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Subscribe to RSSAnother weak jobs report helps Romney get back on message … But Obama leads in Virginia and two words – gender gap. It’s tough to see a great path to 270 for Romney without winning Virginia. … Is McDonnell veep possibility hurt by good VA economy? … The 17 “Swing Markets” – Obama’s going to two of them this weekend … China became the political story yesterday … Romney and religion, the need to coalesce but reach out to swing voters … Santorum, Romney meet, but no endorsement expected today … Romney addresses Grennell … and Lugar’s last chance: the last big weekend of campaigning in Indiana. It’s statesmanship vs. the Tea Party (and the Tea Party’s winning).
NBC’s Chuck Todd, Domenico Montanaro, Natalie Cucchiara, and Brooke Brower
Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign event in Chantilly, Virginia, on May 2, 2012.
*** Another weak jobs report helps Romney get back on message: The bin Laden anniversary, a secret trip to Afghanistan to announce staying in that country for 10 more years and simultaneously the ending of the war as we know it, a diplomatic crisis, a presidential candidate drops out, and the latest report on the most important number this election – unemployment. All in a week’s work. It was another weak jobs report. Just 115,000 jobs were added, though the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent,” and CNBC notes that the rate dropped because there were fewer people in the workforce. It was clear in the last NBC/WSJ poll that economic optimism had flat-lined. These jobs reports do have an impact on how people view the economy. We noted earlier in the week that Romney was having a tough week because of all the national security news that dominated. This will allow him to get back on message for a month. “This is not progress. This is very, very disappointing,” Romney said this morning. The upside inside the report was the fact that job gains were revised UPWARD for BOTH February and March, accounting for SOME of the drop in unemployment. But again, the shrinking workforce is the story.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about the April jobs report, in which unemployment fell to 8.1 percent with the economy adding just 115,000 more jobs.
*** Obama leads in Virginia: With Romney in Virginia yesterday, the Washington Post is out with a poll poll in Virginia, where Obama leads 51%-44% over Romney. It’s the fifth swing state poll in two days – WI, FL, OH, PA, VA. What have we learned from those? Romney’s got a lot of work to do. The common denominator on all these – we thought he might get a bump after being the de facto nominee, and while he showed improvement in some places, particularly Florida, he didn’t get much of a bump out of becoming the nominee. Virginia may very well be the scariest state for Romney. If Obama wins Virginia, he could win the White House without FL or OH. If Romney loses Virginia, he doesn’t have a path if he also doesn’t win any of the swing states out West.
*** Virginia, not just for lovers, but also for candidates – but two words – gender gap: Assuming the West becomes out of reach due to the GOP’s problems with Hispanics, then Romney HAS to win one of the following four: PA, VA, WI, or MI. And of those four, Virginia is clearly the most winnable. And of all the swing states, Virginia’s was closest to the national number in 2008. And it has moved with where the country has moved from 2005 forward. “I think most would say it's a very tough path for a Republican to win the presidency without winning Virginia,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell, who appeared with Romney yesterday. “So that's why you see Mitt here last night, today and he'll be here next week a couple times. This is clearly on the top of his list. The president's here today and the president's here on Saturday, so everybody knows Virginia's in play.” Digging deeper into the Washington Post poll and one result stands out above all others: the gender gap. If you didn’t think before that the fight over transvaginal ultrasounds hurt the GOP, then simply look at this gender gap in this poll. That fight did damage to the GOP’s brand with suburban women.
*** The Swing Markets: There are swing states and then there are swing MARKETS inside those swing states. And it’s these swing markets, where you’ll not just see TV ad spending but the candidates themselves. Our ad-tracking partners, SMG Delta crunched the numbers to break down the 17 “swing markets” within the broader group of battleground states. These are the ONLY media markets in these 12 battleground states where Bush won in 2004 and Obama won in 2008. We break down the list of those places here. Interestingly, Virginia sports three of the 17 markets (including Richmond) and Ohio sports two of the 17 (including Columbus). And where’s the president going for his first two official campaign events on Saturday? Richmond, VA, and Columbus, OH. By the way, margins in media markets matter as much as whether a candidate carries it. For instance, Colorado does not have a “swing” market. Kerry and Obama BOTH won the Denver-market. Obama just won it by a MUCH larger margin.
*** China rising: We noted yesterday that the story of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng would become a political story, and did it ever – with Chen himself even calling into a Capitol Hill hearing. Romney criticized the Obama administration, charging that yesterday was “a day of shame for the Obama administration." Romney wasn’t very specific about would he’d do if he were president, but an aide indicated to NBCPolitics.com’s Mike O’Brien that Romney would have offered him asylum. State Department spokesman Mark Toner contended, however, “You cannot achieve political asylum unless you are outside of the country you are trying to flee.” This morning China says Chen can apply to study abroad, which seems like a way for everyone to save face. We can’t imagine Secretary Clinton leaving China without a firm deal in place.
*** Quick on the trigger: Romney rolled the dice a tad by deciding to jump on the Chen story. Yes he couched his comments with “If the media reports are true” but what if they aren’t. There’s a backstory here that no one is quite sure of. Why not wait a day? Why not wait two days until all the facts are known and the Secretary of State is back in the country? Of course, Republicans might argue that they put pressure on the administration to fight for Chen. This morning, Clinton, by the way, said, “All of our efforts with Mr. Chen have been guided by his choices and our values,” per NBC’s Sarah Blackwill. “And I'm pleased that today our ambassador has spoken with him, our embassy staff and our doctor had a chance to meet with him and he confirms he and his family now want to go the United States, so he can pursue his studies. In that regard, we are also encouraged by the official statement issued today by the Chinese government confirming that he can apply to travel abroad for this purpose.”
*** Close up: Romney was asked by local NBC Virginia affiliate WAVY if he believed his religion was part of the reason conservatives were slow to embrace him. Romney replied, “I've got great support from evangelical voters - a number of states that we had primaries in I was the leading contender.” Evangelicals were not a strength for Romney; it’s a big reason he lost South Carolina and didn’t win a single culturally Southern state. He won evangelicals in NH, MA, FL, NV, VT, MD, VA (where only he and Paul were on the ballot). He acknowledged, though, “I know there will be a narrative perhaps to that degree….” But he said, “I want all elements of our party to come together and support me, but I also have to get those folks that are the undecideds, the independent voters, women voters, Hispanic voters, young people, I've got to get them, too.” How tough has this pivot been for Romney? AP notes today that members of the Mormon Church are nervous about the church coming into the spotlight, having again to defend the church amidst “vetting” that “will take place amid the emotion of what may well be a nasty general election.”
*** McDonnell hurt by good VA economy ironically? McDonnell noted yesterday that Virginia has the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, and he’s running sunny ads about the state of the Virginia economy. If you’re wondering how he did in the audition, he might not make as much sense now, because he throws Romney off his “bad economy” message a bit. McDonnell would argue that it’s because of his pro-business policies that have helped create jobs in the state. But it’s hard to have it both ways. "Remember three and a half years ago, we heard that tune about hope and change?" McDonnell said. "Now what do we have? We have recession, division and malaise. It’s time for a change, don't you think?" But when you peel back the onion of the Virginia economy, you realize just how much the federal government is such a vital part of the economy. Two words: defense contractors.
*** Santorum, Romney meeting but not expected to appear together publicly: Romney will appear with Rick Santorum on his home turf in Pittsburgh today, but there isn’t expected to be an endorsement and, NBC’s Andrew Rafferty reports, the two aren’t even expected to appear together PUBLICLY. Santorum is really running out of political capital here – whatever’s left of it. Even Michele Bachmann, who once said Romney couldn’t beat Barack Obama, endorsed him yesterday. As AP’s Phil Elliott pointed out, Santorum endorsed Jon Bruning yesterday in the Nebraska Senate primary, but still hadn’t yet endorsed Romney. Romney holds an event at noon ET. The last time Pittsburgh hosted one of these meetings was for Bush-McCain.
*** Romney addresses Grennell – ‘wanted him to stay’: Mitt Romney address the Richard Grennell controversy for the first time this morning on FOX. “We wanted him to stay with our team,” he said, per NBC’s Garrett Haake. “He's a very accomplished spokesperson. We select people not based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation... We select based on ability.”
*** Big weekend of campaigning in IN and WI: It’s the last chance for Richard Lugar to turn the tide in his bid to retain his Senate seat against upstart Tea Party challenger Richard Mourdock, the state treasurer. Bloomberg today sums it up – pitting Lugar’s “statesmanship” against Mourdock’s fight for conservative purity. In Wisconsin, two Democrats – Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett have their last chances to sell Democrats on why they would be best to take on the well-funded Gov. Scott Walker, in the recall fight. Barrett is favored by double-digits, according to a poll out Wednesday.
*** Get the NBC Politics app: Get the power of our political reporting and analysis where and when you want it with the new NBC Politics app. Get the latest stories and video from First Read, The Daily Rundown, Meet the Press, and more. Read our daily Tip Sheet to stay in-the-know with Decision 2012 and check out our national and state contest results. The app features an exclusive battleground map game that allows readers to carve out each candidate’s path to 270. Share those maps with us via Facebook or NBCPolitics.com and we might feature them online on air. Download it now for your iPad or iPhone. In this week’s Press Pass, David Gregory interviews actor Robert DeNiro from near Ground Zero. And check the blog this afternoon for The Week Ahead and The Week That Was.
*** The schedule: President Obama speaks against about student loan interest rates, this time at a high school in Arlington, VA, at 11:50 am ET. Then he hosts the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball champion Kentucky Wildcats at the White House at 4:50 pm ET. … Vice President Biden speaks about women’s issues at the YWCA Annual Conference in DC at 1:15 pm ET.
Countdown to Indiana Senate/Wisconsin recall primaries: 4
Countdown to Wisconsin recall election: 32
Countdown to Election Day: 186 days
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Gender gap in Virginia....No that is not it...northern Virginia (north of Richmond close to DC) heavy government workers...not highly ethnically diverse............also, surprise, surprise the jobless rate dropped a tad on its way to below 8 percent by election time....who would have thunk....and, minimal job growth....lots of people just not looking for work....lies, lies, deception, deception, from O bl mm r admin. Been seeing people out eating with welfare/food stamp debit card....Are you really better off today? Can your finances/our country stand four more of O bl mm r..?
If the alternative is a return to Bush era policy, I'll take the current 26 straight months of jobs growth and be thankful.
Now who's lying?
It doesn't matter who Obama is running against. Obama's jobs numbers will always suck. Hundreds of huge companies holding back on hiring and expansion until the loser Obama makes his concession speech. THEN watch the hiring surge.
Romney is by far the candidate with the most business experience. Obama never had a real job, never ran a hot dog stand, knows only three things: tax, spend, and keep blaming someone else...anyone else.
Edward-1075991,
People will always fall for stupid gimmicks. The Business community and those within it have not shown their credentials for Presidential office because of; All of the following were full of Business exeperienced EXPERTS:
Goldman Sachs's
AIG
Enron
S&L Savings and Loan
Fradulent Sub Prime mortgage sales of BBB accounts as AAA
If anything has been confirmed by all those Business professionals within the Coporate structure. It is that, when in Presidential office, they create a NO accountability system for Coporate America as the Middle class Bails them out at a detriment to the middle class economy. So....Romney's business credentials doesn't mean sh#t.....
We need someone who maintains equal accountabilty ensuring WE (middle class and Coporate America) all live and play by the SAME rules....period.
Do you actually think about this stuff before you write it? Companies aren't making a political statement. They simply have a lack of demand do to a housing meltdown that left behind a crippled middle class. If you don't even understand that basic fact, you can't begin to understand how to make things better.
Edward: I recommend you stack Obama's job creation numbers up against Dubya's record. You may be in for a big surpise.
What message???? Obama said, on his first day in office, the economy would improve but that ups and downs would occur. The fact still remians that our economy is better now than it was as Repubican leadership was leaving office in 2008-2009. This fact, and this fact alone, gives Obama a huge advantage when compared to Republicans regarding which approach is best for the economy....
Tony, you wouldn't know the truth if it came up and hit you broadside in the ass!
Tony, you should read a newspaper now and then, maybe watch some news programs occasionally. Heck, maybe do some research on the Internet and study economic indicators to realize things are worse now then the day Bush left office. Come on man, get with it.
bob-2579213 (without knowledge of truth from amnesia),
Maybe we should defer to this truth;
Reagan (GOP) national deficit leaving office 1988.....$550 billion
Bush1 (GOP) national deficit leaving office 1992.......$385 billion
Clinton (DEM) national deficit leaving office 2000.......ZERO
after line item veto of Newt's coporate tax cut provisions 15-34 in HR 2014 on 8-11-97
Bush2 (GOP) national budgetary deficit leaving office 2008.....$5 trillion
$5 trillion principle of debt for US with accruing interest rate of 0.625% compounded exponentially each month
Obama (DEM) enters office with Bush2 debt and spends $987 billion to repair broken economy. Has there ever been anything (economy) broken that was free to repair?????
Our present state of the economy is FACTUALLY based on this history mentioned above........case closed.
Republican leadership left Jan 2007 when democrats took over congress. They left democrats 4.6% unemployment and look what democrats did with it.
Phil: That argument is for uninformed voters only. You should try to rise above it.
Go Romney.....................
Go Home Romney.....................
In the Oval Office where you belong.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAHAhahahahaaaaa!!!!!oval office???HOOOOOOOOhehehehaaaa!!!! Ohhh you said a funny!!
To Glen Becks Mormon Radio station where you belong...
Face it the Democrats of today are a patchwork quilt of fringe groups. Because they have to cater and make promises to all these people they cannot concentrate on the main issues affecting our Country. Pelosi has even admitted how these fringe groups were sewn together so they could seize control. Henceforth, why nothing is getting done. If these fringe groups would stop and look at each other they might realize many are in contrast with each other. Yet, they remain in the same pot together.
yeah the $ h i t pot!
An excellent example is the pipeline and drilling permits with unions vs environmentalists. So what does Obama do? Punt! He can't afford to piss off either.
Might the obvious obstructionism in congress be part of the whole "nothing getting done" idea?
You have the parties confused. It's the repugs that are a patchwork of anarchist groups. That's why Boehner is an empty drunken suit. The teabaggers control the repug party, who are controlled by Grover Norquist, who is controlled by the Koch shysters and their mafia organization.
The Truth is this.... "if I don't get things turned around and corrected in 4 years, I'm a one term president" Barack Obozzo.
You didn't..... see ya Moron!
Most people would say that going from losing 800,000 jobs a month to creating 150,000 jobs a month constitutes "turning things around", same with 40% increase in stock market, solvency of credit industry and two of the largest US manufacturers making record profits.
Not sure why you wouldn't.
Because all booby-2579213 is interested in is throwing insults, lying and disparaging this President. He has nothing constructive to say, because he doesn't have a clue about what anyone else is talking about.
Leave booby alone, Mark, he's just a troll looking for attention.
Democrats inherited 4.6% unemployment when they took over congress and they ran it up to 10%.
You can't get down to 4.6% by destroying jobs and you can't get it up to 10% by creating them.
Facts trump liberal lies every time.
Phil, can you point to even one program that the democrat congress of 2008 initiated that started the worst world-wide recession in almost 100 years, exactly one month later?
Get serious.
Phil: There you go again spouting the nonsense. The cause and effect of the republican policies between 2001 and 2006 are to blame. Most of America is very well aware of this. You have your blinders on and keep repeating that nonsense that Hannity is feeding you. Shame.
What Phil either refuses to see or is unable of comprehending is that when a country is losing 750,000 a month that the unemployment rate is going to go up. President Obama isn't responsible for that high number. The Bush policies are still responsible for the high unemployment numbers. You can't turn an economy that was on life support around in a short period of time.
unemployment at 8.1% , families are hurting big time, some are even living in cars.why is obama so set in his ways? what happen to the days of $1.00 gas. i remember and it wasnt that long ago, gas was .98 a gallon or even $1.05 a gallon. what the hell happen and dont tell me its big oil. why cant america open up and drill for its own oil? if we are going to use it, then lets drill it...lets end the buying it.
10 years ago a 12 gallon gas tank in your car would cost you about $10 to fill up, today it will cost you $40.
Scott, the president who never bought a gallon of gas on his own could care less about gas prices.
Scott, I wrote an essay three years ago citing all the sources of oil available to this country. Anyone interested just needs to Goggle the following: Bakken (North Dakota), The Utah Tar Sands, The Green River Valley Oil, The Rocky Mountain Oil, ANWR (Alaska), The Pacific Ocean Oil, The Atlantic Ocean Oil, The Deep Gulf Oil, and finally Lower 48 land based oil deposits.
Going after all these resources could create job growth like we have not seen. revenue would easily pay off our national debt. Heck, we would have plenty to fund research into alternative energy sources for the appeasement of the Greenies.
Boys you all need an education, Its called supply and demand. China and India are now the largest importers of oil and gas. It is there demand that has raised the cost of oil. Why are we paying more for milk since 1960 when is was less than a dollar a gallon or is that Obamas fault too.
if america drilled for its own oil, then we would be out of that supply and demand circus. america would be on the selling end of things once again instead of stuck behind the eight ball buying.
Yes it is supply and demand and Obama is doing everything possible to squelch supply. All our increases are on private land he can't control. The pipeline section he "approved" is also on private land so he couldn't stop that either.
And yes milk prices ARE his fault. When you print billions you devalue the dollar, that causes inflation. When you withhold prime oil fields from the market you increase prices, that causes inflation. Both add to food inflation, get it!
Scott, Phil, you have seen were we are now exporting Oil and gas right. If we have enough supply to export then we mush have enough here to drop prices right.
We can not drill our way out of the current energy crisis. We need to think bigger than that. Doubling down on borderline obsolete energy policies is not the answer, it only lengthens the duration of our pain.
upset, now you are looking too are into the future for the right to follow that thought. Besides if you switch to green energy what will happen to oil futures on the stock market.
How moronic...the discussion of gas prices...give me a break.
First, let us use some logic... ( I know this is hard for some, but please try to focus )
If the prez could in ANY way lower the price of gas, do you not think he would have already if only for political gain?
Even the economy in general is extremely hard for a sitting prez to influence in any significant way.
oh yeah, the obama plan, go green, prices drop.....who the hell can afford solar panels or wind turbines or even a new hybrid car....remember the poor and middle class who still rely on oil and gas.
Leave it to rumney to call a positive, a negative. Thats the mentality of the rich, if they didn't get over a million dollars, they didn't get nothing. Thats like say "I only spent two hundred thousand dollars on shoes last year", when you're rich, that ain't much, but when you're middle class or poor, thats a lot of money. Mabe rumney don't know that any step foward is positive, and any step backwards is negative, for as bad as he was as a President, even g-dub wasn't that bad. But like I said, thats his mentality, he cannot help it. He is so out of touch with reality and real people it's pathetic. Over one hundred thousand jobs created, thats a positive, over one hundred thousand jobs lost, thats a negative.....I thought this guy said he was a business man, with that mentality, I don't see how. We use to have a saying about people like rumney, "The more you talk to em, the dumber you get".
Jealousy and Envy are two of the seven deadly sins. This country is founded are freedom to accomplish whatever your ambitions and ability will do. Therefore, we will have rich people and poor people and many in between. Those in between make this country different than a third world country. Being green eyed over what another may have is unhealthy. Instead, try improving yourself and finding a way to achieve that same progress. My abilities never got me beyond middle class and now I am considered poor from being unemployed for 3-1/2 years. Still I admire those who have achieved, and try to use them as role models. The government or taxpayers cannot and will not make you rich, buy you a house, or buy you a new car. We need to get jobs so we can move forward. Romney is our only hope in this election. There are no excuses that apply anymore to Obama.
Larry where does GREED fit into this, is it not one of the seven sins.
It sure is. It is called gluttony. Some day they may pay for that. We all operate with our own code of ethics. I prefer living in a country where you have a chance to move from poverty to millionaire if you happen to have the ability.
Larry I think we still have that today, I do not see anthing preventing someone with a skill or knowledge not being able to become rich we even have a TV series demonstrating this every week. But we do have some that determine greed is good ( I stole that one) even at the expense of others would you agree to that. Ethics what is the benchmark of good ethics vs bad ethics.
Larry: Jealousy and Envy are the same thing and are not "two of the deadly sins". You really have no idea what you are talking about do you?
And by the way, Gluttony and Greed are not the same thing. Those are "Two of the deadly sins".
Stop spouting off about things you know little to nothing about.
The thought of another 4 years of Obama is a terrifying vision. Please god, save our country and talk some sense into the Obamabots.
And here we thought it was the Tparty that has a terrifying vision. Yep still do.
Yes the Tea Party has a terrifying vision, Obama being re elected. That terrifies all Tea Party members.
Phil I have no doubt it does scare them and I am so glad. Maybe it will scare them so bad they look for somewhere else to live and control, I hear south of the boarder is nice and needs some control.
There's very little point in arguing about what Mitt Romney would do as president; not only because he is headed for defeat but also because he will say whatever it takes to win votes, sometimes on both sides of a question, so that it is impossible to know what he would do as president. For all we know, he would be the most liberal president since Lyndon Johnson. When Republicans lose the presidency and both houses of congress thanks to O'Donnell's transvaginal ultrasounds, Rush Limbaugh's anti-women rants, and Mitt's "voluntary deportation" program, the Republican party will split into a Christian fascist faction, a Chamber of Commerce Ayn Rand faction and an anti-immigrant racist faction and will be heard from no more except in leaflets, bumper stickers, and Fox News snippets. As a liberal Democrat, I'm not all that happy with my own party but I can still tell the difference between confusion and insanity and so can most voters. If the Republicans self-destruct, the Democrats will split to fill the void. There will be a liberal wing and a business-owned wing and the big money will flee the Republicans and buy off the business-friendly Democrats. People like Boehner and McConnell will desert the Republicans and become Democrats. It won't be a great improvement but at least the maniacs will be purged from politics except in South Carolina and Arizona.
Not a bad representation of how it could go.
Hopefully the teanuts and GOP hardliners will be unemployed after November and more moderate, centrist congressmen will replace them...keep your fingers crossed.
I agree with DionysusOmega, Likeits1999, that is a good analysis. The only thing I think you may have missed the mark on is McConnell. IMHO he would be on of the leaders of the . . . well . . . he'd fit in with all three of your Republican split offs.
Those who ingnore 2010 are doomed to repeat it.
2010 will prove to be an anomoly, an over-reaction. The 10% approval rating of these wingnuts is tough to ignore, unless you live in Phil's ancient Norse city that only exists in tea party land.
The election of 2010 was a reaction to incredible debt predictions.
It was also a serious overeach by obstructionist bent on bringing the government down by not allowing ANY legislation to pass.
Amazingly, the economy keeps chugging away despite non action by Congress.
It is bizarre and disconcerting that the GOP are so desperate to see the country fail economicaly and internationaly just to make Obama look bad.
But it doesn't surprise me...they have shown recently that they are willing to do ANYTHING for the hope of regaining POWER.
Reaganomics-Start a business in your garage and become a millionare.
Obamanomics-Live in your parent's garage.
Reagan - raised taxes some 7 times...
Obama - No tax increases so far...
HMMMMMMM!
Actually, DionysusOmega, Reagan raised them 11 times.
Obviously, ol' selfdeluded-1951031 doesn't have a clue about economics.
More liberal lies, ho hum.
Reaganomics - trickle down race to the bottom.
Obamanomics - build a better American future by investing in ourselves, not Iraq.
Phil a little more research and you will find that even Norquist admits to Reagan raising taxes 11 times but he forgives him for it.
There you go, folks, the Republican/TP Inc. intransigence in passing any real jobs creation bill is showing up in the jobs report, and helping their candidate, just as they planned. Never mind that real people are suffering because they can't find work, it's more important for the Republican/TP Inc. party to win an election, than pass legislation that will actually grow the economy, and create a robust jobs recovery.
Our infrastructure is crumbling, and the Republican/TP Inc. idiots are focusing on cutting funding for health care. What a bunch of good for nothing jerks. A comprehensive infrastructure repair, and improvement program would provide good paying jobs, and generate massive economic activity for years to come.
If you're not in the top 1%, 2%, or even 5%, supporting, and voting for the Republican/TP Inc. party is like handing the executioner the ammunition he needs to shoot you.
In fact, even if you are in the top 1%, 2%, and 5%, voting for the Republican/TP Inc. party is not in your best interest, either. The economic chaos that their policies create will cause you more harm in the long run, than benefits in the short run (note the last recession). The problem is, the Depression was too long ago for anyone to remember that even the those at the top of the income ladder were severely hurt by the crash caused by the same policies being pushed by the Republican/TP Inc. party, today.
Bush average unemployment 5%, Obama average unemployment 9%.
Facts trump liberal lies every time.
Phil: You conveniently ignore such facts as this one:
750,000 jobs EVERY month being lost at the end of the Bush reign of terror. That is 3/4 of a million incase you didn't make it past third grade, which seems to be the case based on your postings.
And delusional Republican/TP Inc. fools like you, Valhalla Phil, can try to twist the facts all you want but they still don't fit your preferred interpretation. The unemployment rate was at 7.8% in January of 2009, and we were losing over 750,000 jobs per month due to Bush policies.
And don't give us any of that Democrats controlled the Legislature crap, Bush vetoed everything they tried to pass, when the Republican/TP Inc. party wasn't filibustering. But that's probably too complicated for you to understand.
Liberal lies? You keep saying it, but you never prove it. Prove it, Valhalla Phil, or STFU.
Just what are Romney's plans to improve employment other than to give his rich friends a break on their taxes and fire the rest of us? Seriously, I wish Mr. Armani would come clean. He's constantly attacking Obama but is totally bankrupt of any ideas that would actually those of us who need the help.
We know Romney and Paul are going to continue to make sure the richest of us get richer and they'd throw the rest of us under the bus.
The job numbers improve however slight and it's not due to anything Romney's Republican buddies have done, they've let Obama and the Dems go it alone, while the GOP and that includes Romney and Paul out there suggesting that cutting off the middle class at the knees is the way to go!
The only thing that would help Romney is if he was actually genuine about improving anyone's lot other than his own and the wealthy elite.
Kill Obamacare and stop the war on business. Those two alone will do the trick.
Democrats take over congress and a year later unemployment takes off.
Republicans take back the house and a year later unemployment begins to improve.
What do you think happened!
NY Dave: Well said. I've been watching Romney for months and I have no idea what he would do to improve economic conditions other that what has been tried under Bush. He spends all his time trying to convince everybody how bad Obama is. How about we talk about Romney's plans? Sound good to anybody else?
Phil Ferry Dust
Phil - Don't kid yourself, the teatards have done nothing to improve economic conditions since 2011. They have been obstructing on that very issue and distracting with abortion issues and such. Look at their record, it stinks. 10% approval rating and you're giving them credit for Obama policies? Please.
A 3 1/2 year recession, SWEET!
Another 1st for Obama.
Iam sorry did I miss the rule book on how long a recession should last, just can't keep up with all the rule changes these days.
According to the financial channels this recovery is even worse than the great depression. His 9% unemployment rate is a record by far. His deficits are literally unprecedented.
No there is no rulebook. That means Obama can drag it out as long as he wants.
Phil you really need to check facts first. Great Depression 25% unemployment you really are a fool.
The recession has been over for a year and a half. 26 straight months of job growth is undeniable. Can you knuckleheads even define "recession"? I doubt it if you think we are still in one.
Let's see, Bush Jr. and Friends destroy the World economy just 3 short years ago and now they claim that they will save us all if we just give them their Jobs Back.
What's wrong with this Picture?
Sorry Republicans, your Quarterly Reviews Suck!
As a Matter of fact, all republicans need to get Bi-Weekly Pee tests, Monthly Credit Checks and Bi-Weekly Pregnancy tests along with Forced Anal Exams and you all have to pay for it out of your Pockets...
More liberal lies. It was democrats running congress that destroyed the economy. Presidents can't pass bills or budgets, congress does.
Democrats inherited 4.6% unemployment and a booming economy, this disaster is all on their watch.
Phil I am shocked you got one right Congress passes bills. So why are are we still working on getting out of a recession Party of NO not passing bills. If you really want to prove Obama to be a fool pass his bills and let them fail, job done.
Bush inherited a $500 billion surplus, a balanced budget and the lowest unemployment of my lifetime. Boy, it didn't take him long to ruin all three did it?
good news people....OIL loses 4.42 and is at 98.12
GAS loses .08 and is at 2.96
gas at the pumps by monday should be about 7 cents cheaper
I read an article that the Obama Administration is working feverishly behind the scenes to get gas under $2.40 a gallon by November. After that they will not care what it climbs too.
Scott what state do you live in we are still over $3.90 per gallon, Larry what crystal ball have you been looking at faux news again. Show me the article
Tis the Season, I wish I could but in all honesty I do not recall it, and did not save it for future use. I suppose with determined search I could find it but what would be the use? This conversation would be cold by then. I guess if you do not want to believe it that is well within your right.
im in tn and gas here is at $3.49 a gallon. but when i said gas lost .08 and is at 2.96 , i meant that is what it is trading for on the market. that means the gas stations are buying gas at this moment at $2.96 and selling it at your price of $3.90, but of course the gas stations have to pay for their delivery, so gas stations where you are at are making about a .40-.60 profit per gallon.
Scott thank you for the clarification it is appreciated, I can only hope the price goes down. It always seems to up faster than it comes down though.
And one more thing, unemployment has dropped to 8.1%, thats down from 9 something from where it use to be. Tell rumney thats a job growth and not a job lose.
dont tell romney, tell that to the man standing in line at the unemployment office and see what he has to say about that 8.1%
Or the person who no longer gets any benefits and still does not have a job. Some 522,000 of those people were dropped in April making the drop possible. Top Dog cannot comprehend what that means.
Scott tell that to the thousand no longer standing in that line. Larry which party did not want to extend those benefits.......oh right the republicans. Still trying to have it both ways front door and back door.
Does not extending these people benefits make them go away? No they still exist. All most of them want is a decent paying job and some dignity. Do you think people are proud to be on food-stamps? Look at Wal-Mart where the self-service lines are over flowing and people are using their food-stamp cards with embarrassment. This is the problem we must fix.
Unemployment fell because people are giving up. That is not a good thing, take a look at the stock market if you think otherwise. Down over 150 right now.
Larry you are right extending the benefits does not make them go away but it does allow them to feed their family and if lucky stay in their home, and no most are not happy to be on unemployment and would much rather be working. I would much rather see them rebuilding the infrastructure than collecting these benefits, this way you kill two birds with one stone. We do not have to pay thoes benefits but start collecting tax revenue, and now that they are working they start buying which in turns creates demand which in turn creates jobs. Win Win.
How is the new jobs report a help to Romney? I read that there were now 115,000 more Americans with jobs than the month before. I could see if the news was that there were 115,000 fewer Americans working. The media does the country a very great disservice but spreading misinformation and "doom and gloom" instead of positivity.
FOX News stated this morning that it takes 130,000 jobs per month to break even from the population growth this report does not include. They also stated that 522,000 people were dropped from the report in April (those who no longer collect benefits, and still do not have a job). Now you can hate FOX as that is your right. However, facts are facts and hating the messenger does not change anything.
the no spin zone
Those are not Fox numbers, they are government numbers. Actually I think Fox was low balling, other sources say we need over 150,000 jobs/mo to break even.
The combination of sub par jobs creation, anemic 2% growth, and more people giving up is really bad news. Again, the market is down over 150 points on the news.
Another thing to consider, these numbers have been revised down 50 of the last 51 times reported. What are the odds these will be revised down as well? About 98%.
The three amigos you may have it right but you are forgetting one little point. Is it not better to at least break even than continue the slide down by losing that same number of jobs or greater as we were by the end of the last administration. But I do not agree that faux is a no spin zone not by a long shot. We can all twist numbers all day long and make them mean anything we want simply by changing our view of them. As for numbers being revised I have seen that go both ways which is a good thing it shows they are trying to give us the best numbers possible, or would you prefer they fake the numbers.
Gov. Romney worked in the private sector and he did a great job taking jobs. When he moved that experience to government as Governor, he had one of the lowest job creation rates in the country. Massachusetts was 47th in the nation in job growth, while Romney was in office He left the state with a massive debt.
Sorry Mitt, We want an honest man with moral and ethical standards, not yelling freedom for the top 1% to rape the country again. Your idea of Freedom is not ours; we want freedom from carpet baggers, money laundering, fixing the market rates, private dealing and trickeries
I could never vote for someone that I can not trust, Romney is just too secretive in to many important areas.
You trust a deceitful and lying like a rug Obama? Be serious.
Larry your opinion and nothing more, ranmarie is entitled to hers as well. If you want to make those statement show examples because I can show you were you have not been forthright either.
Hey Honey, is that the Republicans Knocking on the Door?
Yes Dear.
I thought we got rid of them and that Crazy Bush Kid. Weren't they supposed to be gone for Fifty Years?
Yes Dear, but they're at the Door again looking for more handouts and there is some Mormon guy here saying he want s to save us...
Wasn't he here last Sunday?
Yes Dear and the Sunday before that.
Tell him to go away for Fifty years...
Ted, you can put the bong down now. You have had enough.
hey everyone!...let's give the obama stimulus plan a chance to kick in...one of these days it will happen and everyone will be over-employed!....what happened to obama's laser focus on job creation?....just more bull@!$%# from a president who is a liar, a distorter, and a divider...
Bush on jobs: 8 years
2001-2008 3.0 million jobs
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/01/09/bush-on-jobs-the-worst-track-record-on-record/
Obama on jobs: 3½ years
2009- May 2012 over 4 million jobs
I think I'll stick with slow and Steady
Bush average unemployment 5%
Obama average unemployment 9%
Facts trump liberal lies every time.
Phil not when they are taken out of context dude. First you need to show us all the facts not just yours.
obama pushes for greener technologies and alternative energies. he pushes the Chevy Volt which uses electric to charge overnight, the same electric coal powered electric companies provide but yet wants to tax and penalize for the use of coal,not to mention the families who are supposed to buy these things cant even afford to buy bread. the poor families took the hit the worst with obama's cash for clunkers program which took hundreds of thousands of cash cars of the roads, cars that they could afford to buy.solar and wind...another gimmick, to power any home with solar will cost over 20k, are you kidding me Mr. President.
Dirty little secret, green incentives are tax cuts for the rich. How many poor will buy a Volt? How many poor have a roof full of solar panels?
Anyone know if Ron Paul is still running heh heh?