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Sunday Roundup

Posted: 05/06/2012 12:00 pm

On this week's NBC special about the killing of Osama bin Laden, Brian Williams repeatedly held up the famous photo of administration members watching the raid and asked those in the photo, "What does it conjure up inside of you?" This week also brought the latest job numbers, which revealed the lowest percentage of adults working or looking for work in 30 years. Maybe Williams should tape a follow-up special where he holds up a copy of the jobs report and asks administration members, "What does it conjure up inside of you?" Contrasting the White House's relentless focus on the bin Laden operation with its lack of relentless focus on the economy is enough to make one want to scream. Hmm, maybe Edvard Munch could paint it and we could raise $120 million to help the unemployed.

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10:25 AM on 05/08/2012
I don't see how unemployment will ever get better unless we somehow force big business to bring the work back home. The population multiplies, the soldiers come home and need jobs, the kids can't afford college (which should be free) so they need factory type jobs. Everyone can't be a rocket scientist or computer whiz!! Everyone can't do construction either as if congress was ever going to vote for any of Obamas job proposals in that direction. You tell me what the president can actually do without his hands being tied by this disgusting do nothing except block, congress!
08:04 AM on 05/07/2012
This week the Obama team claimed 500,000 jobs per month was a bar too high. But eerily similar to the $2.50 per gal gas price being a flat earther notion when gas was $1.82 when Obama took office; on May 2010 we grew 500,000 jobs. Deflecting to a lower the bar and narrow cherry picked comparisons to Bush is the default response. We went Dem last time because Bush was not up to par. But grading Obama on a curve betrays America. We can do better. 500,000 jobs or $2.50 gas are honest notions. Comparing one underperformer to another is not.
The 500,000 jobs back in May 2010 are explained by the economic rule of symmetry. GDP contractions as during recessions and depressions are always followed by symmetrical growth. The policies in place were working so much that Obama’s administration claimed that now it is Obama’s economy. So what went so horribly wrong?
Unlike with foreign policy Obama’s entire economic team and budget man, save for Geithner and Bernanke all left. Including Summers who lead Clinton’s 22 million job gains and surplus. Of course he was hated by the fiscally irresponsible far left for creating the surplus with little impact to no impact on entitlements, the poor, the children, education or infrastructure.
Obama special interests then took over the purse strings. Down went the GDP and jobs. The real debate is not rich and poor. But Obama’s policies squandering our nation’s economic, employment and jobs potential
10:18 PM on 05/06/2012
Wrong analysis. There isn't any magic bullet to turn around a "would be depression" in a few years when it took eight years to create it. Blaming the President might be fashionable in the Republican circles (circus) but is not at all realistic nor acceptable. Pundits always like to go with the flow, it is easier that way because the flack isn't as great. Creating even a few jobs is better than losing a half million every month like the last administration proved to be our reality. One man alone cannot undo what our whole nation endured under the Bush Reign of Ruin. Every attempt by President Obama to create jobs and improve the economy was stomped on by the Republicans because their only goal was to make sure President Obama would be a one term President repeating that mantra for the last three years. The Republicans put all their efforts into making the country fail at any expense. Now they offer up a candidate that has declared he is running on that very same platform that created this mess. That candidate has outsourced all his wealth, evading taxation, while promoting tax cuts for the very people that are funding his campaign. This should be considered as unpatriotic, not an American ideal, but an attempt to install a fascism whereby only the very wealthy get the benefits and the middle class goes unaided. Save the nation and vote a STRAIGHT Democratic ticket in November and reclaim our country.
10:03 PM on 05/06/2012
As we learned last week Obama has been stalled on a jobs bill he has been trying to pass. The Republicans have met to stop his efforts since Jan. 20, 2009. The part about our Democracy that has stalled all efforts to get people back to work is that one party can stall the president. Based on what I have heard from the media last week.....it's not the fault of the president.
09:33 PM on 05/06/2012
Arianna, didn't the republicans fight the presidents job bill tooth and nail?
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Feesister
You've got to give to get back
09:26 PM on 05/06/2012
Blame Congress for the lack of progress on legislation that may help improve the economy.

As for the focus on Bin Laden, this was the one-year anniversary of his death. It is no surprise that there would be some attention given to it this week.
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09:23 PM on 05/06/2012
Campaign season is not the time to test theories on the best way to engage the American people. You have to do what works and winning is all that matters. Until laws are changed and we can publicly fund our elections we have to play the game to win. And that game is all about touting your accomplishments and crushing the enemy. I'm at a loss to how wonky battles about jobs policies will move the needle with the electorate, who can barely remember who's running on any given day. I wish with all my heart the world wasn't made this way, but until we remake it, so it goes.
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trueistrue
09:23 PM on 05/06/2012
I'm disappointed by the lack of analysis here. First, as many have mentioned, Obama isn't a dictator. Is there any doubt he would have enacted more stimulus measures by now if not for the Republican Congress?

Second, private job growth has caught up to where it was pre-recession. It's public jobs that have been slashed. If you are looking for Romney to bridge that gap, think again - he's running on a platform of cutting additional public jobs! So it seems strange to blame Obama when he is basically holding back the tide against further public layoffs.
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lk415
oaks grow strong in contrary winds
09:22 PM on 05/06/2012
Someone is flying her Republican banner a little too high these days. The GOP has been obstructing everything President Obama has tried to do regarding the economy since he took office in 2008, both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.

The President had no choice but to address his foreign policy strengths early, to put the conservative arguments to rest on that issue. The fact is that President Obama is doing a great job, and the country's economy would recover at a significantly higher rate if the right wing would stop obstructing every bill he presents.
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mwsomerset
This is not the life I ordered.
09:17 PM on 05/06/2012
AH still doesn't seem to get it....President Obama has proposed numerous solutions to creating more jobs and the republicans say nay....there is so much he can do...and he has done it...now it is up to Congress to act....but I am not holding my breath.
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evgolightly
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09:01 PM on 05/06/2012
Republicans want unemployment to go as high as possible so they can win back the White House. They have been working in unison to undermine Obama's presidency. It doesn't take a political genius to figure that out, but now there is concrete evidence to their plan, documented in a new book.

It would be a shame to reward Republican sabotage by piling on the President.
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trueistrue
09:25 PM on 05/06/2012
Well said! Additionally, the majority of job losses are in the public sector due to budget cuts and "austerity." Exactly what Romney is promising more of!

There's a weird disconnect going on where Republicans blame Obama for jobs losses, then run on a platform of further public job losses.
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evgolightly
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11:08 PM on 05/06/2012
Right! More austerity is exactly what we don't need, and many republicans saboteurs know it.
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09:44 PM on 05/06/2012
You got that right missy. I'm a 1% income earner and employer and I won't hire anyone until after the election so as not to improve the employment numbers for Obama. I know many people in my position doing the same. And when I finally do hire it will be outsourced cheap labor or preferably illegal workers so I don't have to pay as much or give benefits. Obama can pay for their benefits with free healthcare, etc.
08:56 PM on 05/06/2012
In Arianna's world, the President and the Administration have the power to enact whatever legislation she and other commentators believe is needed. For good or bad, not in America. The problem is Congress. Not just the worthless Republicans, either. There are Democrats who frustrate the President's agenda, too.
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evgolightly
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09:11 PM on 05/06/2012
Indeed..,
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Chopin
Multiply the truth. Speak truth through power.
08:23 PM on 05/06/2012
I have a strong feeling that this November election would be determined by facts on the ground in a number of key issues during October, and not have anything to do with marginal image-making political ads on peripheral distracting issues.

Those key issues and related domains of concerns are:--
1) European economic, banking, Euro currency, and Eurozone sociopolitical stability,
2) US stock+bond markets, unemployment numbers, oil market + gasoline retail prices,
3) Afghanistan war+occupation -- any "Tet offensive" type heavy casualty attack launched in October,

Arianna, I would really like to hear your on-the-ground in-depth understanding and intuitive insights on the evolving Greek economic-political-social stability question concerning rejection of austerity, and potential for real social-political revolutions sweeping throughout European Latin countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal) spearheaded by Greek population. You have a unique vantage point and access, and discussing your unvarnished insights in an op-ed article would be truly valuable to elevate the level of voter understanding.
09:19 PM on 05/06/2012
Very well said...I believe it's the European economic picture that will have a impact on the 2012 election..
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07:53 PM on 05/06/2012
Maybe you can imagine trying to achieve the goal of creating jobs when the other half on the Congress is

trying to sabotage your every effort. Try getting anything accomplished in an atmosphere of a DO NOTHING CONGRESS. BEST REGARDS FROM MITCH MCCONNEL
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hearmeloudandclear
07:48 PM on 05/06/2012
Adrianna --- ...have you forgotten the cooperation from "The Party of NO"? How could anyone - especially journalists, writers, columnists...etc who are supposed to be the informers forget? One thing we all know for sure - NO President can succeed in his agenda without the cooperation of the House. The "Party of a NO" together with some vocal "Blue Dogs" hold the keys to the slow progress in job creation and the economy. Some of the payback is...two "Blue Dogs" recently lost their elections and predictably more are to come.

Though the President has been thwarted at every turn -- he will come out the victor and stronger in the fight. The country WILL move forward dispite a lot of efforts to paint the President in the light of one who lacks the capabilities of leading this nation. He will overcome.

Let's not forget what many of us witnessed....and why some of us understand the historically poor ratings of the Congress. We've learned to ignore the sway of the media; their biases sometimes get in the way.'


OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE !
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evgolightly
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08:39 PM on 05/06/2012
Well said and spot on. This should be clear to anyone who pays attention.
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hearmeloudandclear
09:43 PM on 05/06/2012
evgolightly - Thank you.


OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE !
09:22 PM on 05/06/2012
Great post, hearmeloudandclear...We need to support our president, I can't conceive how screwed we be, if Obama loose's the election.