The job numbers for August are out. And they don’t look good.
Unemployment is now at 9.7% — the highest it’s been since 1983.
The “underemployment rate” — the unemployed rate plus part-time workers who prefer a full-time position plus people who want work but have given up looking for a job — is at 16.8 percent, a record.
What does all this mean?
Obviously, nearly 1 in 10 Americans are out of work. But what else does it mean?
It means that the wrong people are losing their jobs.
We need to fire some elected officials. I’m thinking the entire Obama administration would be a good place to start. But then, I said don’t hire those rascals to begin with. But did America listen to me? No. 52% of American voters went and did something stupid.
Oh, sure. They were frustrated. They didn’t like how things were. But not putting any thought into a solution is a bad solution.
So, we have unemployment near 10%.
I think we ought to give Congress a 10% unemployment rate. That would mean 10 Senators losing their jobs. And 43 or 44 Representatives being sent packing.
Some say to throw them all out. But, as a Representative said yesterday, there are downsides to doing that. Remember, that’s basically what happened to put Obama in office: a desire to get rid of who was there. They seemed to forget that Bush wasn’t running for a third term. Stupid Obama voters.
So, which 10% of Congress should be unemployed?
Oh, I have some ideas.
Senators who are up for reelection in 2010:
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Schumer, Charles E. (D-NY)
Specter, Arlen (D-PA)
Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT)
Lincoln, Blanche L. (D-AR)
Representatives:
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Barney Frank (D-MA)
Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Corrine Brown (D-FL)
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL)
Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Jim Moran (D-VA)
…Oh heck, I could go on and on with Representatives. But I’d start with this group.
If 10% of Congress lost their jobs … the most useless 10% … then unemployment might not be a bad thing after all.
Imagine this group having to work for a living. Or even trying to find a job.
Corrine Brown? I remember her. She was the one who, in a rather shameless political stunt on the floor of Congress, “graduated” the Florida “Gaytas” for “winning they third football championsip in the last two years”. But that’s what happens when you let people with the intellect of a five-yeard old become Congresscritters.
You’ll consistently find that most people that “want” the job of senator or congressman have absolutely no business holding that job…that’s particularly true of any that not only want that job but also want a “D” after their name.
I’m sure Obama can hire all these unemployed people as the czar of something or other.
Call me a pessimist but I imagine they’d all end up coming back as lobbyists making even more money then they do now. Add to that their fat congressional retirement and they’d never have to look for real work. So even though I’d like to see them offering to wash my car windows at the red light, or holding up any signs saying ‘will work for food’. I’m not holding my breath… ’cause it just ain’t gonna happen.
Unfortunately, most people with sufficient intellect and wisdom to hold public office know better than to run for public office. After all, public office is just a glorified government job.
Don’t know if which if either of them are up in 2010 (and am FAR too lazy to google it) but in the spirit of bipartisanship lets add-
Collins (R-Me) and Snowe (R-Me) to the list of senators to go.
While we are at it, out with the (slightly) animated corpse that used to be Richard Lugar (R-fossilized).
Lugar was once a good guy, but he is clearly declining mentally and physically.
I would add john mccain, lindsey graham, voinovich, snowe, collins, and other republicrats.
harry reid, rope, pickup. Some assembly required.
Son of Bob is right. And apparently, the principle applies to the presidency as well. It’s been nearly a year since a bare majority of voters choose this embarrassing phony for CIC, but not one of the ones I’ve talked to can tell me even vaguely why they thought he was qualified.
You know, other than saying that “he’s not Bush!”, which may be the dumbest rationale I’ve heard to date; lots of people aren’t Bush, but at least Republicans didn’t purposely find the most fraudulent sophomore to run for office. Sure, McCain’s wouldn’t much better, but at least he knows what he’s doing sometimes.
Dang! As Basil righteously reminded me, the damn bad gop’ers aren’t up for election in 2010.
Fortunately I am represented by “decent” senators (not great but okay). So I get to lay the blame on y’all.
But anytime a democommie has to grab a squeegee, its a good day.
They didn’t give us a choice. The GOP demonstrated very clearly that they “didn’t get it” and refused to hear the call to withdraw support for RINO’s because some of us were done holding our noses. No party seems willing to get off an incumbent, no matter how bad they are, so the voters did it for them!
Lastly the GOP gives us the most liberal candidate for president in my lifetime, and that’s a long time, fresh off his two year stint of selling out the GOP, and that was all she wrote.
Credit the GOP with Obama and the dem majorities. It’s their victory, not the democrats.
WAIT. I’m so confused. I thought it was supposed top out at 8%, MONTHS ago. It isn’t better yet? Is this the hopeless change Obugger promised?
Blanche Lincoln? Maybe I’ll run for her seat. I’m looking to change careers since my request to skip Obama’s propaganda message to the tykes was laughed at. They thought I was joking when I said I had no urge to listen to Obama talk about how inspiring he is for 20 minutes. I love the kids, but everyone I work with is a Kool-aid gulper.
@3. After the Day From Hell I spent on the phone with CO Unemployment, I volunteer to be the czae in charge of deciding which American Bourbon is the best one. Right now, Bulleitt is in the running, right behind perennial favorite, Wild Turkey.
But…but…according to some of my co-workers, Moron.org, Sheeple for the Amerikan Way and the Kwazy Kos Kidz, it’s all suppose to be Bush’s fault. Karl Rove is suppose to be the reason I haven’t gotten my free unicorn, I’m still paying rent and “The Messiah” isn’t paying my bills. Surley Chris Mathews and Keith Olbermann wouldn’t lie to us, would they (taking another swig of Kool-Aid)?!
On a more serious note, I think it’s safe to say that Harry Reid will be gone like a bad smell in 2010 (depending on how many Illegal aliens and people from the Bay Area of the Peoples’ Republic of California ACORN is able to smuggle into the state for the election)…even the marginally sane liberals in Northern Nevada don’t like him. I’m sorry to say, though, the inmates of the Peoples’ Republic of California will most likely re-elect Pelosi, Boxer, et-al. Same goes with Massachusetts…though if we get a surprise and they oust Frank, he can always find ample work in San Francisco.
Some of those people, like Nancy P., will have their seat for as long as they like. Her district has been gerrymandered into something like 80% liberals. And they are so liberal they think she is a little too far to the right. The only way she will ever lose that seat is if, for instance, a tree falls on her and squishes her. Not suggesting anything, just pointing out a fact.
[Or if Dorothy drops a house on her. – B.]
I’ll admit it, I started giggling like a girl at that thought.
It’s the same for governors. We have Bill Richardson – still – who should have been charged with racketeering & removed from office. Instead, the US Attorney’s office (the office where Obama appointed leftist Eric Holder as AG) declined to press charges, even though U.S. Attorney Greg Fouratt sent a letter to the defense team stating that the notification was “not to be interpreted as an exoneration of any party’s conduct.” Fouratt also said that the investigation revealed that CDR and its officers made substantial contributions to Richardson’s political organizations while the company was seeking the work and that “pressure from the governor’s office resulted in corruption of the procurement process so that CDR would be awarded such work.”
Remember, Richardson’s the same ‘tard that Obama wanted as Secretary of Commerce. Like so many other liberals, he seems to be a “Teflon” politician. Any lie, any theft, any underhanded back-room deal will always be seen as “serving the greater good”.
[Excellent point about the governors. The chief executives of the states are as important as, if not more important than, Senators. Governors are usually better presidents than Senators. Obama proves that. And we need good conservatives holding office at the state level. – B.]
I wouldn’t hire that group to clean my toilet.
Philippians 3:19
“Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Not a plus on the average job resume.
Where can I find a listing of which members of the senate are up for re-election? I’ve been lloking for one for my Facebook group since I founded it a couple of months ago – the idea is to try to organize an actual push to cycle these D.C. loons out of office. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
-Patrick M. McNamee
P.S. If any are interested in joining my group – befriend me on Facebook or look for a group titled ”
Vote For New Representation!”
or follow the link:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127095615445
So, if we replace idiot congressmen with other idiots (only idiots are willing to run for congress) what difference will it make? Like, I’ve seen a lot of leadership (BWAAAAAAAA) out of the Republicans recently, who have spent the last year hiding under their desks in the fetal position, wetting themselves while repeating the Republican mantra “Make the Bad Man Go Away”…
If they counted the never have/never will be “employed” the number would be closer to 30+%
must be nice waking up every day without having to worry about food…rent…insurance etc etc etc
wow, being on welfare sounds kinda like being in congress… how ironic
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I think we shouldn’t replace the 10% either. We can get by with fewer of them.
This country has been pretty much destroyed by Republican ideology, yet they continue to spew their lies and misrepresentations. Let them have their irrational and uneducated base, the rest of us want a Public Option that is not controlled by insurance bureaucrats who only think of the bonus they will get by canceling coverages, and letting people die. Personally, I hope that anyone who works for a health insurance company and makes even a penny off a policy cancellation rots in hell.
Grassely, and the rest of the Republican drones, have disgraced this country. As for the Blue Dogs, I have one in my state (Virginia) I will be campaigning against if he steps away from the Public Option. I did not vote for Democrats in the last election just to find out that they are secretly republicans and do not have the spine to stand up for what is right. As far as I am concerned a Blue Dog is just a Republican in disguise. Replace a minimum of 10% of the Republicans with true democrats, and I will be happy.
[The amazing thing is, every so often, someone spouts nonsense from the left and doesn’t fill the comments with a bunch of misspelled words. The left’s hatred (“burns in hell”) shows through. Still, we must be dealing with someone who has some education. Too bad it was wasted.
I’ve lived through 4 Democratic presidents (currently suffering through number 5) and from experience, know the damage that Democrats in the White House can do.
The suffering inflicted by Republicans is true to a point. We had Republicans that acted like Democrats, and ended up with the mess we have today. Of course, when the Democrats took Congress back in 2006, things went down hill fast.
But, most true lefties don’t have enough sense to understand that, since the facts fly in the face of their ideology. So, the facts are ignored.
I wouldn’t mind them living in their own little fantasy world if it didn’t intrude on my reality. – B.]
Good job, Basil!
When I began to read the above comment, I wondered if I should respond just to let Rob know how much we appreciate divergent points of view – but I see that you’re on the case.
Basil you are funny. You have lived through four democrat presidents yet you never learned anything about legislative policy and procedures? Apparently you were not paying attention, so I will help you out.
Your statement “Of course, when the Democrats took Congress back in 2006, things went down hill fast.”
Actually, if I did not think it was just ignorance on your part, I would think it was just a continuation of the right’s lies and half-truths. So, I will educate you. In 2006 Democrats were elected as a majority. However, they were not given a filibuster proof majority. This is a very big distinction Basil, as this allowed the Republicans to basically shut down legislation on everything between 2006-2008. In that time period filibusters increased seven fold over prior years. Republicans did not earn the title “Obstructionist” in the past 7 months they have earned it over the past two years.
As for some of your other comments, I find them too laughable to debate.
[Debate? What makes you think anyone wants to debate you? You’re a liberal. You don’t think like we do. What’s to gain from a debate?
I will correct mistakes in fact and logic, though.
Your statement that a filibuster-proof majority was not always held by Democrats is true. However, the problem isn’t that Congress didn’t do enough. It’s that they did too much. Your thinking that the government should have done more is flat out wrong. But, if you thought right, you’d be a conservative.
Anyway, thanks for chiming in. Your comments offer an insight to the way liberals think. It helps confirm to any conservative that may waver that liberals should not be allowed anywhere near a position of power. – B]
I do not fully understand how job opportunities are going to be created when many United States businesses are spending their money offshore. Consider General Electric for example. Their latest initiatives to manufacture aircraft engines for the Chinese will lead to them passing over their designs for the engines they build. Another corporation, Yum Brands, is getting over 50% of their profits from outside America. Unless trade policies are modified, the downward spiral in jobs is predictable.