September 8, 2011

Tough On Jobs

September 8, 2011 Buck Banks

The president speaks tonight on the topic of employment,
And few of us are anticipating much oratory enjoyment.
It will be tough for him to be facin’
A hapless, hostile and hopeless nation —
Many of whom would like to see Obama himself on unemployment.

Assessing the GOP Debate

September 8, 2011 Buck Banks

My take-away? Perry has proved himself an extreme, inarticulate, incurious W clone. He doubled down on the vicious attacks on social security; and his rhetoric was off-key. Huntsman emerged as an actual candidate; Romney kicked ass. Bachmann is wearing thinner and thinner. Paul is Paul. Santorum is a Vatican crank. Gingrich is an angry old man. Cain has no business being up there. Perry’s poor performance gives Palin an opening.

— Andrew Sullivan in the Daily Beast.

Mitt Romney looked like he had already won the Republican nomination. Rick Perry looked like he will win the Republican nomination. Michele Bachmann looked like she was beginning to realize she definitely wouldn’t win the Republican nomination.

— Ezra Klein in the Washington Post.

How Many Times Do You Have to Say Ronald Reagan’s Name Before His Ghost Will Appear?

September 8, 2011September 9, 2011 Buck Banks

24

Number of times GOP presidential candidates dropped Ronald Reagan’s name during the Sept. 8 debate at the Reagan Library, according to Smart Politics. Newt Gingrich led the contest, with nine drops — twice as many as any other candidate — and Mitt Romney was the only debater who did not invoke the former president’s name.

Perry Confuses Scientific ‘Nonsense’ with Wingnut Nonsense

September 8, 2011 Buck Banks

The science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans’ economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that’s not settled yet to me is just nonsense. Just because you have a group of scientists who stood up and said here is the fact. Galileo got outvoted for a spell.

— Texas Gov. Rick Perry, expressing skepticism on global climate change at last night’s presidential debate.

U.S. Now Dropped to Fifth Rank in World in Economic Competitiveness

September 8, 2011 Buck Banks

5th

U.S. ranking among the globe’s most competitive economies, according to World Economic Forum, due to “huge deficits and declining public faith in government.”
The U.S. ranked #1 in 2008, Switzerland has held the top spot since then.

Day: September 8, 2011

Tough On Jobs

Assessing the GOP Debate

— Andrew Sullivan in the Daily Beast.

Mitt Romney looked like he had already won the Republican nomination. Rick Perry looked like he will win the Republican nomination. Michele Bachmann looked like she was beginning to realize she definitely wouldn’t win the Republican nomination.

— Ezra Klein in the Washington Post.

How Many Times Do You Have to Say Ronald Reagan’s Name Before His Ghost Will Appear?

24

Perry Confuses Scientific ‘Nonsense’ with Wingnut Nonsense

The science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans’ economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that’s not settled yet to me is just nonsense. Just because you have a group of scientists who stood up and said here is the fact. Galileo got outvoted for a spell.

— Texas Gov. Rick Perry, expressing skepticism on global climate change at last night’s presidential debate.

U.S. Now Dropped to Fifth Rank in World in Economic Competitiveness

5th

U.S. ranking among the globe’s most competitive economies, according to World Economic Forum, due to “huge deficits and declining public faith in government.”
The U.S. ranked #1 in 2008, Switzerland has held the top spot since then.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.

— Andrew Sullivan in the Daily Beast.

Mitt Romney looked like he had already won the Republican nomination. Rick Perry looked like he will win the Republican nomination. Michele Bachmann looked like she was beginning to realize she definitely wouldn’t win the Republican nomination.

— Ezra Klein in the Washington Post.

24

The science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans’ economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that’s not settled yet to me is just nonsense. Just because you have a group of scientists who stood up and said here is the fact. Galileo got outvoted for a spell.

— Texas Gov. Rick Perry, expressing skepticism on global climate change at last night’s presidential debate.

5th

U.S. ranking among the globe’s most competitive economies, according to World Economic Forum, due to “huge deficits and declining public faith in government.” The U.S. ranked #1 in 2008, Switzerland has held the top spot since then.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.

U.S. ranking among the globe’s most competitive economies, according to World Economic Forum, due to “huge deficits and declining public faith in government.”
The U.S. ranked #1 in 2008, Switzerland has held the top spot since then.