The Note: Job One — Pressure on Obama to Show Stimulus Results
Email By RICK KLEIN Of the very many things President Obama took on when he assumed office, the one that matters Thursday is the hard bigotry of high expectations. That’s because this is a job-number day — time for that monthly glimpse of economic activity that doubles as a political barometer in the age of the stimulus. The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, out at 8:30 am ET, will be bad — those always-smart economists expect in the range of another 370,000 lost jobs in June, as we lurch toward double-digit unemployment rates — though probably not as bad as they’ve been. And, if you listen to the Obama administration economists who will fan out to make the case as soon as the numbers drop, not nearly as bad as it would have been without the stimulus. But this is the political peril of spending three-quarters of a trillion dollars before you even get comfortable in Washington: You’re expected to know where it’s all going, and then you’re expected to prove that it’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing. Skepticism is growing on that front. (Old charts and predictions don’t go away, and who believes jobs and being “saved or created” when the numbers say they’re being lost?) Think this isn’t something they’re thinking about at high levels inside the West Wing? Said Vice President Joe Biden, on a conference call with local officials: “My rear end is on the line, just like yours,” Biden said, per Time’s Michael Scherer. “I’m the guy in charge of this deal. So if it doesn’t work, it’s me.” “What really haunts the White House is the fear that much of the money might be spent less efficiently than it could have been,” Scherer writes. “Hanging over all these concerns is the prospect that a second stimulus bill may be needed to bail out states in late 2010 or 2011. . . . In June, White House counselor David Axelrod left open the possibility that a second stimulus may be needed. The White House is confronted with the prospect of having to ask for more money early next year — even as a group of voters is ready to dump the first stimulus right now.” What should also haunt the White House: “Even as the nation's economy begins clawing its way out of the worst recession in 60 years, there are growing signs that this recovery could come with an unsettling twist: The wheels of commerce may begin to turn again without any substantial boost in jobs,” Don Lee writes in the Los Angeles Times. “Not only is the national unemployment rate, now 9.4%, likely to climb into double digits later this year, but it is also expected to remain there well into 2010, economists say. That would prolong the misery of the unemployed, squeeze retailers and other businesses, and add millions of dollars in government costs and lost productivity. It could even threaten the recovery itself.” Paul Krugman sees a “prolonged jobless” economic recovery, unless there’s more stimulus spending. “The fact of the matter is that the unemployment rate is much worse than the administration contemplated or that most people expected,” Krugman tells ABC’s Jennifer Parker. A new character joins the debate. Coming Thursday from the GOP: House Republican Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio,unveils a Web video with “Ellie Mae” the bloodhound (and featuring the voice of Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga.), sniffing the country in search of jobs. “The fact is the stimulus isn’t working,” Westmoreland says. “Washington keeps spending your money, but jobs keep disappearing.” Hang in there honey,” Boehner tells Ellie Mae, “we’ll find ‘em.” The numbers don’t catch anyone at the White House off-guard: The president meets with business leaders at 1:45 pm ET, and delivers remarks on “innovation and jobs” about 2:20 pm ET, before heading to Camp David for the holiday. One of the problems in spending stimulus cash . . . Biden Wednesday touted broadband access, and yet, “the first dollars for broadband expansion won't be spent until the end of the year at the earliest,” The Washington Post’s Cecilia Kang reports. “Some analysts and telecommunications industry insiders have said that orders for telecommunications network equipment and services have been delayed as potential applicants for broadband funds wait for the government to push forward with the grants and loans.” As for that newfound Democratic optimism: “We have 60 votes on paper,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tells The New York Times’ Carl Hulse. “But we cannot bulldoze anybody; it doesn’t work that way. My caucus doesn’t allow it. And we have a very diverse group of senators philosophically. I am not this morning suddenly flexing my muscles.” Hulse reports: “Indeed, becoming the first party in 30 years to reach the fabled plateau of 60 could create as many political problems as it solves, raising expectations sky high and potentially causing a backlash should Democrats falter on energy or health care.” New Quinnipiac numbers: “Approval among independent voters is 52-37 percent, compared to 57-30 percent in a June 4 survey. . . . The survey of more than 3,000 voters also finds that voters feel 32-30 percent that things in the nation have gotten better since President Obama was inaugurated. Independent voters say 32-27 percent that things are worse, with 40 percent saying things are the same” Costs, coloring the health care push: At his town hall Wednesday, the president “cast his proposal as a cost-saver, rather than a giant expenditure, saying the economy was not likely to rally without reversing ‘the crushing cost of health care,’ ” Jeff Zeleny writes in The New York Times. Obama “is signaling flexibility on many of his previous stances as he tries to put a health-care deal together,” The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler reports. “Asked about the shift in positions, White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said the president would prefer that Congress adopt his health-care plan. But ‘there is recognition across the board that we can't wait another year to get this done,’ he said.” And yes, that was a presidential hug: “President Obama played the comforter-in-chief Wednesday when a woman with kidney cancer, no insurance and little hope went looking for help at his health care summit,” Michael McAuliff writes in the New York Daily News. Regarding Debby Smith, the recipient of the hug: “Smith said after the town hall meeting that she had been invited to attend the session by the White House. But while the former accountant said she was working for Organizing for America — a pro-Obama group pushing healthcare overhaul — she had been advised she would probably not have the chance to ask a question,” The Boston Globe’s Susan Milligan reports. “The exchange with Smith was vividly reminiscent of many encounters then-candidate Bill Clinton had in 1992 on the campaign trail, when scores of patients told sad stories of being denied coverage or treatment for illnesses, despite having been once employed and insured.” “The questions posed from social media networks were selected by White House staffers, and the three people he called on from the audience all were affiliated with advocacy groups that support Obama,” USA Today’s Susan Page reports. “White House officials said that was a coincidence,” per The Washington Post’s Michael D. Shear and Jose Antonio Vargas. (As for those outside the hall — Dana Milbank has some of the enlightened commentary from the White House Facebook discussion page, with such gems as: “WHO LIKES POTATOES!!!!!!!”) How does this bode for health care’s political prospects — and Obama’s political coattails? Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds passed on an opportunity to be alongside the president in Northern Virginia Wednesday. “I've got this thing I'm working on — I'm trying to be elected governor of Virginia,” Deeds told Rosalind Helderman of The Washington Post. “As much as I would have liked to be in Annandale with the president and the governor, I needed to be in Hampton Roads today.” Slashing prices: Democratic lawmakers say the revised plan from Senators Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., “would cost dramatically less than an earlier, incomplete proposal, and help show the way toward coverage for 97 percent of all Americans,” per the AP’s David Espo. “The two senators said the Congressional Budget Office put the cost of the proposal at $611.4 billion over 10 years, down from $1 trillion two weeks ago. The revising also ‘virtually eliminates’ an earlier forecast that the proposal would cause many companies to drop coverage for their workers, they said.” Fireworks this weekend: “U.S. missile defenses are prepared to try to knock down the last stage of a Taepodong-2 missile that North Korea is expected soon to launch if sensors detect the weapon threatens U.S. territory, the commander of the U.S. Northern Command told The Washington Times,” per the Times’ Bill Gertz. Fireworks next week: “The Obama White House on Wednesday adopted a hard line against negotiating away missile-defense sites in Eastern Europe and limiting NATO expansion in the former Soviet Union, just days ahead of a summit meeting in Moscow,” The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman, Gregory L. White, and Alan Cullison report. “The hardened posture made it clear the Kremlin wouldn't make headway on two of its top priorities for the summit.” The big word on a big crisis: Mark Leibovich has his take on California, and the gubernatorial race: “Who Can Possibly Govern California?” is the headline on his New York Times Magazine piece. (Answer: Maybe Gavin Newsom?) As for Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C.: “On Wednesday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell became the latest — and one of the most significant — members of the S.C. legislature to say the governor should consider stepping down after admitting to an affair,” The State reports. And how far is Sanford’s closest ally, state Sen. Tom Davis, from following him? “Before any important decision I make comes due diligence, and I owe it to my constituents to perform that due diligence before taking a public position on an issue as important as whether to call for the resignation of a duly-elected statewide official,” Davis said in a statement. “Accordingly, I have met today with the governor and members of his staff; I have had telephone conversations with my friend, Jenny Sanford; I have talked with the governor’s legislative supporters and opponents; and I have talked with key reform leaders.” Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.: “A lot of us are talking to him behind the scenes in hopes that he'll make the right decision about what needs to be done.” Plus: “Gov. Mark Sanford left the Governor’s Mansion without a security escort, 38 times in 2008. In the first six months of this year, he left the mansion without security, 39 times,” The State’s Clif LeBlanc reports. Think he can make it? This is one column’s worth of headlines from The State’s Website: “Sanford has no plans to budge . . . Governor's mental state questioned . . . Many talking to Sanford as calls for resignation grow . . . DeMint not pushing resignation . . . Jenny Sanford staying with parents in Fla. . . . Saga a hot revenue stream for ETV . . . Sanford adds to trip reimbursement . . . Sanford 'crossed lines' with others.” “Gov. Mark Sanford’s long and emotional interview with The Associated Press Tuesday appears to have been the final straw for South Carolina’s Republican establishment, much of which is now actively seeking his resignation,” Politico’s Andy Barr and Jonathan Martin report. “Republican lawmakers in South Carolina who had supported the governor since he acknowledged the extramarital affair last week suddenly turned against him, saying the disclosures amounted to a distraction that would prevent him from effectively doing the state's business,” The Washington Post’s Philip Rucker reports. What it means that arguments over Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Alaska, rage still: “Palin is an irresistible personality around whom the arguments about the Republican future continue to swirl. But the events of this week reflect deeper arguments inside a party that cannot yet be sure if it has hit bottom — as [Norm] Coleman's departure from the Senate reminds all Republicans,” The Washington Post’s Dan Balz and Perry Bacon Jr. report. Always good for congressional approval ratings: “Spending by lawmakers on taxpayer-financed trips abroad has risen sharply in recent years, a Wall Street Journal analysis of travel records shows, involving everything from war-zone visits to trips to exotic spots such as the Galápagos Islands,” The Wall Street Journal’s Brody Mullins and T.W. Farnam report. “The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago.” And who makes what at the White House? “Twenty-eight-year-old speechwriter Jon Favreau, for example, rakes in the top salary, $172,000: just as much as Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Senior Advisor’s David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett and National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones,” per ABC’s Sunlen Miller.
The Kicker: “Rational people don't do that.” — State Sen. Larry A. Martin, R-S.C., on Gov. Sanford’s confessional tour.
Today on “Top Line,” ABCNews.com’s daily political Webcast: Jared Bernstein, Vice President Joe Biden’s top economic adviser; and Politico’s Jonathan Martin. Noon ET. The Note’s morning analysis will not publish on Friday, July 3. Enjoy your Independence Day. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
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White House Blinks Amid Catholic Church Anger? 
Navy SEAL Commander Advised: Get the Hell Out of the Media
How could anyone expect our private sector job loss situation to improve when Obama’s stimulus package has been spent or appropriated toward beefing up, strengthening, or enlarging city, state, and federal government agencies all over the country. Virtually non of the stimulus went toward stopping the carnage in the private sector job loss situation. America will not last very long (and I’m now convinced those in power want it this way) if we continue to ignore what is being done to our country. For those of us that don’t want to think the unthinkable, it’s time for you to wake up. We are losing our country.
Posted by: Bob Retired | July 2, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am
How could anyone expect to see results from the stimulus so quickly. The economy is like a huge boat that takes a long time to turn. We’ve been in recession for 18 months. How could anyone expect this to turn around on a dime?
Posted by: Eric | July 2, 2009, 8:30 am 8:30 am
I sent the LIAR N Chief an email yesterday, asking what is so wrong with a massive decrease in income and capital gains taxes. I will never get a response.
The spendulus package is making things worse. He and Biden continue to lie and spin what cannot be spinned anymore. Its his economy and his plans are terribly bad. As a black man, I am so shamed of what we done on Nov. 4.
Posted by: nubiangent08 | July 2, 2009, 8:33 am 8:33 am
Looks like there will be more tea party goers ACORN have to Curb..
Posted by: Freedom | July 2, 2009, 8:36 am 8:36 am
Defininitions: Recession=Neighbor loses his job. Depression=You lose your job. Recovery=Obama loses his job.
Obama doesn’t get it. You can’t borrow your way out of financial trouble. Isn’t that the way homeowners got into so much financial trouble? Isn’t that one of the major causes of the banking problem? DUH!
Posted by: Mark D | July 2, 2009, 8:43 am 8:43 am
Show me the money! Oh, its been given to the unions, Acorn and the banks. Big O since you control all three how about just taking control of all businesses in this banana republic.
Posted by: afloatinasea | July 2, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Wasn’t it Obama taht said “we can’t spend more than we take in”? He needs to follow that advice and quit pushing to tax the h%$# out of all of us hardworking Americans in order to pay for those that won’t work and expect entitlements.
Posted by: mj | July 2, 2009, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Could you fix your link for printing The Note so that it’s only a 5-6 page print job rather than 14 pages of mostly junk? It used to be possible to print that way, but something has changed in the last week or so.
Posted by: Note Lover | July 2, 2009, 9:02 am 9:02 am
Worse case scenario, we can sell the $$$ printer to China and save ink for a Change.
Posted by: Freedom | July 2, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Is the “Stimulus” working? Of course-it’s working to destroy the private sector, increase government power and control and the public’s dependency on the same, and to generally weaken the US’s position relative to the rest of th world. This is EXACTLY the “change” that Obama promised, and he is delivering BIG TIME.
Posted by: MNResident | July 2, 2009, 9:29 am 9:29 am
What do you think should be done? This is such a horrible mess that no one could have even imagined. How on earth did we get to this? And this started during the Bush administration only no one knew exactly how bad it was. And if the states are not using the stimulus correctly….There are just too many greedy people from the bottom up, on BOTH sides, and too much fraud everywhere. How on earth can we fix this when these big shots keep earning huge salaries? It is everywhere…NY built two stadiums…WHY? Sure it’s nice but who can afford to go to a game? It’s packed with freebies from big corporations…the little guy can’t afford it. And I believe it was Simon Kalb from American Idol got a raise making $150 million or somewhat a year? What is wrong with our country? You can’t blame one person, the president, what about the congress and the big shots from corporations like the auto, ins., and wall street guys? It’s a disgrace!
Posted by: Barb | July 2, 2009, 9:37 am 9:37 am
The perfect response to the Obama slogan “Yes We Can” is “No You Can’t”.
Posted by: John | July 2, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am
This will be a nice slogan “Keep the Change you filthy animal”
Posted by: Freedom | July 2, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am
My husband cannot find a job in a robust market (Atlanta) and I am only working part time. Things are simply falling apart. We will probably have to move out of Atlanta just to survive. WHERE is the STIMULUS indeed. The natives are restless, Mr. Obama… all that money to the Treasury and fat cats like BOA and nothing for the masses. Better come up with something or you guys are going to be facing some pitchforks! Patience is running thin.
Posted by: Out of Luck in GA | July 2, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Yet, he continues to spend and wants to tax us ALL with Cap and Trade and National Health Care. Maybe now people will start seeing what’s going on. Maybe now Congress and Senate will see what’s going on. Their jobs are in jeopardy in 2010. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!!!!! OBAMA HAS TO STOP THE SPENDING!!!!
Posted by: PALGP | July 2, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am
This man is so ill equipped to run the country and now it is REALLY beginning to become apparent to even some of the high functioning liberals! I can only hope somehow America will survive this.
Posted by: CWG | July 2, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Anyone with a brain knew that Obama (or anyone else) could not fix this avalanche quickly. He’s trying and we have to wait to see it slowly right itself. At least he’s giving a cushion to those who are losing their jobs – extended benefits – this is good money to spend – as is any Health Plan help – try living without Health Care – you’ll agree it’s necessary!
Posted by: sevresblue | July 2, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Last May when it was assured that Obama would be the democratic candadate for the President the dow started a slow and steady downward trend (anyone who doubts this go take a look). As fall approached the banking system got into trouble and the trouble was hyped by the likes of Schumer who more or less started a run on Indie Mac. Fear more than anything else has got us to this point, fear inspired by an election and fear from what a socialist leaning President would do to business. Anyone who has watched politics knew full well that had Republicans had the smartest man or woman in the world as a candidate that pop culture and the press would see to it that they wouldn’t have a chance.
So to all the “newbies’ welcome to what some of us got to go through during the Carter years. It will be painful but we will survive despite the restraints placed on us by a runaway out of control Government.
Posted by: david | July 2, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
sevresblue –and meanwhile the debt continues to rise…he is ruining the country!
Posted by: CWG | July 2, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Saw on this morning’s news that the healthcare field has added 21,000 new jobs this year. Who wants to bet this administration can kill that growth?
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | July 2, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Positive attitude is a wonderful thing. It’s a better way to live. But it won’t get you very far at the grocery store checkout. Neither hope nor change has any nutritional value.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | July 2, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Obama is a big disgrace to this country, all he does is talk BS everytime he opens his mouth. Hope all you that voted for him are watching him, Pelso, Reid, etc——live it up in Washinton while the rest of struggle!!!!!!!
Posted by: countrygirl_74 | July 2, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
The way I see this situation is, that the corporations and the elite once again received a taxpayer funded stimulus and the working class are getting NOTHING!!! More unemployment, lower wages, higher prices & taxes, we in America today are nothing but serfs for the well connected wealthy elites.
What Americas citizens need today is a second revolution, not against a foreign enemy, not against our fellow citizens of diffrent colors, sexes, races, genders or sexualities but agiainst the rich, wealthy and all those that have defiled the basic principals of our founding fathers!!!!
Posted by: Carlo Bailey | July 2, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
No, Rick, it wasn’t “370,000 lost jobs in June.” It was 467,000 jobs.
Thank goodness Obama and his Democrat accomplices shoved through that stimulus bill. Otherwise, unemployment might be over 8%, just like they threatened.
Posted by: Mike Bates | July 2, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Dear Eric: I’m so glad you take up for Pres. Obama. Someone who said it will turn around in a month after the stimulus passes sure does not know time. Now it’s 5 months and we are losing more jobs then ever, not to count the one who gave up looking for a job and have lost their benefits.
But keep up the good work, you still have a job.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 2, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Pres. Obmas answer to the ever rising unemployment, lets take the family on a european vacation.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 2, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
Its called creative book keeping. you just cook up the numbers you want and then make your case. Thats why we keep hearing how many jobs Obama saved. What a joke. The government run media better start coming up with some stories to dispel the high unemployment figures. Dear Leader is floundering – time for MSNBC to start the love fest again and others will follow.
Posted by: jimbo | July 2, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am
To simply ‘vote the idiots out’ would take too long and likely produce little result. A new group of thieving politicians would simply take their place. What needs to change is policies in place. If you want to have free healthcare dont demand that employers pay for it. If you want more jobs make it uncomfortable for corporations to outsource and offshore to India and China. Tax all imports from China and other foreign companies heavily. Less government intereference with private businesses. Legalize weed and create jobs while cutting the profit of illegal mexican drug cartels by 50%!!! No more idiotic bills laden with pork, no more stimulus bill, no more unread healhcare type bills.
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 2, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am
The Stimulus was a joke. Obama wanted to rush it through. No one had the opportunity to read it. Full of pork.
Bush was not a very good President and Obama is worse.
Posted by: David | July 2, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
I disagree with anyone that says the government or the president cannot help the unemployment situation. There is a LOT than can be done. The government just doesnt want to try taxing imports from china and other countries, they dont want to make it less expensive for an employer to buy healthcare for employees they want employers to foot the bill of the cost of healthcare and that means more consultants and layoffs, doing away with vicodin percocet and tylenol? More layoffs! They dont want to end the prohibition of weed. Think how many jobs that could make! They dont want to stop interfering with private businesses! In fact they want just the opposite! They want to raise taxes that means businesses will want to cut costs via layoffs
Posted by: bailoutrecipient | July 2, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
The government still does not want to make it wholly unattractive for businesses to outsource and offshore! This is another big problem. Businesses are leaving and laying off in droves because of this simple fact as well. To top it all off Obama an admitted cigarette smoker and obvious reckless spender (he hasnt quit) wants to preach to us about financial responsibilty and healthcare (while he takes $375,000 jet rides, $25,000 NYC dates with his wife, and trips to Hawaii) and preach to us about healthcare while not quitting smoking and allowing cigarette companies (a product that kills millions of people annually) to do ‘business as usual’ other than change advertising and warnings a little. While the FDA considers banning acetominophen, vicodin and percocets drugs that if abused may have harmed tens of thousands by overdose but actually help hundreds of millions of people cope with pain legitimately.
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 2, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Eric wrote: “How could anyone expect to see results from the stimulus so quickly”?—————–Well, because Obama and Biden said so. They said we would see some “immediate” results and some will take more time. One result: unemployment under 8% and it is 9.5% now. Where are the 3 million jobs? You remember, some of which he said were ready right away. Wake up America!
Posted by: lfrichar | July 2, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am
Freedom…thank you for the link to watch how GIBBS was so smug in his attitude to Helen Thomas and Chip Reid from NBC. They are EXACTLY RIGHT! How can the American public get the TRUTH from this Administration if everything is PRE-PACKAGED and Obama has everyone in his so-called Town-hall meetings in his “back pocket!” As Helen Thomas said “It’s Shocking!” Although…not really. Obama is a liar. I NEVER thought I would say that about my President…ever. But he is…shame on him. America, we better WAKE UP SOON or the American that we are Celebrating this Saturday will be NO MORE!!!!
Posted by: Darlene | July 2, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Reversing the damage created by the previous 25 years of capitalism will take more than 8 months to reverse.
Blaming Barack Obama is not only foolish, it shows a lack of greater understanding.
Seems a few angry, reactive folks need to take to the books.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 2, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Sevresblue: I agree…sensible comment…thing is a lot of the people here just hate him and make ridiculous comments. Our healthcare is in shatters..everyone is complaining about it but they don’t want him to do anything? People want to have their cake and eat it too. And I know a lot of people who are thankful for the extended job benefits and cobra which is a lot less.
Posted by: Barb | July 2, 2009, 11:07 am 11:07 am
the healthcare dilemna is a big one. not a simple problem, nor simple solutions.
President Obama is proposing and backing some of the changes required to keep the country afloat. To the fools reacting to the news headlines daily: try to get informed. It’ll help you sort through the political crap.
Unfortunately in this country healthcare has been handled as a commodity, not valued as a right or necessity.
not an easy system to completely reverse.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 2, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
Eric, The reason everyone expects the economy to turn around on a dime is because that is what they were promised by Pres. Obama and his cheerleading squad when he was out trying to sell the package as “stimulus” and not the pork laden government power grab that is truly was. He promised that unemplyment wouldn’t go past 8% if the stimulus package passed. And all the fools that voted for him swallowed those promises hook, line, and sinker.
Posted by: Shannon | July 2, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
The tide is changing here. I voted for Obama but I feel the tide is changing at a rather fast clip.
What gets me is that we all are not politicos and we have to rely on information. We get this information from our national and local news telecasts who continue to say everything is right on schedule when my neighbor (MBA) cant get a job mopping floors at Arby’s. Thank God I have been frugal throughout my life but what I thought would sustain me and mine in my golden years is going to come up severely short and I’m scared. Finger pointing is not what I voted for. I voted for results and was promised results.
Results are what counts and as soon as we begin to see some truth come out, NOT INTENTIONS but results, at the very least I’ll know where me and my family are at. Right now we have absolutely no clue and that’s what scares me.
Posted by: Seymour | July 2, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
President Obama never promised to turn the country around “on a dime”.
Base your opinions on fact, not hype.
The President has clearly, on many occasions, indicated that he will try his best, adjusting accordingly with informed knowledge. Give him a chance.
for all our benefit.
Posted by: gus amaral | July 2, 2009, 11:31 am 11:31 am
The stimulus money is only beginning to be spent.. come back to me in September…
And to the person who wants more tax cuts.. the stimulus already has $400 billion in tax cuts that kicked in in April… Tax cuts won’t work to fix this recession and a capital gains tax cut does nothing when you are LOSING money in the stock market….
Only 2% of the stimulus money has been spent so far (but all the tax cuts have kicked in)… why the media ignores this is beyond me….
Posted by: Mike | July 2, 2009, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Anyone with a brain knew (pardon me for borrowing your phrase CWG) that Obama’s accomplishments and intellect were products of media hype. I will agree that he could not fix this avalanche (omitting your “quickly” deliberately) because it is half a century in the making, thanks to all the lawyers in the government churning out financial and business policies when they had had never held a real job, (like Obamba) in their lives.
We will soon be broke.
Posted by: vnohara | July 2, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Sorry I meant to address sevresblue, not CWG whom I agree with.
Posted by: vnohara | July 2, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
why do we not see more stories on the massive unemployment.and the hard times people are living in. instead of the fun the obamas are having in there new house and there new dog. what about the chief flying around in air force 1 pushing his health care fraud. what a joke and its on u.s.
Posted by: jim bradford | July 2, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
After years of a trash and burn economy- of ‘Plantation Style Laissez Fair’ economics- from 1980-2008-
we expect to right all the wrongs in 6 months>?
FDR could only moderate the depression with deficit spending after the crash of 1929- after the republicans and their financiers did not believe in social safety nets- Hoover in 1931 said programs like social security and unemployment ‘would not work’ in the United Sates- I wonder how bad this downturn would have been without the programs FDR started.
Posted by: Peter in CT | July 2, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Our big problems that led us into this mess: Big trade deficits, big debt levels,big unfunded entitlement schemes (Social Security and Medicare), etc are still here and getting bigger.
If the Pres and his team want to shore up confidence in Americans and the world, they need to tackle these problems before adding to them. All the current proposed WH programs increase debt and ignore the issues that created the mess in the first place.
Blame the GOP all you want, but the Democrats own all of this MESS!
Posted by: scott jeffries | July 2, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
When are you (abc) going to start to report the truth about Obama and the house doing there own thing and not listening to the voters. For example, the cap and trade bill was 10 to l against its passage. They don’t listen and you didn’t report the truth. Too bad for you because I have stopped wathcing your news channel at anytime of day or night. When you get back to reporting the truth, I’ll come back, but not until then.
Posted by: cleo keck | July 2, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
The stimulus money was used to line political pockets, and was a total waste. This administration is nothing but lies and spin. The stimulus spending has failed, and failed big time. It is my hope that journalism will return to safeguarding the freedoms of the American people, and that they will stop protecting and covering for the Obama administration. I end with saying “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” Without truth in the media, there can be no justice. This country is on the road to ruin as things stand right now.
Posted by: jon | July 2, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
We all knew before we even started reading the comments section what the responses were going to read. This article was custom made for neocons. The recession started long before Obama took office. Maybe if the last person in office had taken more action sooner rather than denying there was a problem…….well, water under the bridge. President Obama is at least trying to solve the problem. How about giving him a chance? Or would that go against your negative agenda??
Posted by: js45601 | July 2, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
McCain would have made it worse. “The fundamentals of the economy are strong”. Remember that?
Posted by: Brendan | July 2, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
The economy is the result of the democrat controlled house and senate, and Obama. Off shore drilling is shut down. New oil leases granted have been revoked. No new roads for the timber industry. The environmental extremist policies aimed at killing the coal industry. No permitting for new nuclear plants. Higher taxes. Printing money. Mass debt. Cut military spending. Roll back the Bush tax cuts. The carbon tax cap and trade (EPA report recently censored said carbon not related to global climate/warming nonsense. Taxing employer health benefits. Disrupting trade with Columbia. Trying to impose tariffs on imports from countries that don’t do what we want on carbon cap and trade. Oh, and then there is the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mess created by Democratic policies and Democrats Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. Early spring and June are traditional good job number months, so what do you think were headed for now??? Lies won’t fix the economy. We need Truth, Justice, and the American way.
Posted by: jon | July 2, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
My husband cannot find a job in a robust market (Atlanta) and I am only working part time. Things are simply falling apart. We will probably have to move out of Atlanta just to survive. WHERE is the STIMULUS indeed. The natives are restless, Mr. Obama… all that money to the Treasury and fat cats like BOA and nothing for the masses. Better come up with something or you guys are going to be facing some pitchforks! Patience is running thin.
———-
Posted by: Out of Luck in GA | Jul 2, 2009 9:50:46 AM
Ms. Out of luck
I am sorry to hear about your husband. My fiancee lost her job but she was fired before the recession hit. Anyway, she has gone back to school got her AAS, and has since struggled to obtain a job. Its hard being the only working and others are suffering. You’are not alone and my prayers are with you and yours. It will eventually get better, without that stimulus fiasco. Lets just hope that Senate and House relaxes that what they have done lately is not working and drastic measures need to be taken…… one measure its to get rid of so much redtape in getting projects set up and built….. the fact that it takes months to approve contracts, hire people, and so forth is one thing, but when you have to wait to get the state and feds to approve is the problem.
Posted by: nubiangent08 | July 2, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
Bashing individual politicians is useless. The system is broken. The Federal Reserve has been dictating to Congress and the White House for nearly a century. They don’t care if the U.S. defaults on its debt as long as they can profit from the collapse. IMHO, bribery would be a lot less effective if Senators and House representatives were not allowed to keep their seat for more than, say, 8 years. And beware of cap-and-trade: it’s just the next big bubble that will leave the world even poorer but private bankers even richer. Remember the oil bubble, the housing bubble, and the dot com bubble. In all these cases, the Federal Reserve always pushed to change the law in order to make more money off the people.
Posted by: andyupnorth | July 2, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
Maybe someone should try cutting corporate taxes- they are the ones that create jobs. And a tax cut would be when you get more than a $10 in your paycheck. How about sending out prepaid debit cards to taxpayers so they’ll have to spend it.
Posted by: jschmidt | July 2, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
What needs to happen never will. It would be political suicide, but all illegals need to be deported and our national guard should beef up our borders. ALL fraud in our govt handout systems needs to be dealt with. We are losing so much in disability, medicare, unemployment and insurance fraud, there is no way to build a new system. Someone said our social security was going broke? No, they’re spending the cash for other projects. Obama said unemployment wouldn’t rise above 8% with stimulus? BS. Quit giving us expectations only to be let down. That does affect consumer confidence and the rest of the economy. No more goals to high you can’t attain them.
Posted by: lfrichar | July 2, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
just more “quick fix” mentality at work her. “The stimulus was passed five minutes ago, why hasn’t it worked?” It took years for the economy to get where it is, it will take time to start it on the road back. For those who say the spending is only on government projects, those projects are contracted out to private companies – do you rally think the state has people who do bridges and roads, etc? those contractors are in dire straits right now – construction is stopped. My husband is a construction worker out of work 16 months. thankfully i am employed. Things will improve – they always do.
Posted by: kay | July 2, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
I forgot to mention that the financial sector tends to go Republican – they don’t like Democrats in power because the Dems believe in regulation to stem the greed and the Repubs believe in ‘free market’ without regs. Look where the lack of regs got us. So yea, when it looked like the Dems were going to win the markets started south – they took their money and ran to the nearest offshore account before the new admin could catch them.
Posted by: kay | July 2, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
I think something should happen for the people instead of these companies that are just wasting money on stupid things people are suffering they cant afford things they should do another stimulus for them like soon.
Posted by: sarah wall | July 2, 2009, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
WHAT ELSE DID YOU ALL EXPECT?? THE POCKETBOOK ONLY HAS SO MUCH IN IT….WHEN IT IS EMPTY YOU GO TO BACK WORK…WE CANNOT KEEP GIVING , GIVING AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO STOP PRINTING MONEY. WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS ALL TAKE A CUT IN PAY, PENSIONS, BENEFITS, AND EXTRA TRIPS VIA PRIVATE PLANES. THEY ALL SHOULD GO ON OUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND FORGET THE GOVERNMENT PENSION PLANS…THAT WAY ALL THAT MONEY THAT THEY MAKE WILL GO INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR RETIREMENT ALSO. SEE HOW THEY LIKE LIVING OFF SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT AND ALSO FORGET THEIR 90% WAGES FOR LIFE..WE DON’T HAVE THAT LUXURY…WHY SHOULD THEY?? IT IS TIME FO THE AMERICANS TO LET OBAMA AND GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DOUBLE TALK. DO THE JULY 4TH TEA PARTIES AND YELL!!
Posted by: Jeanne Therese | July 2, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
we knew it was only a matter of time before the CAPS LOCK comments would begin…
Posted by: gus amaral | July 2, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
If the jobs don’t appear, the American public will turn on Obama faster than you can say “yes we can”.
Posted by: Gary | July 2, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
It’s time to stop pretending that the stimulus hasn’t had time to work. It’s had months. Although we can’t expect that the economy be completely fixed by now, we should expect that this historic record of job losses would at least slow down. It hasn’t and the president has some explaining to do.
Posted by: one last thought | July 2, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
The stimulus is not working and will not work because it did not address the root cause of unemployment – the construction industry. While emphasis was placed on the banks, builders were ignored. Many have since gone out of business or filed bankruptcy and those still in business have pretty much stopped building.
When builders are building, people work. The construction industry directly employs huge numbers of people, but it also spurs activity in other areas too – retail, banking, landscaping, lumber, etc., not to mention all the plumbers, tilers, drywallers, excavators, roofers, painters and other subcontractors usually involved in building a house or a commercial property.
Posted by: Fix Housing First | July 2, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
The bailed-out Wall Street investment bankers are stimulated — Using free TARP funds to make a fast 40% in stocks in just a few months.
Posted by: Kelly | July 2, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
do you rally think the state has people who do bridges and roads, etc? those contractors are in dire straits right now – construction is stopped.
Posted by: kay
_______________________________________
Kay, building bridges and roads are temporary jobs – when the project ends, the job ends too. You are right that contractors are in dire straights and in this economy they are struggling to stay afloat – that means when contractors compete for bridge and road jobs, they are going to do the job as cheaply as possible, with as few crew members as possible, paying as little as possible. That’s just the new reality.
Posted by: Just following along | July 2, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
Don’t worry folks. Al Franken and “Sheriff” Joe will get us out of this mess.
Posted by: BK-1970 | July 2, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
THIS IS WHY RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED WHEN HIRING A PRESIDENT. THIS IS WHY SOME PEOpLE TEACH, A NOBLE PROFESSION, AND WHY SOME PEOPLE FOCUS ON BUSINESS AND PROFITS. THE MISTAKE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE we cant do much about it until 2010 and 2012. in the meantime please dont pass anymore legislation because this bunch doesnt have a clue, i dont care if we get a new bunch of dems or rpubs…WE NEED SOME FOLKS WITH RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE…GIETHNER WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE PROBLEM AND WE PUT HIM IN CHARGE. REMEMER THIS…” SHOVEL READY ” AND 8%
Posted by: catman | July 2, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
It would not matter who was president, and why we as a “Big Nation” have job losses…It was all about the rich and their friends, a lame duck Congress and all their personal gains…Really…the President gave the conglomerates the money in order to suffice the support for the people…He believed in the Business CEO’s that do not know a dam thing about “people” except to keep all poor, and subservant! Really America, smell the roses if you can find one….For the Corporate Greed has cost this country life, and property, and your humbling job! Veteran and Woman!
Posted by: Apachecheynne | July 2, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
And it’s not going to work. Blowing money we don’t have on Gov’t projects is not the answer and never has been. FDR’s New Deal wasn’t working either but WWII saved us by putting the country to work. All Barry and the most liberal Congress in history has accomplished is running us deeper into debt. Thanks for the “change”, now we can all “hope” the idiot doesn’t screw it up even more. We need to be cutting spending and getting $$ back into the market and working peoples hands not blowing more. Thanks Democrats!
Posted by: Larry | July 2, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Mr. O, concerned
Summer job picture bleakest
No Stimulus seen
Posted by: Terry | July 2, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Obama reminds me of the “Cheshire cat”
in Alice in Wonderland. He ate the canary, gave all the cream to his fat cat enablers and can’t wipe that insipid
grin off his face. He’s a fairy tale
president….Billy Clinton was excoriated for stating this on the
campaign trail.
Posted by: Trajan | July 2, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Posted by: Bob Retired | Jul 2, 2009 8:27:33 AM posted: ” Virtually none of the stimulus went toward stopping the carnage in the private sector job loss situation.” What state do you live in? That’s where stimulus money is focused.
I live in Oregon where the current unemployment rate is over 12 percent and in some counties it’s nearly 20 percent. Since my state’s economy traditionally relied on Forest Products, we’ve hit serious downturns before. During the last unemployment crisis, Oregon issued bonds to create jobs and we also opened wider eligibility for federal food stamps. That money circulated throughout the state to build jobs. We rebounded, attracted new high tech employers like INTEL and HP, and even built a rainy day fund.
This year Oregon borrowed again to help our economy while we waited for Federal stimulus money. In April we started in every county on infrastructure projects to eventually get people working and off unemployment. Today we are using money for rehabbing Veterans’ facilities repairing roads, and building flood protection. Workers are developing biomass energy projects that create jobs in the woods, protect against forest fires, and lay the framework for a clean energy economy.
IMO, every state’s key focus HAS to be long term jobs – if it’s not happening in your state, get involved. Oregon is using Federal money to build healthy new tax payers by investing in school districts, summer jobs for low-income teens, training and community college scholarships.
A waste of money? NO ! An educated workforce has already attracted big employers building Family Wage jobs here in Oregon: Bio Science, Health Care, High Tech, and Renewable Energy.
It can work ! Moody’s has predicted OREGON will be of the leading states out of the Recession.
I wish conservatives would stop listening to the talk show panic attacks about “losing our country” and become positively involved at the state and local level.
Posted by: idahogirl | July 2, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Idahogirl – The unemployment rate in Oregon is the second-highest in the nation, according to BLS – behind only Michigan – and the state budget is not in great shape and is expected to continue losing revenue. I don’t see how you can tout the state as a great example. Sure, maybe a few people are working on temporary projects funded by stimulus money, but when the project is done, their job will be done too.
FYI — an educated workforce is a great thing and something each community should (and does) strive for, but companies relocate for one reason only – money. They can find an educated workforce wherever they go – whether its Oregon, Arizona or West Virginia – and they can bring in their own people if they need to. They relocate because the tax rate is right, land is cheap and they can operate hassle-free.
Posted by: Looking at the numbers | July 2, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
Remember this all started with Bush and Hank Paulsen…they took care of “his” Wall Street pals right before he was to leave office by ramming through the 700 billion dollars in stimulus within days….Bush and Paulsen, scary ain’t it. Big Business, Big Corporations, Big Oil…etc…Middle Class be damned.
Posted by: mackie | July 2, 2009, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Posted by: gus amaral | Jul 2, 2009 11:31:29 AM
Your right, he is backpedeling faster then you say stop.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 2, 2009, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
idahogirl….i have contractor clients in oregon loosing their homes while looking for SHOVEL READY JOBs. I WAS IN SUN RIVER OREGON 2 WEEKS AGO AND THE PLACE WAS DEAD, THE WORST I HAVE REMOTELY EVER SEEN IT. MOST OREGONIANS ARE NOT SEEING WHAT YOU ARE. GREEN JOBS ARE WORTH EXPLORING BUT IN THE MEANTIME PEOPLE WILL BURN THEIR FURNITURE TO STAY WARM WHEN THE HEATS SHUT OFF.
Posted by: catman | July 2, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Is the stimulus working? “God” said today on TV that it is! Any media going to dispute that?
Posted by: jonnie36 | July 2, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Mackie,
You do understand that it is CONGRESS who decides on these “stimulus” bills, NOT the President. Let’s See…WHO was in control of Congress in the last session?
Posted by: Mike_C | July 2, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
9% of the stimuls went for shovel ready infrastructure projects. The rest went to liberal causes that may result in keeping public employee jobs but nothing for the private sector. The private sector creates the jobs and they should have a stimulus such as reducing corp tax rates to get business to hire. Or how about a tax break for every employee you hire. Then give a tax refund in the form of a debit card to the taxpayers so they have to spend it. And make it sizeable. 5-10k per taxpayer will snap us out of this even though it will cost now. That can be recouped with increased tax revenue from a recovery. Forget the cash for clunkers. People will buy lots with 5-10k in their pocket. Stimulus was a joke.
Posted by: jschmidt | July 2, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
change is all that you will have when
obimbo is done takeing all your money
and giveing it away to lazy.and bums
that want everything for free
Posted by: f.t.d. | July 2, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
lets all eat some sprouts and granola bars while we pontificate about a utopian u.s. with green energy and unions in control of everything. just smile and eat your soybean sandwich while waitng in line for a prostate exam. boy have we taken this country downhill fast.the democrats have been in charge for 2 years and there leader pelosi cant ever seem to tell the truth. being in power is alot harder than being out of power. cant wait for the transparency and accountability. i thought joe biden was the stimulas czar. sarah palin could have easily done as better job. wheres all them green shoots.
Posted by: catman | July 2, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
To all the obamanomics kool aid drinkers: How’s that change thing working out for you???
Posted by: socialism101 | July 2, 2009, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Obama should roll out a government subsidized National Fiber Optics plan. I think we have enough roads and construction would provide little ROI compared to Fiber. I believe that it is the States responsibility for infrastructure development. But, the COUNTRY needs a National Fiber Optics plan to move use forward.
Posted by: ZaJick | July 2, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
it took bush 8 years to trash america it will take awhile to fix it..hey after the terrible years of reagan and bush number 1 it took clinton 2 years to turn things around….only to have al gore cheated out 2000 election and then another rethuglican trashed america again..when will people learn—-NO MORE REPUBLICANS. if america is to survive we must never vote republican again.
Posted by: real T here | July 2, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Reality. In the beginning stages of this recession the lay-offs were in the 600,000 ranges. Now they are in the 300,000 ranges. The decrease is deceptive because initially companies cut back all they could, now they are cutting through the muscle all the way to the bone…so of course there is less jobs left to be cut, so the number(s) will decrease, possibly until zero is left unless jobs start coming back.
Posted by: Jack | July 2, 2009, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
Mike C….nope not buying that excuse…it was Paulse, the squinty eyed Wall St boy who pushed pushed pushed the sky is falling routine and Bushy backed him all the way to Wall St with money in tow before the good ol boys got outta town. Bush ran this country into the ground, also remember Bush and the Rupublicans spent like drunken sailors for six years & Bush NEVER vetoed ANYTHING..facts are facts.Listen Im an Independent who voted for McCain, but I know and any REASONABLE person knows this didn’t happen in the last 5 months..give me a break.
Posted by: mackie | July 2, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
What happened to all those shovel ready projects and all the jobs the stimulus bill was supposed to create?
Posted by: buckaroobonsai | July 2, 2009, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm
This guy is clueless. His policies are insane. He doesnt have the slightest idea od fiscal responsibility.
Posted by: Clintnreno | July 2, 2009, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
Hillary would of done Better. I voted McCain. But I’d Like to See Sarah Palin Or John Kasich ( from Ohio) be the next President in 2012. I think they could do a Really good job. I think Obama has proved he’ll be a 1 term President.
Posted by: NotStupid | July 2, 2009, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Unemployement used
Bills mount, need food, rent, gas, more
Mr. O our hope
Posted by: Terry | July 3, 2009, 12:54 am 12:54 am
Obama Ain’t No FDR !!
Posted by: toldyaso | July 3, 2009, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm