Category Archives: Recession News

Bob Cesca: Happy Anniversary, Recovery Act

Bob evaluates the success of the Recovery Act, as well as the horrible marketing campaign that should be informing Americans of the good their government is doing.

We as a national have done better in the stock market:

…in job creation:

…GDP growth:

…and in legislative achievement:

The New York Times figures that 1.6 million jobs have been created by the stimulus. Here is more on their reporting plus their sidebar graph info:

From my driving around from California to Colorado to Illinois, I’ve seen plenty of work being done. It isn’t a boondoggle. It isn’t waste (except for maybe some of the work here in Vegas but that’s a local – re:GOP – choice). Perfectly deployed and explained? No. But a damn sight better than the sitting on our hands Hooverite approach the Rethugs suggested? Hell yeah!

So basically you’ve got the GOP against jobs and growth. Also in this is the reality that the GOP voted against 25 different tax cuts. Yep, they are even voting against things they say they are for when Democrats propose them.

The stupidity and lies continue from the tea baggers.

The Liberal Blogosphere Goes Fox News | Oliver Willis

How does one correct someone who is on your side but has bouts of straying like President Obama? Offer constructive criticism, rather than throwing his clothes on the lawn, for one. You’ve got a perfectly good right to bitch as well as moan about things, but the equivalent of crying “fire” in a crowded theater just makes for a crappy moviegoing experience.

Barack Obama is the center-left, charismatic politician he has been for most of his life in the public. There are numerous issues on which he should be much more progressive, not just for the overall fortunes of the progressive movement, but for the future strength of the country. But we won’t get there if every perceived misstep (especially one based on a less than clear story that is slowly being filled in) is greeted as if he kicked a puppy in the teeth. We shouldn’t help a media environment that already favors Democratic politicians wagging their finger at the base, nor should we allow Democratic pols to get away with conservative nonsense.

Measure pols like Obama on their words and hold them to high standards, but don’t profess anger at them for not holding up to a caricature you dreamily doodled in your Trapper Keeper.

Good, strong, honest, and thoughtful words from Oliver Willis.

I tend to agree with the premise. The downside of being a liberal is that you have to associate with really, really progressive liberals. They eat their young just as quickly as rabid, racist teabagger types…just for different justifications, if not reasons.

Look, overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is important. Just not as important to as many people as, say, reforming health care. Also, Obama isn’t a liberal. If you believe this, you are as stupid as the Dittoheads who fervently believe this. No, you are actually MORE stupid than those morons. They at least have the excuse of not thinking. You probably don’t.

Point is, the concept of even considering to object to EVERYTHING Obama does reactively is just as inane coming from a Rethug or a Progressive. Stop. Think. Wait for the details. Think some more. If it still offends you, fine, take a stance.

That said, I’m not a fan of the budget freeze thing, but more of from a historical 1937 perspective than some “he’s taking pages from the McCain handbook!” kind of crazy. I just think it’s a bad idea. Hell, if both Bob Reich and Paul Krugman are against it, it might not be that hot of a plan.

Geithner Rejects Call to Resign, Faults Republicans – Bloomberg.com

“I can’t take responsibility for the legacy of crises you bequeathed the country….”

The “worst financial crisis in generations” happened after “almost a decade, certainly eight years, of basic neglect of basic public goods, in health care, in education, in public infrastructure, in how we use energy.”

Tim Geithner, say what you will about him, seems to have had enough of Republicans acting like this shit economy isn’t a direct result of their stupidity.

Yes, he’s a tool of big money and I truly wish someone else had his job, but he’s right on this one.

Assignment Detroit Project – TIME.com

Time is focusing on the death of Detroit and hoping to find stories of rebirth as well.

They even include some really, really depressing photos.

I heard about the project on Here and Now today so check out the interview.

As a bonus, ESPN is carrying a story on the Tigers making it to the playoffs and that is inspiring their fans to hope for better things, as sports at it’s best will do.