Call Me Cynical, But…
I think I’ll start a new category for that, in fact. For a guy who came to office running not against his opponent, and only somewhat against his would-be predecessor, but rather against “cynicism”, the current president has done a lot to raise eyebrows that he dost protesteth too much.
The latest is a new statement out from his economic advisor, Lawrence Summers about the pending jobless figures for the previous month due out this Friday, as it is every first Friday of the month. No doubt, these numbers will be (all together now) “unexpectedly high”, as they’ve been “unexpectedly high” for the past oh, thirteen months, for some reason. (I wonder, by the way, how decimating the economy with onerous taxes, threats of government take-overs, demonization of our strongest and most admired industries while attempting to federalize 1/5 of our economy would lead anybody to “expect” anything but higher unemployment…but then again, I’m not a wise economist. Hell, I’m not even a doltish sheep-like member of the old-school media. So what would I know?)
Anyway, Summers on CNBC today said that because it was snowy, “it’s going to be very important … to look past whatever the next figures are to gauge the underlying trends.” Uh huh.
And there was an earthquake in Chile, so that’s clearly going to affect our unemployment. Not to mention, that guy who died on the luge…. You know how that can have such a negative impact on the US employment rate.
If you weren’t watching closely enough, you might think that perhaps Summers is trying to cynically make excuses for his boss’s asinine policies and destructive proposals. But then again, that’d be a cynical way to look at it.
-Nick (ColoradoPatriot, from HQ)
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First of all he shouldnt have had any access to any of that information since its embargoed till friday, so Ill be kind and assume its just his opinion ….Its just as likely by observation that first time claims for unemployment may in fact go down since folks coulnt get to the unemployment offices in many parts of the country and a good number of them were in fact closed where and when the storms hit…He is managing expectations I will assume
Comment by cyni c1 — March 1, 2010 @ 8:02 pm - March 1, 2010
I, too, caught this article today. There must be some real bad news coming Friday for this so called administration. They are trying to get out ahead of the bad news and blame it on the weather. Well, weather happens every year, all year, all over the globe. This is a very transparent (a first for this admin) to gloss over the very bad news coming.
Comment by John in Dublin CA — March 1, 2010 @ 8:37 pm - March 1, 2010
So, they sugar-coat the enema so we take it favorably?
Comment by Jax Dancer — March 1, 2010 @ 9:37 pm - March 1, 2010
(I wonder, by the way, how decimating the economy with onerous taxes, threats of government take-overs, demonization of our strongest and most admired industries while attempting to federalize 1/5 of our economy
What taxes has Obama raised? He lowered taxes for the middle class in the stimulus, so what taxes went up that can be blamed on Obama?
And Rush telling people not to buy American cars if the company was connected to the the feds was ok? That’s not demonizing?
No one attempted to federalize health care; single-payer was never on the table. Even the public option was at best a public insurance plan for private systems, so the “takeover the healthcare industry” is just a lie, as in “Obama owns the banks, owns Wall Street, etc.”
“it’s going to be very important … to look past whatever the next figures are to gauge the underlying trends.”
And looking at trends instead of single data points is a bad thing? Isn’t that how we forecast? Oh wait: trends in data lead to evil conclusion such as climate change and evolution – better avoid all that.
You may not be a journalist, but you’ve got the sheep thing down when it comes to swallowing rightwing frames that bear no resemblance to reality. Try to keep up with reality; we need you here if you’re going to help participate in our the country’s government, not in a wingnut fantasyland.
Comment by torrentprime — March 1, 2010 @ 9:44 pm - March 1, 2010
Are you actually suggesting that massive and crippling snow-storms won’t have an effect on the economy in the short-term, especially when it comes to affecting those seeking work?
Comment by torrentprime — March 1, 2010 @ 9:47 pm - March 1, 2010
Oh yeah, $13 dollars a paycheck of our OWN money, is REAL beneficial.
*hands torrentprime a pliers so he could remove his head from Barry’s arse*
Comment by Annie — March 1, 2010 @ 10:47 pm - March 1, 2010
“massive and crippling snow-storms”?
What on earth are you talking about? January was the warmest EVER! February couldn’t have been much cooler than that. There’s Global Warming going on, man!
RFK, Jr. himself told us that AGW means no more snow in DC. Are you doubting, *him*, of all people? Hasn’t that family been thru enough without your baseless accusations?
Comment by John — March 1, 2010 @ 11:24 pm - March 1, 2010
Torrent…Have you had your taxes done yet? Do you actually pay taxes? I went part time last year at my company. My wife and I bought a house. We paid our supplemental taxes due in December 2009. And guess what??? We owe the Federal Goverment 4 times the amount of taxes we paid last year!!! Obama didnt need to raise taxes. All he had to do was disallow deductions to take more money out of my pocket. He could also raise “fees” like they are doing in California.
Comment by killiteten - Native Intelligence — March 2, 2010 @ 12:51 am - March 2, 2010
lol @ John
Comment by American Elephant — March 2, 2010 @ 2:22 am - March 2, 2010
And which taxes were those, exactly???
[Citation Needed]
And if true, I would say that’s wise advice given that everything the liberals touch turns to shit.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 2, 2010 @ 5:51 am - March 2, 2010
Oops! Torpidmind confuses lowering taxes with under-withholding. Obama had the withholding scales altered so people would get more weekly take home pay. Now they are learning they owe a bunch of taxes because of under-withholding. Nice.
Comment by heliotrope — March 2, 2010 @ 8:46 am - March 2, 2010
Asking talkingpointsprime for links is like asking John Edwards about Marrital fidelity.
Comment by The_Livewire — March 2, 2010 @ 8:56 am - March 2, 2010
(1.) Are you saying that the process for federalizing health care was not set in motion? Are you guaranteeing that the Democrats stand four-square against nationalized health care? Show me the evidence.
(2.) You know that Obama has clearly stated that he favors single-payer. You know that Hoyer and Frank among others have said the current drive for health care is the best wedge for achieving the goal of single payer. Ergo, are you saying that the Democrats stand four-square against nationalized health care (single payer)? Show me the evidence.
(3.) If the “public option” is a plan for private systems, why haven’t the insurance companies come up with that business plan? Do you suppose it might be a rotten business model that can not work in a free market system? Do you suppose it is like Medicare/Medicaid with an endless infusion of increasing tax dollars to underpay the bills?
(3a.) The “lie” you harp on is perplexing. The “takeover” of the insurance industry by government mandates in the bills is not a “lie.” If the government does not prop up the insurance industry when it hemorrhages losses due to the mandates, the companies will fail and the government will …….. what? ……. nationalize health care? On the other hand, if the government uses the insurance industry as a public utility and subsidizes its losses, then you have a de facto nationalized health care system as in Medicare/Medicaid. Show me the evidence of it being a “lie.”
(4.) When the banks are brought in to meet the Secretary of the Treasury and they are handed instructions on how to proceed in order to stay in business, you might just as well say as the mob might or as Chicago politicians do: “We own you. Do as we say or prepare to close.”
Health insurance companies adapt to government mandates and adjust rates to cover the increased risks. Banks adjust to government mandates and work to maintain their profit centers accordingly. That is how the system works in a regulated market. But, when the government sets the rates and issues mandates, the industry is no longer a part of the free market. It has been effectively socialized and subject to the whims of politicians. It’s “bottom line” is guaranteed, like the United States Postal Service or Amtrak, and the taxpayers foot the bill for the deficits incurred.
Nowhere has socialized industry forged ahead, let alone been profitable over the long term. Politicians can’t organize a two car funeral, so thinking they can help run the health care industry is pure belief in pink unicorns.
I anxiously await your many points of proof to the contrary.
Comment by heliotrope — March 2, 2010 @ 9:31 am - March 2, 2010
OMG could you imagine the hysterics if during the Bush administration, they used a snow storm as an excuse for unemployment?
As a employer, it’s nutts to think I wouldn’t hire people during an entire MONTH because of snow that took place in 2 or 4 DAYS. The media will go to all lengths to protect Obama.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — March 2, 2010 @ 2:25 pm - March 2, 2010
Talk about inside the beltway thinking. A “massive and crippling” snowstorm hits Washington DC for a few days and it effects unemployment across the country.
Comment by Draybee — March 2, 2010 @ 9:30 pm - March 2, 2010
Damn! “Affects”. My sixth grade English teacher is looking down on me and shaking her head.
Comment by Draybee — March 2, 2010 @ 9:31 pm - March 2, 2010