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Steve Benen: …. The U.S. economy added 120,000 jobs last month, while the overall unemployment rate dipped slightly to 8.2%. For the first time in a very long while, public-sector layoffs were less of a drag on the overall totals: the private sector added 121,000 jobs in March, while government lost only 1,000.
By any measure, today’s disappointing totals are a real setback. While it’s never wise to overreact to one report, March’s job totals were the weakest since October, and reverse a three-month trend in which over 200,000 jobs were being created each month….
While 120,000 new jobs would have been considered great in, say, late 2009, it’s not even close to good enough now …. Ideally, policymakers would see data like this and take steps to boost job creation, but given Republican efforts in Congress, that’s no longer an option.
More here
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WSJ: …. Job growth came from a variety of sectors. Manufacturing employment rose by 37,000, led by gains in the auto industry. Health care, financial services and professional and business services saw big gains.
….. In a promising sign, workers’ wage growth picked up. Average hourly earnings rose by five cents to $23.39. Wages were up 2.1% year over year – a faster pace than previous months. Also, a broader measure of unemployment, which includes job seekers as well as those in part-time jobs, clicked down to 14.5% from 14.9%.
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The Fix (Washington Post): The tea party may have won Republicans the House of Representatives in 2010. In 2012, it’s looking like it could help Democrats retain the White House …. it has fallen out of favor with Americans. And Democrats are prepared to use it against Republicans in the 2012 election…..
“I’m Bill Pascrell, and this is why I’m running: To stop the tea party,” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) says in a new ad. Pascrell faces a primary with fellow Democratic Rep. Steve Rothman after their districts were merged by redistricting. The tea party is also being used against in a major way against Reps. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) and Ann Marie Buerkle (R-N.Y.)….
….. “It’s no longer viewed as a populist, grassroots organization, but a dangerous group with extremist views that don’t reflect the mainstream values of America’s middle class,” said Democratic media strategist John Lapp. “The Republican establishment allowed the inmates to run the asylum in 2010. And now they’re paying the price electorally.”
More here
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Washington Post: Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, whose wealth has become a central issue in the 2012 campaign, has taken advantage of an obscure exception in federal ethics laws to avoid disclosing the nature and extent of his holdings.
By offering a limited description of his assets, Romney has made it difficult to know precisely where his money is invested, whether it is offshore or in controversial companies, or whether those holdings could affect his policies or present any conflicts of interest.
In 48 accounts from Bain Capital, the private equity firm he founded in Boston, Romney declined on his financial disclosure forms to identify the underlying assets, including his holdings in a company that moved U.S. jobs to China and a California firm once owned by Bain that filed for bankruptcy years ago and laid off more than 1,000 workers.
More here
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Jonathan Alter (Bloomberg): …. Romney has so lashed himself to Ryan, an Ayn Rand libertarian, that there’s talk of Ryan going on the ticket. The Ryan-Romney plan – from slashing federally funded scientific research to forcing seniors from nursing homes because of draconian Medicaid cuts – will be wildly unpopular if Obama and his team find the resonant language to exploit it.
…. on two other critical issues – women’s health and immigration – Romney clearly went further than was necessary to claim the nomination. These issues happen to be of great concern to the two constituencies that account for his lagging behind Obama in the polls. If Romney can’t break 40 percent with women and Latinos, it’s hard to see how he wins.
….. does his attendance at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 1994 and previous support of abortion rights really compel him to race to the other extreme and proclaim that he would “get rid of” Planned Parenthood? Over the last 40 years, this organization provided the first birth control to millions of middle-class swing-vote suburban women. They haven’t forgotten.
…. What Romney thought was de rigueur in the primaries may bring rigor mortis in the general. He seems to have forgotten that everything he said to win the nomination is now etch-a- sketched in stone.
More here
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TPM: If the week of April 2, 2012, goes down in political history, it’ll be for the fact that Republicans suddenly rediscovered their reverence for the third branch of government. What brought about the change of heart? President Obama’s comments on Monday and Tuesday in which he opined that an adverse Supreme Court ruling on his health care law would represent an extraordinary act of judicial overreach.
On Tuesday, in an extraordinarily unusual step, three Republican appointees to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals went toe-to-toe with the president in the political sphere. On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell advised Obama to “back off.” The courts’ authority is to be respected, regardless of outcome, he said.
This is a rich new twist for the GOP, which has made decades of sport out of attacking an out-of-control judiciary for legislating from the bench. You literally only have to look back to this GOP presidential primary to find examples of Republicans questioning the courts’ legitimacy and even threatening to neuter them using powers reserved for the other two branches of government. Here’s a brief digest:
More here
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I just heard a guy on the TV say “it’s Good Friday” …. it was a 💡 moment – it helped me remember ‘Friday’s Good’ 😎
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Morning everyone 😉
The Obama Diary 
GM, all.
Congrats on first!
Congrats on second!
Congrats on 4th!
😉
🙄 **muttering, while smiling** Wonder why I always seem to end up with, and feel comfortable around, the laughing wackos**
Because we are so lovable!? 😉
True. Very true. 😆 😆 (Was offline for a while)
Thanks, maryl1. Good round up, Chips.
Good Morning PB, and ‘Happy Easter’ to you and the grandkids!
Mornin’ First Pamela!
Heh! and back atcha!
Morning Pamela, morning eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeryone 😉
HA, that’s hysterical…..friends, bunnies, countrymen, lend me your ear!!
😆
Hee!
Hahah.
😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 Too cute! Is he the most LOVED President ever?
http://www.rabbitearth.com. In honor of Easter, take a peek at this little blog my daughter built, one of her many! I’m pretty sure my link won’t work, but here is web address!
that is too cute and love her sense of humour
Thrilled the link worked! Glad you enjoyed the visit, LunarSea!
“a couple of joggers catching their breath at the top of the Sydney Dance Company stairs in The Rocks.
“They’re so cute! What are they for?” they asked.
“Oh no reason really, just because I can.”
Love it. Love her attitude about life. Thanks for sharing Pamela.
Where does Chips Chica find these pics, and how does she find them so quickly? One of these days I’m going to BEG for lessons. Finding visuals always takes me for ever+hours more!
{Chips, I’m still researching that DAILY birthday card for you. Those 36000+ days you are celebrating keep adding up and I haven’t seen anything suitable yet. I want something really special for you. 😉 }
‘Morning! I trust ‘Friday’s Good’ for EVERYONE today! 😆
So far, so good, VC.. Have a blessed Good Friday, all the dear folks on TOD, and our Chips! 🙂
GM, Pamela, are you working with your ladies today, or do you get a ‘break’ while family takes over?
Yes, am working… This lady has family overseas and up north, but no one coming in until early May. S’all good, I am blessed with the work I do. I appreciate your asking, VC. Easter is my very favorite and sacred holiday, hope everyone here enjoys the festivities!
And I’m rolling my beautiful eggs around! Couldn’t be better!
ROLLING THEM? 😯 Your WH Easter eggs? YOU MEAN YOU DIDN’T PUT THEM ON DISPLAY! 😉
Well, both, as they of no interest to kitty, and they ARE Easter eggs, after all, they are meant to be rolled! Inside, of course! 😉
Good morning Chips, VC, both Pamelas, collegkay and TOD!! Happy Friday 🙂
Mornin’, HF! I did mean my wooden eggs, not the chicken kind! They are so pretty….
GM, HF. HE! 😆 😆
Happy Easter., vc. My granddaughter should get her Easter present today but she’s in TX and I’m in FL.
GM!
Okay, so here’s the thing. The modest jobs report puts the onus back on the GOP in congress to pass parts of the AJA that they stubbornly refused to do back in October and November. So lets see what Boehner will say on this.
REPUBLICAN JOB CREATION
Shortly after the GOP regained the House of Representatives in 2010 the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner, made the welcome claim that the primary goal of the Republican Party was to increase employment in the U.S.
His exact words were: “We’re going to have a relentless focus on creating jobs.”
The following, therefore, is a chronological list of employment-related legislation by the GOP beginning 2-10-2011. I’m sorry to report that none, so far, have resulted in a single new job being created in America.
http://republicanjobcreation.com/
If only the republicans would read it.
Democrats should come out swinging. They should do what Republicans do, only use facts. What could be accomplished with AJA? Why are Republicans rooting for low employment instead of doing their jobs to help the economy jumpstart, LIKE RONALD REAGAN DID MULTIPLE TIMES.
It’s time to hone the skills, guys. Don’t lick your wounds for a nanosecond but turn it back on Republicans who have stood in the way of job creation since this President took office. With energy and passion.
“do what Republicans do, only use facts.” surely you jest LMAO
X2
Oh my goodness! I phrased that badly, didn’t I?!?!?! I meant that Dem’s should use the facts to hit back against Republicans, the way Republicans come out swinging against us. I can’t remember the last time a Republican used an honest fact — sometime in the 70’s maybe?
you are absolutely right about this. Dems shouldn’t be on the defense on these numbers. They should hit repubs right from the get go.
I’m very confident that the WH knows this and will explain exactly how PBO’s jobs bill, which never got passed by the US House, would be a job creator. There’s nothing that slips by the White House and the campaign team. They are and will be on the job. Meantime, let’s not lose the focus on women’s issues for one minute. Our OFA regional director told us that phone bankers were finding great success in talking to women voters who know exactly what the GOP is doing and are thoroughly pissed. I thought the Pascrell spot was great and a good model of what Dems can do in their campaign ads.
Good morning, TODville. Looking forward to our POTUS this a.m.
GOP wants everyone to believe ACA is killing jobs. Not so. These aren’t huge numbers but I still remember the searing days of 2009 and I’m hopeful for all who are looking for work.
this is what Scott Walker’s been peddling. Since small business has already gotten tax credits for health insurance I believe, there are probably more people employed by the real job creators getting health insurance now than without ACA.
And I have been screaming for months that the WH should attach ACA to job creation in every jobs speech. What better way to employ Americans than filling a critical, useful service of administering to the health of Americans?
Hey, guys — who would I tweet about attaching jobs creation to ACA in the WH?
Try David Axelrod for starters? Then DWS, Jim Messina, BarackObama, and then Reid or Pelosi! I think any of those should work 🙂
Most are done — Pelosi and Reid still to do.
Excellent – thanks 57!
Are you on twitter? If so, try
@Messina2012
@davidaxelrod
@stefcutter
Tweeted the campaign, Bill Burton, PBO, DWS. Any other ideas?
Morning TODers!!!
Oooh Chucky’s feelings are hurt when he gets rightfully called by some of your friends on Twitter!
Chucky boy can’t stand it when people call him out on his BS. People see crap….they have a right to call him out on it. He calls himself a journalist. Then stick to honesty and report truth.
EXACTLY and none of those jobs created in the last year on the last 3-4 years have been because of Republicans. They were all because of PBO’s policies. Thank you Steve, this is the take home message that folks need to keep in mind.
YES!!!!! THIS!!!!! Please don’t give me that dumbassery the pro-left are giving this morning. One jobs report showing 120,000 jobs is not bad, no matter how much the media try to spin it as bad.
I agree anotherslyfox. Listen to what our President say, and know that he is not saying it just to be saying it. When he says there will be ups and downs, but we are heading in the right direction. I refuse to sit before the GOP media and listen to all their crap, when I know they have an agenda, and that agenda is not to help President Obama.
I totally agree with you. 120,000 more people are working because of President Obama’s policies. And, the unemployment numbers went down. Excellent news – I’ve been celebrating all morning.
It makes me shake my head that a drop in the unemployment rate and a six figure job creation month causes the media to go into a state of depression and wring their hands. It’s good news! And if we had a media that actually knew anything about journalism, they’d ask Boehner why he’s not lifted a fingernail to help job creation in these three years. They’d ask Romney exactly how he plans to lead the US to “greatness” and “exceptionalism”, when he’s advocating the same policies that led this country into a financial hole that it’s still crawling out of. And they’d ask the GOP what they’ve done in the last 40 years that have made a positive impact in the lives of ordinary Americans – not just the 1% at the top. They’re constantly asking people if they’re better off that they were four years ago – when they were leading the country off a cliff and mismanaging two wars and keeping the country in a state of constant fear and panic. Yes. We are better off. And last month, 120,000 more people got even more better off because they found jobs.
If I had a friend who was as constantly negative as the GOP and their media puppets, I’d dump them.
WOMEN AGAINST REPUBLICANS (WAR)
They liked it better when we weren’t paying attention. (Krystal Ball)
Yesterday, Krystal Ball was part of a panel talking about the Republican Party War On Women with Martin Bashir. Krystal Ball was just “marvelous”. She ticked off the statistics of the number of GOP bills against women and it is just astonishing. The RNC Chairman knows they have a problem. If he wants to pretend everyone is hallucinating, go right ahead. And using the caterpillar analogy was really tone deft. That flippant remark just continues to demonstrate the GOP disdain for women.
RNC Chair dismisses “War On Women” as “war on caterpillars”
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/46969303/#46969303
This was an amazing segment, and I was really proud of Krystal Ball. She’s been a staunch advocate for common sense and progress. I’m glad you posted the video clip – it was brilliant! She’s my favourite commentator right now.
I received a small package from my Mom yesterday, she’s from just south of Dallas & she mailed it the day of the tornadoes. In fact, I was a little worried because I couldn’t locate her, she was at the P.O. Long story short, package arrived looking like it had been through the tornado….the backside had a ripped open hole, but the Easter card & slippers (the kind that have dustmops on them!!!) arrived safely. I called to thank her, she said “Did you get the peeps?” I said NO, & she was furious, so….who ripped open my package & took my PEEPS? Funny?
Happy Good Friday!
Good Morning, Everyone 🙂
Hi, can someone please explain to me why the great initial unemployment claims did not match up with the less than spectacular jobs report? I was expecting 200k + going by the weekly claims report. Any one who understands economics? Thanks
Perhaps the adversarial media planted that expectation in an attempt to discourage and deflate confidence?
I don’t watch or listen to the media and rarely click their propaganda links and, oddly, I wasn’t expecting any specific number so these numbers seemed to be on the right trajectory to me. I’m good with it.
These are the labor department number, can’t blame the media for this.
I blame the media for the differences in our reactions -not the numbers. The numbers are good but not as good as THEY TOLD US to expect. LOL love how they control people’s emotions.
However these numbers have been having a pattern of being revised toward a more positive outlook of late, after initial reporting. So getting immediate reaction to negative numbers is how they love to play with us.
It’s so predictable at this point.
No, the numbers are not good by any standards at this point of the recovery. No need to panic yet, but we should have had more than 200,000 new jobs and this is just not good enough. Let’s hope this was a one time bad fluke.
As usual, you and I agree on this.
Participation rate dropped! Meaning, people are not being counted!
Here’s what the job numbers have looked like for March in the most recent five years:
March 2008: -80,000
March 2009: -652,000
March 2010: +208,000
March 2011: +194,000
March 2012: +120,000
2009 was the stimulous in full bloom. A good counter to the ‘stimulous failed’ meme
2010 over initial stimulous and GOP govs laying of thousands of teachers and state workers
2011 GOP controls the committees with the purse strings does everything to hamper growth, takes country to brink of default, instills extreme fear, which causes inertia
2012 trade agreements not quite having an impact yet. With manufacturing up and new trade agreement poised to have an impact, this number will only grow.
The ending of WWW was so cute!
PS- Chippie Chips, I emailed you last night.
What happened?
This cute little kid and some girl go: “It’s Spring Break!” Then some cutsie music starts, it shows all the beautiful flowers on the WH lawns, then words start to scroll at the bottom of the screen saying something like: “It’s a beautiful spring day out, go outside.”– or something to that effect. I loved it! It’s such a personal touch and reminded me of something my granny would say when I was growing up: ” the sky is blue, the sun is out, turn off that tv and go outside!”
Everything is great News, everything is wonderful. Kumbya.
In other news, my red sox lost their opener.
Boooo!
More transparency and openness. In his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. ICYMI, here’s the tool:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/2011-taxreceipt?
Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office is quietly circulating a proposal to more tightly regulate hospitals and doctors and the prices they are paid to care for patients.
Coakley’s staff has drafted legislation and has briefed providers, business leaders, key legislators, and the governor’s office on the plan to contain health care spending.
Providers and insurers would have to provide detailed price information to patients before they undergo a test or treatment, and the Division of Insurance and Department of Public Health would have new authority to limit the prices and market power of providers under Coakley’s proposal.
http://mobile.boston.com/art/35/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/04/06/attorney_general_martha_coakley_circulating_plan_to_control_health_care_costs/
Coakley is a very good AG!
Under pressure, Nickolaus hands off election duties
Waukesha County clerk relinquishes vote-count duties to deputy
Waukesha – Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas said he would publicly call for County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus’ resignation unless she handed off her election duties in the upcoming recalls to her deputy clerk.
Nickolaus chose the latter. She agreed to allow outside consultants and county staff to work with her deputy, Kelly Yaeger, to handle the election, Vrakas said.
“The county will move swiftly to examine the election night procedures in the county clerk’s office and make changes as necessary to restore the public’s confidence in our elections,” Vrakas said in a statement late this afternoon.
In an interview, Vrakas said, “I appreciate the fact that she understands the importance of restoring confidence in Waukesha County election night reporting. Swift, detailed, orderly reporting that should be available on the Internet. When given the choice to step down or step aside, she made the right decision.”
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/nickolaus-hands-off-election-duties-under-pressure-j44t2rg-146357215.html
—–
This is Great News !!!
Personally, and I was thinking of this the other day, no results from any Wisconsin precinct should be made know until after Waukexsha County has announced its results.
Indeed, this is excellent news!
Well, finally. How many more Nickolauses are there out there ready to “transform” the numbers on election night.
HEADLINE: How Romney Fibs—and Gets Away With It. Blame it on the media embrace of false equivalency.
// “Romney sharpens criticism of Obama.” “Romney blasts Obama’s ‘hide and seek’ presidency.”
These were some of the headlines accompanying media reports of Mitt Romney’s speech to the Newspaper Association of America on Wednesday. The GOP front-runner’s address was a harsh assault on President Barack Obama and marked another effort on Romney’s part to present himself as the inevitable Republican nominee and to strike at the incumbent president rather than his remaining and hobbling-along GOP primary rivals. But as important—if not more so—as his biting and sarcastic tone was the fact that Romney repeatedly tossed off false accusations against Obama. And he did so—and got away with this—in front of a large audience of journalists. //
http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/04/romney-fact-check-media
Good morning TOD.
Good morning to you, too, and to everyone else!
Morning Sonjia, morning everyone 😉
Good morning Chipsticks. I know you probably get a slew of emails, but did you get mine regarding marabout40/Hachiko? Thanks.
Not quite sure how I ended up on the previous thread, but Full Moon today, 12:19pm/pdt, 17Libra23. Just so you know! Back later….
explains it then…
TODAY IS A PRECIOUS,PRICELESS DAY…GOOD FRIDAY…A DAY TO PRAY AND REMEMBER OUR LORD’S SACRIFICE FOR ALL OF US. NOT TOO MUCH MORE WILL COME TO MY MIND TODAY…MY HEART BELONGS TO JESUS! BLESSINGS EVERYONE!
I actuallu had this dream last night that we added 300,000 jobs. Talking about waking up from a dream. I better stay away from TV and Twitter today and hope that this is just a one-time thing.
I’m tempted to cut off my electricity today too BWD 😕
Call me crazy, but I keep having a dream that President Obama wins re-election by a 76% landslide over Robme. Dreams are supposed to be hopes or fears, and that recurring dream is definitely one of my greatest hopes.
Me, too.,……
Good morning TOD family, happy Good Friday everyone! 🙂
Heads up everyone:
10:20 AM EDT – President Obama Speaks at the White House Forum on Women and the Economy
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Good morning TODVille,
I’m happy to say that I know two of those 120,000 people who found jobs.
One, is my sister who had been looking for over two years and the fact that she has lupus and was without medical insurance part of that time which had us all concerned. Well she’s now been on her new job for about two weeks now, and what’s even greater is that this job provides health insurance.
The other is my niece, who’d been looking for over a year, well she’s now been on her new job for about three weeks. She called me excited yesterday because she has also found a little part-time job in the evening that she says will help catch up on back bills.
For those who are still looking, I pray that they find work soon.
I felt I had to share this because I refuse to let anyone put a negative spin on those 120,000 people who today have a different out look on tomorrow because they’re now presently employeed.
Have a good day TOD…and Oh Yhea ….IT’S FRIDAY!!!!! : D : D
Wonderful! Congrats to your family.
There is little doubt negative spin will be put on these numbers. However, two things are important to note.
The first is the the unemployment rate did drop and that is the number most people pay attention to.
Secondly, the report for February was adjusted upward to 240,000 new jobs.
Nonetheless, these are not great numbers. And things might get worse unless Congress passes a real tarnsportation bill that does more than just extend the current one for a couple months.
LunarSea did a quick timeline upthread that is important to remember.
The stimulus passed early 2009. Actually spending of funds did not begin for a few months. Last year, most of that money was finally spent. Since January, 2011, the Republicans have not passed one competent bill to create jobs (I don’t really count the one PBO signed yesterday, despit6s the acronym being JOBS). When you consider the Republicans attempt to throttle the economy, it is somewhat surprising wwe are seeing any new growth at all.
Fantastic, encouraging news bjw2, thanks so much for letting us know.
Congrats!
excellent news. Now to have these type of outcomes spread to members of our own TOD family would be so very nice.
Does anyone know where I can find more video about the anniversary of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the White House? The one little snippet in West Wing Week got me curious!!
Hi AJ, I haven’t seen a longer video yet but I’m hoping they’ll post one on YouTube soon. Will keep an eye on it.
Thanks, Chips! As always, you’re the best! 🙂
The WH Women’s forum is about to start! Please tune in if you can 🙂
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-speaks-white-house-forum-women-and-economy
Here’s another link Hopefruit in case there are any problems with the WH stream (it’s often a bit stoppy-starty for me):
http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=4
Thanks Chips – mine is working quite well so far though.
Did anyone see Mrs Greenspan sing the praises of Rinse Pre-wash for getting the RNC out of debt this morning on Morning Junk ? They asked her about his caterpillar remark and the first thing out of her mouth was how much money he has brought to the RNC after Michael Steele got them so far in to debt.
She saud it twice.
That is when I switched to Bill Press on Current TV. I suppose by making the comment Mrs. Greenspan felt it would help her having him appear on her show. Yesterday Joe and Donnie had a routine showing how they did not wear socks or something which HP found necessary to run. Morning Joe has become unwatchable.
PBO thanked Mika for proving on Joking Joe’s show that “women really are the better half.” —- ha! That’s stretching it, PBO. Mika is barely ‘stomachable.’
lisa, it show how respectful POTUS is of women, even when they don’t deserve it.
so true.
Good morning everyone, I’m so excited today. President Obama is on tv. Nice.
Chips, sent you an email yesterday from my alternate (gmail) account. Did you receive it?
GOOOOOD getting up Friday O’s!!!! Listening to PBO and knowing that he speaks to us on a level that only a man who is really tuned into women’s needs and aspirations can do.
Please, lets not spend the whole day or a whole handwringing or fretting about the jobs report. Nothing we can do accept push back on those in media and GOP who think its good news for them. We are still winning. Remember that even when the reports were not so hot, Pres.Obama was still ahead of the GOP clowns.
I’m right there with you GB. I look at the trend lines not just one month’s job numbers. Previous months job numbers always get revised up. February numbers were 215K when they were first reported and now we find out they got revised up to 230K. The unemployment numbers dipped down to 8.2%. Manufacturing added 37K jobs and healthcare added 26K jobs. I refuse to see any of this numbers as bad news. The job numbers trend is ticking up. That’s ALWAYS good news.
yup. get over it. When UE # went down to 8.3, PBO gave a speech about how there would be ups and downs in the numbers but the overall trend was good and that we had to keep on working to make it better and not to hand over the keys to the same people with the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place. The slight slump in numbers wasn’t unexpected, it might not have been the exact numbers they anticipated but it’s still jobs. If I hear one more gloom and doom statement about the ‘disappointing numbers,’ I’ll be kicking ass and taking names even if i have to reach through the monitor to do it.
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😉
On days like this I find it best to turn off the television and skim over the comments of those who are most susceptible to freak-outs over any little “perceived bump in the road.” It suggests a weird expectation of smooth sailing until November and that is unbelievably unrealistic. Try thinking about Hachiko or Desertflower’s husband and how grateful they would both be for one of those 120,000 jobs
As long as we are adding jobs, it is alright with me. Given the climate we are in and the refusal of the Repubs to help move things forward, there is no amount of negative spin that will cause me to fall for the BS that the msm is selling for $ $ and ratings.
If we had more women in congress we would get more done. President Obama
More progressive women…GOP women are useless, they just vote in lock step with the men.
You are right about that. I don’t trust them either, because Senator Snowe and Senator Collins were suppose to be moderate Republicans, but when Mitch McConnell blew his whistle those two fell right in long with the right wing Conservates radicals.
President Obama is just terrific again here. Just the finest—-what he’s saying, how he says it, personable, smart, humorous, sincere. I was just thinking I could listen to him speak from now until a year from Tuesday without interruption, and I would be so happy, so satisfied. He is the best ever.
In a way I feel sorry for those who are unable to see him speak during the hours when he gives those non-prime time speeches, and who have to rely on distorted snippets of information filtered through the dishonest Republican-slanted MSM. I know his speeches are usually archived but some people are just too tired, lazy or superficial and prefer to veg out in front of ABC news and listen to 5-minute segments of Jake Tapper yapping away lies and distortions.
PBO going after RW A-holes and Willard with his “end Planned Parenthood.” Also the Violence Against Women’s Act.
Did you hear the ladies shouting 4 More years?
Yes, I most certainly did!
Ye-ep, Madam Speaker, Secretary of State, more women in Congress would get things done, health, pay discrepancy…I think that just about does it.
If we had more women in Congress we wouldn’t be fighting a fight which has already been fought, contraception. And Healthcare.
GAWD, ain’t that the truth. If women ran government, it would a whole different nation.
ended with some shouts of “4 More Years”
Now what did President Obama say about the job report today? Did anyone hear what he said?
And yes I saw Joe sitting there beside Miss America, Mika. Yuke.
said the same thing he always done: “We’ve added x amount of jobs, but we still need to do more.”
He delivered that same statement the same way he’s delivered it in the last 25 months. Same lines, different figure. All means the same thing: Jobs are being created, the trend is positive.
lisa, I asked that question, because everytime the jobs report don’t come out as we want it, there is this doom and gloom talk. No!!! 120,000 jobs is not what we wanted, but the economy is still heading in the right direction.
Private Sector has created 2.2 million jobs last year, and 4 million in the last three years.
Good west coast morning Chipsticks
Good west coast morning TOD family
Good Friday!
bjw2 – thank you for that GREAT news regarding your family members being among the newly employed!!!!!!
Well, the GOP just got another well deserved pummeling from President Obama. All President Obama has to do is be himself and he drives the GOP crazy. They are freaking out because President Obama is exposing them as radical, extreme and out of touch with reality.
What? I didn’t get the dry cleaning reference and now I see that Romney said PBO hasn’t done anything about the dry cleaning costs for women yet. OMG. Is that even real? The president listed all their womens’ interests accomplishments and humorously noted they still needed to get on that dry cleaning matter.
Dotster, I did not understand the dry cleaning reference either. 🙂
Dry cleaning is hideously more expensive for women, on a long list of discriminatory practices that bugs me and a lot of other people, especially if you stop and factor dry cleaning into the cost of a garment over time. But to expect PBO to personally go after the dry cleaning industry is CRAAAAAZYYYYYY. Especially for an idiot twerp like Romney who hasn’t lifted a finger to help women or the economy ONE IOTA.
Well, there actually is a reason why women’s blouses are more expensive to clean and press men’s shirts. Men’s shirts are generic and all take the same amount of steps to press. The equipment is built to accommodate shirts. Blouses come in all kinds of styles and some have ruffles or lace or pearl buttons or darts or you name it. It takes longer and there are more steps to press a blouse than a shirt. The same concept applies to suits.
Interesting. It would be curious if dry-cleaning costs were about to shift radically also. One of the three main products of that biodigester method for generating tons of methane is CO2 — which can be used for tons of things, from freeze-drying food, to dry ice, to non-toxic elimination of pests in an enclosed area, to… dry cleaning. Given how many secondary products or potential businesses could be created from dramatically cheaper energy and feedstocks, that too might change.
http://futureimperative.blogspot.com/2011/07/amazon-introduction-to-future.html
That was a very good, very sincere speech. He connects so well with women. {{{{as we all know}}}}
Good morning meta and TOD friends. I totally agree. PBO is so sincere when he speak about women.
Good morning, COS! I think I keep missing your posts because I’ve been wondering where you’ve been. Hope all is well with you and family.
I am well Meta. My grandughter has been visiting this week on spring break and we have been busy. She left this morning going back to Washington DC.
How fun for you!! The weather has been very nice –> SPRING.
ohhh I can’t wait to see it. Thanks for the reporting.
Regarding the jobs report:
Two distinct numbers reported
Job gain 120,000. Not great, but the operative word is gain.
Unemployment rate dropped to 8.2% Not great but the operative word is dropped.
Which do the average people hear, the numbers or the operative words?
“Job gain 120,000. Not great, but the operative word is gain.
Unemployment rate dropped to 8.2% Not great but the operative word is dropped.”
worth repeating.
wait. unemployment rate went down some more and we’re now on what, something like 26 straight months of positive private sector job growth, and people are worried? that phrase “chicken little” is so appropriate sometimes for some people. on so many issues for so long now, we’ve been having positive, positive, and more positive news, and when one report in one month is just a little bit positive, people start wavering? what’s going to happen with some people when there is some actual bad news at some point this year, which will happen since it’s the nature of the world. some people have to toughen up or get busy with their local campaign, seems to me.
does anyone know where to find that video of weeper boehner from several years back touting 9 straight months of private sector job growth, as if it was some great accomplishment by the bush admin? i think i saw it here a month or two ago, and couldn’t find it now with a brief search. i think that’s such a great contrast to the republican/bush time to PBO’s 26 straight months. as usual, PBO is drinking their milkshakes on yet another issue. democrats 2012!
I don’t understand why the male Republican reporters are pissy over the WH’s women’s event. POTUS knows the Repugs hate women, and he wants to let other women know that he has always stood with us. The Republicans know that Mitt will lose the women vote badly in November, but they don’t realize it’s their fault! Leave out birth control, and bodies alone.
No wonder the MSM haz a sad!
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/santorum-daughter-bella-hospitalized
I hope she will be ok. Thank goodness for health insurance that covers pre existing conditions!
What’s Romney Hiding?????????????
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2012/04/06/459539/romney-adviser-says-no-more-tax-returns-coming-we-think-thats-sufficient/
Idiot.
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2012/04/05/459182/mitt-romney-addresses-women-problem/
A flight of recent polling has suggested that Mitt Romney and the GOP have a “women problem,” losing support among half the voting population in swing states at a dramatic pace.
Asked about the issue in a Newsmax interview yesterday, Mitt Romney not only acknowledged the existence of the problem, but also accepted that the recent debate over contraception caused it. But don’t worry, Romney said, just wait until voters see “our real position,” as Democrats have “distorted” the debate:
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Maybe it’s Southern courtesy or his introverted nature that keeps him from interrupting attorneys during oral arguments, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Thursday evening.
Whatever the reason, the Georgia native had a blunt assessment about the rapid-fire questioning from his colleagues during recent hearings on the nation’s health care law. The queries weren’t helpful to him in deciding the case, he said.
And Thomas suggested his loquacious colleagues should do more listening and less talking.
“I don’t see where that advances anything,” he said of the questions. “Maybe it’s the Southerner in me. Maybe it’s the introvert in me, I don’t know. I think that when somebody’s talking, somebody ought to listen.”
His remarks drew applause from the audience that heard Thomas’ insights on the court during a 90-minute appearance at the University of Kentucky.
Thomas has gained a reputation for staying silent during oral arguments before the high court.
He said the lawyers presenting their cases are capable and don’t need guidance from the justices: “I don’t need to hold your hand, help you cross the street to argue a case. I don’t need to badger you.”
Thomas was asked specifically about the plethora of questions during three days of oral arguments as the justices decide whether to kill or keep President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. But Thomas said it’s become habit for justices to interrupt lawyers.
“We have a lifetime to go back in chambers and to argue with each other,” he said. “They have 30, 40 minutes per side for cases that are important to them and to the country. They should argue. That’s a part of the process.
“I don’t like to badger people. These are not children. The court traditionally did not do that. I have been there 20 years. I see no need for all of that. Most of that is in the briefs, and there are a few questions around the edges.”
—–
Whoa….I think I agree with Justice Thomas ….
Or maybe it was a poke in the eye to Elena Kagen for engaging Clements so hard.Just sayin’
So do I, for the first time in my life. Of course, Thomas tends to take the non-interruption to the extreme. Now, in my opinion, is he attacking the court? Is he saying the justices are trying to impse their views on the lawyers and thus interjecting personal opinion into the debate?
Sitting silently like a rock during all these SC sessions is not at all helpful. I’d rather have people show themselves to be alive and actively engaging in the subject at hand than do nothing at all.
Yeah…but some of that stuff coming from Scalia was almost word for word right wing talking points….
Is that the most Thomas has said in the last decade?
Lots of info…for taking our country back…..(I looked through the tools section…good stuff)
http://the99spring.com/
I was walking my Dog and it started Pouring.
And then I run to my Car, and I am soaked.
The moment I get to my Car, the rain stops.
If that don’t beat all?
I can’t bring the Mad Magazine thingy here, but click the picture to make it bigger…pretty funny:)
http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal-aka-fran/open-thread-275
Comparing things that Romney really said, and things that Mr. Burns (from the Simpson’s) really said. They kind of look the same to me!
Oh, I totally love this. Thanks, AMK
Good Morning TOD Family!
My job gives us Good Friday off and I had the luxury of sleeping in today. Agreeing with Japa…jobs INCREASED and unemployment DROPPED. This is good news no matter how the jerks try to spin it!
WASHINGTON — A Wisconsin law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed the bill.
The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which to press charges. Among other provisions, it allows individuals to plead their cases in the less costly, more accessible state circuit court system, rather than just in federal court.
In November, the state Senate approved SB 202, which rolled back this provision. On February, the Assembly did the same. Both were party-line votes in Republican-controlled chambers.
SB 202 was sent to Walker on March 29. He had, according to the state constitution, six days to act on the bill. The deadline was 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The governor quietly signed the bill into law on Thursday, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau, and it is now called Act 219.
Walker’s office did not return repeated requests for comment.
Do you have a link, Linda? I’d like to share this.