Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A break for some happy pictures
Flip through the pictures of Carnival worldwide from the Boston Globe.
Good is not enough, but it is still good
In years past Conservative Politicians may tend to look at economic trends and measurements and assess that the economy is improving our job / concern is done here. It is the basis of a Progressive to view those same signs and measurements through the prism of people. This is why the unemployment number should always be front and center on the radar.
That being said, there is good news out there to consider. Take a look at the following Forbes article regarding the recovery.
One piece I find very interesting if not necessarily the most important
I wonder how many quotes I could pull about how the government couldn't run cash for clunkers, how all it will do is cannibalize all the sales into a short period of time.
This article was published prior to today's good news from the NY Fed regarding the growth in US manufacturing for the month of February.
That being said, there is good news out there to consider. Take a look at the following Forbes article regarding the recovery.
One piece I find very interesting if not necessarily the most important
And even with troubles at Toyota ( TM - news - people ) and a hangover from the cash-for-clunkers program, January auto sales are up 11% versus June, just before the clunkers program got started.
I wonder how many quotes I could pull about how the government couldn't run cash for clunkers, how all it will do is cannibalize all the sales into a short period of time.
This article was published prior to today's good news from the NY Fed regarding the growth in US manufacturing for the month of February.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Something has changed
I have been sensing for a few weeks now. I have thought about blogging about it. The main thougth process has continually come back to David Plouffe. It appears he has returned to a closer more involved position with the White House.
The news broke around January 23rd. This was just after the Scott Brown victory in Mass. If you compare that date to the linked graph you will see it corresponds to an even approval / disapproval rating before a slight and steady improvement.
It would be unwise to use the tracking polls to be the only measure of the effect in this change. We have had a bit of a bump with a half step back and now slight uptick. Looking at a graph the impression one gets is that the President may have hit bottom and maybe starting a course correction.
Some of things that one can point to are the State of the Union address, the face off with the Republican House Caucus, Biden on Meet the Press, and the impending Health Care Summit. The utilization of OFA (organizing for America) seems to have become a little more focuses as well.
In addition I was just reading some quotes regarding the "White House" stating that they allowed Congress too much latitude in the messaging on Health Care. That President Obama with adjust and focus the messaging.
I am not convinced of the results. However, it feels better for whatever that is worth. Candidate Obama frequented talked about the rope a dope on the campaign. It feels like he has decided to come off the ropes and start counter punching. Only time will tell if he took too much of a beating over the last 12 rounds (months) and can he be effective. Fingers are crossed.
The news broke around January 23rd. This was just after the Scott Brown victory in Mass. If you compare that date to the linked graph you will see it corresponds to an even approval / disapproval rating before a slight and steady improvement.
It would be unwise to use the tracking polls to be the only measure of the effect in this change. We have had a bit of a bump with a half step back and now slight uptick. Looking at a graph the impression one gets is that the President may have hit bottom and maybe starting a course correction.
Some of things that one can point to are the State of the Union address, the face off with the Republican House Caucus, Biden on Meet the Press, and the impending Health Care Summit. The utilization of OFA (organizing for America) seems to have become a little more focuses as well.
In addition I was just reading some quotes regarding the "White House" stating that they allowed Congress too much latitude in the messaging on Health Care. That President Obama with adjust and focus the messaging.
I am not convinced of the results. However, it feels better for whatever that is worth. Candidate Obama frequented talked about the rope a dope on the campaign. It feels like he has decided to come off the ropes and start counter punching. Only time will tell if he took too much of a beating over the last 12 rounds (months) and can he be effective. Fingers are crossed.
I love maps: 2009 Federal Budget edition
This should be madatory reading for anyone out there yelling about balancing the budget. I am not suggesting balancing the budget is wrong, but one should know what they are talking about.
The pie chart is courtesy of Wikipedia. The summary below was lifted from 538.com.
Welfare for seniors, 34 percent: Social Security and Medicare wedges.
Defense, 22 percent (Defense and Homeland Security).
Welfare for everyone else, 20 percent ( Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance and Health & Human Services.)
Interest, 9 percent (Interest).
85% of the full budget is included in the above areas.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A break for some sad news
Fans of Discovery's The Deadliest Catch will be saddened to learn that Captian Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie has died from complications from a stroke.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A little help please
Someone correct me if I am wrong in my understanding and this is highly simplified.
We had a decade of watered down regulation and wall street risk taking. The financial system reaches the edge of collapse. The Bush administration reacts (in a way that would not have been their preference, however, they had little choice) Obama comes into power and administers the TARP programs of the Bush Administration. Wall Street continues to make stupid decisions regarding compensation.
Tea partiers get pissed. They want to punish Obama for? What exactly?
When I ask for someone to explain to me, I really mean it. I am truly trying to figure this out. When I attempt to wrap my head around this I keep hitting a road block.
I understand historically there tends to be great amount of anger during times of economic distress and change. I looked up the current unemployment numbers for insight.
by race
Blacks 16.5%
Hispanics 12.5%
Whites 8.7%
By age
Adult Men 10.%
Adult Women 7.9%
Teens 26.4%
According to the numbers above their is pain across the board but the hardest hit by far are young people of color. Neither of those groups seems to be represented by the Tea hater movement.
The other shoe is change. The very thing that Obama campaigned on. Could it be these people are really scared of or pissed about things changing and they can not control it anymore. I keep coming back to this. While I keep hearing it's not just the democrats it's both parties. However, this is then usually followed by a litany of right wing talking points. I really don't want to believe that what we are witnessing is simply a bunch of scared and angry old people resisting change and trying to fight for the "good ole" days finding an easy target in the first black President. I have to admit, when I was younger I didn't expect to see a black President this young in my life.
I don't want to water it down to simple transference of anger to the first black President. However, the more the tea haters talk the fewer options are left.
We had a decade of watered down regulation and wall street risk taking. The financial system reaches the edge of collapse. The Bush administration reacts (in a way that would not have been their preference, however, they had little choice) Obama comes into power and administers the TARP programs of the Bush Administration. Wall Street continues to make stupid decisions regarding compensation.
Tea partiers get pissed. They want to punish Obama for? What exactly?
When I ask for someone to explain to me, I really mean it. I am truly trying to figure this out. When I attempt to wrap my head around this I keep hitting a road block.
I understand historically there tends to be great amount of anger during times of economic distress and change. I looked up the current unemployment numbers for insight.
by race
Blacks 16.5%
Hispanics 12.5%
Whites 8.7%
By age
Adult Men 10.%
Adult Women 7.9%
Teens 26.4%
According to the numbers above their is pain across the board but the hardest hit by far are young people of color. Neither of those groups seems to be represented by the Tea hater movement.
The other shoe is change. The very thing that Obama campaigned on. Could it be these people are really scared of or pissed about things changing and they can not control it anymore. I keep coming back to this. While I keep hearing it's not just the democrats it's both parties. However, this is then usually followed by a litany of right wing talking points. I really don't want to believe that what we are witnessing is simply a bunch of scared and angry old people resisting change and trying to fight for the "good ole" days finding an easy target in the first black President. I have to admit, when I was younger I didn't expect to see a black President this young in my life.
I don't want to water it down to simple transference of anger to the first black President. However, the more the tea haters talk the fewer options are left.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Hostage situation doesn't survive sunlight.
A couple post below is a story about Senator Richard Shelby placing a hold on 70 pending Obama nominees. He was concerned that the administration wasn't honoring his "earmarked" projects for his state fast enough. "Earmarks" where have I heard that dirty word before? His answer was to hold up the pending nominees until he got what he wanted. Kind of reminds me of "I'm taking my ball and going home".
Well. Somehow the story got out to the public and today Senator Shelby has lifted his hold. Of course he has lame ass excuse how he got what he wanted to save face. This is total BS. Even if that were true what would that say. Hey look at me I can totally screw with the federal government to make sure my state gets the money that I earmarked in the budget. If the Teabaggers were true to what they say their convictions are, if fox news was truly fair and balanced and believed in a fiscally Conservative government this should be front and center blasted from coast to coast as the type of government they are fed up with.
What are the chances that the fact Senator Shelby is an old, white, southern, "conservative", republican will allow for this to disappear from the rights radar. It kind of reminds me of Sarah Palin's calling for Rahm's firing for saying f****** retard and saying it was OK for Rush to say "calling those retards, retard". You know it was satire. To steal a line from Stephen Colbert what a "f****** retard" hey that was satire.
Well. Somehow the story got out to the public and today Senator Shelby has lifted his hold. Of course he has lame ass excuse how he got what he wanted to save face. This is total BS. Even if that were true what would that say. Hey look at me I can totally screw with the federal government to make sure my state gets the money that I earmarked in the budget. If the Teabaggers were true to what they say their convictions are, if fox news was truly fair and balanced and believed in a fiscally Conservative government this should be front and center blasted from coast to coast as the type of government they are fed up with.
What are the chances that the fact Senator Shelby is an old, white, southern, "conservative", republican will allow for this to disappear from the rights radar. It kind of reminds me of Sarah Palin's calling for Rahm's firing for saying f****** retard and saying it was OK for Rush to say "calling those retards, retard". You know it was satire. To steal a line from Stephen Colbert what a "f****** retard" hey that was satire.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tools
Follow this link to the New York Times for an interactive tool to help understand the US Budget.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tonedeaf?
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/report-shelby-blocks-all-obama-nominations-in-the-senate-over-al-earmarks.php
I sense this an example of a Senator who has lost touch with the current political dynamic. Republicans had garnered an opening against President Obama and the Dems. Actions like this are going to play tight into the Presidents narrative. We'll see if he can capitalize on it. Shelby's saving grace here may be this is the Friday before the Superbowl.
It will be interredting to see this play out.
I sense this an example of a Senator who has lost touch with the current political dynamic. Republicans had garnered an opening against President Obama and the Dems. Actions like this are going to play tight into the Presidents narrative. We'll see if he can capitalize on it. Shelby's saving grace here may be this is the Friday before the Superbowl.
It will be interredting to see this play out.
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