Unemployment 10% Mid-October: 95,000 Jobs Lost September 2010

It's a toilet out there for Barack Obama. Unemployment today of 10%, is up from 9.4% mid-September, and 9.3% at the end of August. Officially, this report of 10% is not released until November 5th, three days  AFTER the November 2nd election - so pass it around. Predictions are, we will go into 2011 with exorbitantly higher taxes and 10% of the country unemployed. Source: Gallup. More at HotAir. Graphic credit: SodaHead

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook

Need A Job?

Graphic credit: CNN PoliticalTicker

Scott Brown: Why Do I Always Have to Vote with Democrats?

Senator Scott Brown asks "Why is it that I'm always the one that has to vote with the Democrats?" If he isn't regretting that question now, he should be.  How revealing is that? Why would Senator Brown want to reach across the aisle to Democrats when they never reach back, and the bigger question, why would he extend a hand to unconstitutional legislation?

Scott Brown

This Boston.com article says Republicans haven't supported Brown's alternative to the Democrat's extended unemployment benefits bill. Can it be that Republicans have offered the same over and over and always been ignored? Republicans want the extended benefits paid for with available unused stimulus funds.

“Why is it that I’m always the one that has to vote with the Democrats?’’ Brown lamented. “Bipartisanship is a two-way street, you know? Why can’t they also work together to pay for these things within the budget, within the monies that we already have? Why is it that we always have to add to the deficit?’’

 To that question in the bold type above, we don't have "to add to the deficit" unless RINOs vote with Democrats. Brown apparently doesn't watch the news, and apparently doesn't have an historical clue. Democrats have made it clear they will not pay for extended benefits. Brown says the $35 billion unspent stimulus is a D.C. slush fund, but he appears shocked that Democrats will not capitulate and actually take a portion of a Republican idea. I'm guessing some of the unused stimulus money will somehow make it to some needy Liberal's campaign war chest.

We've been watching this sideshow for years. Democrats never reach across the aisle. Perhaps that's why he is "always the one that has to vote with Democrats." Shameful! Maybe he was misquoted? What do you think? Thanks to Fox Nation and Weasel Zippers who had a very nice link there today.

Linked by The Lonely Conservative - Thanks Karen!

Less Depressing Financial News: Jobs Losses Rise: Home Mortgages Default

Never have Americans been so completely clueless about our country's financial health and our job-creation ability.  God help us. We believe in this country, but everyday it becomes clear that we have been lied to, and are being lied to, with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Home Mortgage Defaults

Fortune Magazine tells us the "long-awaited recovery is now underway." It's a slow, painful slog that has shifted from "dreadful to less depressing." Unemployment stands at least, at 9.7%. Home prices are in the toilet, but...corporate profits are up. Our job-makers have realized they can do more with less...and boost profits by being leaner. Earnings were up among the Fortune 500 by an astounding 335%, but sales are sluggish. "The largest part of the gain came from lower payrolls...and explains the "explosion" in Fortune 500 profits.

George Soros, the mover and shaker behind Barack Obama is warning of another market crash, but if we get lucky we have 8 years before the bottom falls out. Keep in mind that George Soros is as anti-America as one can be.

Jobless claims rose...again...it wasn't expected. Reports out yesterday said new requests for jobless benefits rose by 24,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 484,000. The second week in a row for increased claims. Economists predicted claims would fall.

As the Wall Street Journal said, if that were possible Russia, Cuba and North Korea would be economic powerhouses:

Currently, the mean government salary is fully twice the mean private-sector salary. That means every government job destroys or displaces two private-sector jobs. 

Home mortgage defaults rise among those who took advantage of Obama's wildly criticized "loan modification" program. Many have defaulted even after the government modified their payment amount. A NYT writer says if the trend continues the Obama plan may collapse on itself. The Treasury Department can't explain what is happening - other than the common sense that the people still can't afford their mortgages, and I'll point out that probably many have lost jobs since "modifying" their loans. Seven million households are behind on mortgage payments.

A senior policy counsel for the Center for Responsible Lending said she expects the post-modification defaults to continue to rise. "The current model for modifications doesn't necessarily produce sustainable results."

Readers, can you name one program this administration has launched that provides sustainable results? I didn't think so. Looking forward to "less depressing news" is not the American way. Let's get these job-killers out of Washington, D.C.

Linked by The Lonely Conservative

John Cornyn Health Care: Cornyn No Conviction for Constitution: Sallie Mae: Health Care Lays Off 2500

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has signaled that he does not have the conviction to believe the new health care law is unconstitutional. He is leaning more and more to reworking health care, and focusing on jobs. What is it that our legislators do understand about "unconstitutional," thus "illegal?" He is buying the Democrat load of poo, and while the government adds to its payroll, the private sector will struggle to stay alive - everything will come at the behest of the government. To make the point right of the gate: Sallie Mae has announced the government takeover of student loans is forcing them to layoff  2,500. Friends, the government creates absolutely no wealth. What happens to a government with no wealth producers? Take a look at 90% of the world's countries living with no private sector wealth. This is unthinkable for America, yet with this president, it is a possibility.

John Cornyn

Democrats are doing what they do best. Selling. Cornyn is buying. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) publicly said that the issue of "repeal" is a sticky one for Republicans, because it is telling people something will be taken away from them. Menendez is not talking about the money out of our pockets, the loss of privacy between us and our doctors, the loss of control of our medical records, the loss of quality health care, the loss of employment as physicians retire and go elsewhere, and the loss of the relevance of the Constitution.

Cornyn has clearly relegated the U.S. Constitution to his "I'll get to it later" pile, or worse, to the trash heap of inconvenient rules and regs. 

Cornyn wants to focus on the "misplaced priorities of the administration." He wants to focus on jobs.

Can't we focus on more than one attack on our citizens at a time? Pound them on both, and "up" the talk on immigration, please. The Democrats do it. We can too. Repeal the bill, and then put the portions you want to keep back into the new legislation. The American people trust nothing in this bill. Start over and get some conviction! If you don't believe the legislation is unconstitutional, we do. What if we are right?

Think about it, Cornyn. ObamaKare is a job killer AND it is unconstitutional. Sallie Mae is sounding a warning bell. Come out and tell the American people minorities will be the beneficiary of our tax money by funding government loans, minorities schools will be the beneficiary of our tax money, and once graduated, all loans will be forgiven if you go to work for the government for a certain period of time. Read about the government education bloat in the health care bill here.

Here is a frightening thought: Cornyn is the head of the committee that choses which Republican candidates to support with GOP monies, and which will be not be supported. We need to watch this man like a hawk. He supported Charlie Crist and DeDe Scozzafava.

Obama Jobs Not Most Important Domestic Priority Video

In the video below, Obama is speaking to an Indonesian TV reporter. This will not be news to you: Jobs are not his priority. Thanks to BigGovernment.

Barack Obama: Health Care is the Most Important Domestic Priority (video)
Linked by The Lonely Conservative - Thanks LC!

John Boehner Hell No Speech Health Care Debate

If you missed Boehner's excellent speech tonight before the health care vote, here it is. It is worth a watch.



Related and Background Posts:
Why the Senate Bill Funds Abortions

Health Care: Stopping at the Constitution - Not the White House - Not Congress

John Boehner - Have you read the bill? Hell No you Haven't? (video)

Linked by MarathonPundit - Thank You!

Linked by The Lonely Conservative - Thanks LC!

Health Care Bill Will Lose 700,000 Jobs - and not just in Health Care Industry

Do you work in health care, or a related industry? Are you impressed with the 400,000 jobs Nancy Pelosi says will be created with ObamaKare? If your answer is yes, think again.

Americans for Tax Reform and Beacon Hill Institute debunk the 400,000 estimate by the Center for American Progress (CAP), saying that CAP's claim is "unsupportable," and using CAP's own methodology, the bill will destroy 120,000 to 700,000 jobs by 2019.

 Read the details at Hot Air which points out that, without ObamaKare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics already predicts growth in the health care industry of 3.2 million jobs.

Job losses are not just expected in direct-health-care employment. Take a look at this from Americans for Tax Reform - is your industry here?

The result is a loss of between 119,000 and 698,000 jobs between enactment of the bill this year and 2019. A breakdown is below: 


The high and low estimates of job losses for each sector below were not displaying well here, so please click the link above to view them.  

Agriculture, mining and construction
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transportation and communication
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
Services
Information
Financial Activities
Professional and business services
Educational services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Totals:  Low estimate -119,194 jobs lost High estimate -698,098 jobs lost

California's Grapes of Wrath: Oklahoma's Growth, Beautiful Homes, Rolling Hills

A March 11th report says California's jobless rate was 12.5% in January. In 8 of the state's counties the rate is 20%. Michael Roston at True/Slant points out it's Grapes of Wrath in reverse. The State of Oklahoma with beautiful homes and verdant rolling hills is growing and the people were smart enough to give President Obama his biggest rejection in the 2008 elections - even with a Democrat Governor.

Grapes of Wrath

From the L.A. Times:

New county-by-county figures released by the state wednesday show that in eight counties, more than 1 in 5 people were out of work. Moreover, revised numbers for last year show that fewer people were employed than was previously believed.

Jobless rate by counties:
Los Angeles 12.3% (January)
Orange 10.1% (February)
Inland Empire 14.1 (January)
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario - 15% (January)
Merced - 21.7%
Imperial - 27.3%

By contrast, jobless rates in Oklahoma's two largest cities:
Tulsa Metro: 6.8%
Oklahoma City Metro: 6.4%

Stephen Levy, the director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy is perplexed and mystified California is not seeing job growth. Maybe this is a clue:

February 19, 2009: The budget deal the Legislature reached today will keep California's top personal income tax rate and sales tax rate the highest in the Union.

The agreement will raise personal income tax rates by 0.25 of a percentage point across the board, beginning with the current tax year. The highest rate, on taxable income of more than $1 million, will rise to 10.55% from 10.3%

The next-highest tax rate, on taxable income of more than $94,110 for a married couple filing jointly, will rise to 9/55% from 9.3%. For singles, the threshold for the 9.55% tax rate is $47,055.

As for sales taxes, the budget deal will push California's base rate to 8.25% from the current 7.25%. Those rates don't include taxes added by individual cities and counties.

Here is a snippet from an interesting comment on the LATimes article:

I was flabbergasted by your folly to al but idle the Central Valley last summer over some small fish [Delta Smelt]. By now you should be canning what you gathered in, selling what you produced worldwide, filling granaries worldwide (again) with your bounty, getting the lands ready for another bumper yield, refurbishing your water supplies, gathering in the winter wheat, and refertilizing the fields for another simply glorious harvest which the almighty has enabled you to do better than almost any other areas anywhere.

When you live in Oklahoma, and consider the state home, no matter your roots, you take a lot of teasing but it's not difficult to square-your-shoulders and put on your "what-you-don't-know is pitiful" face. We don't have oceans and our mountains are smaller, but not small. Of 4 primary mountain ranges, two are considered "major" mountainous regions falling between the Rockies and the Applachians [the Ozarks and the Quachitas]. We have, however, very tall "hills."

We are among the most geographically diverse states with are one of four home to more than 10 distince ecological regions within our borders - more per square mile than in any other state - 8 of these regions in the eastern portion of the state.

We have gorgeous lakes and 55,646 miles of shoreline.  The Eastern portion of the state, where Tulsa is located, 90 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, is green and lush with rolling hills...no dry, dusty or red soil in the Tulsa area. Tulsa has some of the most beautiful homes to be found in any land-locked state, and the prices per-square footage are amazingly low, in exceptional neighborhoods.

Both Tulsa and Oklahoma City were ranked in the Top Ten Best Places to Live 2009. We have tornadoes but we do not have earthquakes. We have beautiful sunsets, hot summers but not nearly as hot as many places, and in general our winters have a couple of harsh cold snaps with ice and snow, and it's over. Golf courses are busy all winter in many places in Oklahoma.

We have one of the fastest growing economies in the nation, and we rank among the top states in per capital income growth. We are 2nd-largest producer of natural gas, the 5th-largest producer of crude oil and we are proud to be home the 2nd-largest number of active drilling rigs. Without oil production, and where would this country be? Our energy costs are the 10th-lowest in the nation. Those employed in the oil-gas sector, average an income of twice the state's typical annual income. Oklahoma City is home to the 4 largest private-oil-related companies in the nation. All of the state's Fortune 500 companies are energy related.

We do not have the worst schools in the nation, as some might think, and any discerning parent can get their child into a good performing school. Contrary to popular belief, we are NOT the most obese state in the union, and our children's "fattness" falls 33rd among all states. Oklahoma University and Tulsa University rank among the nation's best for academic ratings. Six of our state universities were among Princeton Review's list of 122 regional colleges in 2007. Oklahoma is proud of some of the finest athletes and athletic programs in the country.

We cannot buy wine or beer in grocery stores in Oklahoma. It's an embarrassing flaw that voters can't seem to fix. We have to endure it, but...we have Quik Trips...the best convenience stores to be found anywhere on earth. Southern Living magazine likes Oklahoma homes.

Related: The Lonely Conservative asks Where's the Shovel Ready Jobs?

Obama Muslim Summit Hosts Islamic Entrepreneurship

President Obama, known for mounting summits for everything from putting a police officer in his place to teaching Republicans the American public doesn't know jack about their own health care, will  host a "presidential summit" with Muslims from more than 40 countries to teach them about entrepreneurship. Another sermon from the summit coming for all the capitalist-hating Muslims around the world.

First question, how much will this summit cost American taxpayers? Will taxpayers be funding Muslim entrepreneurial endeavors here in America before other non-Muslim entrepreneurial ventures?

War blogger, Holger Awakens suggests in a comment to this article, the summit might like look a bit like this:

I'm guessing this will be a bunch of booths set up on the South Lawn of the White House with Obama parading around showing the American people via video the likes of:  

Abdul's EasyOnEasy Off Suicide Belts, 

Haji's PrayerRugs with Kevlar, 

the RageBoy Ringtone Emporium, and oh, don't forget 

the popular Achmed's Home Kit for Effective Honor Killings (includes knives and stones).

From Breitbart:

The White House on Friday announced a "summit on entrepreneurship" to build economic ties with the Islamic world, part of President Barack Obama's outreach to Muslims.

The White House said it has invited participants from more than 40 countries over five continents for the April 26-27 conference in Washington.

"The summit will highlight the role entrepreneurship can play in addressing common challenges while building partnerships that will lead to greater opportunity abroad and at home," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Remember his "jobs summit" for America in December? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was not invited. The National Federation of Independent Business was not invited. The movers and shakers  actually supporting entrepreuneurs were denied entry to the jobs summit!

Confirmed attendees include liberal economists credited with shaping the $787 billion stimulus package, union leaders, environmental advocates and executives from Google and other blue-chip firms.

"He's going to get lots of recommendations to spend more money," said Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. "These are the very same people who gave us the stimulus package. My feeling is we're not going to get what we need, and that's a complete change in direction on economic policy.

Other's talking about Obama's Summits:
Riehl World View - Obama's Summit Addiction

Space Shuttle Retires: 23000 Join Unemployment Lines

No hope but lots of change coming to the area around The Kennedy Space Center:

VIERA — The local economic forecast tied to President Barack Obama's NASA budget keeps growing bleaker.

Revised projections now show that about 23,000 workers at and around Kennedy Space Center will lose their jobs because of the shuttles' retirement and the new proposal to cancel the development of new rockets and spacecraft.

That sum includes 9,000 "direct" space jobs and -- conservatively speaking -- 14,000 "indirect" jobs at hotels, restaurants, retail stores and others that depend on activity at the space center, said Lisa Rice, Brevard Workforce president.

The organization's earlier estimate of 7,000 direct jobs reflected just the retirement of the shuttle program. The updated numbers also include the cancellation of Project Constellation and other initiatives as outlined in the president's 2011 budget, Rice said.

Source

The Decline: The Geography of a Recession 2007-2009 Video

The following video shows how and when unemployment began it's rise across America. Watch as the "purple stain" spreads. Latoya Egwuekwe is the creator of The Decline: The Geography of a Recession.

Visit her website here. She has an interview up with CNN and is introduced as a writer for the Machinist's Union.

This from her website:

LaToya Egwuekwe is a journalist with several years experience as a political reporter, television anchor and producer in Cleveland, Ohio, and Tallahassee, Fla. She currently works as a labor writer in Washington, D.C., where she is able to cover her two favorite topics: the economy and politics.

The Decline: The Geography of a Recession (video)

Valerie Jarrett Community Jobs Forum: Obama and Jarrett Call for Community Organizing

Last week, President Barack Obama held a jobs forum. Liberals endorsing Obama's expansion of government were invited to solve the jobs problem in the U.S. Harry Alford, the President of the Black Chamber of Commerce was not invited. The National Chamber of Commerce was not invited. Valerie Jarrett, the other side of Barack Obama's brain, wants to know what you think about jobs. See a video below.

Barack Obama and Valerie Jarrett

The White House is asking communities like yours to chime in, and hold "jobs forums" locally - some community organizing coming your way. The administration really wants your ideas:

Hearing from working Americans and communities across the country means understanding what’s really happening on the ground, what’s working, and what’s not.

 Yeah...I don't think the President is too interested in what is happening on the ground. In Union shops and in faculty dining rooms, yes...at your small business...huh uh.

Big Obama donors, union executives and a bevy of the 'learned' were hosted on behalf of you and me, and we both know that none of these people care about either of us.

The National Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business were not invited. The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) was there. The AAFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers was there.

Google CEO, Eric Schmidt - big Obama supporter and contributor - giving $4,000 personally and Google employees shelling out over $800,000, attended. Just to keep things clean, McCain donor, Frederick Smith of Federal Express was invited.

The Bureau of Labor says unemployment "edged down to 10.0 percent" in November 2009, but we had several days over Thanksgiving with unemployment offices closed for the holiday.

From the Washington Times' Critics not invited to White House 'jobs summit:'

"The panel does not include free-market voices who will contend the administration is spending too much or interfering too much in the economy, or that it is hurting job creation by increasing the burden of taxes and government debt," said Josh Barro, a senior fellow on fiscal policy at the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute. "I expect these economists will generally call for more Keynesian stimulus - more deficit spending and more aid to state governments." 

I saw a comment on a forum board that put it all in perspective:

"Why invite them when you'd rather nationalize them?"

You can sign-up to host or help organize a forum in your local area on the WhiteHouse.gov website.  If you are a community organizer and get involved in this effort, come back and let us know your ideas for job creation. In the meantime, if you need some ideas to kick-start your creative thinking, begin here and be sure to pass it on to Valerie Jarrett.



Harry Alford, Black Chamber of Commerce and Glenn Beck (video)

Detroit $15M Stimulus Money to Pay Rent, House Homeless: Jennifer Granholm Misstates Jobs Created

Detroit has received $15 million in stimulus money for handouts to enable Detroiter's to pay rent and house homeless. Thousands stood in line to receive their checks at Detroit's Grand Hall on the  west side, but there was no money today. According to the video below, only applications were handed out - no money.  Apparently, 3500 people will be chosen to participate. Doing the math, if this information is correct, each applicant will receive $4,285.71...before administrative costs. Governor Jennifer Granholm misstates or misspeaks or lies about the jobs she and government, have created. It's a laugh a minute. Wish the people standing in line could get a grip on their own reality and the people they vote to "rule" them. See video below.

 Jennifer Granholm

As Rush Limbaugh reported yesterday, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is all excited about the possibility of creating 40,000 jobs in the "green" sector by 2020. By 2020! 40,000 jobs by 2020! And she admits it. Has even one of the thousands standing in line for government money given a single thought to the p-poor leadership in their state?

 The Washington Post reported that "Granholm has created 163,300 positions, her office says." WAPO didn't fact check. This report by James M. Hohman, writing for the Mackinac Center, says that the actual number is approximately 7,755. That is a huge difference. Does anyone standing in that line for stimulus handouts even pay attention to their Democrat governance?

The article does not explain how Gov. Granholm came up with the larger figure, but it most likely comes from MEGA's "direct jobs" estimates. However, those figures are problematic for a number of reasons.

First, they include job "retention" projects that grant firms discriminatory tax preferences just for not eliminating jobs.

Second, these figures double-count many jobs. For instance, a company called Plastech received MEGA tax credit deals for promising to create jobs, but then filed for bankruptcy, during which a number of its plants were purchased by other firms. These firms also applied for MEGA credit deals and received them — for the same job promises! MEGA includes both sets of job promises in its tallies...

...the largest source of puffing in these figures is that they only count jobs promised by corporations in return for special tax breaks and other benefits offered by the state — and most of those promised jobs never materialize.

The discussion about "double counting" jobs is interesting. Be sure to visit the Mackinac Center article linked above if you care about how government consistently dupes the voters.

In the WAPO article, Granholm is quoted saying:

"We have great bones as a state," she says. "We know how to build stuff. We will build on that strength and diversify this economy. We will lead the nation in creating jobs in renewable energy. We're not going to be viewed as Luddites." 

I'll venture a guess that no one standing in line for stimulus handout knows about the Luddite movement. And they don't need to know, because it has nothing to do with what is happening, and has been happening for years in the Detroit area. No doubt, Granholm is trying to say that modern-day "Luddites" have fought against green technology and thus ruined the auto industry. So what does Granholm plan to do? Forty thousand jobs by 2020 won't do it. As Rush said: "We ought to be creating 40,000 jobs a freaking day in this country!"

Reminders:

This report quotes a Newsweek article.

Since the late 1960s it has become the nation's symbol of urban decay. "How can you begin to describe a disaster the size of the nation's sixth largest city?" a Newsweek reporter asked in 1976. Detroit "is past its industrial prime and tumbling downhill quickly.... At night, the city hollows out: all you can see are the taillights of the middle class, taking their spending money--and much of the city's tax base--to the suburbs....

Detroit "appears to be the victim of a sadistic aerial bombardment--houses burned and vacant, buildings twisted and crumbling, whole city blocks overrun with weeds and the carcasses of discarded automobiles" (pp. 13-14). Today web surfers can take a virtual tour of the "Fabulous Ruins of Detroit," clicking through a stunning series of photographs that document Motown's devastation....

Then came the 1967 riot. Terrified by the violence, fearful of the future, whites fled the city. "Detroit's shift from a prosperous white city to a poor black one was extraordinarily fast," Chafers says. "Within six years of the riot, it had a black majority and a black administration" (p. 22). The oil crisis of the 1970s--and the subsequent collapse of the domestic automobile industry compounded the city's problems by destroying its economic base. The high-paying factory jobs disappeared, leaving Detroit's black majority even more impoverished than it had been and widening the racial divide.

 This from 2007 - "Fifty years ago, American car companies dominated the world, especially the mighty GM, the world's biggest industrial company, many of whose factories were based in Flint, Michigan, 40 miles north of Detroit." A quote from a UAW family: 

" They were loyal members of the autoworkers union, the UAW, which won increasing benefits for its members, with average wages of more than $50,000 plus overtime.

"We respected the union then," she said. "We believed it was the union that had delivered us the American dream."

And this reminder from the same article:  

"In the 1950s the Detroit area had the highest median income, and highest rate of home ownership, of any major US city. But times are very different now"

Today we know that the UAW has broken their companies and the lives of its members.

This headline: 2007 U.S. Auto Sales Dimmest Since 1998:

...major automakers reported lower U.S. sales for December led by a 9 percent slide at Ford Motor Co as the industry closed out its weakest year in over a decade and faced the prospect of deeper declines in 2008.

Michigan has been declining for decades. This 2005 report from the World Socialist Web Site offers some data spanning 2000-2004:

"Detroit is the poorest city in America, with fully one-third of its residents living below the official federal poverty level, a derisory $19,157 in household income for a family of four. Nearly one half of the city's children, 47.8 percent, live below the poverty level.

In 2002, 23.2 percent of Detroit residents were considered poor by the Census Bureau. In a two-year period, according to these figures, some 75,000 to 80,000 more people descended into poverty, a staggering increase....

Tens of thousands of workers in Michigan have lost jobs in manufacturing since 2000, either finding no work at all or lower-paying employment. For example, in Genesee County, home to Flint, the former auto manufacturing center, the proportion of people living in poverty rose from 14.2 to 17 percent in 2003-2004. Providing a little historical perspective, in 1960 one in ten Flint residents lived in poverty; the figure is now one in four. The median household income adjusted for inflation for Wayne County, which includes Detroit, has declined by an astonishing 10 percent since 2000.

Politicians and the UAW can take credit for the ruination of the auto industry in the the U.S. This report from the National Post is blunt:

As the Wall Street Journal noted last week, notice that all the “successful” car producers in the States—Kia, Toyota, BMW, etc.—run factories in states where rules aren’t written as big favours for unions, like Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, where “right to work” laws make it illegal for employees to be forced to belong to unions. The payoff is huge: The Big Three is stuck paying employees about US$30 an hour more at its UAW-run shops then the foreign guys do at their non-union facilities.

Detroit is ranked the No. 1 city, voting liberal, in the U.S. Detroit has elected Democrat mayors since 1962.

Jennifer Granholm Disaster

Darrell Issa Rahm Emanuel: No Chicago Political Machine (Full Text)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel demanding a response to a Politico article stating that Emanuel used "Chicago-style" tactics to intimidate the state of Arizona after Arizona Senator Jon Kyle (R) expressed negative opinions about the stimulus and how the stimulus money is being spent. In the letter, Issa tells Emanuel that Washington, D.C. is not a Chicago political machine.

Darrell Issa

The letter accuses Emanuel of an "assault" on Kyl and "Chicago-style politics" through the letters that suggest "if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state...please let me know."

[Issa] You've unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine." As Politico reports, you "launched a coordinated effort ot jam" Senator Kyl and other administration critics:

In response, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry published a column saying "Mr. President, Don't Bully Arizona." In my view, this is an important step. Issa called it as he sees it: intimidation through "Chicago-playbook tactics." Most importantly, he is demanding a response from the nauseatingly haughty Rahm Emanuel.

We'll see if he get is. We do not see letters like this making their way through Congress and landing in the White House. Note, hilariously, Issa attached a "glossary" of terms to describe the "communication and "records" he is asking for, and defining how the words "referring or relating," should be interpreted. Here's the full text with some bold and red text for emphasis, chosen by me:

*****

Written on U.S. House of Representative, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform letterhead and dated August 4, 2009. As you know, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) recently raised questions about the failure of the stimulus and suggested on a national television show that stimulus money scheduled to be spent in future years ought to be returned to the American taxpayers. Following Senator Kyl's remarks, according to Politico, you coordinated an "assault" on Senator Kyl and other critics of your policies by directing four cabinet secretaries to write to Jan Brewer, the Governor of Arizona, asking pointedly if, in light of Senator Kyl's remarks, Governor Brewer wished to forfeit taxpayer money directed to Arizona by the stimulus.

These tactics have been characterized as "a fist to the nose" and a message to "Back off." While this type of scare tactic may work in Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.

At the risk of adding to the "weeks of frustration" you've reportedly felt in response to criticism of the Administration's ineffective and wasteful policies, please allow me to bring the facts about the stimulus to your attention. In selling the stimulus package, the Administration promised the Congress and the American people that the legislation would create or save 3.5 million jobs and prevent the U.S. unemployment rate from rising above 8%.

I thought the outdated and discredited Keynesian economic theory behind your effort was misguided and I opposed the stimulus. Unfortunately, recent economic data has validated my opposition.-The U.S. economy lost 433,000 jobs in June, bringing the unemployment rate to 9.5%. These job losses come on the heels of other declining economic indicators, and bring the total number of American jobs lost since President Obama took office to over 2.6 million.

I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the American people. You've unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine. As Politico reports, you "launched a coordinated effort to jam" Senator Kyl and other Administration critics:
[A]fter seeing Kyl and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) again paint the legislation as a failure on Sunday talk shows, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.
The fact that the letters were coordinated by you to maximize the level of intimidation is supported by the timing, structure, and content of each letter. Not only were the four letters all sent the day following Senator Kyl's remarks, but they were also remarkably similar in tone and sentence structure. For example, consider the following comparison: Letter from Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation:

On Sunday, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren't presently underway. I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know [emphasis added].

Letter from Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior:

Some key Republican leaders in Congress have publicly questioned whether the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working and suggested cancelling all projects that are not currently in progress. I believe they are wrong. The stimulus funds provided through the Recovery Act are a very effective way to create job opportunities throughout the Country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to Arizona, please let me know [emphasis added].

Politico reports that in response to these letters, Governor Brewer "knew she'd been thrown a high, hard one." The president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry felt the need to respond to these tactics by penning a column under the headline: 

"Mr. President: Don't Bully Arizona." At what point do you believe your practice of Chicago-style politics violates a public official's right to speak out in favor of alternative policies? The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Governor Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future.

Since I represent a district in the great state of Califomia, I hope that you will not take this letter as an indication of Governor Schwarzenegger's position on stimulus funds dedicated to California nor his position on any other public policy issue. I can assure you that any attempt to intimidate me or silence my criticism of the stimulus through such Chicago-style tactics will be futile. 

 In order to assist the Committee with its investigation of this issue, please provide the following information by close of business on Tuesday, August 11, 2009:

1. Your response to Politico 's report that "White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials."

2. A full and complete explanation of the development of the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer, including but not limited to the role you or any other White House official played in writing the letters or encouraging the writing of the letters.

3. All records and communications between you and Secretary LaHood, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Donovan, and Secretary Vilsack referring or relating to the decision to send the July 13 letters to Governor Brewer.

4. A full and complete explanation of the role of the Democratic National Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs in authoring, encouraging, facilitating, or directing the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer. Please note that, for purposes of responding to this request, the terms "records," "communications," and "referring or relating" should be interpreted consistently with the attached Definitions of Terms.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Christopher Hixon or Brien Beattie of the Committee staff at (202)225-5074, The letter is signed "Darrell E. Issa, Ranking Member" End Issa letter.

*****

The quote from Politico:

Earlier this month, at the direction of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, four cabinet secretaries fired off letters to Jan Brewer, the GOP governor of Arizona, citing Kyl’s critique and asking if the state still wanted the funds.

Read a portion of the letter from the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, with a link to the full text in pdf - which is what you see above.

Stimulus Brings Worst Unemployment in Central New York Since 1990

By Lonely Conservative

The Syracuse Post Standard reports that unemployment in Central New York is higher than it has been since 1990. See video below.

Unemployment in the area was 8.6 percent in June, higher than it has been in any June since at least 1990, when the Labor Department changed its methodology for calculating the rate.

“Right now, we’re feeling the full effects of the recession because the job losses have spread from manufacturing to the other sectors,” said Karen Knapik-Scalzo, an economist with the department. “It’s become more widespread now.”

The jobless rate was up from 8 percent in May and 5.4 percent in June of last year. It matched that of the state but was below the nation’s unemployment rate of 9.7%”

Not only has Central New York lost 4,900 jobs since last June, the government added 700 jobs, so the net loss to the private sector is even worse than it seems. We, the taxpayers, have to pay for those 700 new government jobs somehow.

And we’re the lucky ones. Michigan’s unemployment rate is higher than 15%! Wasn’t Porkulus – aka the Generational Theft Act – supposed to stimulate the economy to keep people from losing their jobs? That’s what Barack Obama told us, over and over again. Now he’s singing a different tune, and his penchant for constantly appearing in front of cameras is starting to hurt him. The GOP is capitalizing on his vanity. Good for them.

Keep talking Obama, keep talking.