home

151K Jobs Added In October; Unemployment at 9.6%

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Economy
Posted on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:28:16 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Better news:

The economy generated a net gain in jobs for the first time in five months in October, as businesses stepped up their painfully slow pace of hiring.But the unemployment rate, measured by a separate survey of households, remained stuck at 9.6 percent for the third straight month.

The Labor Department said Friday its survey of employers showed a net gain of 151,000 jobs last month, the first increase since May. Private employers hired 159,000 workers, the best since April.

While this level of job growth will not lower the unemployment rate, at least it stops the bleeding. It also puts the the incoming GOP Congress on the spot. The Obama Administration has stopped the bleeding (or so the numbers suggest) -- slashing government spending will almost certainly accelerate unemployment - if in the next 2 years unemployment goes up, it will be on the GOP's watch. Dems and Obama need to state clearly their views of what needs to be done and then when the GOP prevails on the policy, the GOP will own the result.

Speaking for me only

< Thursday Evening Open Thread | Who Will Own The Coming Economic Slump? >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    151K Jobs Added In October; Unemployment at 9.6% | 94 comments (94 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    I wish (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by NYShooter on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:52:10 AM EST
    two points were made every time the unemployment numbers comes out:

    1. Approximately 2-250,000 jobs per month must be added each month just to stay even; that's the number of new job seeker entering the market monthly.

    And

    2. What is the average wage per hour the new hires earn versus the hourly rate of the jobs lost.

    Not to be a "glass is half empty" guy, but these two things are necessary to understand what's really taking place. If the public understood that wages have been coming down for three decades, regardless of what the monthly "number" shows, maybe they'd demand some action from our "leaders."

    For perspective: (none / 0) (#10)
    by NYShooter on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:13:03 AM EST
    "Americans On Foodstamps Hits New Record In August, Increase By Over Half A Million To 42.4 Million, 17% Increase Year Over Year."

    per Zero Hedge

    Parent

    Excellent points (none / 0) (#18)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:35:16 AM EST
    Earlier in the week I had heard the job loss numbers were worse than hoped and expected.

    ABC had a clueless analyst on Wall Street this morning boasting the rise in the market being based on new confidence because of the job creation numbers (he must not have noticed the country had a big election and shift of power on Tuesday), AND that the reason the 9.6% rate didn't change is because people who had previously given up looking for work were now back searching because things are picking up so well. I laughed the entire distance of my commute wondering how many people would repeat that revelation to their friends and co-workers today.


    Parent

    The stay even number (none / 0) (#67)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:33:13 PM EST
    was 125k or so I was told...

    As in today, we hit the stay even number....more or less

    Parent

    I wouldn't argue that. (none / 0) (#92)
    by NYShooter on Sat Nov 06, 2010 at 03:57:58 AM EST
    In the 80's & 90's it was 250k, then more recently it became 100-150k.

    More importantly, we all know the ditty, "figures lie and liars figure."  The point is that all the "numbers" must be taken in some kind of context otherwise they'll mean whatever the author wants them to mean.


    Parent

    Unfortunately (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:58:28 AM EST
    I think the GOP might get away with blaming Obama if unemployment does not get better. Remember 1992 and Bush Sr? The President takes the heat because he sets the agenda. I'm really not too hopeful that unemployment is going to change enough between now and 2012.

    The GOP Plan (none / 0) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:30:39 AM EST
    will accelerate unemployment.

    Parent
    I know (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:47:18 AM EST
    but how do you attach that to them? I mean here we have the same people that destroyed the economy brought back into office.

    Right now the presidency and the dems have 2/3 of the the government.

    No one outside of Krugman has been making the case that their ideas don't work. Obama hasn't made that case so I'm just not sure what's to happen.

    What happens if Obama signs all their legislation like he's signalling he's going to do? Who gets the blame there? It seems that Obama has done a lot of GOP legislation and Dems are getting the blame for it.

    Parent

    And Obama (none / 0) (#30)
    by cal1942 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:56:40 AM EST
    will be blamed.

    If he caves on Republican proposals that make matters worse the GOP will pin it all on him and it will stick.

    People don't pay attention to details and have a painfully short memory.

    Parent

    If he caves (none / 0) (#84)
    by sj on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:08:19 PM EST
    He deserves to be blamed.  And, of course, cave he will...

    Parent
    Ah, this line resonates today (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:02:23 AM EST
    -- that "slashing government spending will almost certainly accelerate unemployment."  Please so inform my new governor, who appealed to the state university yesterday to assist in job creation . . . just as he announced that he will kill job openings there and throughout state government, thousands of job openings.  And he will triple state employee "furloughs" -- pay cuts -- to more than a month in each of the next several years.

    Of course, our current Dem gov was just as dumb in establishing the current "furloughs" -- pay cuts -- which, stunningly, resulted in a decline in income tax revenue to the state.  Duh.

    And both of them demand that their shutdowns apply to all state employees, even the many whose funding comes not from the state but from grants, private and federal.  So the state actually had to return some of the federal funds to go to other states.  Dumb and dumber, no matter the party.  

    My new governor is going to add (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:09:54 AM EST
    750,000 jobs in FL in the next couple of years! Woohoo! I will be interested to see where these jobs have been hiding all this time. Charlie Crist must be a real idiot not to have found them.

    I have a feeling my already well developed mordant sense of humor is going to get a real workout in the next couple of years.

    Parent

    My new gov may call your new gov (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:14:37 AM EST
    because my new gov, who campaigned on a promise to create 250,000 jobs here finally was asked to provide details yesterday.  He said his plan is to call other govs and ask how to do it.

    Heading back to my hideout now.  Let me know when it's over and safe to come out again. . . .

    Parent

    Oh, yes, the conversations (none / 0) (#11)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:21:45 AM EST
    in state offices and the comments online on these stories in the media yesterday were hilarious at times.  I mean, come to the state university to ask for help in job creation while informing the state university that job openings will not be filled and current fulltime employees will be parttimers . . . where do these guys get their jokewriters?  You could not make up this stuff!

    Adding to the inanity is that the incoming gov never could finish college -- had to leave his campus after being caught out for misbehavior in student politics.  I am betting that he will be one of the pols who now will not miss any opportunity to participate in state university events in which he gets to don academic regalia and lecture to the faculty about the value of a degree!

    Of course, some of us only found out about all of this stuff -- his checkered college years and his schizophrenic pronunciamentos yesterday -- by reading the papers elsewhere in the state.  None of this has been reported by the major paper in the state nor the other major media that it owns.   The new gov owns too many media, too.

    Parent

    Wow, I have not been paying enough (none / 0) (#15)
    by ruffian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:29:38 AM EST
    attention to your politics. Sounds like this guy was a Karl Rove clone in college. Knows all about how to demagogue and do PR, but nothing about governing. I hope the potential damage he can do can be prevented by saner people.

    Parent
    The saner people (none / 0) (#19)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:40:12 AM EST
    are running for cover.  Or maybe Canada.  Heck, it's already cold here.

    Parent
    Don't (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:50:22 AM EST
    you just love criminals and their ability to think they can create jobs? The same thing down here in GA. We had a GOP governor who handed out tax cut after tax cut to business and yet we still have higher unemployment than the national average. Why does Deal think he can create jobs that Perdue didn't with the same ideology? It's just insane.

    Parent
    Well, this election was triumph for (none / 0) (#9)
    by scribe on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:12:51 AM EST
    greed, stupidity and hate.  So, whaddya expect when the greedy, stupid, and hateful start spreading greed, stupidity and hate around?  It's who they are and what they do.

    Parent
    Obama's obvious, sneering disdain (3.50 / 2) (#12)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:24:02 AM EST
    for anyone who is not rich really kills Dems.

    Parent
    you mean (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:41:45 AM EST
    people like his family?

    Parent
    More like the guy who says (1.00 / 1) (#24)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:50:24 AM EST
    what great friends he is with the rich crooks in the banking industry.
    Speaking of his family----has he really helped them materially.. those in Africa?

    Parent
    To: observed (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by christinep on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:42:52 PM EST
    I don't know what you are "observing" ... Your disdainful comments above wherein you imagine another's disdain are really out there. C'mon. The way I was taught: If you make certain charges about another's personality and what he must-really-believe fantasy, you should back it up with unadorned, specific facts. We are all adults here. No need to name-call (we had enough of that on every outlet leading up to the election.)

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#91)
    by squeaky on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:50:52 PM EST
    At least he did not reference macaca..

    Parent
    what?! (none / 0) (#26)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:51:08 AM EST


    Parent
    What he said. (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by vicndabx on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:36:40 AM EST


    Parent
    PPUS at Work (none / 0) (#60)
    by squeaky on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:17:24 AM EST
    Here at TL..... lol

    Parent
    You're the one who brought up his (none / 0) (#76)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:27:03 PM EST
    family. A lot of people who make good in the US help out relatives back home. Has Obama done that? Serious question.

    Parent
    Im sure I dont have the (none / 0) (#77)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:29:46 PM EST
    slightest idea.

    Parent
    Then it's odd you brought up (none / 0) (#80)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:48:12 PM EST
    the subject.

    Parent
    actually (none / 0) (#81)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:53:01 PM EST
    I was referring to his, you know, american family.  his single mother, his grandparents who raised him.  
    not exactly high rollers.

     

    Parent

    however (none / 0) (#78)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:34:24 PM EST
    I do know from listening to WHACKED news that he is smuggling small groups of muslims into the US each week.
    so I guess that would be helping his family, no?
     

    Parent
    It (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:51:53 AM EST
    sure does. The unions went massively over to the GOP this time. People still remember "bitter clingers" i'm willing to bet and took this chance to take it out on him.

    Parent
    odd (none / 0) (#31)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:57:26 AM EST
    you would think they would take it out on him when they actually, you know, had the chance to vote against him in the cycle when he actually said that.

    not like it was a secret.


    Parent

    I know (none / 0) (#33)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:59:09 AM EST
    but maybe it was just the bitter clingers that showed up this time?

    Parent
    I guess proving (none / 0) (#41)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:23:46 AM EST
    they are bitter clingers.  btw that was one of my favorite Obama quotes ever.  my problem with him is that he has not said stuff like that, which was absolutely true incidentally, more often.


    Parent
    Are you (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:35:43 AM EST
    kidding? Attacking the voters is absolutely the wrong way to go. Attacking conservative ideas is the way to change their minds.

    Parent
    saying there are (none / 0) (#49)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:38:25 AM EST
    lots of bitter frightened people out there clinging to guns and religion is not an attack.  it is the truth.

    if this election cycle proves anything its that.

    Parent

    Again (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:48:59 AM EST
    why is attacking them better than talking to them and telling them how conservatism is a failure? When you start attacking people and calling them names they automatically shut off what you are trying to tell them. Don't you think that it might be better for them to at least sit home than get all riled up about idiotic comments like that?

    Parent
    because you cant talk to people who (none / 0) (#58)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:05:17 AM EST
    live in a separate reality with their own facts and their own truth that have nothing to do with reality.  

    and sadly this election goes a long was toward legitimizing that alternate reality.  now, not only will they have FAUX news enabling their delusions they will have more than 100 government officials working to do that.  that, IMO, is the greatest danger we face now.

    Parent

    Capt H, has attained the highest level (none / 0) (#59)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:13:50 AM EST
    of the elitist rank structure.  

    Parent
    its about time (none / 0) (#62)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:19:31 AM EST
    someone noticed

    Parent
    Like I said (none / 0) (#69)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:36:19 PM EST
    on the other thread, All Hail, Cap'n Howdy!

    Parent
    let me guess (none / 0) (#63)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:21:21 AM EST
    you think a taxpayer funded congressional investigation into the global warming myth is a good idea.

    Parent
    No and nor do I think tax payer funded (none / 0) (#64)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:25:47 AM EST
    legislated programs that support the MMGW myth is a good idea.

    Parent
    Cut science and research, check (none / 0) (#70)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:41:37 PM EST
    You had mentioned Fareed Zakaria's views on the economy awhile ago....That he wanted more investment to launch us forward--rather than relying on consumer spending....The "I" in the equation of GDP=C+G=I.

    But you missed his conclusion.  Gov't spending on R&D and science is the type of investment that has really mattered in the past--satellites, semi-conductors and the internet.

    Green jobs.  More infrastructive....

    And you guys want to cut science because it does not validate certain religious beliefs.

    Parent

    worse (none / 0) (#73)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:44:47 PM EST
    because it INvalidates them

    Parent
    Boo, hiss (none / 0) (#74)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:46:52 PM EST
    No more "All Hail, Cap't Howdys" for you....

    Science isn't what it is cracked up to be....totally over rated...

    Parent

    Didn't say a word about cutting science (none / 0) (#83)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:08:00 PM EST
    and R&D, so keep the deflections to your own words not mine.

    Parent
    Sure, you did (none / 0) (#89)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:06:01 PM EST
    If you don't beleive in global warming, do you believe dinosaurs roamed the Earth with people too?

    I suppose sceince may have left you behind....

    Parent

    Ah, that chip of resentment on one's shoulder (none / 0) (#68)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:35:26 PM EST
    That is always what it comes down to...

    Parent
    Those (none / 0) (#66)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:50:26 AM EST
    people are about 1/3 of the country. The faux news crowd thinks that Bill Clinton murdered half of Arkansas. There were plenty of people who saw the abject failure of conservatism during the Bush years but attacking that group and lumping them in with the crazies has is not dealing with the reality of the situation.

    I know some of the people that you are talking about personally. The talk radio crowd that is completely crazed but there are plenty of other people who can have their minds changed.

    Parent

    The cling ons are not a majority (none / 0) (#52)
    by BobTinKY on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:44:37 AM EST
    people pissed off about the economy make the majority we saw last Tuesday.

    Parent
    well said (none / 0) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:03:09 AM EST


    Parent
    LOL, Y'all are funny today (none / 0) (#57)
    by vicndabx on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:04:56 AM EST
    Klingons, bite the pillow....

    Parent
    White House statements (none / 0) (#38)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:17:34 AM EST
    about unions, massive pink slips to teachers -- a lot of unions' members now, with declines in other constituencies -- were messages that got through loud and clear.  Unions have great communication networks, and no such comments get past them; instead, those comments go viral in record time.

    Parent
    Don't forget union members will (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by MO Blue on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 11:26:57 AM EST
    also lose health care benefits due to the excise tax and they did not get card check. No surprise that rank and file union members would disregard union recommendations.

    Parent
    During the campaign (none / 0) (#42)
    by cal1942 on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:26:49 AM EST
    our new gov said he'd eliminate business taxes, thin  regulations and ALL the lost jobs would come back.

    No one in the media ever bothered to point out that most of our lost manufacturing jobs went out of the country.  One of his biggest boosters, Bill Ford, closed the giant Wixom plant and shipped all of the production to Mexico.

    During his campaign he ran an ad stating that half of all the jobs lost in the country were lost in our state.  

    We're less than 3% of the nation's population.

    Part of his program coming in is to cut the number of civil servants by 10-15% and cut pay for the survivors.

    That'll help generate all those jobs we've lost.  

    But. Some good news. He may not sell the Mackinaw Bridge (that the state makes money on) after all.

    Parent

    Krugman,,, (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by trillian on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:03:08 AM EST
    At this rate we'll return to full employment around 2030 or so.

    *passes out* (none / 0) (#75)
    by lilburro on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:00:53 PM EST


    Parent
    Obama (O) to McConnell-Boehner (McB): (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by KeysDan on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:20:18 AM EST
    We will extend the Bush tax cuts for all, including the top two percent, if you give us what we want. McB: what do you want? O: we want to gut social security in accord with my Catfood people's findings.   McB: we will have to get back to you on that---later--- McB: OK, but you have to throw in elimination of Medicare and repeal of HCA.  O to McB: Its a deal.    O to professional left: it was the best we could get, and it shows we can avoid gridlock. :)

    When you consider that Obama himself (5.00 / 3) (#43)
    by Anne on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:32:19 AM EST
    has been beating the drum for cutting spending, that he convened a commission due to report December 1 on ways to get spending under control - with entitlements sitting squarely in the bull's-eye - that concerns about deficits were a major reason why the stimulus couldn't be larger, I don't think we should have a whole lot of confidence that Obama - or the Congressional Dems - are going to be pushing back against more bad GOP economic policy.

    The Dems did not come out swinging on Wednesday morning, did not deliver the message that they were going to fight! fight! fight! against the regressive GOP policies that helped get us here; no, the message was one of cooperation.

    I see nothing that suggests to me that the course will be altered in any significantly positive way; the GOP is going to want to rip off the band-aid the Dems slapped on the severed economic artery, and I don't see how "working with" the GOP is going to prevent that from happening.

    Let's keep this number in perspective: (none / 0) (#1)
    by scribe on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:39:56 AM EST
    There are approximately* 3,143 counties in the US.

    This number works out to about 50 jobs added per county.  One can probably safely assume that the more populous counties added more jobs and the less populous counties added fewer, or lost some.

    While it's better than yet another net loss of jobs, it hardly qualifies as anything to cheer (vigorously) about.

    -
    *  The number depends on how you count things like "independent cities" and the like.  But at this scale, it hardly matters.

    Yeh, a brief hiatus in the beatings (none / 0) (#13)
    by Cream City on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:25:04 AM EST
    is not sufficient to improve morale -- to raise consumer confidence.  Some of the stats that also came out yesterday on matters such as retail sales were dismal.

    Parent
    Were those jobs filled by unemployed (none / 0) (#16)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:30:25 AM EST
    people, or is the Help Wanted section just shifting from company to company while the positions are filled by persons already employed?


    Parent
    and they revised sept (none / 0) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:49:16 AM EST
    up to over 100,000.  would have been nice to have this news a week or two ago go wouldnt it.

    Ah, now I get it (none / 0) (#71)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:43:53 PM EST
    I had thought Sept was 70k new private sector jobs, so I couldn't figure out why everyone was saying this was another consecutive month of 100k+ jobs.

    All Hail Cap't Howdy!

    Parent

    Whether the next two years are (none / 0) (#4)
    by itscookin on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:53:43 AM EST
    On the "GOP watch" or not depends on how many Republican house bills get killed in the senate, how vigorously Obama uses his veto pen, and who has better spin. Not sure the Democrats get a free ride if things don't improve.

    oh (none / 0) (#14)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:26:41 AM EST
    and the inflation mentioned yesterday seems to be starting to creep in.

    Start the countdown (none / 0) (#21)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:44:32 AM EST
    How many months until the Oval Office Malaise speech?

    I think you have exceed your gloating quotient (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 12:44:45 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm getting my cardigan ready. (none / 0) (#25)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:51:03 AM EST


    Parent
    You know what? (none / 0) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:52:55 AM EST
    The only joy I get out of this whole thing is that the GOP is getting a taste of their own medicine.

    Parent
    howz (none / 0) (#36)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:04:53 AM EST
    that

    Parent
    How much (none / 0) (#40)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:21:26 AM EST
    Republican policy has Obama passed? The whining about spending when Bush squandered a surplus etc. and they said nothing. It's all pretty funny to me the reaction that the wingers are having.

    Parent
    He's passed a BUNCH of Republican policy (none / 0) (#85)
    by sj on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:08:53 PM EST
    But the under the Dem banner.  So the R's can reap the benefits of their policies while calling O a Socialist.  That taste of their own medicine is well sweetened.

    Parent
    Two words (none / 0) (#79)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:36:40 PM EST
    Barbara Boxer.

    You guys so hate her--saying her name with venomous hatred and contempt.  So, Barbara Boxer, Barbara Boxer, Barbara Boxer.....back at ya'.

    If you had not let your hatred of Boxer overwhelm you, you would have sent money instead to Rossi and Buck and won those seats.....

    And Barbara Boxer will still chair the environmental committee in the Senate.....So, don't call her Ma'am, call her Senator, she earned that title....

    And she will no longer be the "nice" version.  You will get the full Boxer from here on out....You just proved that Boxer is bulletproof.

    Parent

    Now, now (none / 0) (#82)
    by Inspector Gadget on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 01:58:31 PM EST
    Rossi did not lose here for lack of funding! His reputation preceded him. I'm just hoping the Rs of the state keep running him for every big job that we need to keep a D occupying.


    Parent
    Who mentioned Boxer? (none / 0) (#86)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 03:09:05 PM EST
    Geez, you're struggling to stay on topic today.

    Parent
    I did--just for you. (none / 0) (#88)
    by MKS on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 08:03:03 PM EST


    Parent
    How can the GOP prevail on policy (none / 0) (#29)
    by BobTinKY on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:54:55 AM EST
    without the acquiesence of the Democratic Senate and Obama?  All they can do is pass bills that die in the Senate.

    What the GOP House can do is effectively veto whatever job creating policies the Democrats want to advance.  For that reason it is essential that the Dems pass bills in the Senate designed to improve the jobs picture, have Obama go on record as stating he will sign these bills, & have the GOP House oppose.

    Either we have turned the corner and employment rebounds steadily, or we need further stimulus which the GOP house will not allow and unemployment will continue at high levels.  Either way it should be easy for the Dems to paint the not allow anything to be done House as 1) having nothing to do with employment gains, or 2) everything to do with resurgence or continuation of unemployment.  Especially if the House, as they promise, focuses just on repealing legislation signed into law by Obama the past two years.

    Instead of extending all the Bush tax cuts, Obama should have Dems instead propose his plan and let Republicans take the defensive and risk being seen as the ones who raised taxes (through expiraiton of Bush tax cuts) and caused job losses, or slower than otherwise would be the case re-employment.  I suspect Obama will once again be Capt. Capitulation.
     

    You are (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 09:57:52 AM EST
    right but will they listen? Obama is already acquiescing to the GOP leadership.

    Parent
    Sounds to me like you are questioning (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by observed on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:02:39 AM EST
    a given. In my opinion there's no doubt that Obama and the Senate Dems will cave---especially on economic/tax policy.

    Parent
    That strategy is fatally flawed (none / 0) (#34)
    by BTAL on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:01:44 AM EST
    Doesn't matter which chamber initiates the tax extension bill (albeit I don't' think the Dems have enough votes in the Senate for the "Obama tax plan").

    When it hits the House it will be amended to include a 2 year extension for the upper levels and sent back to the Senate putting the onus on Reid, Obama and the Dems.  If they kill it, they take the blame.

    Also, what's with the "raised taxes causing loss of jobs"?  So now tax cuts help create jobs?  

    Parent

    Not on the rich, but lower/middle class tax (none / 0) (#44)
    by BobTinKY on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:32:43 AM EST
    cuts will be spent, increasing, or in this case maintaining, demand for good & services.

    Tax cuts for the wealthy are just discretionary income that is saved or invested, not spent.

    Parent

    Then push Obama plan through the (none / 0) (#45)
    by BobTinKY on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:34:29 AM EST
    lame duck session, let McConnell kill it.

    Parent
    Maybe the best they can do (none / 0) (#51)
    by BobTinKY on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:42:21 AM EST
    is attack the House amendment on austerity grounds, i.e., deficit exploding without stimulative benefit. Austerity is supposedly what people voted for.  I don't know if they can continue sending a bill from Senate to House, or repeatedly go through conference but if they can repeatedly & publicly  have GOP insist on cuts for the rich they ought to do that, especially if as a result rates go up on the rest of us voters.

    The Dems can argue:

    1.  tax savings to lower/midle get spent and create demand which creates jobs which is why we need these cuts at a time of deficit, and

    2.  tax cuts for the rich do not add to demand, do not increase employment, & only explode the deficit you're all so supposedly worried about.

    It's at least better than caving into the GOP.  It may result in rates reverting back to the Clinton era but policy-wise that is probably not such a bad thing.
     

    Parent
    Senate Nelson's? (none / 0) (#54)
    by waldenpond on Fri Nov 05, 2010 at 10:49:00 AM EST
    I can't see the conservative Ben Nelson's of the Senate doing anything about jobs.  A conservative goal is to collapse wages.  They aren't trying to repair the economy.  This is a wet dream for them.  I expect their economic delusions to be at the forefront.... tax cuts, de-regulate, break unions all to save real Murikans from soshulist liberal marxists.

    Conservative Dems are just more subtle and polite.

    Parent