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From Taibbi’s new piece in Rolling Stone.
John Boehner is the ultimate Beltway hack, a man whose unmatched and self-serving skill at political survival has made him, after two decades in Washington, the hairy blue mold on the American congressional sandwich. The biographer who somewhere down the line tackles the question of Boehner’s legacy will do well to simply throw out any references to party affiliation, because the thing that has made Boehner who he is — the thing that has finally lifted him to the apex of legislative power in America — has almost nothing to do with his being a Republican.
Read the whole thing.
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FALSE. Those $5,000 checks from tobacco companies that the Great Orange Satyr handed out on the House floor only went to Republicans.
Good Morning, Pups
Mr. Speaker Boehner will be giving the comedians and the critics a lot of fodder for years to come. He should just get a suit with a target painted on it.
Agent Orange has the Speaker gavel. It’s a dark day for the United States indeed.
And, I thought that I was immune to being surprised by anything the government does. I was wrong and it’s a dark and scary time.
Hey, there, Peg. How goes it with you? Anything new?
Matt says something that I noticed about the ‘baggers long ago. That is that when it comes down to it they deserve medicare and social security, they deserve first class services without paying taxes, etc. It’s everybody else who must pay taxes without receiving services. You know…all those brown people, furrinners and homosexshubles. They are truly despicable.
Not much new, nope. Hangin’ in there. You?
George Will has a real piece of tripe today, even by his own low standards. He expounds upon “America’s aristocracy of self control”, explaining that the successful are not overweight or obese, and this is because they possess the attributes which made them rich and successful in the first place. He even cites a “Scientific” study to back up this BS. The poor and unsuccessful, lacking these traits, also lack self discipline and other desirable qualities found only in the exalted elite (those like himself, presumably) are also fat losers. Welcome to the beautiful mind of George Will and his friends…
On edit, I refuse to link to the Kaplan Times!
Pretty much same old, same old. But, no new catastophies around here.
I say we had some good laughs about the gavel. I thought Nancy got a good zinger in. And, got away with it.
That’s just nasty. But funny!
Morning BT and Firepups.
hahahahahah!!!!!!!!
Is the morning water too cold again today?
Unemployment down to 9.4 %. Jobs up 103,000.
For their own safety, I’ll bet. I expect Obama to develop a smirk and a nasty habit of laughing through his nose any day now. maybe he’ll even read My Pet Goat.
Christmas jobs. Let me know when they are actual, sustained jobs.
Payrolls up 103,000, less than expected. Unemployment rate dropped to 9.4% owing to adult men dropped out of the labor force.
Isn’t the December payroll something of an anomaly anyway? I’m much more interested in the January-March (plus or minus) numbers.
I don’t understand. How does that work, can you say?
Precisely my point. You’ll see a huge uptick in new joblessness in January when the Christmas help is laid off, along with the usual manufacturing jobs waving bye-bye.
The numbers are adjusted for seasonal variation, but that is always problematic over the Xmas season when seasonal hiring & layoffs do not always occur at the same time. The employment survey is taken the week that contains the second Tuesday of the month. Also, weather can influence the number for a month or more.
I think the best interpretation is that employment gains are occurring but remain anemic.
I have to say that I admire the positions Olbermann is taking. For a MSM type, he’s leading the way. Good on him.
Interesting. Thanks.
There are two different surveys: one is of households, and that gives the unemployment rate data. The Q asked is: are you at work or actively looking for work. If the latter part of the Q is answered NO, then those are counted as ‘dropping out of the labor force.’ The HH survey is more volatile on a monthly basis than the payroll survey, which is of employers, and gave rise to the 103,000 number.
Wow! Now there are two words I never expected to see used in the same sentence. “Ted Haggard” and “reality” haven’t been on speaking terms in like, ever!
“For those who can compete and do well, fine. Some Americans can’t compete. I think we have a responsibility as a people to help those who can’t compete. But do we have a responsibility to help those who won’t compete? I would have serious doubts about that.” What does that even mean, jackass? How do you go about dividing up hard workers fallen on hard times from lazy morons? Oh, and good morning all.
We’re lucky to have someone like eCAHN who can get us down into the weeds of these things and explain them in a cogent way. I won’t deny that I find a lot of the more esoteric facets of economics to be mostly incomprehensible. Thanks eCAHN.
Set up your DVR’s…if there’s any room left on the disc after all those recordings of “The Sarah Palin Animal Assassination Hour.”
Ah. So the numbers are based on “available” job force? So, the more people who get too depressed to look for work the lower the unemployment figures? Could go really low, if you get my drift.
You’re welcome. You’re right that there are a lot of weeds and I’ve done it for so many years, I find it intensely boring. But always want to provide some perspective, as there are so many on TV & online who will leap on a particular # to press their own agenda.
Leaving the rest of us to try to work out the truth for ourselves. Precisely why I value your input so highly, not that there aren’t other reasons as well.
Should show up in the ‘discouraged workers’ category on the U-6 measure, but that also dropped in December for whatever reason. Best to stick to to moving averages as monthly numbers are not always completely explicable.
This chart from Calculated Risk shows the percentage drop in the number of jobs since the start of the recession. The curves would need to go up by something like 1.5% per year just to keep up with population growth. As you can see, this time really is different.
Not only that but people who are no longer eligible for benefits are no longer “unemployed” in the official stats.
That is not accurate. Reread my 22. The unemployment rate data are completely disconnected from the unemployment benefits.
No wonder the top 20% always crying about the cost of doing business.Goverment President,Senitors,Congressmen,there Staff.Then it’s on to the Sates for the same.Your law makers made it legal to take money from the customer that never goes to the store.
eCAHNomics where/how does the government track the gain and/or losses in the salaries of these people entering and dropping out of the work force? My question is, I hate how jobs are considered jobs. Doing the cashier at McDonalds is not the same as a manufacturing or average clerical job.
How does the government track the decrease in wages and from there the loss of taxable income?
We gloss over the true value of our economy if we don’t account for the loss in wages overall and whether or not these people are actually able to make ends meet. I think you may have mentioned before that U6 would include the measure of dissatisfied workers who need better jobs, but I don’t think that really hits the nail on the head in how quickly our economy is bleeding the lifeblood of the economy.
Status quo at best since IRC the economy needs to add 100k – 150k per month just to keep up with new folks entering the work force
Thanks. :)
One thing I’ve been noodling on but have seen no mention of is that the HH survey is by telephone. The Q is the obvious one: what is the influence of more people going to cell phone only. I suspect, though the HHs surveyed are a rolling change (i.e., some but not all are dropped every month & some new, but not all, are added), that the likely absence of cell phone only users makes the survey more volatile.
Yep. I’ve used a cell phone only for years. In fact I still use the 512 area code though I live in 210 now.
Yeah! WOW! 103.000 jobs.
Outside the US it has been reported tat we have more like 20% unemployment. That’s depression level. We wouldn’t want THAT # to get out, people might start demanding ACTION!
The ‘wage’ data come from the payroll survey, i.e. the part that comes from employers. Averages can hide the fact that some industries are increasing rapidly while others are decreasing (the Bill Gates walks into the bar phenomenon).
I might call BLS in a bit & ask them what their read is on the influence. I also spend most of my time in an area code which is not my cell phone area code & haven’t had a land line for years.
On edit: They have an email addy on the news release & I’ve sent in my Q. Will let you know the answer.
Should we use the U6 number (Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force) instead or also to indicate real job loss? The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that number is now 16.7. I found it interesting that the U6 was added to the A15 table after being hidden as a text only stand alone table for so long. Somebody hates the U6.
October and November job numbers revised up by 70,000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7062IY20110107
I just emailed my friend. Got an auto out of the office reply with a new e-address. This doesn’t look good.
WooHoo! Obama was playing eleventy seven dimensional chess after all.
/s
No, that seems ominous.
Will keep fingers crossed.
It’s been in the U-6 table as long as I can remember, which is decades.
On edit: I meant to type that u-6 has been in the A15 table as long as I can remember. I’ve got cnbc going on the TV & am not good at multitasking.
I also heard recently that BLS is doing some work on the long-term unemployed, which are undercounted, even in U-6. I didn’t keep track of the post, so no link. I may also ask that Q by email, if/when I get a response to the one I already sent.
Yes. I emailed him at his personal address. Not his office. I have reason to believe he’s out of the country and safe, but I’m curious as to what’s going on.
Do you remember what the article that has been taken off his website said? Arrested in Brazil regarding BP investigation?
No, I have no memory of what the article said. As soon as I alerted you, it was totally expunged from my brain.
Without question, these numbers are rough as hell. But, looking over the government’s and ADP’s numbers for the past 3 months, it appears that job growth is headed in the right direction.
Ok. Well, thanks for the crossed fingers, anyway. Like I need yet another reason to despise BP. I wanted to ask him about the news that compensation money was to be taxed. Sheet.
Let us know, Demi…
Tardy good morning, everyone. Late to the party.
OMG, what a horrible little article:
“America, it’s time to start taking risks again”
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/06/news/economy/risk_taking_solution_economy.fortune/index.htm
Insanity. Corporate money may be waiting on the sidelines, but it is so it can ultimately be invested overseas. It isn’t for reinvestment in the US. Obama and his wonderful meak 40% tax cut crap stimulus prevented meaningful reinvestment. No “Buy America” provision.
What crap.
G’Morning, Molly. Are you getting the hang of being a lady of leisure and sleeping in?
Bill O’Reilly to interview Obama for Fox Super Bowl pre-game
I’ve never been much for sleeping in — I think all the years in the work force and before that with two kids at home kinda cured my internal clock of that. I did get up a bit later this morning, and I watch Rachel online in the mornings, so just getting here.
Awfully hard to get up and attem when it’s cold and snowy outside.
Heh. It’s the first foray to O’s all Faux all the time strategy for the 2012 election.
Me too. Raised 3 kids and worked full time. I’ve been getting up at 5 am for a really long time. Fortunately, I’ve always been a morning person anyway. Once my eyes are open, I’m UP!
You don’t think it’s going to being riviting and revealing? /s
I’ve now gotten accustomed to getting up around 7 a.m., after the first few weeks of retirement when I’d be awake at 6 and have to force myself to roll over and try to go to back to sleep. Damned if I was gonna get up at 6 in retirement. I’m a morning person, too, but I do enjoy sitting with my laptop and my tea and watching Rachel in the morning.
I like to catch up on Jon Stewart in the morning. He had a funny bit the other day with a John McCain puppet. I like to start my day with a good laugh.
Interesting (probably only to me) this morning. Couldn’t get Firefox to play the Rachel show — just got a blank white screen — so I fired up Safari and it played just fine, but with some ads! Not the commercials one sees on teevee, just little ad clips. I never see ads using Firefox, so Adblock Plus must block ads in videos too!
I’m riveted by what sell-tested deceptive slogans will replace hope & change, since that hopey changey thingy is shopworn.
Since Comcast went all digital, requiring a box and extra fee, I’ve been watching what little TV I care about online. I refuse to pay their fee for the little bit of stuff I watch. I can get Daily Show online too, but seldom think to unless there’s a clip in a blog that takes me there.
Yesterday, when I heard Boehner’s voice, I took out my original copy of Peter’s Principle, dusted it off and started reading. It was comforting and serves as a great voice for current times. Unlike Boehner’s voice.
(Note: I am an Ohio resident. Perhaps I’ll buy multiple copies…)
Not only shopworn, pretty much discredited. The wingnuts always mocked it, and now the left mocks it too. Rachel actually disagreed with Howard Dean last night, when his main approval for Daley was, “He’s a good guy, I like him, he’s honest and straightforward and looks me in the eye.”
I like Howard Dean, but he lost that
discussionargument IMHO.oldgold I have to give it to you, you enjoy punishment.
daily you come on these boards and try to defend the impossible.
(you are modern day tom cruise)
fact:
Since the year 2000, the United States has lost 10% of its middle class jobs. In the year 2000 there were about 72 million middle class jobs in the United States but today there are only about 65 million middle class jobs.
Oldgold most of the 103,000 jobs created were probably very low paying.
( you do know this?)
Good News!
Oldgold get your popcorn ready! my friend
the funniest show we all will ever see is about to start
“David Axelrod Tries to Get “Obama/Clarence Thomas re-elected as a Democrat”
Special guest will be the 23 senators who run from OBAMA like he has the swine flu.(Dems need Dem voters, Dem voters hate Wall Street, Dem Senators know this.)
Oldgold
I can see it now BIll DALEY and OBAMA standing in the Middle of Main Street USA surrounded by 99ers who are homeless, both OBAMA and Bill Daley Wearing T-SHIRTS saying see NAFTA does work, now everyone lives on mainstreet. :)
Maybe his new slogan will be Get With The Program, B*tch.
Obama new slogan will be simple
“WALL STREET IS MY DADDY!”
Wow! Get a load of “Boner’s gavel”!
Anyone suspect him of suffering from “male insufficiency syndrome”?????
My memory is not what it once was, but I don’t seem to remember this happening when Valerie Plame was outed. The administration is throwing anything and everything out there to nail Assange. Pathetic.
Actually, the ultimate Beltway hack is sitting in the Oval Office, which is why we’re talking about “Speaker of the House” Boehner.
There was hugely giant photo in my local rag (eg “nooz” paper) yesterday of Agent Orange cry-yi-yi-ying as the gavel was passed to him. I felt like crying, myself.
Talk about “lowest common denominator.” Sadly, it’s likely to only get worse from here on in…
Entirely too true. sigh
Barry passed that stage when the BP-generated oil spill happened. That was his Katrina moment.
Five a.m? The only time I’ve ever been up at five a.m. was when I was still up from the night before, on my way home from some girl’s place. I never even got up at five a.m. in my gung-ho surfer days.
I beg to disagree. KO is but a shadow of himself. When Dems start showing up on Worst People, and when he starts in with regular Special Comments attacking O like he used to attack Bush, then he’ll be “leading the way”.
Orange pond scum a precursor to rot.
2.3 million not looking for work. 100K don’t keep up with new job seekers per month.
Source:
Free Speech Radio about an hour ago.
There is no recovery folks.