IF THE GOP WANTS TO WIN THIS ELECTION, THEY'D BETTER QUIT ARGUING AND START CREATING U.S. ECONOMIC FAILURE AGAIN....

By Don Lee, Los Angeles Times

January 12, 2012

Reporting from Washington—

The Federal Reserve's latest report on the nation's regional economies showed that the pace of activity around the country is picking up, with the notable exception of the housing market.

The Fed report, dubbed the beige book, confirmed that consumer spending was strong at the end of last year, with most parts of the country indicating significant gains in holiday sales.

The central bank's New York district described the retail activity as "brisk," and Dallas called it "robust." Travel and tourism also performed solidly in most areas at year's end, according to a summary of economic conditions made by the Fed's 12 bank districts and released Wednesday.

Manufacturing continued its "steady overall expansion," the report said.

Heavy-equipment production and steel led the pack as demand got a good lift from resurgent activity in energy, farming and auto manufacturing. There also was strong demand for computers and electronic parts.

The service-producing part of the economy strengthened as well.

Professional services, technology and healthcare providers grew in different parts of the country. "Lending activity edged up overall," the report said, as companies sought more loans.

Although some districts reported gains in home sales from a year earlier, as well as a pickup in apartment construction, on the whole residential real estate markets remained at "very low levels" throughout the U.S. but housing is a lagging indicator and should improve.

The beige book described the San Francisco district, which includes California and eight other Western states, as growing at a "moderate pace" from late November to the end of the year, the period covered by the report.

The report noted significant pay increases for workers with specialized skills in certain manufacturing and technology sectors.

The Fed's report comes on the heels of solid job gains reported for December and other data suggesting that the economy entered the year with increasing momentum.

The beige book is an anecdotal snapshot of the economy based on reports from the district banks and interviews with key businesses, economists and market experts. The book is issued eight times a year.

If you really want to annoy a liberal, vote for the candidate that the DNC Chairwoman is attacking and most afraid of having Obama face in November; Mitt Romney.

Bill,

Which Mitt Romney is that? #1 or #2?

'The TARP program... was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.' ^[1]

'When government is... bailing out banks... we have every good reason to be alarmed.' ^[2]

'I like health care mandates. The mandates work.' ^[1]

'I think health care mandates are unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.' ^[2]

'I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.' ^[1]

'I never really called myself pro-choice.' ^[2]

'I believe the tax on capital gains should be zero.' ^[1]

'Capital gains taxes are a tax cut for fat cats.' ^[2]

'Roe v. Wade has gone too far.' ^[1]

'I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.' ^[2]

'I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.' ^[1]

'Ronald Reagan is... my hero.' ^[2]

'When I first heard of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, I thought it sounded awfully silly.' ^[1]

''Don't Ask, Don't Tell has worked well.' ^[2]

'If Massachusetts succeeds in implementing health care, then that will be a model for the nation.' ^[1]

'What works in one state may not be the answer for another.' ^[2]

'In Massachusetts...the costs of health care will be reduced.' ^[1]

'We were unable to deal with... health care costs in Massachusetts.' ^[2]

'I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.' ^[1]

'Any description of my being a hunter is an overstatement of capability.' ^[2]

'I'm going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.' ^[1]

'Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.' ^[2]

'I would like to have campaign spending limits.' ^[1]

'The American people should be free to advocate for their candidates and their positions without limitations.' ^[2]

'I supported the assault weapon ban.' ^[1]

'I don't support any gun control legislation.' ^[2]

'Based on the numbers of American Muslims... I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified.' ^[1]

'A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.' ^[2]

'I'm not in favor of privatizing Social Security or making cuts.' ^[1]

'Social Security's the easiest to privatize and that's because you can give people a personal account.' ^[2]

'I don't line up with the NRA.' ^[1]

'I'm a member of the [NRA].' ^[2]

'The all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery...' ^[1]

'The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.' ^[2]

'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.' ^[1]

'I did not see it with my own eyes.' ^[2]

'It does take a village to raise a child.' ^[1]

'It takes a family to raise a child.' ^[2]

'I'm a strong believer in stating your position and not wavering.' ^[1]

'I changed my position.' ^[2]

hey Redhead we know youre a newt plant ... go do the Herman Cain 69 69 69 plan

If Mitt wins he will be demonized like Obama was form the min he is sworn in .He won't enjoy one min of his purchased presidency !The senate and congress will block everything he does the same way the GOP did to Obama. He will get lil or nothing done .. karma is a bitch ! But it will be at the taxpayers expense ! Once again we can beheld hostage by one person blocking a vote because one person was allowed to buy the vote !

There is "power" in trying to be the spoiler, that's for sure. Newtie is all about attention and self aggrandizement.

I keep offering conservatives rapture tickets, but they never take them. I suspect they don't believe in it, either. Or they don't want to find out that they wouldn't be chosen to go.

Anna,

GOP conservatives are all about drinking the Kool Aid. However, they won't take the rapture tickets because the Swiss haven't opened a branch bank in Hell yet.....

[I keep offering conservatives rapture tickets, but they never take them.]

Funny you should mention mental illness...a conservative friend of mine wanted to trade me his Rapture tickets for my Bruce Springsteen tickets...I asked him if the trade included his house, his cars, his wife, AND his first-born son...

InPS -- The Teapublicans would have to actually submit legislation before the Dems could block it. And recycled, fake/symbolic, or poison pill legislation doesn't count.

And we can be sure that nasty Newt will be saying just that. Never a graceful loser or a faithful husband.

Newt will end up on Romney's staff or be appointed to some position.

Newt's been anxious to explore the moon - so why not send him there! One Way!

Newt's possible positions in a Romney White House....

1) Kneeling

2) Bowing

3) Curtsying

4) Missionary

5) Doggy style

6) Offensive Tight End

7) Right Wing (hockey)

8) Queef (look it up)

9) Napolean's Cap

10) Alaskan Pipeline Inspector

You left out "water carrier" and putting the bucket to good use - ha! The truth is, only a teeny tiny few who served with Newt in congress have endorsed him. That's because they all know Newt is NOT a team player and therefore do NOT want him on their team. (Not to mention Newt is nuts.)

The thing that has kept Romney strong so far in Florida, in my opinion, has been some of the early voting and absentee ballots. If it weren't for that...............

Wow, really? That is great news! Even after outspending Team Newt by 5 to 1?

Hmmm, I'll remain unconvinced until sometime tomorrow night. As a liberal I find the idea of Newt winning, and the cannibalistic feeding frenzy it would set off, to be delightful.

I've been wondering if the establishment attempting to tip the scales in Romney's favor starting on Thursday morning of last week was going to end up backfiring with the conservative grassroots. The New York Times article about the Romney campaign staffers patting themselves on the back while being dismissive of their candidate didn't help matters. I still think Romney will most likely win Florida, but it should be interesting to see if the race narrows at the end. If the story is that Romney was up 15% in polls and then wins with 3 or 4% then that will take some momentum from Romney.

Its Florida... the election ain't over until the "right" candidate gets the most votes. No matter how much work it takes to get the numbers right!

Has there EVER been an MSM "knockout" meme for a single primary contest, when the candidate they were promoting wasn't leading in the National polls?...

Newt really should not have po'd the MSM.

Its Florida...the election ain't over until the "right" candidate gets the most votes. No matter how much work it takes to get the numbers right!

Look out Chad they're voting again in Florida....run Chad, run or you might get hanged!!!

Wouldn't it be funny if Gingrich wins despite the fact that Romney and Super PAC has spent 5 times as much? So much for Super PAC spending.

I realize it's a winner take all for delegates in Florida. What % would trigger a recount?

just punch the correct chad and there will be no need for a recount(don't leave it hanging on the ballot either)

Cynthia,

Actually, Florida is a "winner take half" this year. Only 50 of a possible 100 delegates will be seated for the winning candidate because Florida moved it's primary date up in the calendar. So, the GOP convention cut their delegates in half to punish them. This renders Florida only as important as North Carolina or Michigan at the GOP convention. So what's all the fuss about? Still a long way to go, and many more Romney secrets to be revealed.....