Encouraging economic data, from sources public and private
Last week, a better-than-expected jobs report inspired scoffing among those to whom good economic news is bad political news, including suggestions that the government numbers had somehow been cooked as part of a political conspiracy.
That doesn’t seem to have been the case, as economic data continue to surprise on the upside, from government as well as private economic sources, and across economic sectors:
The economy is improving more than professional forecasters anticipated, particularly in data on employment and housing, according to the Bloomberg Economic Surprise Index, which compares 38 indicators with analysts’ predictions. The index, based on gauges compiled by private businesses and trade groups in addition to government, confirms U.S. growth is generating jobs in the face of a global slowdown and looming federal spending cuts and tax increases known as the fiscal cliff.
“The economy is improving, and the labor market is getting better,” said Robert Brusca, president of Fact & Opinion Economics and a former New York Fed economist. “These numbers are what they are, they’re not being slanted. On a scale of one to 10, the economy is at a fairly firm six and may be heading higher….”
From Reuters, on consumer sentiment:
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary October reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment came in at 83.1, up from 78.3 the month before, and the highest since September 2007, the survey showed on Friday.
The new buoyancy among consumers comes shortly after the U.S. unemployment rate tumbled to its lowest in nearly four years in September as more people returned to the workforce and found jobs than economists had predicted.
“We are getting some quite interesting signals from consumer sentiment and employment data – both (the) unemployment rate and initial claims – that there has been some quite significant improvement in the economy,” said David Sloan, an economist at 4Cast in New York.
From the Census Bureau on retail sales:
WASHINGTON — Retail sales rose a larger-than-expected 1.1% in September as consumers shook off fears of looming economic problems and continued to boost their spending after pulling back earlier this year.
The new data Monday came as the Commerce Department revised August’s increase in retail sales to 1.2% from the earlier estimate of 0.9%. That meant the rise in August was the largest monthly gain since October 2010.
Economists had expected a 0.8% increase in September, according to a survey by Bloomberg. Retail sales last month were up 5.4% from a year earlier. Sales for the three-month period ending in September were up 4.8% from the same quarter in 2011.
From Business Insider, on housing:
Despite some nagging doubts that have remained over the U.S. housing market, consensus is that housing has turned the corner and is recovering.
In his latest note titled The Housing Recovery Is For Real, Deutsche Bank’s Joseph LaVorgna writes that the “residential housing market is in the very early stages of a durable recovery.”
LaVorgna says this recovery in housing is important because housing is what led the U.S. economy into a recession, and is part of the reason the recovery has been so slow. Moreover, as “a leading indicator of underlying domestic demand,” any improvement in housing suggests that underlying domestic demand should improve as well. From Lavorgna:
‘…. At minimum, the strength in residential construction suggests it is unlikely that underlying domestic demand will weaken further. This provides us with some comfort that the recent sub-par performance in the economy is not long lasting and that over time, domestic demand will strengthen, perhaps as concern over Europe fades a bit and the “fiscal cliff” is adequately dealt with.’ “
From Fitch Ratings, on housing construction:
Fitch Ratings raised its projection for single-family starts and new-home sales this year, but warned housing growth could be somewhat less robust in 2013.
The ratings company expects single-family housing starts to improve about 19% in 2012, with new-home sales and existing-home sales increasing 19.5% and 8.5%, respectively.
Fitch, last month, forecast a 12% rise in single-family housing starts, 10.5% growth in new-home sales and a 5.6% bump in existing-home sales.
Fitch said the year-over-year gains for single-family starts and new-home sales earlier this year have sustained momentum. Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted statistics for single-family starts, new homes and existing-home sales have also been advancing most months.
From Ward’s Automotive Group, the auto industry newsletter, reporting a surge in fourth-quarter auto production in North America:
Hot on the heels of an estimated 20,300-unit September production shortfall, North American car and truck assembly plants are embarking on an even more robust fourth-quarter program than the one put in place a month ago.
Although Ford has not yet revealed what revisions it has in store for October-December, the rest of the industry already has boosted production plans by some 53,900 units for the period.
The bulk of the increase is set to occur this month with 61,700 units added to the October slate, some of which likely were deferred from September and some pulled forward from December’s plan, now 16,400 units lower than it was a month ago.
But, even assuming the entire September and December downward volume adjustments are included in this month’s higher schedule, that still means an additional 16,700 vehicles in the October boost, on top of which some 8,600 units have been added to the November plan.
The largest Q4 increase comes from General Motors, up 18,500 units, mostly cars, including gains of 26,000 in October and 3,000 in November, followed by a 10,500-unit cut in its December slate…
Incorporating the revised outlook, North American plants now are in line to build some 15,692,200 cars and trucks this year, up 16.5% from 2011’s 13,471,500 completions.
– Jay Bookman
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508 comments Add your comment
ld
October 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
Economic data that might influence the election could matter; however, after the election, all bets are off — regardless of who wins the election, everything changes — it’s only a matter of direction. This article on the fiscal cliff explains why.
http://nymag.com/news/politics/elections-2012/obama-romney-economic-plans-2012-10/
Citizen of the World
October 15th, 2012
4:26 pm
I wish I had the capacity to vanquish bad good news or bad bad news by simply deciding that the source was not to be trusted. And if I was a devotee of Fox News and right-wing talk, I’m sure it would be easy, as I would have been brainwashed to believe that any thing the government and/or the mainstream media says is a lie.
Rightwing Troll
October 15th, 2012
4:28 pm
“When I get a 1 % pay raise I am going to go out and pay off my mortgage. Well maybe I can get a Kiddie Meal at Burger King. Looky here I got me a toy Obama bobble head with my meal.”
Could be worse… it could be 2007 again…
josef
October 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
On topic
Boring. The Economics majors are getting too much time. Give is Liberal Arts majors some time. Purty graphics, though.
So, what’s the kvetch of the day? Who’s pissed off at whom?
Tundra Dude
October 15th, 2012
4:30 pm
your thoughts as to how much impact this data may have in the remaining days before Nov 6?
Much ado about nutin”.
My official Conspiracy sites (better than my phoney ones) claim the fix is in for RMoney.
BO was tapped on the shoulder, was told his time was up.
He took a dive in that (so called) debate.
Ms. Moneybags, Pritzker, is not raising $$ for his campaign.
She’s Hustling for Dollars for his retirement home in Hawaii.
My Chicago source sez there are NO plans for a victory celebration at any city park, stadium, auditorium.
Smirkin' Joe
October 15th, 2012
4:30 pm
“What’s 90 years back have to do with it?”
It was a single instance. But I guess you are incapable of logical deduction. That is, how well Wall Street is doing at any point in time is NOT indicative of the overall health of the economy (and THAT is what we are speaking of, correct?).
“Move those goalposts when you can’t refute the data”
Thanks for that advise, but I’ll leave that to you.
“I’d really like it if you could prove that last paragraph incorrect, but it appears it is simply beyond your ability.”
All it takes is a link, there, genius. From an April Money article:
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate, has already fallen to 8.5% — getting closer to the 7.8% it was at when Obama was inaugurated.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/11/news/economy/obama_jobs_record/index.htm
Got any hymns you want us to sing to Obama?
Morality?
October 15th, 2012
4:31 pm
Maybe some of you are dumb enough to vote for this 1 % jump Prez ….. seriously 1 % . For you simple minded, say you got 100 pennies and you picked up one you found on the ground (that’s a 1% jump!). Is that penny worth your vote? Is that all you think you deserve for your vote? Do you think we can pay the interest on the Fed debt with a 1% so-called Jump? Obama, Nanny Pelosi and Hairy Weed had their 4 year spending spree – time to pay the piper . time to get serious with someone that actually understands Economics 101 – as an Economist Obama makes a good class action lawsuit lawyer. He has never opened an Economics book in his life. Now if you are looking for a “community activist” (whatever that is) hire Obama. But as Prez – not so much.
Regnad Kcin
October 15th, 2012
4:33 pm
A penny?
Morality?, did happy hour start early where you are?
Smirkin' Joe
October 15th, 2012
4:35 pm
“Krugman is way too biased to put as much faith are you are putting in him…he is a complete liberal rube…I like reading him but it’s best to balance with other economists…he started a liberal and he works for the most liberal, biased newspaper in the history of newspapers.”
What leads you to THAT conclusion…his recent characterization of Romney’s inaccuracies in the debates as lies but Obama’s as “minor fudges” (even though almost every fact checker proves him to be wrong in this assessment)?
Mary Elizabeth
October 15th, 2012
4:37 pm
Stevie Ray, 4:22 pm
“. . .he (Krugman) started a liberal and he works for the most liberal, biased newspaper in the history of newspapers.”
====================================
I have no doubt that that is your opinion, Stevie Ray.
You may not know this, but I have been reading the New York Times and agreeing with most of its opinions since I lived in NYC as a young woman from 1963 -1970. (I had my liberal leaning views, btw, before I ever moved to NYC from Georgia. About checking out other economists: Like Paul Newman said of JoAnne Woodward, his wife and fellow thespian, “Why should I look around for hamburger when I have steak at home?!” (I don’t think Woodward was especially fond of Newman’s musings where she was compared to cuts of meat!
I have limited time in my day. I have seen much BS spin over the years, so I don’t need to “balance” Krugman’s thoughts in economics with many others. If I earned my living as a journalist I would of course need to read extensively in these areas, but since I don’t, I know what I think and have thought over the years. I think for myself. Krugman views just happen to mirror most of my own thinking. And, of course, I try to learn from his more extensive knowledge in the area or economics. The fact that he is a Nobel Prize winner in economics doesn’t hurt, either.
Gone for the afternoon.
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
October 15th, 2012
4:37 pm
I have never heard of the automaker “AA/Flat Rock Assembly”, but they are doing way better than Mitsubishi. The Eclipse Spyder was a cool little car. It will be missed.
josef
October 15th, 2012
4:37 pm
Buy low, sell high.
The black column should be higher than the red column/
If you can’t pay cash for it, you can’t afford it.
That’s all I ever learned about this Economics cabala, and all I’ve ever needed to know. But, then, I’m a simpleton.
Morality?
October 15th, 2012
4:39 pm
Be back when we get some real news on the economy……. til then trying to getting a brain dead zombie for Obama to understand that we are in a serious mess. A $16,000,000,000,000 debt ain’t nothing that will be cured with a 1 % jump in anything. Obama PROMISED that the FED debt would be lower than it was when he cam in to office. A $6,000,000,000,000 increase – I guess he was a LITTLE off on his promise.
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
4:40 pm
‘Is that penny worth your vote?’
Morality? did you vote for McCain in 2008 (and, as such, a vote for essentially an extension of the Bush policies…)?
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
4:41 pm
‘ Obama PROMISED that the FED debt would be lower than it was when he cam in to office.’
Would love to see that link…Thanks in advance…
Morality?
October 15th, 2012
4:41 pm
I could use a drink – being one o the few remaining tax payers having to pay off $16,000,000,000,000 – guess I will have to give up going to the movies.
josef
October 15th, 2012
4:42 pm
The NYT is liberal? I’ll go for centrist leaning to conservative. Been reading it all my life. Delivered RFD to a cotton patch in North Mississippi. All the news that fits. Of course, it is the product of the Daughters of the Confederacy…
Smirkin' Joe
October 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
“I think for myself. Krugman views just happen to mirror most of my own thinking.”
Or is it the other way around? Krugman thinks for himself and your thinking mirrors his?
“And, of course, I try to learn from his more extensive knowledge in the area or economics. The fact that he is a Nobel Prize winner in economics doesn’t hurt, either.”
That is funny. The article I linked to earlier cited 5 (count ‘em, five) “Nobel Prize winners” as being supportive of Romney’s plan. But…I guess they are not “real” Nobel Prize winners winners are they? Or does it just follow from the liberal premise that conservatives or those who offer support for conservatives just CAN’T be right?
Gone for the afternoon.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
Be back when we get some real news on the economy…
Not intended to be a factual statement.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
4:43 pm
“Encouraging economic data, from sources public and private”–JAY “Pasha Strelnikov” Bookman
Well, it looks like Comrade Obama is on the Fast Track to winning the Election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRXKHTTzayU
Paul
October 15th, 2012
4:45 pm
Smirkin Joe
“It was a single instance. But I guess you are incapable of logical deduction. That is, how well Wall Street is doing at any point in time is NOT indicative of the overall health of the economy (and THAT is what we are speaking of, correct?).”
Nope. It was in reference to your 3:48 “I can hear Democratic pundits claim we need to “stay the course with President Obama because a month or two of better-than-expected economic data proves he is leading us to the “promised land” and blah, blah, blah…”
This is what happens to you goalpost-movers. You forget where you last put them.
““I’d really like it if you could prove that last paragraph incorrect, but it appears it is simply beyond your ability.”
All it takes is a link, there, genius. From an April Money article:”
Smirkin’ Joe, I wasn’t referring to your ability to Google an article and link to it.
But congratulations on that.
What I said was, “Just as you were with you previous monikers, you demonstrate no original thoughts, no ability to integrate multiple points into a conclusion, only the capability to stand back and make disparaging remarks. No solutions, only whining about what you see as problems.”
Mighty Righty
October 15th, 2012
4:45 pm
This report is like a starving unemployed Democrat who hasn’t eaten in three days finding a half eaten two day old balogna sandwich saying things are a lot better than yesterday. Well, he is right. Things are definitely better than yesterday.
EJ Moosa
October 15th, 2012
4:46 pm
Obama’s Debt Pledge
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/news/economy/fiscal_summit/index.htm
Morality?
October 15th, 2012
4:47 pm
Did not vote for “W”. Did not vote for Obama…… will vote for Romney. Who did you vote for? The only honest candidate we have had in the last 20 years was Ross Perot. If we had elected him and followed his policies we would not be in this mess now. The Dems and Repubs, Jessie Jackson and the news media jumped on him with both feet……. he was a threat to their lavish life style and their gravy train (us tax payers).
Paul
October 15th, 2012
4:48 pm
Morality?
“Be back when we get some real news on the economy……. til then trying to getting a brain dead zombie for Obama to understand that we are in a serious mess. A $16,000,000,000,000 debt ain’t nothing that will be cured with a 1 % jump in anything. Obama PROMISED that the FED debt would be lower than it was when he cam in to office. A $6,000,000,000,000 increase – I guess he was a LITTLE off on his promise.”
What, specifically, would you have recommended to avoid any additional debt from Pres Obama’s inauguration to now?
Or is your point you don’t care about the level, just it isn’t where he said it would be?
EJ Moosa
October 15th, 2012
4:48 pm
“The president’s budget proposal will project that the estimated $1.3 trillion deficit inherited from the Bush administration will be halved to $533 billion by 2013, or from 9.2% of the gross domestic product to 3%, the official said
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/news/economy/fiscal_summit/index.htm
USMC
October 15th, 2012
4:49 pm
“Be back when we get some real news on the economy…
Not intended to be a factual statement.”–KAMSPAM
-not intended to be a factual statement
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
4:49 pm
MARY ELIZABETH, SMIRKING JOE AND OTHERS
Here is one example of a counter to Krugmans continued liberal leanings (understatement)..if all you read is Krugman…you are only considering one of many, many well credentialed economists…you would do well to read those offering counter arguments to him….I don’t recall him or any NYT’s editorials remotely supporting Bush, Romney or any other non-liberal causes…this is by no means anything other than a completely liberal newspaper where the ratios of liberal positions versus the contrary are ridiculous…it is about as left leaning as the voters there..surprise..
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kylesmith/2012/05/24/paul-krugman-is-a-aaa-rated-security-gone-bad/
josef
October 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
USMC
“Pasha Strelnikov” Bookman”
Okay, thass a good ‘un!
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
‘Obama’s Debt Pledge’
Wow, that’s a far cry from Morality?’s claim.
Did you bash Bush for saying, ‘we can have these tax cuts and still have trillions in surplus?’
Morality?
October 15th, 2012
4:50 pm
I take that back…… I think Ralph Nader is honest. though a bit naive.
Obama is over
October 15th, 2012
4:51 pm
1.3% GDP growth. Enough said. As far as former Enron advisor Paul Krugman goes, he lost all credibility with me when he assigned the blame for Gabby Gifford’s assasination attempt on the Tea Party.His job is to sell papers and consequently he concentrates on inflamatory partisan dribble rather than economic facts. Although the daily battle between Krugman and James Taranto is one of the simple pleasures in life.
getalife
October 15th, 2012
4:51 pm
Did not vote for w or not man enough to admit you did it twice con.
Lets face it, you can’t believe a word they type and they fight for those who need no help.
Rightwing Troll
October 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
“Maybe some of you are dumb enough to vote for this 1 % jump Prez ….. seriously 1 % . For you simple minded, say you got 100 pennies and you picked up one you found on the ground (that’s a 1% jump!).”
That penny profit is mite bit better than your last president made you. And now you pine for his policies to return… that’s what’s dumb… you “stayed the course” with a mentally challenged disaster and want to bail on the one who has righted W’s ship…
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
Morality?, question for you at 4:41…still waiting…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
4:52 pm
MOOSA,
Just one of dozens of promises BO made that were completely disgarded…
getalife
October 15th, 2012
4:53 pm
Dowd on the return of the neocons is good stuff.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
4:54 pm
Oh dear, Atlas Shrugged II pulled in about the same amount of money on opening weekend as AS I did but on three times as many screens.
Samantha Mathis isn’t saving this franchise.
TM
October 15th, 2012
4:56 pm
Great News with all these people working and spending money, increasing GDP and increasing values of homes; tax revenues should be pouring into the treasuries of local, State and Federal governments so we don’t need to increase taxes but just cut spending.
josef
October 15th, 2012
4:56 pm
IMAM AL SHARIFF BIG DADDY BRUIN TORQUEMADA…
Uh, isn’t the topic of the next debate supposed to be foreign policy? Why are we still yapping about economics? Seriously…why?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
4:56 pm
LORD,
To be fair, he did promise to reduce deficit by half and to reduce growth in the accumulation of total debt..
http://factcheck.org/2009/03/obama-and-the-deficit/
Tundra Dude
October 15th, 2012
4:56 pm
Ah, yes…the “gospel” according to Krugman. You do know, ME, there are other economists besides him?
http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/20/more-than-500-economists-5-nobel-laureates-back-romneys-economic-strategy/
How many thousands of economists did they poll/interview to get 500….?
There Is No Nobel Prize in Economics
The award’s real name is the “Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.” It was not established by Nobel, but supposedly in memory of Nobel. It’s a ruse and a PR trick, and I mean that literally. And it was done completely against the wishes of the Nobel family.
http://bit.ly/TH6K4E
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
4:57 pm
‘Samantha Mathis isn’t saving this franchise.’
I’ll wait until it comes out on regular TV…and then watch something else…
getalife
October 15th, 2012
4:58 pm
Great news for our country is bad news for our cons.
That is very sad.
What happened to country first cons?
You need to look at yourselves and ask yourself what are you doing cheering against your own country. Are you sick in the head?
USMC
October 15th, 2012
4:58 pm
“Would love to see that link…Thanks in advance…”–Lord Help Us
FEB 2009: Obama Pledges to Cut the Deficit in Half By the End of His First Term in Office
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGt4LYMXQpo
USMC
October 15th, 2012
4:59 pm
“Okay, thass a good ‘un!”–josef
I thought you would like that, josef.
Hope you and yours had a great weekend!
Mr_B
October 15th, 2012
5:00 pm
“Because 1) getting part-time or even full time work at a fraction of what you used to make in a totally different field – just to get by – is nothing to feel positive about ”
Never have unemployed for very long, have ya, Joe?
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
5:00 pm
‘To be fair, he did promise to reduce deficit by half and to reduce growth in the accumulation of total debt..’
True dat…
Although, I will throw the cons a bone here and say that his promise to reform healthcare without a mandate during the dem primaries (cuz it helped him beat Hillary) was much more egregious.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
5:00 pm
I’ll wait until it comes out on regular TV…and then watch something else…
Once this thing hits Wal-Mart there will be no stopping it.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:00 pm
“Dowd on the return of the neocons is good stuff”–getalife
DOWD is an out-of-touch Lunatic!
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:01 pm
The gop walked away from a 4 trillion cut for the wealthy. Fact.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:01 pm
“Uh, isn’t the topic of the next debate supposed to be foreign policy? Why are we still yapping about economics? Seriously…why?”–josef
BENGHAZI!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
OBAMA IS OVER,
Funny I forgot about his “arrangement” with Enron…I did like him in Get Him to the Greek..
Here’s the Economist (probably the best non partisan economics read going) opinon of Krugman..A THINKING MANS MICHAEL MOORE..
In a 2003 article, The Economist noted that Krugman’s critics argue that “his relentless partisanship is getting in the way of his argument”. The Economist also wrote that the vast majority of Krugman’s columns feature attacks on Republicans and almost none criticize Democrats, making him “a sort of ivory-tower folk-hero of the American left—a thinking person’s Michael Moore”.[17]
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
usmc,
Dowd or you?
Tundra Dude
October 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
isn’t the topic of the next debate supposed to be foreign policy?
The questions allowed, and the answers, have already been decided. Warmongers rule!!
nobodyyouknow
October 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
Jay, would you please find out how many jobs were originally lost?. I beleive some jobs have come back, however there were so many lost its not helping much. My son has always done construction work. He’s been out of work over a year. Not much construction going on. I have a nephew who was laid off over 2 years ago. He and his roomate have run out of unemployment. And are unable to find work. If there are so many jobs out there where the hell are they?
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
5:02 pm
USMC at 4:58. Please read Morality?’s post at 4:39 if you want to help a brutha out…
He said, ‘ Obama PROMISED that the FED debt would be lower than it was when he cam in to office.’
If i were you, I’d let him hang with that one on his own…
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:03 pm
USMC
It was as it should have been…getting in the Holiday season spirit…getting the packets of sugar drenched to hell with the nutrition nazis packets made up for the little snot noses, laying in the Thanksgiving plans for the tribal get-together, and starting on the Christmas decorations…happy time sh*t…
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:03 pm
“Encouraging economic data, from sources public and private”–Pasha Bookman
US National Debt Clock : Real Time
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:04 pm
Krugman predicted the collapse did you.
If you read him you would have got out of the market at 14,000 then buy low after the collapse.
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:06 pm
TUNDRA
Is Obama’s FP warmongering in your opinion? I’d be interested in your take….
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:07 pm
LORD,
As you may gather, I’m not supportive of either candidate and post at liberal and right sites picking fights with each..
All this “you suck” and “you suck more” is really hand jive…the 800 lb gorilla is the fact that due to special interest money and our elected gomers spending 30% of their time raising money, the government is failing ALL of us…it is dysfunctional so all results are flawed.
Promises broken that meant the most to me: “the days of lobbyist controlling the DC agenda are over…” and if you recall he was going to prosecute Wall Street and Telecom….the outcome was the former ended up being one of his biggests contributors and the latter, despite his promise to push a filibuster to make sure telecom paid for its illegal wire tapping, he got cash from them and then pushed a bill through that actually granted telecom immunity for the eavedropping…
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:08 pm
STEVIE
I had never heard “a thinking man’s Michael Moore…” But it does seem pretty apt a description to me. I’d go for pompous, self-imported ass, but, then, I don’t hold “economists” in the highest regard…
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:08 pm
The CIA and special forces found some targets in Libya.
Payback time.
He is going to drone them.
Rightwing Troll
October 15th, 2012
5:09 pm
“And are unable to find work. If there are so many jobs out there where the hell are they?”
Programming and interwebs development is going nuts. Housing is coming back, retail construction is flat and will be for a while, too many units.
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:10 pm
stevie,
Read Politico:
‘LOBBYISTS READY FOR COMEBACK UNDER ROMNEY’
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:11 pm
getalife
“Krugman predicted the collapse did you.”
Nostradamus predicted Hitler, too. St John of Patmos predicted the Apocalypse. The Delphic Oracle predicted…
Like I said, cabbala…
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
5:12 pm
Josh Mandel dodged more questions than a teenager coming home late on prom night
Heh, heh, heh.
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
SR at 5:07 – WORD!!
I feel your pain (and I’m doing the Clinton ‘feel your pain face’ as I write this).
The duplicity is insulting. It is a matter of degrees between the parties…for the most part.
The part that I currently have a problem with is the insanity I see in the GOP party. If not for the batcrap crazy party, I would likely vote for Romney…
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
corporate media fact checkers work for the gop and romney so:
FACT CHECK: Be your own fact-checker Tuesday night
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20121015/us-debate-fact-check-guide/
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:13 pm
Swing States poll: Women push Romney into lead…
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/15/swing-states-poll-women-voters-romney-obama/1634791/
more Drudgy spam… from USA Today
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:15 pm
USMC
Personally, I kinda like Dowd myself…even if she and the Imam did go memo on my man Barack’s statement on his evolution on gay marriage as being “no profile in courage…” She’s still a good plantation liberal, and has a pretty good education in the liberal arts. Not every columnist can compose a column in nearly flawless Latin…
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:15 pm
The UNFORTUNATE TRUTH:
Under the Obama Regime:
“For Every Person Added to Labor Force, 10 Added to Those Not in Labor Force”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/every-person-added-labor-force-10-added-those-not-labor-force_654547.html
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:17 pm
josef,
There were only a few economists and Senators that predicted the collapse.
The Dow was at 14,000 and unemployment was decent then it froze up and many banks and companies failed. 9 million lost jobs.
I had skin in the game so I paid attention.
Jay
October 15th, 2012
5:18 pm
A question for our conservatives (and anybody else out there):
In percentage terms, how much did total federal spending increase between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2012, after taking inflation into account? I’m not asking for the actual figure — I’m trying to get a feel for how much people THINK that spending has increased under Obama.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:18 pm
GETALIFE,
Krugman has made his share of horrible predictions, generally in effort to continue as BO’s economic champion…he projected 4% growth (its around 1.7 % and holding steady), he suggested that the 911 NYC attacks would do some economic good, he said in 2010 that every single thing the right said about why Obamanomics would fail was wrong. He even bet conservative economists that he was right about 4% growth…he never made good on his promise..
Lord Help Us
October 15th, 2012
5:19 pm
‘how much did total federal spending increase between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2012′
Less than the previous 4 years?
Boris Badnoff
October 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
Strange these glad tidings of good joy or whatever haven’t made it to the Koch brothers.
http://newsone.com/2061208/koch-brothers-employees-voting/
My sister is a flaming liberal Democrat who voted for The Messiah, worked for Koch, and was laid off. She came in one morning, was called to a conference room, and the Big Guy from Kansas gave them the news and 15 minutes later they were in the parking lot with their pink slip. I particularly enjoyed sending her an article that one of the Koch brothers paid around $ 1 Million for a tin type of Billy the Kid.
Personally I’m delighted the economy is picking up. I shall celebrate tonight with an extra large bowl of gruel. I knew those spider webs in my wallet had to be a mirage.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
“Personally, I kinda like Dowd myself…”–Josef
We just disagree. I think Dowd, like Jay, is then typical “Intellectually Dishonest” Liberal columnist, like Jay, who is in the “Tank” for the Leftwing cause and pushes whatever the Party Operatives put on their plates. Just my opinion.
Jay
October 15th, 2012
5:20 pm
Dowd’s a self-indulgent hack, Josef. Her batting average on her columns is about .085, although on the rare occasions on which she makes contact, she does show some power.
Oh, and the next debate is on domestic AND foreign policy.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
I’m trying to get a feel for how much people THINK that spending has increased under Obama.
A bazillion gazillion percent.
pogo
October 15th, 2012
5:21 pm
A country that is 16 trillion in debt has no economic good news. Our debt has now surpassed our GDP which is a barrier that, once broken, means that the nation is in really, really bad shape and there is practically no way to go back. But your real goal is only to delay the bad news until after the election, isn’t it Jay? There are 47 million people in this country on foodstamps and the able bodied working population who actually have a job is at a low we haven’t seen in decades. It seems that you and the leftists want nothing but Obama to be re-elected and in your minds, after that happens, the daisies will bloom and the unicorns will fly and everything will be alright again. If he is re-elected, the jubilation won’t last long as the reality of where we are at as a nation will come crashing down on all of us. He will do nothing but exacerbate the problem by enacting un-ending expansion of government (and destruction of personnal freedom) and more and more deficit spending to maintain this government control because these are all he knows to do. Obama and the liberals use entitlements as a means to enslave those people who don’t want to work and that don’t have any personnal pride or dignity and who are fine with getting everything they have from someone else. It is an age old liberal tactic that hasn’t changed since the sixties and apparently it is working. In a few days we will know which way this country will go. Four more years of Obama will finish this country off and Orwell’s prediction of no personnal freedom because of “Big Brother” will finally prove to accurate.
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:22 pm
stevie,
Most economists missed the collapse.
I think that is bigger than missing the growth rate.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:22 pm
A Star is Born!
Tea Party Drops Hardcore Ad Starring ‘Obama Phone’ Lady
http://nation.foxnews.com/tea-party/2012/10/15/tea-party-drops-hardcore-ad-starring-obama-phone-lady
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:23 pm
LORD,
I can’t vote for either as any vote is a vote for the status quo…congress folks increase their wealth by 25% over past couple years while we suffer…nothing will get done no matter who has that crappy job..special interests and our elected folks will continue to prosper…nothing else really matters to me…
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:23 pm
Our President cut spending but don’t know the total. He was willing to sign a 4 trillion cut but the gop walked away.
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:25 pm
I never read Dowd until the neocon slither back piece. She is not a fan of dan senor and the Iraq disaster.
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:26 pm
“Dowd’s a self-indulgent hack, Josef. Her batting average on her columns is about .085, although on the rare occasions on which she makes contact, she does show some power.”–Jay Bookman
I am SPEECHLESS…….. and owe Jay Bookman an apology for lumping him in with Dowd.
he is truly a hack! Pasha don’t Play!
“I apologize Jay Bookman!”
USMC
October 15th, 2012
5:27 pm
….she is truly a hack!.. sorry, itchy trigger finger
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:27 pm
USMC
I give Dowd her credit for being a wit and possessed on a good education. I will agree with you on her and the Imam both pushing whatever is put on their plates, but, then, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you. On both counts, I strongly suspect that if you got a few drinks in them down to the county line juke joint, a whole different persona and world view would come out. You can catch glimpses of it when they let down their editorial stance guard from time to time…I wouldn’t call either of them intellectually “dishonest…” Too strong a word for me…narrow minded from time to time and limited in perspective, but honestly so…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:29 pm
JAY,
Would you ask a question you didn’t already have an answer to? Of course everything you say suggests you see nothing your messiah has gotten wrong..I’m not a republican nor democrat but like to pick fights with both…
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/oct/09/american-crossroads/ad-says-barack-obamas-spending-drove-us-5-trillion/
Paul
October 15th, 2012
5:30 pm
getalife
“The CIA and special forces found some targets in Libya.
Payback time.
He is going to drone them.”
May I say ‘told you so?” About a week or two when people were going on about it and I wrote Pres Obama’s likely already signed the kill order and the intel guys were getting the targeting data prepped?”
JAY
I’d guess a couple percent, tops. Bunches less if one takes out entitlements.
Jay
October 15th, 2012
5:30 pm
Dowd does snide.
Period.
It’s her entire schtick. When being snide fits the topic, she can do it well. But when EVERY topic is used as a vehicle for being snide, it just doesn’t work.
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:32 pm
IMAM
Like I said, I like Dowd, but, then, I like you, too…so what do I know? And, well, y’all DID agree on the same day that my man was “no profile in courage…” So maybe she IS a self-indulgent hack…
As for AND foreign policy…well, true that, but it’s as close to foreign policy as it appears we’re going to get, and it’s foreign affairs that are going to bite the next Prez in the butt…
Paul
October 15th, 2012
5:33 pm
One question I’d like an answer to after reading the last bit of posts: those on the Right are going on and on and on about “Obama said he’d do this or cut the deficit by that or whatever.”
Why is it those making the statements are so condemnatory regarding those statements but blithely disregard any of the ‘Me? I never said that…. really!!!” statements by Candidate Romney?
I’m just trying to figure out why you blast one and accept the other.
getalife
October 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
“It’s come full circle. The neocons are now using classic anti-semitic tropes to attack Maureen Dowd for criticizing Romney adviser Dan Senor and the other neocons who are in charge of the Romney campaign’s foreign policy apparatus. See this in Commentary, typical of the anti-Dowd onslaught.
Dowd’s column [Sunday] was about neoconservatives who, after their ignominious history of pressuring the U.S. to attack Iraq, are now “slithering” into the Romney campaign to be in place to do the same thing with Iran.”
http://www.nytexaminer.com/2012/09/the-attacks-on-maureen-dowd-are-themselves-anti-semitic/
Loved that article and senor is a lying failed neocon.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
Jerry Springer analogy in 3…2…1….
josef
October 15th, 2012
5:35 pm
IMAM
Now as for Dowd and snide, I would agree with you on that…that’s why I say I KINDA like her…I like snide when it’s done well. That’s why I hang out here so much…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
October 15th, 2012
5:36 pm
GETALIFE,
What good did getting the collapse right do us all? Many others predicted the same thing…assuming the growth rate at 4% impacted budget assumptions so it may well have impacted decisions…