Posted on 07/31/2011 6:47:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
When historians look back on this moment in American politics, they may wonder why the White House failed to focus on the consuming issue of the time: the economy -- and, in particular, jobs.
An exasperated U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., said in a recent phone interview, "Frankly, our constituents really just want us to focus on jobs."
Instead, he and five Western Pennsylvania congressmen are caught in the crosshairs of Washington's political blood sport, as both parties clash over debt limits and deficits.
Outside Washington, constituents are clamoring about the economy -- or, as U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, interprets it: "Let us know when you guys are done with the bickering, so we can talk about fixing our economy."
On Friday, the Commerce Department released stunning numbers that showed that the U.S. economy grew less than forecasted. Consumer spending, which is about 70 percent of the economy, climbed 0.1 percent.
What did that mean? Well, not much in terms of growth.
Most analysts estimated that the economy only grew at an annualized rate of 1.7 percent between April and June; it only grew 1.3 percent, which borders between abysmal and anemic.
Estimates by financial powerhouses such as JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs predict 2.5 percent growth for the second quarter, not enough to put a dent in our 9.2 percent jobless rate.
In fact, our economy would need to chug along at a little more than 4.5 percent growth for a whole year to bring down the unemployment rate by 1 percentage point.
Manufacturing, one of the few economic sectors that has seen growth lately, posted a drop in orders for long-lasting goods in May, according to a mid-July report by the Commerce Department. Those orders are expected to grow, however.
Still, Americans have the jitters when it comes to buying; they have no confidence in the "American Dream" right now, and no confidence means no buying.
Their attitude is backed up by a report issued by a liberal research and advocacy group, the National Employment Law Project, showing that more than 70 percent of the jobs added since the recession began have been in low-wage occupations paying less than $14 an hour.
So, creating jobs is the important mission for members of Congress, according to U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, a member of the 2010 freshman class. He and Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, want to see the White House focus on jobs, too.
"Creating well-paying jobs is even more important," adds Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown.
All five lawmakers -- Casey, Altmire, Kelly, Murphy and Critz -- said their constituents want Washington to take action on jobs, based on phone calls to their offices and comments they hear when meeting with voters in their districts.
Voters in Pennsylvania want to see manufacturing and energy production through coal and Marcellus shale gas become central parts of any economic renewal, not only in the Keystone State but across the country.
Murphy thinks Pennsylvanians have a remarkable work ethic, and he wants them to have opportunities to use it.
In June, the nation's unemployment rate rose for a third straight month, as employers added only 18,000 workers and corporate earnings languished.
Anyone buying basic groceries can feel the pinch of consumer prices rising to offset higher commodity costs, so buying little beyond what you absolutely need has become the norm.
President Barack Obama's support has eroded among the very independent voters who helped him sweep into office. That drop-off is based on his inability to lead on numerous issues, but most importantly on the economy.
The latest Pew Research poll confirms just that: Only 8 percent of those polled say the national economy is in excellent or good shape, and only 38 percent rate their personal finances positively.
Such attitudes place Obama in an even worse position than President George H.W. Bush was in during his failed 1991-92 re-election campaign, because today's unemployment rate is much higher and overall satisfaction with the state of the nation is much lower than it was back then.
Polls are no substitute for understanding basic human judgment. Yet they can mark that point in time when an administration fell off the cliff of understanding its own people.
Unfortunately, these stupid politicians will take that to mean "we need a jobs bill." That's the only thing Democrats take away from any problems with the economy. Heaven forbid that they take a serious look at what's been wrong with the economy over the long term -- and what policies have put us in the position we're in... and stop doing it.
What stupidity!
“When historians look back on this moment in American politics, they may wonder why the White House failed to focus on the consuming issue of the time: the economy — and, in particular, jobs.”
When those same historians, most of whom will be liberal academicians, look back on this moment, they will look for ways to blame Republicans not the White House.
People have not opened their eyes to the fact that the Obama regime does not want the economy to recover. The Obama regime wants the economy to fail( Cloward-Piven). The Democrats want nothing more than complete perpetual power, no matter the cost to the people of this nation.
Who is challenging him for his Senate seat next year?
I guess that really depends on how one defines "the American Dream."
FReepers, Conservatives, etc., have always defined "The American Dream" as P.O.E. described it = individuals' opportunity to achieve whatever they want to achieve, whatever they want to put personal time and sweat into achieving, and then reaping the benefits of their own personal labor.
To liberals, socialists, Marxists, Obama et al, "the American Dream" is to end up on the dole, to receive from the hand of government what the hard work and enterprise of others (who HAVE worked) has accomplished for the liberals' own personal, lazy and selfish gain - and without any work, effort or input from themselves.
We need to start educating Americans about the original and real definition of "the American Dream." Otherwise, the "new" socialist definition will take root and our nation as founded will cease to exist.
I will never in my life forget the debates between Casey and Santorum. In each one, Santorum cleaned Casey's clock. Santorum was clear and concise. He had a thorough command of each and every issue. And he offered a solid argument each time. Contrast that with Casey who was easily confused, did not have an understanding of the issues at hand, and generally looked as though he had just gotten finished smoking some dope. Yet the voters of Pennsylvania elected the candidate who couldn't even fully open his eyes wide.
I would like to see Santorum get the seat back, but the voters will prefer some fresh blood. Casey has got to go, and the RNC should make this a key priority.
Even the author of this article doesent get it. Obozo is out of Keynsian bullets, and even if the Democraps wanted to try, they cant to do it by themselves. Bwaah!
The Obama Museum will be a junk yark some place in Chicago.
Yes, the EPA is ruining this country. I wish the statement from the mine owner who finally just said “I quit” after fighting the enviro whackos would go viral.
As long as these Democrats go along with the EPA, they are lying about wanting to create more jobs.
Another great article Salena. Thanks!
BUMP!
the GOP has not the spine, and the liberal media is to dishonest to point out and ask why, if the economic crisis was cause by the Bush tax cuts, tax breaks for oil companies, tax deductions for corporate jets, blah-blah-blah-blah, why didn’t obama/pelosi/reid roll back these cuts and raise taxes on the rich before the Tea Party arrived, when they had major majorites in the house and senate during the first half of obama’s reign of error, including a filibuster proof majority for one year...
>>The solution — The debt crisis. Shrink government, lower taxes, cut regulation<<
The problem is that when you shrink government, it means you reduce government jobs and jobs in the private sector that support the government. And that would play havoc with the unemployment rate.
The leech we call the government has become so big that if you kill it, you kill the host.
You’ve hit the nail on the head Doctor.
This is all going according to plan. A plan in which emperor bammy is simply a very small pawn.
“When historians look back on this moment in American politics, they may wonder why the White House failed to focus on the consuming issue of the time: the economy — and, in particular, jobs.”
LOL! There’s nothing at all to wonder about. The answer is quite simple: Obama is a Marxist ideologue bent on the destruction of the United States.
:)
Or to put it bluntly, Washington has been spending our future for decades and the “future” is now here...
Until they stop spending our future things will only get worse.
Borrowed spending is spending your future before it gets here.
In addition these idiots keep screaming we have to “spend for the future” calling it “investing in the future”... Well you can’t spend or invest for the future when what you are spending is your future through borrowed dollars.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.