the President tries to do, but the voters are blaming the GOP for the WORST CONGRESS IN HISTORY. What's a republican to do?

I'm telling you, being in the GOP in 2012 is like being a Christian Scientist with appendicitis. There are just no good choices and it's only going to get worse for them.

IT MUST SUCK TO BE IN THE GOP.

I feel sorry for them, I really do.

Obama/Biden 2012

We know that putting GOP/Koch/Norquist/ALEC where they *WOULD* like to be:

*WOULD* be the downfall of the United States' economy and the globe.

Heck, they can't even pass a couple of JOBS bills that would bring revenue into the Treasury and distract from the fact that they don't want their benefactors - 300,000 Americans, some of whom would like to contribute if it weren't for Norquist - to contribute teeny-tiny revenues even as they are crying about the Deficits their party created over the last 30 years.

The electorate hates this congress Michael1969, and will likely take their frustration out on the republican nominee, if not their personal representative in Congress or both. Obama's approval rating is 5x better than Congress, people are not blaming him as much as republicans wish them to, they have Waterlooed themselves.

@ Backhouse and Feisty -- Thanks for the welcome home, my friends. :-*

Michael........ Get back on your meds. It's not good for you to stop. It causes delusions and wild statements and disorientation.

Forrest,

I agree 100% with what you said in #1.53, HOWEVER, please explain to me how that equates to congressional changes. The majority of Americans dislike congress BUT think THEIR congressman is awesome.

Nothing is going to change save for a few numbers.

Ed-1883977

Michael........ Get back on your meds. It's not good for you to stop. It causes delusions and wild statements and disorientation.

LOL lollipop licker. A regurgitated Fiesty line is your best retort. At least we can respect the fact that she comes up with her own material....lol

If the economy continues to improve, which it appears it will barring another Euro disaster setbacks, the GOP candidates will have to shift from the "Obama destroyed the economy" mantra back to those "values" issues and tax breaks for the rich.

No. They will run on the deficit and debt. Also, if the Bush tax rates are allowed to expire then the new Administration will be faced with a huge increase in middle class taxes. The chances of cutting a deal which allows only the top tax rate to increase is minimal. I think that if unemployment is around 7.5% and trending down the President will be re-elected, however, if it is trending up I think he will lose. His problem either way is that the Federal government is bankrupt ($1T of deficit a year), and so any ambitions of being a transformational President will be limited.

I agree that Europe is a big unknown at the moment and potentially the most significant player in the President's re-election is Angela Merklel.

"Another positive jobs report?"Gotta love those libbies! No one but the old liberal media could spin/make a silk purse out of a sows (feisty?) ear!

I look forward to a change of administration so a 6-7% unemployment rate is the norm, not the 8.5-9.5% 'norm' under obama's failed economic policies which by the way, have aided his deep pocket backers to the detriment of the middle class!

Wow - a lot of libbies celebrating 8.5% Unemployment rate! That's quite an achievement. I guess this is Obama's "Mission Accomplished" moment!

Anybody remember John Kerry running against george bush with his 5% unemployment calling it the worst economy since Herbert Hoover.

In a git along go along economy I would agree with you Michael but just as democrats were punished in 2010 for not immediately focusing on jobs when they had the chance I believe republicans may in for the same treatment. My belief is bolstered by recall elections in WI and the defeat of the governors agenda in Ohio, its all about jobs, that is what republicans sold in 2010, but then failed to deliver on. People that are unemployed don't care if the government is in debt, they are worried about their debt and many never remember a time when the government was not in debt. People who are unemployed don't care about taxes, if you have no income taxes become the first thing on your list of last things to worry about. Had republicans floated a jobs bill that spent money on infrastructure they would be in terrific shape, but they did not, they were too afraid it might help Obama, so they could not help themselves either. I think they will be punished, and I don't think they will be rewarded with the executive branch.

Once again, I find myself a lonely philosophical genius crying in the wilderness.

IT MUST SUCK TO BE ME.

:-) Naaaah. Life is good, I'm not in the GOP. :-)

Obama/Biden 2012

Forrest,

I believe WI and OH are more about the left and the unions feeling threatened than it is about jobs, but maybe I'm wrong.

Regarding the 2010 elections, I must strongly disagree with you. That election was about 70% of the people disagreeing with the smoke-filled, backroom politics that gave us Obamacare. I have a hunch I will be proven correct come July 2012.

To prove my point, please direct me to a link to the existance of the "Tea Party" before 2008. Very slim pickin's. The Tea Party grew out of a very disgruntled right. No different than Gov. Walker is squirming in his chair today because of a disgruntled left.

Obama and Walker should prove to everyone that Americans do not like extremes.

Not that I want to rain on the parade or the democrat love fest going on here, but remember people, this is an ELECTION YEAR!!!

And it looks to be one where the perception is one of ALL or NOTHING on both sides Scorched Earth tactics.

The President is a formidable campaigner any doubts about that just look at what he did to the Clinton Political Machine, no small task. AND he has been campaigning now for three months, nothing he does will not have a reelection motive or can be spun into one.

There is only one campaign tactic that will work against this type of campaign, does any one really think Mitts has it in him.

OMG, you just have to love joanna(agent)smith. She can come up with some of the crappiest, ol' rerun garbage to bang out onto the blogosphere. Once again:

the massive increase in poverty under his watch, the violence he left when he pulled out of Iraq, the ignoring of the threat from Iran, the defunding of Social Security, and the unconstitutional ObamaCare. And Liberals - always fighting. Obama was campaigning (again on the taxpayer dime)

Nearly all of this can be attributed to a collapsed economy, a "just say 'no'" GOP or a warmongering prior administration. I will say that the president should have put economy before HC bill and I don't like the HC bill without the public option (which the GOP put forward in the 90's btw). Otherwise, does anyone still believe this typical "rightwing at all costs", gop robot, propaganda anymore?

And since when has any sitting potus funded their own re-election campaign? Agent, please....

The job news is great... depending on the viewpoint you are standing with. While I am happy it's reported that 200,000 of our fellow Americans are back to work, the numbers don't tell the whole story. How many of these jobs are above the minimum wage? Nobody knows for sure at this point. How many of these jobs in December were from the holiday increase that happens every year? How many will be let go now that the holidays are over? See, before you liberals all start chanting Obama, Obama, Obama... you might want to do some deeper research, or wait a bit to see if this isn't just a fluxuation.

Let's break the numbers down. 24.4 million out of work. 200,000 found new jobs... A little quick division... 200,000/24.4 million = 0.0081 that were put back into the workforce. Kinda, almost, sorta throws water at the figures doesn't it?

I know... all you liberals that are imagining a sure re-election for Obama will just call me names, or say that I am never happy about what Obama did.... but what did Obama do? Name the legislation, or the great act he performed to raise the job count. I watch the news pretty closely through several sources and from what I recall the only actual act he performed was starting his vacation a little later than Moosechelle and the kiddies. There was no groundbreaking high wire act, or any sort of move to get jobs moving again. Not from Obama, anyway.

The only actual act I recall from Obama is requesting another raise in the debt ceiling. I don't think that helped create jobs.

Well Michael if the elecorate is so enamored with the tea party and their agenda then why do they have the lowest approval rating ever recorded, if what you say is true they should have one of the highest.

then why do they have the lowest approval rating ever recorded, if what you say is true they should have one of the highest.

Great point. I would answer the question with another then.

How is it that Mr. Obama cruised to victory in 2008 but is being challenged with low approval numbers and possible defeat four years later?

My humble opinion with both questions resides in my previous statement, Americans do not like extremists, no matter which side of the political aisle.

I believe this is the first time I have seen the jobs report that didn't mention how many people came off the unemployment rolls because they have just quit looking for work. I believe if you add in the unemployed who have quit looking, underemployed and those temporarily employed the rate is about 15.2%.

Since he is 5x better off than Congress my answer is that he not an extremest, he has been more than willing to compromise on every major issue, to the point of angering some of his supporters, it is Congress that is recognized as extreme in their absolute unwillingness to meet him halfway on any issue. The republican media has done their best to paint him as extreme but much of the electorate is not buying that, they see he has been willing to compromise, he is not the one that looks so extreme and unyielding. Hell the tea party just recently blocked their own speaker, he can no longer speak for his own party, how extreme is that?

JAS1 lies and distorts truth again (post 1:10). I am very familiar with Shaker Heights High School. Have family and friends in that area and know people who were there. They loved President Obama, embraced his message, and treated with him with the dignity and respect as POTUS. Something the GOP/TP & Rush Limbaugh sheeple know nothing about and resent for this president.

Any laughter would have been directed at the so-called GOP revolving door of circus candidates who think they have a shot at beating him.

GOP is so desperate, they want so badly for the American people to believe the lies they spin out! No one is fooled. Obama 2012!

Happy New Year, one and all. I've been largely off the boards since about Thanksgiving, and glad to be able to come back for a bit. But overall, it seems little has changed. Some thoughts:

ssmike

The economy has improved as small buisiness has been creating jobs! And I can assure you that this Goldman Sachs loving president has not done much in the way of helping the small buisiness man!

This is arrant nonsense. President Obama in 2010 succeeded in getting enacted several initiatives for the small business sector. He tried, but was blocked by Republicans, to renew one that had been extremely effective.

One of his initiatives generated more than 360,000 jobs, and literally saved a town from losing its industrial base. Another one, which is still operating, rewarded small businesses for making capital investment - in property and plant - as a means of not only encouraging growth in the firms directly affected, but also as a result of the purchases and property improvements that helped the suppliers. He provided some tax relief for small business hiring, too. The GOP balked and resisted at each of these measures.

And by the way, President Obama is the first since 1980 to seriously address the re-invigoration of the American manufacturing base. The right wing, beginning under Reagan, has been shipping American manufacturing overseas, breaking it up and selling the pieces to reap massive and unjustified executive bonuses, or simply running the firms into the ground - the standard operating procedure over at Bain Capital, Mitt Romney's old outfit.

More significantly, President Obama's support for the American auto industry may have been the most successful of all his efforts. That's because businesses large and small cross the country - not the automakers themselves, but their myriad of suppliers, and the suppliers, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. that depended on the firms in that supply chain - were likewise saved from devastation. And their business is doing very well now, too.

The "Joker" here with his dismissive disdain for the President and his success has NO credibility. And neither does ssmike.

Reading over these posts on the current Jobs Reports, I cant help but notice, despite the down tick, there are some who don't like it. I would think citizens would be happy the stats are starting to show improvement, that's a win for America.

Who knew there are so many against the country and its well being.

Hi JohnA......Happy New Year to you and nice to see you here.

Great post! Well up to your usual great standards. Don't be a stranger now.

Skip,

stellar at #1.51.

Paris,

I don't where JAS1 saw it but, Andrew Malcolm has a piece on it in IBD. Here are a few quotes .....

"I want to wish everybody a happy New Year," Obama told the Ohio crowd Wednesday afternoon. "2012 is going to be a good year. (Applause.) It's going to be a good year."

"And one of my New Year's resolutions is to make sure that I get out of Washington and spend time with folks like you. (Applause.) Because folks here in Ohio and all across the country -- I want you to know you’re the reason why I ran for this office in the first place. You remind me what we are still fighting for."

"You inspire me."

They laughed at him.

"Okay," Obama insisted, "you do."

Personally, I took JoAnnaSmith's comments as a compliment to the people of Ohio for not being stupid enough to keep falling for Obama's lame bull sh!t.

I don't think

There! I think you hit the nail right on the head, Brian! It takes real courage to make that admission.

There are many here that want to place the blame for any problems this country might have directly on the president but will give him absolutely no credit for any positive changes. Seems rather petty to me.

What appears to have disappeared in the minds of those who choose this mindset is the realization that our form of government is a complicated, slow and cumbersome process. Historically, the type of economic problems we face have taken 5-7 years to completely turn around. The nay-sayers seem to have ADHD when it come to the difficulty faced in solving problems of this size. Suggestion- Prozac

Job growth is a positive thing. Private sector job growth is even better. Public sector job loss in conjunction with this months positive growth should make the "smaller government" folks very happy. Has it? No.

sfcret brings up the rights new strawman of the "real" unemployment number. The right decided to calculate the numbers in a way never before used as a benchmark since it makes it appear they have a point. It's an example of the difference between statutory figures and effective figures. Ok fine. Now will those who constantly use this metric agree to use those type of calculations when they talk about the tax rates people and corporations pay? Doubtful as that pretty much punches a great big hole in their message.

Too bad we can't seem to have a legitimate dialog about this countries issues.

More great economic news for REAL Americans. More bad economic news for Republicans. Sorry Republicans -- in spite of your 3 year long effort to make the Bush depression even worse --- you're failing.

In reviewing more of the posts, I see that the opinions expressed here are totally ideologically driven. The stone throwing and attempts to demean are ceaseless. If a person has an opinion, then it's their opinion. Those on the right - remember that liberals will always defend liberal ideas and will hardly ever yeild to anything conservative in nature. Liberals you need to remember that conservatives are stongly against movement to the left. If we can just keep to these simple concepts, it might help with understanding the other side. Just because a person expresses a viewpoint that is ideologically based doesn't make them right or wrong. All it means is they express their opinions the way they see it.

To outright tell someone they are wrong or stupid about an opinion makes no sense. Most of you know my opinion on Obama. Many of you don't know that my opinion on the republican candidates isn't very favorable. The only thing I will say about the candidates is... we shall see who is chosen.

Stop saying Obama is going to win. You don't know that. Those on the right do not know for sure the republican candidate will win either. We are 10 1/2 months away from the election with no sure republican... a LOT can happen between now and then and believe me, plenty will happen. Opinions are fine, but prognostication is foolish no matter how strongly you think one or the other will win.

Another round of good news! It is clear that 'politics' is not going to build on this trend. It is up to all of US to help push the trend forward. Continue to shop for Made in America. Cut back as much as possible on those credit and debit card swipes - use cash as much as possible - don't feed the bankster trolls. Do more of your banking at community banks, local savings and loans, and credit unions - if you can.

Main Street should ignore the political circus for now and continue to correct our economy. Main Street does not need to spend more or spend less. Just be aware of how your purchases can affect someone's job, how much of the cost of your purchases are consumed by financial parasites. The only thing we need to sacrifice is some convenience. A little inconvenience is a very small sacrifice for helping our neighbors, don't you think?

FACTS: Over the last 22 months, we have added 3.2 million private sector jobs.

Nearly 2 million private sector jobs were added in 2011 alone.

That is why we must extend the payroll tax cut and keep the recovery going.

Thanks Bob(numbers) -

If anything, they were laughing in good humor that the highest position as POTUS could be inspired by them, high schoolers. There was nothing sinister or meanspirited by these kids or audience as JAS1 and you imply. So now, post all of the other quotes and comments which elicited cheers, support and applause...to be fair and balanced, of course.

backhouse

Aw shucks, t'wern't nuthin', jus somethin' I whupped up on the spur o' the momint. Thanks.

Obama/Biden 2012

Two things to think about here;

Number 1, one-tenth of a percentage point is not THAT big of a decline in the unemployment rate. Last month's figure was 8.6%.

Number 2, a good number of the jobs that were "created" in December were part time, and temporary hirings for the holiday season. I'm rather surprised at how FIRST READ makes such a big deal out of something they know is tempered by the fact that a good number of the people who were hired last month, were probably laid off right after New Year's.

By the way, this is consistent with what I said about job gains during the month(s) of December when Bush was in office. There is always a hiring spike and an unemployment decline near the holidays. The real numbers to watch are the 1st quarter stat's which will come out in early April.

vwterry -

sfcret brings up the rights new strawman of the "real" unemployment number. The right decided to calculate the numbers in a way never before used as a benchmark since it makes it appear they have a point. It's an example of the difference between statutory figures and effective figures. Ok fine. Now will those who constantly use this metric agree to use those type of calculations when they talk about the tax rates people and corporations pay? Doubtful as that pretty much punches a great big hole in their message.

Jiggering the official unemployment figures has been a right-wing tactic for decades. It started with the Reagan Regime, when it was desperate to cloud the persistently high jobless rate in the early 1980's.

At that time, "unemployed" people who had been jobless so long that they ran out of unemployment compensation, or had given up on their job searches to take part-time, low-wage work, or simply just dropped out of a futile search for work, were included in the national jobless figures. Reagan just dropped them from the count entirely.

To its credit, the Obama Administration, while not changing the official formula, has repeatedly acknowledged that segment of the labor force, and expressed concern over it. Neither Reagan, nor either of the Bush presidents, did so.

The rabid right today uses half-truths, misinformation, and outright lies in its barrage of anti-Obama propaganda. That's why it is so important for you and others to consistently expose their deceptions.

I realize this is a political board, and those who participate are by nature going to have strong opinions one way or another. Even after reading the articles, opinions, checking out links offered, I still believe the idea that the Republican agenda is to deliberately destroy the economy (who the hell would that benefit?) is as preposterous as the idea our President is trying to turn the U.S. communist.

Jobs up? Fantastic! Good news is good news. Certainly figures can be tweaked, spun, etc to fit a particular ideology, but why?

From my perspective I see sputtering economic recovery happening in spite of left OR right Washington policy (or lack of it). Across the board (and I see a lot of boards) hard-working people are sick of the status quo and tired of waiting for answers from government. This, I think, is good thing. We, the People need to take economic recovery more upon ourselves. Take care of each other. Adapt to a changing world in a way government is failing to do.

Change is not so much affected by government, publicized "movements" like OWS, etc, but by responsible people doing what needs to be done. Quietly. That is where economic recovery will happen.

Exactly what is it "that needs to be done?" Don't have time to write that essay right now. Gotta get back to work. I've got people to keep employed.

2012 - time to start kickin' ass rather than kissin' ass

Skip--awesome post! I'd give it more votes if I could. Well-said.

Brianb, take your own advice. Your posts are quite right-leaning, but no one tells you to "stop saying" anything. Many people are hopeful Obama will win reelection, myself included. You obviously don't. Why do you have a problem with our hoping for his win in the fall? You can always skip over and ignore posts that you disagree with, or find another site where you can agree with everyone.

Obama/Biden 2012!

Paris,

You called JoAnnaSmith a liar and now concede she didn't.

Most people would suggest an apology was in order but everyone understands the lib's emotional incongruity precludes that ...

that will have to suffice for a lib.

Thanks.

Look at that photo MSN supplied with this story. He has that skinny little finger pointing again....can his "Now Look !!!" command be very far behind ?

What a dink this guy truly is !

The sad demise of the GOP is imminent, they are committing suicide! *sigh*

Obama-Biden 2012

A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest
level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011.

Better days for the U-S job market???

Not so fast.

Florida International University Economics Professor Jorge Salazar-Carrillo
says the tracking methods that have always been used are just not valid
anymore.

He says those discouraged workers skew the unemployment numbers lower.

He says job growth is still anemic and that's a sign that things are not much
better.

Bob, JAS1 posted:

The students laughed at him. Even they have figuring out who's going to pay for the mess Obama has made in the past 3 years. Even they know their futures have been ruined by the man that says he's "fighting" for them.

This is indeed a lie and "distortion of truth" on why the kids "laughed" in the midst of all of the other applause, support and cheers. No concession given and no apology forthcoming.

In the meantime, still waiting for those fair and balanced posts of the Potus's comments which received cheers, applause and support throughout his speech......

Wow ! A temporary uptick caused by the usual holiday sales spike and libbies are literally wetting all over themselves in excitement. We will see where the numbers are by this time next month !

I wonder if these numbers will receive the "usual downward revision" in a few weeks .... although the change will not receive as much attention.

Yep......

"We gotta pass this Stimulus Bill (or was that the Obama VOTER Base Bill ?) to keep the unemployment rate at or below 8%"....says an anonymous, undisclosed, un-named, senior White House official.

Yep......

Wait a minute.....the Libs will say the Stimulus is NOW WORKING after three years in hibernation.....HAHAHA.

Oh, my! What ever will Mittens, Frothy Mixture of Fecal Matter and Anal Lube, The Gecko and Governor GoodHair do now that they can't call President Obama a JOB KILLER??!!

What ever will the teabagging Greedy Old Party do now that it appears the economy is steadily improving!

LMAO - Did you hear that massive pop? It was millions of teabagging Greedy Old Party members heads EXPLODING!!!!

Paris,

A lie is an intentional misrepresentation of a known fact with the intention to deceive.

The fact is that they did laugh.

With regard to why they laughed at Obama, at worst JoAnna's statement could be considered as an opinion due to the fact that there is not a known fact why each individual laughed.

Regarding your request for me to provide you with "fair" applause or cheers ....

again .... you called JAS a liar and the only point of my post to present the fact you were wrong which I did.

I made no other representations and I am certainly not compelled to defend something I didn't say or suggest.

If you want an opinion as to how Obama is doing, their are certainly a lot of polls .... it ain't pretty and certainly nothing to "applaud" or "cheer."

Backhouse says:FACTS: Over the last 22 months, we have added 3.2 million private sector jobs. Nearly 2 million private sector jobs were added in 2011 alone. That is why we must extend the payroll tax cut and keep the recovery going

Backhouse - where ARE you getting your figures? Every place I've searched shows nowhere near the number you are making claim to. Between 2008 and 2009 the number of job losses were over 6 million. Starting in 2010 modest gains were recorded but people were still filing new claims for unemployment at the same time.

Brianb........

"The U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday in its Employment Situation – December 2011 report that the United States added 200,000 non-farm payroll jobs to the economy in December, with a total of 212,000 jobs added by the private sector, resulting in a slight decrease in the unemployment rate from 8.6% in November to 8.5%.

Although gains in job creation have been slower than desired, the number of net private sector jobs has increased for 22 consecutive months."

I think the numbers came from the U.S. Labor Dept. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I am glad that we are producing jobs again. The only problem is that they aren't high-tech (but then again, they weren't the ones who got the boot in the recession) and they are not very high paying (but at least they have jobs; and once the economy recovers with Obama at the wheel we can and will get raises once again). I hope this is another Christmas gift for the DNC and Obama, and I wonder how the GOP will play it around. And as for Romney's tax plan: NO MORE TAX CUTS!!!! For too long the government has been brainwashing people into accepting low taxes and higher spending. WE NEED higher taxes AND spending cuts to help the deficit, but Romney and his GOP pals don't have the GUTS to do so. They can't even do it on the nation's highest earners, and in fact they give more in tax cuts percentage-wise to people with big bucks than the average Joe. HEY ROMNEY!!! DROP OUT!!!! I'll be damned if I let a right-wing conservative nutjob come into my beloved Golden State.

Obama Biden 2012

If not Obama then WHO???

Democrat Congress 2012

LouisJ

I confess I had to Google the plot of the movie to get the title, but now I get it, and yes, very apropos! Boy, learn something new every day at First Read.

The film tells the story of two ordinary people taken into a top-secret military hibernation experiment to awaken in a dystopia wherein advertising, commercialism, and cultural anti-intellectualism run rampant and dysgenic pressure has resulted in a uniformly stupid human society devoid of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and coherent notions of justice and human rights.

*** Another positive jobs report:

I just saw on MSNBC Jansing & Co frothy mouth did give some credit to jobs report; but then went on his Jesus rant. Uh Oh!!!!

Santorum better get on the ball and forget about his profound love of Jesus; otherwise Murdoch will take his tweets back and will tell those Fox&Freaks pundits to take their positive endorsements back.

For the records, Santorum needs to know Jesus was an olive tone man who was born homeless in a stable,

@Backhouse; I'm here. I just wanted to sleep a little longer. There is no way I would miss the fun.

Jody, Iowa

Excellent and accurate sum up; I enjoyed reading it; especially the parts about empty headed Michele Bachmann. I thought you might enjoy reading this when get time.

Goodbye, Michele

~snip~

What’s wonderful about her self-image is that it’s so removed from reality. In reality, of course, she’s not a fighter in Congress; she’s an irrelevant back-bencher who was denied a subcommittee chair and mainly just shows up and says crazy things on cable news shows, and couldn’t get a single Member of the House to back her bid. Not even her buddy Steve King from Iowa, who might well have helped her a bit.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2012/01/goodbye_michele034541.php

Bev, good to see you.

Hey, we know Love is good. But loving one person exclusively is not enough! Especially, if he is to represent millions of people.

While the jobs numbers are an outstanding indication that more Americans found work, I'm more than slightly skeptical about the long term results.

Like many who understand the jobs market, I want to see if these figures will be sustained, or if they will prove to be nothing more than seasonal workers hired to sustain retail jobs through the holiday season.

Let's see where the numbers fall in the next four months. If these jobs were primarily temporary jobs, the typical 90 day temporary hire period will come to an end soon and the numbers will once again rise.

Louis J

I thought of this movie:

Wall Street (1987)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/

The movie fits Willard to a "T" . They gobble up little businesses in this movie. Also, there are a few trailers @ the website.

Skepticism can be tough to spell:

FACTS: Over the last 22 months, we have added 3.2 million private sector jobs.

Nearly 2 million private sector jobs were added in 2011 alone.

That is why we must extend the payroll tax cut and keep the recovery going.

Folks in the retail trade know the holiday hiring 'bump' takes place in October/November, before the Christmas rush.

LouisJ.....the unemployment numbers prior to December were 8.6%. The "reduction" of that figure to 8.5% represents movement to the tune of only one-tenth of a percentage point.

While any reduction in unemployment is certainly good news, shouldn't we "temper" our enthusiasm with the knowledge that a lot of those "hires" were made during the holiday season when employment traditionally goes up?

Let's just wait a month or two, and see what the statistics are at the end of the 1st quarter.

You can claim progress then, if we have solid gains in job creation that last for the first three months of the year.

Louis...

This uptick in hiring is the long term fallout from the president's 'stimulus plan'...no doubt.

The business of America is 'business'...I'd give credit to the American cycle of 'supply & demand' that is natural, unless it can be shown that the president's campaign speeches have stimulated the nation's economy.

Maybe the president can now campaign by saying that since his 'stimulus plan' only took 3 years to work...elect him again and he'll bring any even bigger plan that'll kick in six years down the road !

Michele Bachmann told listeners in an Iowa radio interview that her favorite hunting rifle is an AR15 assault weapon.

Yeah if your hunting humans. Talk about a nutjob. AR-15 aka the M-16 is not a hunting rifle that any serious hunter would use.

Nice weekly wrap up... as usual. Thanks Jody.

In the Best photo comment, that's 3-corner hat, not hate. Natural mistake since "hate" has eminated from the ones in 3-corner hats.

Sorry, I posted this little comment twice but it landed in the wrong place the first time and made no sense down there.

Jody,

I am just so impressed by your Friday Wraps! And I appreciate all your hard work. Sometimes I feel I can just skip the rest of the week and come here for the news!

It did if they read your post.

Happy New Year, Jody, and thank you so much for your hard work and excellent recap.

Thanks, Jody for the wrap up. Wanted to stay and see what you had to say this week, and now I am headed out to play!

Good Morning Jody,

Another GREAT wrap up for the week. Thanks

Jack in Portsmouth: I am just so impressed by your Friday Wraps!

Shiny objects impress you Jack.

Jody, a wonderful and funny recap of the past week's happenings. Didn't see the picture of the dejected/rejected Tea Partier, but your description drew a great mental picture.

Great work Jody....pure gold!!!

Jody--you have kicked off 2012 with another excellent recap.

I smile every time I hear a Republican say a canned line like "Chicago-style politics". It didn't work 4 years ago when much of the country didn't know President Obama and it certainly won't work now after we've watched how hard he works and how he has run his administration.

Jody .. you have me crying in laughter. Thank you so much for the week of the absurd. The Rupert Scarlet Letter was analogy really tickled me. I was thinking if ONLY I had ventured in the embroidery business, I could have made a mint on stitching scarlet A's for Newt, Cain and their minions. While I personally abhor labels, I can imagine the delight making a buck off conservative labeling.

Jody: Outstanding, simply outstanding.

I often hunt squirrels with my AR 15. LMAO!!

Good wrap up again Jody!!

Js1 please crawl back in your hole until you can come out without being so nasty tempered!

another award winning wrap-up - wotta way with words Jody - always look forward to your wrap-ups! What a year it is going to be! Keep up the great work.

Thanks, everyone. Happy New Year to you, too, Anna Molly; nice to see you back.

When Rick Perry chewed sour grapes Tuesday, it seems he gave the left-overs to JoAnna Smith! Hope you enjoyed them, sweetpea.

Jody, So, so wonderfully good. Thank you.

Gosh, will have to make another cup of something and go over your post many more times.

About 'Bachman and the rifle':

When I think of guns now in the public arena,

I think of how Arizona Governor Jan Brewer made the gun that almost killed Rep. Gabby Giffords into a State Gun.

That was Brewer's heartfelt response to that terrible hurt on Gabby.

Brewer signed a bill designating the Colt Single-Action Army revolver as the state's first official firearm.

Jody I saw the 60 Minute interview with Cantor where he insisted Reagan never compromised...and 60 Minutes then cut to a clip of Reagan cheerfully saying "sometimes you have to compromise." It was a great moment in broadcast journalism!

PS I tried to have an open mind, but Cantor just looked like a squirrely little politician to me in that interview, even if his family loves him; he has no real principles beyond keeping taxes low for the rich. That isn't really a principle, that's a strategy for garnering campaign funds.

The AR-15 shoots a 7.62 millimeter round which is roughly a 22 caliber projectile, at such a ridiculously high velocity that it simply pierces flesh, it was designed more to wound than to kill, because the military felt it took more resources for the enemy to deal with the wounded than the dead. It is definetitly not good for hunting any large game such as deer, it was designed to inflict harm on humans.

An AR-15 (semi auto) comes in many flavors and Calibers. It resembles the old Military M16 platform in looks but its a different animal. With a nice scope it is a very accurate hunting weapon for larger mammals. (deer, elk etc.) But if your hunting birds its not the correct weapon, Which would be, depending on whether your hunting Quail, Pidgeons, Snipe or woodcock. Or if your hunting Turkeys, Pheasants or ducks. The proper platform for be a shotgun of varying caliber. You would be more likely to see an AR-15 in the woods than a SKS. You have to love that the name of the designer of the AR-15 platform was Stoner!

Forrest - that describes Bachmann and Brewer to a tee - aim to maim. Funerals aren't cost efficient, long term care is what lines the pockets.

Jody

Would you have any objection if I posted your wraps on my facebook page?

Big Fan of yours!!!

I am also a big fan of Jody's.

Would you have any objection if I posted your wraps on my facebook page?

Talk about coincidence - I was thinking the EXACT same thing! ;o)

We need to circulate Jody's weekly wraps to a larger audience - they are PRICELESS!

Forrest,

7.62mm is .30 cal not .22 which is 5.56mm.

and the 5.56 is a 2900fps round that was designed to wound although bullet weight is an issue. 300yds it makes an excellent hunting piece and is the choice of most hunters who can afford one.

Jollyoldsoul1,

For those who cant afford an AR15 like I said above, the SKS makes a very GOOD alternative, the ballistics of the 7.62x39 russian are virtually identical to the 30-30 and it make groups (with good ammo) within 1moa at 200 yrds. Most brush or forest hunting is done within 200yrds.

I frequent the hunting and rifle boards every day, they are big fans of the SKS as an everyday rifle at most ranges under 200yrds. I am a qualified marksman and teach proper shooting technique as a hobby. And before I became disabled was an avid hunter. I have an 8x57mm romanian that was at Stalingrad and I have a Norinco 7.62x39mm that I custom built myself.

To many I guess I would qualify as a gun nut, Lets not hijack the thread (us gun nuts have done that from time to time we kinda get lost in the hobby)

Excellent Post Jody!

I enjoy these wrap ups .....

One last gun comment Egilman, how come I can bring my gun more places than my cigarettes, I know second hand smoke can be dangerous, but what about second hand bullets?

The reason Forrest, to be honest, most law abiding gun smokers take second hand lead poisoning very seriously, and are very careful about such things, although there is that criminal element out there that just don't care about who's face they blow their gunsmoke in (as long as the target doesn't have a gun of their own)

Also more seriously, smoking doesn't have the constitutional issue to deal with making a pack of smokes a much easier target. Here in WA St there is an active campaign to ban smoking on the city sidewalk.

It's all politics...

Screeeminglib.......that is a great idea and if Jody agrees, I would do the same as I'm sure Feisty will too. Jody deserves much wider exposure.

Hope Jody doesn't slap my hands, but I do send a link via email to this site every Friday to a group of friends who have become fans of her weekly wrap-ups.

Egilman will they need a concealed carry permit for a pack of cigarettes.

I hope not Forrest I carry mine every where I go...

FG, Well, only if they wear their eyeglasses upside-down. Or cannot hide their political myopia from their own selves.

Congrats ... Feisty you got a "shout out "on MSNBC this morning for the name "Mittens " .....

screeeminglib, no I have no objections to you putting it on your Facebook page. All I ask from anyone who chooses to do that is give me credit for it as Jody, Iowa! That may sound strange but a certain No Joe from Jersey Shores and a few of her FR friends have accused me of plagiarism.

Feisty, congrats on the shout out on MSNBC! I can't believe I missed it.

Thanks again Jody Iowa for another great wrap up! And yes we should circulate these posts - so everyone can read them!

And I am tickled pink by this news:

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the GOP redistricting map is in violation of the Ohio Constitution. Touche', Kasich loses another round!

Have any of you seen the Ohio redistricted map - talk about "gerrymandering"!

All I ask from anyone who chooses to do that is give me credit for it as Jody, Iowa

DONE! ;o)

RedDevPS, no hand slaps from me.

I admit it's quite flattering to hear I have fans who want to share my effort with their friends which means I have unknown fans--kind of like Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns.

Terrific reading, Jody!

vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote!!!!!!!

Thank you Jody, excellent wrap up, not easy for anyone to round up the week quite as eloquently or comprehensively.

Bethie from Texas

There is absolutely NO REASON TO VOTE, NONE!

The wealthy, who own everything, decide who is going to run.

The citizens of the US have surrendered their way of life to the ultra wealthy, world wide!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PkWf9M3rUw

Hopefully, Walker will be saying bye bye, real soon.

walker is a joke. A koch bros. toadie who will be a forgotten fool.

Dennis, thanks for posting the Walker update. If Walker's over-reach last year wasn't enough for voters to toss him out of office, these arrests will seal the deal.

I saw a clip of Walker in DC yesterday whining about outside money being used to recall him. Pot meet kettle came to mind when it was noted he was there to also raise money from republican donors for his effort to stay in office.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio

Jan 5^th police arrested former county employees Kevin Kavanaugh, who was appointed by Walker, and Tim Russell, who served on Walker’s gubernatorial campaign.

Sometimes in their zeal to make as much money as possible as fast as possible, Republicans sometimes forget that if you're going to swindle people, you have to do it legally.

You left out the part where Walker's own staff in 2010 raised initial concerns about the fund bookkeeping and contacted Milwaukee County prosecutors about discrepancies.

Dennis thanks for these gritty details.

Inevitably, WI Governor Walker will try and do as much damage as possible before they give him the Ould One-Two.

.....and what do all of these arrest have to do with Walker. Everyone in here has been associated with criminals (known and unknown) and if you say you haven't you are a lie.

Obama has been associated with some shady characters himself.

Obama has been associated with some shady characters himself

And some rightie tells us just about every day that this means he isn't qualified to be President/should be impeached/pals around with terrorists etc. Wanna bet they don't cut & paste these Walker associations every day?

He is not merely associated with them, he hired them, he hand picked them. At the very least this does not reflect well on his judgement. It will very interesting to see what they have to say when faced with the prospect of being married to the guy with the most cigarettes in prison. Ha don't tell Santorum, he will lose respect for these fine republican men.

Governor Walker is a fiscal hero!

Balancing the State Budget, making cuts, changing the status quo is necessary!

Those of you who think you can live off government, borrowing your way through life, adding to the Federal Debt as well as State Debts, are simply wrong!

A state HAS to balance their budget.

The Socialist Republic of California, under a Democratic Governor (Brown) is doing the same thing Walker has done.

Because you work for a leaching, blood sucking government, does not mean you are entitled to a standard of living the working tax payers can not pay or afford.

Change Careers, if you do not like the pay scale you should receive. The government has to live within revenue!

Cut, Cap, Balance!

I love it! Except the clip is about 10 seconds too short:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34phsb4e6Eg

DaNoid, wow, I missed that gem! Love it, it's just so McCain.

JoAnne, thanks for the link. Looks as if Mitt and Haley were headed to tell McCain he was supporting the wrong guy.

I'm cleaning my monitor after watching that clip! Were they trying to tackle him? Get the HOOK, He's gone Rogue!!!

Thanks!! You just made my day!!

Can you say "Freudian slip", Sen. McCain?!

JoAnne,

Great clip and I agree too short. I wonder what happened when Mitt and Haley got to him.

Ask and ye shall receive - here's a slightly longer version:

http://www.wtnh.com/dpps/news/strange/mccain-goofs-confuses-obama-romney-ob12-jgr_4033145

And to be fair, let's give everyone involved credit for having a sense of humor about it.....well, except the Secret Service dude to the left in the shades. No humor there at all - which I guess is a good thing!

I know!! I can't stand this guy and his people, and yet we have to suffer them for a season!! Be glad when he does a Palin and bounces...

He may as well wore his Red Hood had a rally in the cornfield and called us the Big Bad Wolf. Everyone is on Food Stamps, whites more than blacks.

But you just have to love how Republicans call everyone a racist and yet cheer on the vitriol and poison they spew.

Nash: Glad you pointed that out. What is it with the Republican leadership trying to go back to Reagan's "welfare queen" analogy? It was insulting and demeaning then, and it is worse now, when we should have progressed beyond this. We have said that the current crop of Republican candidates are headed right back to the 1990's, but this makes it so graphic and so repugnant.

It does appear that thinking people are now rejecting the old mantras of those Republicans and seeing them for what they are. Santorum found that out, probably to his sorrow, when a crowd booed him for his homophobia.

We are better than this, and one would think that the Republican candidates would appeal to our better angels.

That is, if they have any themselves.

LouisJ . . . the more desperate they become . . . the lower they sink . . . all in pursuit of power so they can keep stealing our money . . . and blame it on "Obummer" . . . just ridiculous.

NewDay . . . so true. . . folks are ready for reality based solutions . . . not more hate filled rants.

Everytime I hear Newt spout off, I think of a barking dog one wants to smack with a rolled up newspaper. Arf arf

We are better than this, and one would think that the Republican candidates would appeal to our better angels.

One would hope NDD...

Then again, just take a look at what their 'base' consists of...

yeah, its Black people this year

Nash,

Sadly, I think it's Blah people every year...

Bottom line is; they are playing a VERY dangerous game...

They ARE playing a dangerous game, Feisty. And you would think they would be embarrassed about it.

Good morning Nash, So true. The Republican/Tea Party of today has hit the all time low. How can everyone with an ounce of self respect endorse or be a part of this group.

Those pesky black people, always in line for hand outs!

Gee Newt, maybe you should look at the numbers a little closer before you open your BIG MOUTH!

What an IDIOT!!

Nash, hugs to you. I know how sad it makes me to hear someone in public life make such statements, I can only imagine your feelings.

You are right, they are playing a very dangerous game, and as usual, they are overreaching. Eventually, it blows back at them however.

NDD... one would think we are better than this, and I believe we are, it is just going to take a lot of work and one person at a time.

The jobless rate has dropped a point to 8.5% which is good news and we are chipping away at that as we will in changing most people's hearts.

Thanks for all your comments . . . I know that most Americans just want to move this country forward . . . but it is infuriating to see this same crap carted out every election cycle.

P.S. Really appreciate that hug Gingerbread Mamma . . . hugs to you as well!

And you would think they would be embarrassed about it.

Wouldn't that require a conscious?

Nash, thanks for keeping this blah thing going. It is despicable watching the con-servies 'walk this back'. Loved watching St. Torum. master of the blah, having his a$$ fed to him on a platter by a few college kids last night. Particularly funny was seeing him stick other foot in mouth by advocating marriage was established for the sole purpose of making babies.

Saddest thing about all this, today the GOP hate speech is geared towards African Americans. When the primaries move south and west, it will be towards Latinos. The GOP ALWAYS has to have a "bogeyman" to divide the country with.

Wow Nash, now why didn't you post the transcript of what he said? See at first I couldn't believe anyone would publicly say what you're applying, so I had to look it up. There's nothing racist in his comments.

Good job beating the Liberal hate. Like RedDev says, "thanks for keeping this blah thing going".

You tried to throw the race card out and it bit you in the ass and made you look like a fool!

“It’s going to come down to a series of debates next fall, in which the American people are going to try and figure out what’s the truth, cause they're going to see all these negative ads and all this negative stuff and they're going to say, tell me what the truth is. And I think I am the one candidate that we have who can go head to head with Obama, can explain conservative philosophy, can apply it in a practical way, can explain American history, and can take Obama’s ideas and his record, and convince the American people that he’s hopeless. The fact is, if I become your nominee, we will make the key test very simple. Food stamps, versus pay checks. Obama is the best food stamp president in American history. More people are on food stamps today because of Obama’s policies than ever in history. I would like to be the best paycheck president in American history. Now, there’s no neighborhood I know of in America where if you went around and asked people would you your children have food stamps or pay checks, you wouldn’t have a majority saying they’d rather have paychecks.”

“And so, I’m prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention to talk about why the African American community should demand pay checks and not be satisfied with food stamps. And I’ll go to them and I’ll explain a brand new social security opportunity for young people, which would be particularly good for African American males, because they’re the group that gets the smallest return on social security because they have the shortest life span. And under social security today, you don’t build up an estate, but if you’re allowed to build up an estate, if your tax money went into your savings and it was your money, if something happened to you, your family got you restate, the difference in transfer of wealth to the black community would be amazing."

"If you're not a Democrat, you're a Racist"

Paul:

You can run, but you can't hide. Newt said what I said he said. And it was foul. . . just like your comments. Your attempts to confuse the issue by trying to shout over me and use the word racist has proven ineffective.

Next.

Phine, watch out if someone witness's your cruelty to animals there could be a fine in the works. Can't go around beating your dog in public.

Nashville, great post.

GOP dog whistles. Never occurs to Newt or any of the other dog whistle blowers that many of the people receiving food stamps are white, just like they are. We hear complaints about the lack of diversity in Iowa around caucus time yet republicans fail to acknowledge that the food stamp recipients here also lack racial diversity--they are poor white people, unemployed white people, poor and unemployed republican and democratic white people.

I beg to differ Jody... they are no longer using a dog whistle, they've moved on to the bullhorn;

Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal (R-Hutchinson) apologized Thursday for forwarding an email referring to First Lady Michelle Obama as "Mrs. YoMama" and comparing her to the Grinch.

The subject line of the email reads "Twins separated at birth?" It includes side-by-side pictures of Michelle Obama and the Grinch with similarly windswept hair. According to the Lawrence World-Journal, the forwarded part of the email reads, "I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Mrs. YoMama a wonderful, long Hawaii Christmas vacation -- at our expense, of course

O'Neal forwarded the email to House Republicans and added the text, "Sorry, just had to forward the latest holiday message! I've had worse hair days but this is pretty funny."

He said Thursday he was sorry to those he offended, adding that he missed the text in the body of the email. He said, however, that the picture "made me laugh." Earlier his communications director defended him, saying that political cartoons are a "part of American culture."

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) recently apologized to the First Lady for saying that she had a "large posterior" and "big butt."

Marilyn Davenport, an elected member of the Orange County, Calif., Republican Central Committee, forwarded an email picturing President Barack Obama's face on the body of a baby chimpanzee in April. She was censured by the committee and apologized, but refused to resign for it

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/mike-oneal-michelle-obama-email-mrs-yomama_n_1189124.html?ref=politics

Nashville,

I thought Newt's remark was clear evidence of racism, and just plain ignorance of the challenges White people face, in this country.

1 out of 6 Mainers receives foodstamps.

95% of our state's population is White. 1% are Black. I, personally, know several people on food stamps; they are White, and they actually vote Republican.

http://statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?ind=6&cat=1&rgn=21

Marilyn Davenport, an elected member of the Orange County, Calif., Republican Central Committee

Feisty - here in California we have the Orange Curtain. While those behind the Orange curtain will argue it is to keep them safe, we on the other side argue it is there to keep the nut cases confined.

Why are you all making a big deal out of nothing.

Liberals are always playing the damn race card everytime someone says something about African Americans.

The man is right.....The black community should be demanding (jobs) paychecks instead of foodstamps. This was the intent and most of you know it. If he is racist, so what.....We live with this shyt everyday and a racist does not necessarily wear a R behind his name. There are just as many white, racist azz Democrats in America. I deal with them daily and they are not going anywhere. I deal with a lot of minority racist also and they are not going anywhere. There are quite a few in here.

Most of you liberals in here live in a household where racist remarks are repeated daily and you have no problem with it but when someone says something controversial on a public stage; all of a sudden it is the worst thing you have ever heard. If you call me a n**** in the privacy of your home; then I'm that same n*** in public but you just won't say it to my face.

When I hear racist remarks made by a caucasion or anyone for that matter; is he a Republican/Democrat is not the first thing that comes to mind.

Some of you in here from these states with 1-3% black and think you understand the plight of the African American. Of course based upon population there will be more whites on foodstamps....duh

Newt isn't the only one who likes to put his hoof in his mouth regarding race.

Seems Santorum has "issues" as well:

http://m.npr.org/story/144613385?url=/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/01/03/144613385/santorum-explains-his-comments-about-black-people-and-entitlements&sc=fb&cc=fp

I’ll go to them and I’ll explain a brand new social security opportunity for young people, which would be particularly good for African American males, because they’re the group that gets the smallest return on social security because they have the shortest life span

How clueless can one person be? Hey Newt, how about addressing the problem that African American males have the shortest life span, not how this effects their social security return-on-investment!

Sheesh, what's next? "African Americans should vote for me, because they're disproportionately imprisoned, and I'm proposing more comfortable prison clothing."

Dear InTheMiddle:

Sorry to tell you this . . . it is a big deal if someone who purports to want to be the leader of this country continues to spout ignorant, race-based bile. If that is "normal" in your world, then clearly, you are just the perfect type to be a happy servant of the corporate people . . . enjoy your @#$# sandwich.

I applaud any job growth and reduction of the unemployment numbers however it will be a true test in the months to follow that are not skewed by the seasonal hiring.

Would that it will be sustained. My point is the bias in the way the article hypes the numbers for the benefit of their savior. There is no mention that it might be seasonal.

Additionally, while everyone here will spend an orgiastic morning singing the praises of said saviour, they will be nowhere to be found when the numbers are adjusted down.

I expect the bias from MSNBC, a wholly-owned subsidiary fo the white house (I mean, how many molre pairs of kneepads is Brian Williams going to need this year) and why I always like to remind people of the following:

“The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity”
Andre Gide

I'll bet the people who had seasonal jobs this year but couldn't get them in prior years were happy to have them. The point is the trend of economic recovery and hiring. Yes, there was undoubtedly seasonal hiring in December---but that is a good thing----no one hires more people if they don't have customers.

Only 30,000 or 15% of the jobs added came from the retail sector which would imply that most of these jobs may not be temporary/seasonal. Also the monthly BLS reports are seasonally adjusted.

@ Steeler Of course these people were happy and yes it is somewhat of an indicator that retailers did seasonal hiring. My point is that it skews the unemployment rates, the true test will be subsequent months.

@ Dennis The seasonal hiring isn't just in retail but also warehousing, transportation, restaurants, etc... (i.e. other industries affected by the uptick during the holidays). Let's hope those seasonal workers stay employed.

Having a good friend that runs a trucking company most of the seasonable
hiring in transportation and wharehousing, increase in business is done in Oct and Nov and layoffs occur in Dec and Jan.

Dennis my husband is in the same business for a major company and they continued their additional census through December to supplement their normal staff. Their layoffs start this month. It all depends on the goods they are warehousing and moving.

My brother who was in retail management for 30 years would agree that most of his holiday hiring was done in October and November.

I guess if more jobs are added this month, it'll just be attributed to Valentine's Day coming, right? Except that I also recall my brother saying that their Valentines candy started arriving in October and November, too. Remember that next time you shell out for one of those big heart-shpaed boxes for your sweetie!

@ Joanne Yes the majority of hiring starts right before Thanksgiving but they continue in December and layoffs don't start until January. Every major retail had lots of ads for part time help in all the newspapers and job websites. Retailers also have a small bump in January as that is when they generally do physical inventory.

ksw:

She doesn't understand. Please excuse her. That was real silly for her to even put that out there.

Some on the right don't understand the concept of "seasonally adjusted". I guess it give more credence to the statement -- "You don't have to be stupid to be a conservative but most stupid people are conservative.

Reality Check-1104333: I'm saving your statement (copied below) for evaluation by this forum's readers after the January jobs report comes out.

"Season hiring (i.e Xmas) means nothing. Lets see where you'll all be at the end of this month..."

good...but tey won't be found...

Natural mistake since "hate" has eminated from the ones in 3-corner hats.

Those TBs act like they are wearing three corner pants not hats...

Patriots my ass, more like a bunch of Benedict Arnolds.

Seems to me JoAnne that it would be even worse for Romney to have outright lost Iowa than to have barely won it.

How shocking---a vote-counting error by Republicans!

Ah, yes the continued hypocrisy of all, as o'bama & reid decried the usage of this tactic under the Bush administration. So much for change and transparency. Oh, but he really didn't mean that and it ok with you since its all about his being black, and the right is composed only of racists...isn' it?

If the Congress is not in Washington working, they are on recess. Where you pissing and moaning, when President Reagan made many more recess appointments than the last few Presidents, put together?

President Obama has never violated the Constitution, and the Congress has brought about his actions because they the Congress are insulting the will of the American people, by not doing their job

Remember, President Obama is ranked a lot higher by the American People than this worst Congress ever.

So, you people on the right can stop your fake outrage, because there is nothing you can do about it.

Reality....you have more than your 'fair' share of racists on the right and daily they prove they are alive and well.

And daily, by not denouncing that kind of thinking, you and others prove you are OK with that.

Relax, "Reality"...Senator McConnell and the Senate GOP will still get their opportunity to filibuster to their little hearts' content.

What say I to that? I say recess is for children in elementary school. But apparently it also applies to grown-ups who just act that way too.

I think it is extra sour grapes by the Republicans. Apparently the Democrats thought up the "pro forma session" ploy to prevent recess appointments and the Republicans never thought to challenge it. Now that the Democrats are saying it isn't a real session, the Republicans are up in arms.

P.S. JoAnne----I think you may have insulted elementary school children by comparing them to Republican members of Congress. The school children behave better!

Gingerbread:

So you are saying everytime someone makes a racist remark, everyone that is in that political persuasion is suppose to denounce it.

I guess everytime my liberal neighbor says something, I will come in here and ask you to denounce it even though you do not know him.

What is really pathetic is that the recess appointments of all other presidents don't count to them only the ones made by Obama. Don't they read history or pay attention to current events except through the eyes of Faux News?

Presidents since George Washington have made recess appointments. Washington appointed South Carolina judge John Rutledge as Chief Justice of the United States during a congressional recess in 1795. Because of Rutledge's political views and occasional mental illness, however, the Senate rejected his nomination, and Rutledge subsequently attempted suicide and then resigned.

New Jersey judge William J. Brennan was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 through a recess appointment. This was done in part with an eye on the presidential campaign that year; Eisenhower was running for reelection, and his advisors thought it would be politically advantageous to place a northeastern Catholic on the court. Brennan was promptly confirmed when the Senate came back into session. Eisenhower made two other recess appointments, Chief Justice Earl Warren and Potter Stewart.

George H. W. Bush appointed Lawrence Eagleburger Secretary of State during a recess in 1992; Eagleburger had in effect filled that role after James Baker resigned.

According to the Congressional Research Service, President Bill Clinton made 139 recess appointments. President George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments, and as of December 8, 2011, President Barack Obama had made 28 recess appointments.^{[4] From Wikipedia}

Amen Steeler Fan - School children do act better!!

Da Noid,

How about what Article 1 Sec 5 which states: Each house may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,.....

This means that each house can make and decide its own rules, procedures and the running of their chambers without interference from the other branches of government.

Now show me in the constitution where the President can decide when congress is or is not in recess?

I keep hearing the left talk about Bush and other Presidents making recess appointments, but I have not had any liberal show me who Bush appointed while the senate declared the pro forma session, which was started by Senator Reid, for the specific reason to stop recess appointments.

I doubt the courts will get involved because there is no law to decide, but I am sure that once a decision is made by these appointees they will be challenged in court. One think about Obama he sure likes to keep the courts busy.

Well, unlike those McDonalds jobs, government jobs come with pension options, health care coverage, overtime pay, vacations days, and an actual salary that one can live on. You must be jealous that you can't pass a civil service test.

Government jobs are paid for with tax dollars too right? BTW, you don't need to take a civil service test for a Government job.

Yes, they are and what is the issue with that? Do you want nuclear missiles in the hands of private enterprise?

You may or may not have to take a civil service test for a government job but...you do have to pass a background check....

At least we have job creation happening under this president. Under Bush, we had the single biggest job crash since the Great Depression.

Today is the Radical Right official bitch day. They know that President Obama is going to win re-election and it is driving them nuts.

Need another clean up here - more exploding GOP heads. May need more buckets and mops.

Phine - I do love exploding GOP heads. Still waiting for Rove and Cheney to go hunting so we can see the Rove head explode.

So remind me again, if the economy is tanking it's the Republicans fault and when it's getting better it's the Democrats leadership? Is that how it works? I hear from you guys, where's the jobs to the Republicans and when the jobs are coming back you praise Obama, but when the numbers go south, you yell at the Republicans. I just shake my head to see how you people think.

Well, jobs have been coming back since President Obama took over. The total job gain numbers haven't gone under him.

Paul, you finally get it!! GOP/TP means outlandish spending and a fiscal free for all. Democrats are about mopping up the mess.

Jeff,

Don’t forget that the next jobs report, for Jan, will also include the annual Benchmark Revisions

Employment goes up in the spring in Maine, as we gear up for tourism season.

I loved how they put it on one of the news broadcasts, "unemployment went down thanks to small businesses hiring, corporations did not help."

It has been my contention for sometime, an insight picked up by watching Maria Bartiroma on her Wall Street show, that the big corporations were holding job creation hostage to fighting the administration over raising taxes on the wealthiest and regulating their schemes. (I read the tea leaves in her eye shadow,)

LMAO.......well then I wish Obama would make us cranky as hell by signing the Ketstone Pipeline deal.......that would drop unemployment at double the current pace.....Obama is killing jobs by not signing.....and his run away NLRB is trying to tell corporation when and where they can expand within our country......in reality one would think Obama does not want improvement. At best it appears he is only interested in Green Energy and Union jobs creation. Corporation are not investing in the US due to the climate of economic uncertainty created by current policies and the threat of more. The money hunnie is not your best source for insight.......good reporter and spokesperson though.

50 mm/ Where did you get this number? And who are these people?

we all know were leona gets her numbers....just wash your hands after dealing with her comments...please...

haha...

You liberals hate the truth. The Truth will win out.

The US has a work force of some 155million. If we add the current 8,5% rate to LEONA's 50million, the number of unemployed equals roughly 62.5 million, an unemloyment rate of 40% or 15% higher than the Great Depression. Even the harshest methodology puts the rate at 'only' 22%.

Daniel Gross Dec2,2011: "Each month, the BLS surveys people and asks if they've been working. It creates an estimate of the total number of people working and then divides that figure into its estimate of the total civilian labor force. The number of people who said they were employed rose from 140.302 million in October to 140.58 million in November, an increase of 278,000. (Good!) But the labor force fell, as people either aged out of the workforce, or got discouraged and stopped looking. The labor force actually contracted by 315,000 in the month, according to the household survey. (Bad!) This combination of more people saying they were working even as more people dropped out of the labor force helped bring about a sharp reduction in the unemployment rate. In a truly healthy labor market, both the number of people working and the labor force would be growing."

It's called Republican math. However, the Republicans math and science skills are pretty low.

hey job1,

Democrat math = DENIAL.

Daniel Gross: " the labor force actually contracted by 315,000 in the month."

The truth will win out.

Like I said, "Republicans math and science skills are pretty low."

Leona,

It's political election season, both sides are going to grab whatever they can that makes their specific talking point seem real.

We haven't been using true numbers on the unemployment scale for some time now about 20 years to be honest. Only in political land will it happen that when unemployment ends and the recipient drops off does that person no longer count as unemployed.

Also, when someone comes along and uses the old classic methods to guage unemployment that were used for over 100 years, they are derided as using the most extreme method.

they do this for everything, Colas, tax rates, etc.

No intelligent person accepts anything the government says based upon numbers anymore. Even getting the actual data any more is useless because the way they collect and report.

What's that old saying "Garbage in, garbage out"

why doesnt Reid bring the Republican bills (15+) to a vote???

ANSWER : Harry Reid leads the "Senate of NO"

Pay back is a bitch.

Let's kick Reid out.

The Senate of No" is all about stopping the " peoples business" dead in its tracks..

Unfortunately Leona,

The republicans are the reason Reid is still in his senate seat.

Pelosi's 900 bills introduced in the house in her first year and the 200 that passed, that is because of the absolute majority the democrats had and the call for every little piece of liberal clap trap to be brought forth "While we have the VOTES!"

It IS why the tea party was elected to staunch the flow. And they have done an effective job, judging by the way the democrats expound on it.

EVEN the PRESIDENT said it was their OWN FAULT!

abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/obama-takes-responsibility-shellacking-barack-midterm-elections-2010-republicans-democrats-house-representatives-john-boehner-house-speaker-harry-reid-sarah-palin-tea-party-jake-tapper-12049776

If that don't work try this...

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131046118

The problem they have is they think we have forgotten when we haven't, it is they who are forgetting....

haha, just saying what I've heard on CNBC.

Why don't you tune in??

OH WAIT...............you can't stand the truth.

Leona - Girl best not to believe everything you hear. let me help you, once you hear or read something use logic and sometimes critical thinking skills to come to a conclusion. Just don't believe everything you hear, especially if it come from FOX.

bushisan,

haha, I just said it came from CNBC (NOT fox, like you want to say).

You ignored that tiny little fact ?? LOL

wow, the lies just flow right out of your mouth....it lust be the kool aid.....

I get great pleasure in knowing that Santorum will ever be elected President. However, I do hope that he does well in the GOP primaries.

TO: LEONA-2986819 who wrote:

"wow, the lies just flow right out of your mouth..."

Leona, you do realize that in 2012 everything that comes out of the candidates' mouths is on videotape, don't you?

Last night I saw and heard serious racist and delusional statements come from Santorum's mouth, and seconds later, after we watched with our own eyes and heard with our own ears what Santorum said, we were shocked to hear him deny he ever used those words in the first place.

After that, I don't know if Santorum actually said verbatim that the world is flat, but I wouldn't be so quick to doubt it.

Oh Anti-American Liberal Girl is back drinking the cool-aid!

I guess your gonna say that this liberal media bias reporting

is accurate? more liberal push on the OBOMBO PSMNBC network!

Ervin,

She's not drinking KoolAid ..... more like Jagermeister !

I am still looking for an honest, meaningful post from her. If she were Pinocchio .... it could be disastrous. This is nothing more than a contrived story from MSDNC writers on a now partisan-controlled website.

It is more like a liberal coffee-klatch than a commentary blog of any substance.