Part of a leader's job is to challenge popular illusions, not reinforce them. The fate of Democrats is sealed if they lose touch with a reality that's shared by the millions of Americans who are impoverished or jobless. For them, this isn't a game.

What's really at stake here is the survival of perhaps the most endangered species in America: Its dwindling, almost non-existent middle class.

How do we fix the job problem? We've got to build a new economy on a strong foundation of basic investment in education and training, in 21st century infrastructure, and in research and development -- all of which have got the short end of the stick in the era of tax cut, squander and plunder conservatism. And we've got to insure that the US is a leader in the new green industrial revolution that will be the growth industry of the future.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he'll host a White House summit next month on fighting the chronic joblessness that ...

We do need to reduce the ratio of debt to GDP. But we need to do it after the economy is back in recovery. And we need to do it using the normal legislative process. And above all, we need to use progressive taxation rather than program cuts.

House Republicans, "promising not to be flat-footed on efforts to revive the economy," are preparing what they've called a "one-two punch" this week, ...

The problem all along has been that this administration tries to do everything indirectly, whether it's job creation, easing the credit crunch, or rescuing homeowners. Why do Democrats now believe in "trickle down"?

There is no government program that can substitute for a good job that pays well. A key function of government, however, is to create conditions that help businesses grow and hire new workers.

Nothing would more clearly display the inability of our leaders to deal with the terrible state of the economy than easily reconfirming Ben Bernanke for another round on the same day that they hold a "job summit".

The Jobs Summit will involve lots of talking and picture-taking to try to make it look as if the administration is actually taking steps to solve the massive unemployment problem. It won't result in a single job.

How elusive is the solution to America's unemployment spiral? One part of the solution is not elusive at all. It is innovation.

We can get the economy to work and work for all of us, by putting the American people to work. We're shovel ready!

President Obama has announced a White House Jobs Summit for next month. However, this is not a moment for another White House gab fest. It's a time for progressive leadership.