Groundhog Day

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”



From The Washington Post: “President Obama continued efforts to open himself to direct scrutiny from his critics on Monday, sitting for a half-hour of questions submitted to YouTube during his State of the Union address last week.” Adds Don Surber on his Daily Scoreboard: “Except the White House handlers got to pick the questions. You want transparency and tough questions? Broadcast his next meeting with the Democratic Caucus.”

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

Strike two: Looks like White House chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel has joined his fellow Chicagoan – and boss – in having to issue an apology to the developmentally disabled. (Interestingly enough, he apologized for using the term, “retards,” but just to those who are challenged…not the Democrats he originally pointed the barb at.)

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

Ooops, he did it again: “President Barack Obama took another dig at Las Vegas at his New Hampshire town hall Tuesday after similar remarks got him into hot water last year. Obama said that people should now “blow a bunch of cash in Vegas” during a tough recession. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called for Obama to apologize after he made comparable comments last February. ‘When times are tough, you tighten your belts,” he said at the forum.” You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save for college.’” So much for that re-election, eh, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)?

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) is “a looming disaster?” You don’t say. (Actually, the program’s Inspector General said so.)

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

Once again, “it’s George W. Bush’s fault.” Of course it is.

I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

How do we get out of this recession? “The U.S. government must spend its way out of the recession, the Democrats' third-ranking House leader stressed Monday.” That Congressman? Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.). That philosophy? Business as usual.



I Got You Babe – “Groundhog Day prediction from Punxsutawney Phil: 6 more weeks of winter.”

Don't quit your day job...if you've got one

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Stealth Care Reform
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Who needs results when you’ve got great promises? Hoisted on his own petard…

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Sea Lions) tries to reinsert the public option into the House healthcare bill even though it has almost zero chance of surviving in the Senate. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was trying to kill it.

"This won't hurt a bit..."

Labor pains: You know all that support unions gave candidate Barack Obama on his way to the White House? They’re being rewarded for it now.

Add health insurance reform efforts: Because he was so successful last time he tried…

And some politicians and pundits wonder why ordinary citizens are a bit dubious when it comes to a massive restructuring of our government, economy and way of life…

The numbers don't lie...

The opposite of full disclosure? This…

The Spirit of Ted Kennedy (as opposed to his spirits) could live on when it comes time to vote for the health insurance bill. At least his legacy won’t include a federal drivers’ education act.

Teddy - you're missed...by these guys.

The Feds produced their much-anticipated December Jobs Report. Can you believe how much better the unemployment situation is now? Ooops…read that wrong. Sorry. Looks like the groundhog saw his shadow. Another bad month for jobs.

The same story - over and over again...

Quick question: if you “misrepresented” something important to government officials, how much trouble would you be in? Guess what? – It looks like our own federal government is misrepresenting unemployment…possibly by as much as 32%.

Add skewed unemployment figures: According to Heidi Shierholz over at the Economic Policy Institute, “The latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the jobs situation continued to worsen at the end of 2009 as 85,000 jobs were lost in December. Unemployment held steady at 10.0%, but only because the labor force declined by well over half a million (661,000) workers in December. If those workers had been in the labor force and counted as unemployed, the unemployment rate would have risen to 10.4%. Long term unemployment continued to rise, with nearly 40% of all unemployed workers being unemployed for more than six months. Unfortunately, the hoped-for positive job growth has not yet materialized and we are still seeing modest job losses. (According to Don Surber over at The Daily Mail, the figure is actually higher – try 10.7%)

According to this story from Reuters, there are nine reasons why the December jobs report is bad for Democrats. (Really? Only nine?)

Speaking of Democrats: Pelosi came out with a doozy of a news release today: “Pelosi Statement on New Report That Health Reform Will Create 4 Million More Jobs Over the Next Decade-Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on a new report released today by the Center for American Progress that shows that health insurance reform will create up to 4 million more jobs over the next decade than would be created without reform. The report finds that health care reform could increase the number of jobs in the United States by about 250,000 to 400,000 per year over the coming decade. ‘We know that health insurance reform will help save lives, save money, and save Medicare. But Americans need to know that reform will actually save and create millions more jobs—lessening the burden of skyrocketing costs on small and medium-sized businesses all across America. Reform is critical to the health of our economy and to the health of our people.’” The truth, though, the health care industry is already doing pretty well when it comes to adding jobs. In fact, it’s added 631,000 jobs since the recession began.

So I guess the job’s done?