WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama is urging Republican leaders to stop blocking the jobs bill stalled in Congress. Speaking at the White House, the president said there would be plenty of time for politics but that this issue should not fall victim to partisanship. His brief remarks Thursday followed more …
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Obama calls on GOP to stop blocking jobs bill
Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall says a trip to her state from President Obama would be “a great thing.” But the Democrat didn’t exactly endorse a campaign visit from the commander-in-chief. Writing on the Huffington Post, Marshall attempted to clarify remarks she made on the Bill Press Show Friday that were reported by The Hill and others . The Democrat, who’s facing Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in the fall, told Press that her campaign was discussing plans for a rally headlined by President Obama but that nothing was set. Marshall also floated several other administration names as potential campaign surrogates, including First Lady Michelle Obama and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “We want Robert Gibbs to come to North Carolina, he’s a North Carolina boy,” she said. Later Friday, Marshall said her comments were “taken a bit out of context and blown up to a bigger story.” Were Obama to make a trip to the state, Marshall said, “I would take the opportunity to thank him for endorsing legislation that would help small businesses and save 4,500 teacher jobs in North Carolina. I would also speak with him about ending the War in Afghanistan, and how Washington as a whole isn’t responding to the needs of ordinary Americans.” She continued: “There is no doubt in my mind that anytime the President comes to our state it is a great thing. I would love to see President Obama come to North Carolina to discuss the issues and talk about what he is doing to try and fix the economy.” “Consider the record straightened,” Marshall concluded. But for Marshall the original question is still a tough one–would a campaign visit from Obama help? While the president won North Carolina in 2008, his current approval rating in the state is underwater. A Rasmussen poll out Friday found 48 percent of likely voters “strongly disapprove” of the president’s performance. Polling shows Marshall within striking distance of Burr–the latest Rasmussen numbers have Burr up 49 percent to 40 percent. But the problem for Marshall is with independent voters in the state. A recent survey from Public Policy Polling showed Burr with a 45 percent to 22 percent lead with independents. Pollster Tom Jensen noted Friday that when Sen. Kay Hagan defeated Elizabeth Dole in 2008, she won independent voters in the state 48 percent to 44 percent.
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Marshall: I would welcome President Obama to N.C.
The government has released the jobs numbers for July and they are not encouraging. The Washington Post’s headline tells much of the story: “Economy sputters as companies add only 71,000 jobs in July.” Furthermore, as the Post adds in the second paragraph of its story: The small increase in private-sector employment was more than offset by the loss of 143,000 temporary census jobs, and the nation’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.5 percent. Overall, the nation shed 131,000 jobs in July. In addition: 8.5 million workers were working part-time even though they would prefer full-time work. Meanwhile, 6.6 million of the nation’s 14.6 million unemployed workers have been jobless for more than six months, continuing a historic high, the government reported. There is no way convincingly to spin this report as positive, although President Obama tried. He claimed to see promising signs in the jobs numbers, while acknowledging the need for faster progress and accelerated hiring “right now.” The Democrats need accelerated hiring “right now.” The economy that will inform the vote this fall is, I believe, the economy reflected in this report and the one next month. An uptick after that would be unlikely to reverse the perception of bad times created not so much by the unemployment numbers as by the reality they reflect. So even if a turnaround occurs in the fall — and I haven’t seen anyone reputable predicting it will — that would probably be too late to help the Dems on November 2.
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Less than too little and approaching too late
AP – Senate Democrats on Wednesday overcame Republican opposition and cleared the way for a $26 billion measure to help states ease their severe budget problems and save the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.
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Senate jobs bill clears key hurdle
(AP)
By The P/Oed Patriot You send your kids to Public School everyday trusting that those who influence them for more hours a day than you do, are honest, trust worthy and are only interested in teaching the ABC’s and 123′s. Well for most teachers I believe that is the case, but for those in the NEA who are involved in “Grass Roots” organizing, they may have been influenced by a little more than reading, writing and arithmetic. According to the NEA website, the Radical Communist Saul Alinsky’s Book, “Rules for Radicals” is recommended reading to all of their members : ” of our Association who are involved in grassroots organizing, especially Association Representatives (ARs) — also known as building reps or shop stewards — and leaders at local affiliates” Here is a screen shot from the NEA website (Click to Enlarge): The NEA describes Saul Alinsky as : “the father of, and pre-imminent expert in, grassroots organizing” But according to Discover the networks.org , he was a revolutionary who believed in a gradual “Change” of society: “Alinsky’s brand of revolution was not characterized by dramatic, sweeping, overnight transformations of social institutions. As Richard Poe puts it, “Alinsky viewed revolution as a slow, patient process. The trick was to penetrate existing institutions such as churches, unions and political parties.” He advised organizers and their disciples to quietly, subtly gain influence within the decision-making ranks of these institutions, and to introduce changes from that platform.” So Alinksy’s concept of radically changing society was not to have a Revolution overnight but to infiltrate the “Institutions” such as Unions.. Like the NEA. So that from these areas of influence they may introduce “changes” to Society. Or in the NEA’s case, possible influence over future generations. Now the NEA does try to say the reason that they feel they can recommend Saul Alinsky’s books is because a Conservative wrote a book called “Rules for Conservative Radicals” using Saul Aslinsky’s work as a template. Therefore the NEA is being non-partisan in making the recommendation. But what they fail to mention is that the only reason an Author wrote “Rules for Conservative Radicals” is because the left in this country have been using Saul Alinksy’s books as a blueprint for their political activity. So in order for the right to counter Saul Alinsky’s tactics they must first know them. So the NEA’s attempt to make the works of a radical communist a recommendation for their members a non-issue fails miserably. It would be one thing if a teacher read it on their own, but for an organization that has such influence over your children to recommend such a radical piece of literature to their members so that it may help them with their jobs as a Member of the NEA is disturbing….at the very least
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Teachers Union, The NEA, Recommends its Members Read Saul Alinsky’s “Rules For Radicals”
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) recently spoke out against the failed Obama-Pelosi Stimulus Plan at the House Budget Committee Hearing. It was another excellent speech by this bright young conservative star: Rep. Ryan on the failed Stimulus Plan: Over a year ago, Congress enacted a stimulus bill that spread huge spending increases across the government. By every objective measure – from jobs and economic growth to the rising price tag – the stimulus has failed. It has failed to create the jobs promised. Rather than “save or create” 3 to 4 million jobs, the economy has shed 2.7 million jobs since the stimulus passed . It has failed to keep the unemployment rate below 8% as promised. Unemployment still hovers near 10 percent. It has failed to revive the economy, as growth remains sluggish and there are growing fears of a double-dip recession. A year ago, we were told the stimulus would cost us $787 billion. That cost has risen in the latest estimate to $862 billion. The total price eclipses one trillion dollars when you include the borrowing costs. Rather than acknowledge the limitations of this borrow-and-spend approach, the Administration and this Congress have opted to move the goal posts and to double-down. We will likely be told today – as Americans have been lectured throughout the so-called “Recovery Summer” campaign blitz – that those promises were based on “miscalculations of the severity of the situation.” The proponents will tell us that we should all be grateful that the pain isn’t more acute, and that it is not fair to hold policymakers accountable for the failures of their policies. The economic models that overpromised on the stimulus were clearly wrong, yet the Administration relies on these same economic models to make the case to double-down on this failed borrow-and-spend economic experiment. The failed stimulus is unfortunately typical of Washington’s destructive economic agenda. The government cannot spend, tax, and regulate its way into economic prosperity, but that’s exactly the policy course this Majority has chosen. Washington’s economic overreach is paralyzing investment and growth, fostering an environment of anxiety and uncertainty, and further eroding the American people’s trust in their elected leaders. From health care and the financial sector to the auto industry and the costly cap-and-trade national energy tax – this Administration and this Congress seem to believe that the answer to every problem is to explode the size of government and to centralize power in Washington. And, while the Administration will be quick to highlight what it sees as accomplishments from deficit spending on its stimulus program, we still have no budget. We just learned the Administration’s budget and economic update – due tomorrow – will be delayed this year. We still haven’t received the Trustees report on Medicare and Social Security’s financial health, which we usually receive in April. The American people are fed up with the relentless push to spend money we don’t have, add to our crushing burden of debt, and evade accountability for the dismal results. We need to chart a new course. Let’s cancel the remaining stimulus funds, get a grip on runaway government spending, and advance pro-growth economic policies. We need to spur sustained job creation, rebuild confidence in our future, and restart the American engine of prosperity. More… Young Gun Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) schooled Chris Matthews yesterday on Hardball.
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Rep Paul Ryan: By Every Objective Measure The Stimulus Has Failed (Video)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) recently spoke out against the failed Obama-Pelosi Stimulus Plan at the House Budget Committee Hearing. It was another excellent speech by this bright young conservative star: Rep. Ryan on the failed Stimulus Plan: Over a year ago, Congress enacted a stimulus bill that spread huge spending increases across the government. By every objective measure – from jobs and economic growth to the rising price tag – the stimulus has failed. It has failed to create the jobs promised. Rather than “save or create” 3 to 4 million jobs, the economy has shed 2.7 million jobs since the stimulus passed . It has failed to keep the unemployment rate below 8% as promised. Unemployment still hovers near 10 percent. It has failed to revive the economy, as growth remains sluggish and there are growing fears of a double-dip recession. A year ago, we were told the stimulus would cost us $787 billion. That cost has risen in the latest estimate to $862 billion. The total price eclipses one trillion dollars when you include the borrowing costs. Rather than acknowledge the limitations of this borrow-and-spend approach, the Administration and this Congress have opted to move the goal posts and to double-down. We will likely be told today – as Americans have been lectured throughout the so-called “Recovery Summer” campaign blitz – that those promises were based on “miscalculations of the severity of the situation.” The proponents will tell us that we should all be grateful that the pain isn’t more acute, and that it is not fair to hold policymakers accountable for the failures of their policies. The economic models that overpromised on the stimulus were clearly wrong, yet the Administration relies on these same economic models to make the case to double-down on this failed borrow-and-spend economic experiment. The failed stimulus is unfortunately typical of Washington’s destructive economic agenda. The government cannot spend, tax, and regulate its way into economic prosperity, but that’s exactly the policy course this Majority has chosen. Washington’s economic overreach is paralyzing investment and growth, fostering an environment of anxiety and uncertainty, and further eroding the American people’s trust in their elected leaders. From health care and the financial sector to the auto industry and the costly cap-and-trade national energy tax – this Administration and this Congress seem to believe that the answer to every problem is to explode the size of government and to centralize power in Washington. And, while the Administration will be quick to highlight what it sees as accomplishments from deficit spending on its stimulus program, we still have no budget. We just learned the Administration’s budget and economic update – due tomorrow – will be delayed this year. We still haven’t received the Trustees report on Medicare and Social Security’s financial health, which we usually receive in April. The American people are fed up with the relentless push to spend money we don’t have, add to our crushing burden of debt, and evade accountability for the dismal results. We need to chart a new course. Let’s cancel the remaining stimulus funds, get a grip on runaway government spending, and advance pro-growth economic policies. We need to spur sustained job creation, rebuild confidence in our future, and restart the American engine of prosperity. More… Young Gun Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) schooled Chris Matthews yesterday on Hardball.
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Rep Paul Ryan: By Every Objective Measure The Stimulus Has Failed (Video)
Republican Reps. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and John Boozman (Ark.) voted against a $34 billion extension of unemployment benefits Thursday, which opened up another round of sparring between the two Senate candidates and their Democratic opponents. It continues what has already been a theme for Democratic candidates in recent weeks and likely straight through to November. In a statement, Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s (D-Ark.) campaign said Boozman “turned his back on Arkansas’ working families,” with his “no” vote. “I do not believe we should turn our backs on Arkansas workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and continue to seek employment,” Lincoln said in a statement. A Boozman spokesman said the congressman has repeatedly expressed a desire to extend benefits without adding to the federal deficit in the process. Some GOP lawmakers floated the idea of paying for the extension with unused stimulus funds. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias (Ill.) slammed opponent Mark Kirk as “heartless and hypocritical” in a statement. “What Congressman Kirk essentially is saying is, ‘I know we steered the ship into an iceberg, but don’t worry, we’re burning the life rafts,” Giannoulias said in a statement. In response, Kirk’s campaign accused Giannoulias of trying to have it both ways by claiming his proposals are deficit neutral. “Congressman Kirk voted to extend unemployment benefits five times in the last two years,” Kirk for Senate spokesperson Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement. “Congressman Kirk has also said he would vote to continue unemployment insurance benefits again if Congress pays for it by cutting other spending.” Kirk and Giannoulias are locked in a tight race for President Obama’s former Senate seat. In Arkansas, recent polls show Lincoln trailing Boozman by as many as 30 points. The bill passed the House Thursday by a vote of 272-152, with 31 Republicans in support of the measure. It passed the Senate by a vote of 59-39 on Wednesday. After Wednesday’s Senate vote, the National Republican Senatorial Committee hit a slew of Democratic senators for adding “another $34 billion on top of record $13 trillion federal debt.” In releases targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) among others, the NRSC criticized the measure saying it will be “paid for with borrowed money and which future generations will have to pay back with interest.” –Updated at 4:45 p.m.
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Dems hit GOP candidates for votes on unemployment extension (updated)
Pennsylvania Republican Tom Corbett’s controversial remarks about the unemployed being unwilling to work until government benefits expire appear not to have resonated among likely voters. Corbett still holds a double-digit lead over Democrat Dan Onorato in the state’s gubernatorial race. Corbett has a 49 to 39 percent lead over Onorato among 750 likely votes in a Rasmussen Reports poll released Friday. The survey, which mirrors results from June , was conducted July 14 — five days after Corbett said “the jobs are there” and people just don’t want to work. “People don’t want to come back to work while they still have come unemployment,” he told Pennsylvania Public Radio on July 9. “That’s becoming a problem.” “The jobs are there, but if we keep extending unemployment people are just going to sit there,” he said. The state had a 9.2 percent unemployment rate last month. Onorato has already used the comments in a Web ad . On Friday he was at an event in Lancaster where he again hit Corbett for his comments. “A Harrisburg insider like Tom Corbett who doesn’t even recognize the problems families are facing will never be able to offer the solutions that Pennsylvania needs,” Onorato said in a prepared statement.
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Pennsylvania Republican still leads after saying people ‘don’t want’ to work