Changing Policy

Even though supporters wanted to act childishly and try to shout down people with tough questions, Obama proved today that he's changing the tone of public forums. This, no matter what your political leaning, is a good thing.

Obama’s Unscreened Town Hall Audience Is Clean Break From Bush’s Supporters-Only Public Events

Today, President Obama hosted a town hall meeting in Elkhart, IN — which faces the nation’s fastest-rising unemployment rate — to promote his recovery and reinvestment plan. As the Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin notes, Obama traveled to relatively unfriendly territory: Obama lost the county to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 44 percent to 56 percent. Despite [...]

Ugly Numbers

 It's bad out there. And it's getting worse. Just watched Obama deliver his big economic speech.  Talk about a "downer". And the hits just keep on coming...

Friday jobs numbers might be ugly

Forecasts vary from a consensus of 475,000 losses in December up to 750,000 and possibly even 1,000,000. The losses from January through end of November have been just shy of 1,000,000 so the upward trend is [...]

I'm off to read my books on "creating optimism"..

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Unemployment Extension

Good change of heart by the White House.  If 6% is the break-point, Arkansas just came in at 5.4%, so that looks like another 7 weeks of jobless benefits for us, not the 13 weeks states who top 6% will get.

I'm glad he changed his mind

On Oct. 8, the White House was asked whether the president is willing to extend unemployment benefits. Dana Perino didn't use the word "veto," but she made it quite clear that the administration opposed [...]

Simply Stupid

As one who can count himself among the unemployed right now, I can tell you that it's a tough time to find a decent job. A REALLY tough time!  And this statement from the White House that cutting off jobless benefits will help people get to work is..simply stupid.

Perino Confirms White House Won’t Extend Jobless Benefits, Says People Should Just Find A Job

During today’s press briefing, White House press secretary Dana Perino suggested the Bush administration would oppose any effort to extend jobless benefits — a stance the White House has taken before. She explained their position by saying, “we want people to be able to return to the workplace as soon as possible.” The suggestion was [...]