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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/13/2005 1:43:54 AM
From: Sully-	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81568

And you'll NEVER see Lizzie make this comparison either. Brother, Can Ya’ Spare a Dime? PoliPundit.com Here’s a statistical comparison that you will not – repeat: not – see anywhere in the liberal media: May 10, 1997 The prior month’s initial jobless claims = 1,312,000. Employed workforce = 129.464 million. New jobless claims as a share of the employed workforce = 1.01 percent. On the other hand, there’s this: May 7, 2005 The prior month’s initial jobless claims = 1,296,000. Employed workforce = 141.099 million (as of April 2005). New jobless claims as a share of the employed workforce = 0.92 percent. Yeah, that’s right, there are 11.635 million more jobs, right now, when compared to May 1997. But fewer people are being laid off from their jobs, currently, when compared to the number of people who were being laid off back then. Back then, of course, the media screamed at us that we were in the midst of the “greatest economic expansion of all time.” So, ergo, the next stop for us, at this juncture, is crystal clear: Hooverville. Note: Workforce data here. -- Jayson polipundit.com workforcesecurity.doleta.gov workforcesecurity.doleta.gov data.bls.gov

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/13/2005 3:00:43 AM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 81568

Oh the horror of it all. Next stop Hooverville! Exports boom, drop in imports boost economy By Patrice Hill THE WASHINGTON TIMES A record surge in exports and an unexpected falloff in imports in March enabled the economy to grow faster than previously thought last winter -- at a 4 percent rate or higher instead of 3 percent. That is the conclusion of economists after the Commerce Department yesterday reported an unexpected 9.2 percent drop in the monthly trade deficit to $55 billion, the lowest in a half year. The surge in exports was fueled by aircraft sales, while the decline in imports was fed by a tailing off of Chinese textile imports. The surprising downturn in the deficit, the biggest since 2001, boosted the dollar and was greeted as good news on Wall Street, even though few expect it to be repeated in future months. The report, which also revised the February deficit down to $60.6 billion from $61 billion, offered consolation to U.S. businesses deluged by competition from imports and means that the economy might have grown as fast as 5 percent in the first quarter, said Oscar Gonzalez, economist with John Hancock Financial Services. "But the trade picture is still fairly dismal," he said. "We still are on course to break last year's record trade gap" because consumers are earning more and likely will want to indulge their "appetite for cheap foreign goods," he said. Although some economists might interpret March's downshift in demand for imports as evidence the economy is softening, Mr. Gonzalez said it largely reflects the winding down of a surge of imported clothing from China that started at the beginning of the year when quotas were lifted. Imports from China fell 4.4 percent, led by a 21.2 percent drop in clothing and textiles. Manufacturers, battered by years of losing market share to Japanese, Chinese, Korean and other competitors, welcomed the report, but are not ready to break out the champagne just yet, said Frank Vargo, vice president of the National Association of Manufacturers. "It's too soon to know if we've reached a turning point on our deficit," he said, although he noted the one area where the improvement may be more than fleeting is in trade with Europe. The dollar has declined nearly a third against the euro in the last three years -- by far the most against any currency -- and that has made U.S. exports more attractive to European buyers while curbing demand for European imports. But the gains with Europe are not enough to make up for the burgeoning deficit with China, Mr. Vargo said. Even taking into account March's big import drop, the deficit with China is running at a $203 billion annual rate compared to $168 billion a year ago, he said. Under pressure from textile and furniture manufacturers losing market share to China, the U.S. Congress and Bush administration have stepped up pressure on China to stop fixing its currency against the dollar and let it rise in the open market. The Chinese have responded with mixed signals. Yesterday, a report in a major Chinese newspaper suggested that a revaluation of the Chinese yuan may come soon, but that was later denied by the Chinese central bank. "The U.S. dollar is still 7 percent higher against foreign currencies than it was when it started its run-up eight years ago," said Mr. Vargo. "The dollar has adjusted nicely against European, Canadian and some other market currencies, but has been prevented from adjusting against Asian currencies because governments there continue to intervene." Peter Morici, University of Maryland business professor, said the unexpected 2.5 percent drop in imports -- much of it is in consumer goods and autos -- could be explained by a pullback in consumer spending caused by high oil prices and health care costs. Oil imports, when adjusted for inflation, actually declined, he noted. The drop in Chinese imports also may be the result of administrative measures taken by Chinese authorities to avoid political retaliation in the U.S., he said. washingtontimes.com

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/13/2005 8:07:43 AM
From: longnshort	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81568

The French Were on the Take Thursday, May 12, 2005 By John Gibson Thursday, the French Senate — the one in France, which is that uppity country in Europe — was interrupted by a man who came to debate with no clothes on. "Naked Man in French Senate," that was the slug. Tends to catch your eye. "Man, I thought, that's perfect." The naked man was trying to protest the vote on the E.U. Constitution, which we don't really care about. But I'd like to declare this naked man a protest of something else. Here's what it is and I quote from a note FOX News' Eric Shawn sent to all of us Thursday on one of these fascinating new developments: "The House Energy and Commerce Committee will reveal that the Iraqi intelligence service tried to target French politicians, including the possibility of supporting a French presidential candidate so they would support Saddam (search) and end sanctions. Memos show the Iraqis were promised by the spokesman for Chirac's campaign that France would veto any American decision regarding an attack on Iraq." In English, the French were on the take, they were being bribed by Saddam and they were willing to sell their U.N. Security Council veto to Saddam. That is why the French were threatening a veto before the Iraq war. Proof, documentation, memos — it wasn't possible to convince the French the war was right because the French were on the take. Well, gee, that puts a different light on it, doesn't it? Remember how a few of us were saying the U.N. debate on Iraq smelled distinctly like the fix was in? Remember during the early Oil-for-Food (search) days when a few of us were saying never mind Saddam stealing oil billions? It's the bribery, stupid, especially when it's bribing France to veto war against Iraq? Well, there it is: France was bribed. It was going to veto not because France hates war but because Saddam bought off a whole country. And you know what? It doesn't bother anybody over at the U.N. because that's how things are done. Where is John Bolton (search)? Is he on the job at the U.N. yet? That's My Word. foxnews.com

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/13/2005 12:22:01 PM
From: Skywatcher	Respond to of 81568

more great news of the great leader China Says US Impeded North Korea Arms Talks By Joseph Kahn The New York Times Friday 13 May 2005 Beijing - A senior Chinese diplomat on Thursday accused the Bush administration of undermining efforts to revive negotiations with the North Korean government and said there was "no solid evidence" that North Korea was preparing to test a nuclear weapon. The comments by Yang Xiyu, a senior Foreign Ministry official and China's top official on the North Korean nuclear problem, were noteworthy because the Chinese authorities very rarely speak to journalists about the issue. The comments reflect growing frustration in Beijing with the Bush administration. Even as the White House presses China to find a solution to the nuclear issue, Chinese officials say, it has hurled insults at North Korea and given its leaders excuses to stay away from the bargaining table. "It is true that we do not yet have tangible achievements" in ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Mr. Yang said in an interview. "But a basic reason for the unsuccessful effort lies in the lack of cooperation from the U.S. side." Mr. Yang said that when President Bush referred to the North Korea leader, Kim Jong Il, as a "tyrant" in late April, Mr. Bush "destroyed the atmosphere" for negotiations, undoing weeks of efforts to persuade North Korea that the United States would bargain in good faith. China, which has used its diplomatic clout to try to broker a peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis, has struggled to restart six-nation negotiations, which stalled nearly a year ago. Mr. Yang said formally on Thursday what diplomats here had been whispering for months: personal attacks against Mr. Kim by Mr. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other top administration officials had caused a "loss of face" for North Korean officials and created big obstacles to reaching any negotiated solution. He urged the Bush administration to find some "informal channel" to talk with North Korean diplomats, perhaps over coffee or a meal, to build confidence. American officials have resisted any direct contact with North Koreans outside the six-nation talks. Mr. Yang said that without some new gestures the obstacles to resuming negotiations could prove insurmountable. "I know the U.S. is reluctant to have even informal contacts" with North Korea, he said. "But as the world's superpower, I would hope it can show more flexibility and sincerity to make a resumption of talks possible." The Beijing government is determined to head off a looming confrontation between the United States and North Korea, which it fears could prompt a regional nuclear arms race and shatter the stability that has underpinned China's own economic rise. But the prospects for a negotiated solution have diminished after the recriminations between the United States and North Korea and warnings by American officials that North Korea has accelerated its development of nuclear bombs and may be preparing to test a nuclear device. Mr. Yang said China would be "very concerned" about a nuclear test. But he said he doubted North Korea would take that step now, adding that China had made it "very, very clear" to North Korea that a test or any other provocative display of its nuclear capability would have serious consequences. North Korea "understands the consequences very clearly," Mr. Yang said. "I do not think we should reach the conclusion that there will be a test." Some American and Chinese analysts have speculated that North Korea may have made preparations for a test in full view of American spy satellites to create a sense of urgency about its nuclear program and lay the groundwork for demanding greater concessions if negotiations resume. But others say they believe North Korea is determined to become a full-fledged nuclear power and is prepared to weather penalties that may be imposed as it pursues that goal. The United States and China worked closely together to organize multiple rounds of talks with North Korea that also included South Korea, Japan and Russia. Not since the two countries coordinated strategies against the former Soviet Union in the 1980's have they cooperated on a diplomatic project for such an extended period. But tensions have risen as North Korea has appeared to be continuing to develop its nuclear arsenal and has resisted returning to the talks. Bush administration officials contend that China must begin using more economic and political leverage to pressure North Korea. China has rejected "strong-arm tactics" and suggested, usually in private, that the United States stop demonizing North Korea. Mr. Yang expressed some puzzlement as to why the United States had pushed China to cut off oil or fuel supplies to North Korea - part of its lifeline of support for the government, which is in need of money - at the same time that it professed to want to resume negotiations. "If you look at history you cannot find many successful cases in which sanctions achieved a successful result," he said. Mr. Yang disputed an account of a meeting he held with Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill that was carried last week in The Washington Post. In that account, Mr. Yang was quoted as rejecting American demands to cut off North Korea's fuel supplies, but as indicating that China might withhold food aid as a way of forcing North Korea to resume talks. Mr. Yang said Thursday that he did not discuss those options with Mr. Hill. He said he did not see the need for any penalties, involving food, oil shipments or other measures, as long as the talks moved ahead.

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/26/2005 5:24:42 PM
From: Sully-	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81568

Welcome to Hooverville <ggg> GDP PoliPundit.com The U.S. economy grew at an inflation-adjusted rate of 3.5 percent last quarter. That represents an upwards revision, from the initial estimate of 3.1 percent. Simultaneously, the Commerce Department’s measure of inflation was revised downwards, from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent. To put those numbers into perspective, over in EUrope, and despite their leaders’ immense sophistication, and the true enlightenment of their respective populations, things aren’t quite working out as well: “Today, GDP per capita in France, Germany or Italy is 30% below US levels and, at current trends, this gap will increase during the next few years.” Merde. Hat tip on the EU stats: Maggie. -- Jayson polipundit.com oecdobserver.org

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	5/27/2005 9:56:50 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81568

More of how the left supports out troops: Message 21364770 Message 21364782 Message 21364793 Message 21364807

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (61391)	7/8/2005 7:48:26 PM
From: Sully-	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

Hooverville Job Market Update -- Jayson PoliPundit.com The Labor Department just released its latest report on the nation’s job markets. As a preliminary matter, the following stats will help put them into perspective: June 1997 10.4 = unemployment rate among blacks. 7.6 = unemployment among latinos. 5.0 = overall unemployment rate. $424.03 = average weekly earnings by factory-line workers and non-managers in the services sectors. Then there’s this: June 2005 10.3 = unemployment rate among blacks. 5.8 = unemployment among latinos. 5.0 = overall unemployment rate. $541.22 = average weekly earnings by factory-line workers and non-managers in the services sectors. The U.S. economy created 146,000 W-2 jobs in June. This year’s net W-2 job gain now amounts to 1,088,000 – or just over 181,000 per month. Payroll gains in June included new jobs in the following labor sectors and sub-sectors: Commercial banking, legal services, architecture and engineering, accounting and bookkeeping, computer systems, business management and managerial consulting, real estate, and health care services. When non-payroll jobs are added to the mix (e.g., software consultants; contract salespersons; self-employment), the economy created 163,000 new positions last month, bringing this year’s total employment gain up to 1,482,000. Back when President Bush first took office, average hourly earnings for production-line workers and non-supervisors in the services sectors were $14.27. As of last month, however, said earnings had grown to $16.06 per hour, thereby posting a total gain of 12.54 percent. In January 2001, average weekly earnings for non-managers and production-line workers were $481.23. (See here, as revised - ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/news.release/History/empsit.03092001.news) As of last month, however, and as stated above, those wages had grown to $541.22, thereby posting a total gain of 12.46 percent. Whereas total consumer inflation since the President first was sworn into office has risen just barely above 11 percent. Uh, yeah, you read that correctly. Total wage growth for lower-tiered workers has outpaced total inflation since the Prez first took office. And that says nothing about the higher relative wage-growth rates for managerial-level workers. Nor does it factor in the explosive growth of homeowners’ equity over the past several years. Nor does it take into account higher rates of total income growth for all workers (e.g., wages plus cash bonuses, after-tax stock dividends, and the like). Sequential gains in hourly wages for non-managers and factory workers have been posted in 47 of the 53 months which have elapsed since the President’s first inauguration. {BTW: You too can look up all these stats regarding hourly earnings. Just click here - data.bls.gov Then click on “Total Private Average Hourly Earnings of Production Workers.” Then go to the bottom of the page and click on “Retrieve data."} Lastly, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 percent in June. That’s less than half of France’s reported (10.1%) unemployment rate. And it’s nearly 60 percent lower than Germany’s reported unemployment rate (11.7%, as adjusted, following the re-classification of their social welfare rolls). Note: Additional data also can be found here. data.bls.gov polipundit.com ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/news.release/History/empsit.070997.news bls.gov inflationdata.com mabico.com news.bbc.co.uk