Friday News Roundup - Domestic
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-07-06/friday-news-roundup-domestic
Four months before Election Day, another disappointing jobs report: the nation's unemployment rate remains at 8.2 percent. President Barack Obama takes his reelection campaign on the road to the Rust Belt, and announces a trade complaint against China on auto imports. Republican challenger Mitt Romney joins conservatives in saying the health care mandate is a tax, raising a furor over whether he has flip-flopped on the issue. More fallout from the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act. And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration goes on record to deny the existence of mermaids. A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
Juan Williams
political analyst, Fox News.
Janet Hook
congressional correspondent, The Wall Street Journal.
David Lindsey
Washington editor-at-large, Reuters.
Friday News Roundup Video
The economy added 80,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday. David Lindsey, Washington editor-at-large for Reuters, said the jobs report followed a trend of dismal economic numbers, but that it likely wouldn't affect U.S. presidential campaign narratives. Juan Williams, political analyst for Fox News, said American anxiety toward the economy would change only as a result of a dramatic shift in employment numbers. Janet Hook, congressional correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, said several more jobs reports are expected before the November elections.
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"President Barack Obama's reelection campaign charged late Thursday that Mitt Romney hoped to use word of his eye-popping $100-million June fundraising haul as, essentially, a staggeringly expensive and carefully orchestrated smokescreen. The remarkable total, if confirmed, was sure to fan the flames of fears, frequently and publicly expressed by team Obama, that Romney will out-raise him."
Can't he be jealous without showing it?
Juan Williams suggests that what people pay most attention to is the overall unemployment rate. People don't pay attention to this number. They pay attention to whether *they* have a job or not.
The $100 million raised by the Republicans only means that by the end of October, I will be longing for a car, beer or insurance commercial.
Juan Williams and David Lindsey agreed that the Administration would be "happy with" the UE rate remaining steady at 8.2% into the election! That says everything you need to know about the President and his people.
Nancy Pelosi was right. America did need to pass the law to find out what's in it. Most still don't, but they're learning, and liking the law more as they learn more.
It's good to hear Juan Williams back on NPR providing comments, whether or not I agree or disagree with his perspective.
RealMcCoy wrote:
"It's good to hear Juan Williams back on NPR providing comments, whether or not I agree or disagree with his perspective."
Wanted to make that same comment. I always enjoy listening to Juan.
Bort wrote:
"Nancy Pelosi was right. America did need to pass the law to find out what's in it. Most still don't, but they're learning, and liking the law more as they learn more."
Polls say otherwise.
I've mentioned it here, Brit Hume still has the best comment on how the American people feel about this law. "The dogs just don't like the dog food". That says it all.
Republicicans care very much about what things are called. It doesn't matter what the law does, all that matters is whether it's called a "tax" or not.
When your policy platform makes no sense, you can't sell it with rational arguments. You can only sell it with emotional appeals, Madison Avenue style. In that case names are everything.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but it wouln't sell as well.
ecgberht wrote: "Polls say otherwise."
What polls are you referring to? All the polls I've seen say that those who know more about the law like it more.
I was hoping the Juan Williams' departure from NPR was permanent. Unfortunately, I see it wasn't.
Bort wrote:
"When your policy platform makes no sense, you can't sell it with rational arguments. You can only sell it with emotional appeals,"
Liberals are KINGS of the anecdote, Bort. They are nothing BUT emotional appeal! It's how ACA was sold! Like the "letter hanging in the President's office", Susan Page just mentioned "a woman breaking down in tears and thanking the President" (ugh!), the woman who had to wear her dead sister's teeth was the worst.
http://betsyspage.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-democrats-prefer-anecdotes-to...
The reason it matters that the tax is called a tax is because it makes it that much harder to increase down the road. Duh! You think it's going to stay where it is?! If I've got this right, there are only a few rich people to whom the tax will apply ... yet it's going to pay for the 30M without insurance! It's MAGIC!
This rose doesn't smell sweet, it stinks. Remember, Bort, just because the court declared the law Constitutional, doesn't mean it's good law.
Bort wrote:
"What polls are you referring to? All the polls I've seen say that those who know more about the law like it more."
Take your pick. (hint: the Daily Kos Tracking Poll does not count). Since the bill was passed, the public has been against it. The numbers fluctuate, but they are not good for this bill. The final poll will be taken in November and I have a feeling, Bort, we'll be cancelling each other out.
I am so tired of this revisionist politics. Say something over and over again to the masses and they will believe it. Are we really worse off then we were 4 years ago??? Really??? Weren't we losing 750,000 jobs a month, the auto industry which is the only shining light in the economy right now was teetering on bankruptcy and we as a nation were in the New Great Depression and we are worse off now? I keep hearing about regulations that are killing jobs? I am a contractor and have been for 20 years and know of not one regulation that is killing my business. So if this is the main point of Romney's campaign why doesn't he please tell me what SPECIFIC regulation he will do away with to help my company grow??? I do know that the banking implosion and subsequent bail outs were caused by W's administration who fought for deregulation of the banking industry which caused the need for the banking bail outs and caused Congress then to pass laws to protect us from that happening again and then the GOPs run congress failed to properly fund the new regulations which has caused this last round of huge banking losses. PLEASE TELL ME DIANE, WHAT AM I MISSING????
I listened to right wing talk radio for 10 minutes yesterday,it`s all I could stand. They are still whining about the Bush enacted TARP program that worked,and saved the world from economic collapse. Why are they so mad? The average Joe doesn`t get what averting disaster means.They`ve bought into the T-Party message that of picking winners and losers is wrong. Who lost?The billionaires who could have bought America and the world for pennies.Who won?The people of the United States and the world,who may be under water,but avoided being drowned.
Think of it like Mr.Potter buying, while fear made regular people desperate sellers in,"It`s A Wonderful Life".
OMG, another GOP puppet without an original idea or even slogan word. You simply repeat what you have heard from FOX Pseudo-News and then think you actually know something. You are uneducated and dangerous to yourself and those you know because you have been infected by the Hitler like propaganda machine of the GOP. Let me ask what un educated sheep state are you from? I'll bet you even think that getting rid of the Department of Education is a good idea. You say "Hey it didn't help me so why do we need it?" Listen to what you are saying about yourself? Perhaps if we had a country that wasn't 27th in education and falling we wouldn't have a GOP but more independents
I am grateful Tamara called in to clarify something that Susan and Juan Williams did not about President Obama not having visited Israel . The panel still did not verify Tamara's claim. But Juan Williams should have informed the public of an earlier visit there by Obama, when saying that President Obama has not visited Israel. He should have contexted his statement. Typical Juan Williams, to come at us with his subjectivity, I say.
Come on NPR, we hold you to a higher standard of Truth! Although Diane Rehm has been making similar mistakes of unchecking a guests misspeak--- uncharacteristically to her past---, I don't think she would have left the public thinking Obama had not ever even visited Israel as a diplomat.
Good thing someone at NPR let Tamara in today, however.
Life is full of contradictions and conundrums, however, I'm seriously puzzled and trying to parse why it's mandatory that state governments require us to have some form of car insurance, but to require us 'humans' to have health coverage (for the only body we'll ever get) is unconstitutional, an infringement on "personal rights" and an overreach of the government.
ecgberht wrote: "Take your pick."
Yeah, I figured you didn't have anything to back up your claim.
J.R. Shaw wrote:
"I am so tired of this revisionist politics."
I know, J.R. so am I !!!
"please tell me what SPECIFIC regulation he will do away with to help my company grow??? "
How about we start with ACA?
"I do know that the banking implosion and subsequent bail outs were caused by W's administration who fought for deregulation of the banking industry which caused the need for the banking bail outs and caused Congress then to pass laws to protect us from that happening again and then the GOPs run congress failed to properly fund the new regulations which has caused this last round of huge banking losses."
"I do know"?! It would appear that "You simply repeat what you have heard from MESSNBC and then think you actually know something". Ronald Reagan said, "It's not that our Democratic friends are ignorant, it's just that they know so many things that just aren't so!" THIS is the revisionist politics to which you refer, J.R. Thanks for providing a STELLAR example.
At its core, the banking implosion and subsequent bail outs (which were a mistake, by the way), were caused by the repeal of Glass-Steagall in the late '90s which allowed banks to co-mingle investment and savings money, and the housing bubble which was fueled by the Democrat meme that "everybody should own a home" (perpetuated by Bush, btw).
Be honest. Both parties have had a turn in the pool. Bush grew government, Obama grew it more. It is poisoning our society and people like you want nothing more than an INCREASED DOSE!
You are correct. Actually HIGHER TAXES WILL JUMP START OUR ECONOMY LIKE THEY DID UNDER CLINTON
Higher tax rates spur the economy to growth. Now for those on the right who are unable to read with objectivity due to their Zombie state of mind, I didn't say PAYING HIGHER TAXES would spur the economy but that higher tax rate would.
Clinton's first act was to lower spending and RAISE TAXES. The higher tax RATE is what caused the economy to JUMP START itself. WHY?
Because all of us self employed folks hired one or two employees and bought "Bob cats" (expensive equipment) to keep our "Taxable Income" below the next incrementally higher tax rate. Rather then sending it to the gov in taxes we used it to grow our businesses. If business was bad then the higher tax rate didn't affect us since we were not making any taxable income to speak of. i have a question? Since this is what worked so well to recover from the last GOP run country why isn't this embraced now? Oh that's right its the same reason the GOP has stopped hiring people on the public side, make the economy soo bad that you will blame the encumbant then when the sheep vote in the new guy we can go back to killing the economy with gusto
"I'm seriously puzzled and trying to parse why it's mandatory that state governments require us to have some form of car insurance, but to require us 'humans' to have health coverage (for the only body we'll ever get) is unconstitutional, an infringement on "personal rights" and an overreach of the government."
Because driving a car is a choice. Breathing is not. States can do what they want according to their Constitutions. So should the FG.
Is Obamacare a tax,a penalty,or an insurance premium?
ecgberht wrote: "Bush grew government, Obama grew it more."
[citation needed]
Once you take inflation and population growth into account, President Obama did not "grow government". We've seen massive government layoffs.
I totally agree Shelly...perhaps, unlike Juan Williams, when you and your own family are part of those unemployment numbers , you notice the national numbers,and of coarse you care about that mulitplicity in your country, but your heart, your real caring, is naturally forced to be about your day to day experiences , to tomorrows deep losses, and very survival.
Those people at the top of this dire situation who have security in their jobs and money, like journalists and most politicians, should never sound complacent about those of us out here truly involved in this mishap; they should never be allowed to sound that way! NPR hosts need to stay sensitive to The People, represent them and check their guests comments when they are 'off'! Especially when we are paying for the program!
ecgberht wrote:
J.R. Shaw wrote:
"I am so tired of this revisionist politics."
I know, J.R. so am I !!!
"please tell me what SPECIFIC regulation he will do away with to help my company grow??? "
How about we start with ACA?
I am assuming you are referring to to the Affordable Health Care law( Obama Cares Program) . I have 22 employees and this law will actually help me pay for the health care I wanted to provide for my guys. I already have my insurance guy and attorney ready to roll on this. My employees are ecstatic and this will help me draw guys from the larger companies I compete with. Is this the regulation/law you are referring to?
A caller on the show commented that the Obama administration has overwhelmed business with regulations making it very difficult to start a new business and succeed. As a small business owner I have to completely disagree. My state of Florida requires many more businesses to be licensed with the state and often requires professional certification for types of businesses that most other states do not. Florida also has much more strict regulations in the building industry due to environmental concerns and hurricanes. Many of those regulations are a result of Hurricane Andrew. I would like to point out that the Republican's have dominated Florida politics for years. They are responsible for those regulations, NOT Democrats, NOT Obama. The idea that the Obama administration is saddling small business with too many regulations is a complete myth.
In addition while the recession devastated my business, we survived and after our worst year ever in 2010, 2011 was our best year ever. That was due to three new customers who are newly started businesses. They are not only succeeding but growing. Meanwhile our customer's who were in business prior to the beginning of the economic downturn are going out of business left and right. The thing is, most of the new guys tend to be moderate to left in their politics, the old are conservatives. It almost seems to me that conservatives are looking for an excuse to fail.
Bort wrote:
"ecgberht wrote: "Take your pick."
Yeah, I figured you didn't have anything to back up your claim."
Ummm, Bort, actually YOU'RE the one who made the claim.
"America did need to pass the law to find out what's in it. Most still don't, but they're learning, and liking the law more as they learn more."
Did you forget?
Of course every poll depends on how you ask the questions, but a sampling of these will show you how wrong you are. But since you asked,
http://www.gallup.com/poll/4708/healthcare-system.aspx
Here's another one you can peruse:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57404342-503544/poll-47-disapprov...
While overall numbers are more favorable since 2010, this poll shows the numbers have PEAKED and are declining for those who approve. Your contention that "the more they learn the more they like the law" is demonstrably false.
Peaked?
I suspect that as more and more people actually benefit from this Obama Cares Law that the poles will reflect the fact that this is a great law and will benefit Americans much as Medicare has
J.R. Shaw wrote:
"You are correct. Actually HIGHER TAXES WILL JUMP START OUR ECONOMY LIKE THEY DID UNDER CLINTON"
No they DIDN'T! Clinton did raise taxes when he came into office. The economy continued to stall until 1994 when the Gingrich led Congress and the Contract with America FORCED HIM TO LOWER TAXES! That, combined with the Internet rise, bolstered productivity and pushed us to surplus. Great REVISIONIST history, J.R. You can read more about him here if you would like to expand your command of actual facts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Bill_Clinton#The_economy
(Skip to the "economy" section).