Obama: The Era of Flimflam Economics, Part III

Every time I turn on the news I hear the same sob story, whether it’s Obama, Geithner, Biden, Pelosi, Reid, a left-wing congressperson, or some low level administration official, they all repeat the same Democrat mantra (give or take a few thousand Americans), “We inherited an economy that was losing 700,000 jobs a month.” “We inherited an economy that was losing 750,000 jobs a month.” “We inherited an economy that was losing 800,000 jobs a month.” "Aum – Bush bad, Obama good". I’m so sick of it that I decided to pull the Bureau of Labor Statistics historical archive to see for myself. Where did they come up with these numbers? Why does it keep growing? Does anyone ever refute the bull..., excuse me, lies? And better still, who cares?

Based on the facts, unemployment didn’t really fall off a cliff until Obama won the election, in November of 2008. That’s when everything went to hell in a hand basket. And where are we today? Other than a few gains in March, April and May of 2010, in large part due to the hiring of around 500,000 temporary census workers, there’s not much to be proud of. The unemployment rate stood at 9.5%, last month, essentially the same as it was in May of 2009. So much for the "Recovery Summer".

The truth is that in September of 2008 the economy lost (-159,000) jobs which was 89% worse than the previous month's loss of (-84,000). Then in October of 2008 we lost (-240,000) jobs which was 51% worse than September. Then once Obama was elected, in November 2008, we lost (-533,000) jobs, an increase of 122% over October, and then we lost another (-524,000) in December. Was it just a coincidence that the economy fell off a cliff as soon as Obama won the election? I think not.

The greatest declines in employment occurred as soon as Obama won the election.

I'm sorry, but I don’t see where Obama inherited an economy that was losing 700,000 to 800,000 jobs per month. Sorry, but the facts don't support the mantra. The sad truth is that once Obama won the election it was his questionable - identity, qualifications, philosophy, intentions and relations that did the greatest harm to the economy.

I don’t remember President G. W. Bush, or President R. W. Reagan ever complaining about what they inherited from the previous administration, they just did their jobs, gave us some relief through tax cuts, and then things turned around. Somebody needs to stop whining, chanting, and making up numbers - and just do their jobs. Cut taxes, cut spending, then sit down and shut up. If you can’t handle that, then resign.

In reviewing the archived Employment Situation Reports available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics this is what I found. What follows are the headlines (revisions excluded unless included therein):

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: JANUARY 2008 - Both nonfarm payroll employment, at 138.1 million, and the unemployment rate, at 4.9 percent, were essentially unchanged in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The small January movement in nonfarm payroll employment (-17,000) reflected declines in construction and manufacturing and job growth in health care. Average hourly earnings rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: FEBRUARY 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment edged down in February (-63,000), and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.8 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Employment fell in manufacturing, construction, and retail trade. Job growth continued in health care and in food services. Average hourly earnings rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MARCH 2008 - The unemployment rate rose from 4.8 to 5.1 percent in March, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down (-80,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the past 3 months, payroll employment has declined by 232,000. In March, employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and employment services, while health care, food services, and mining added jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: APRIL 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed in April (-20,000), following job losses that totaled 240,000 in the first 3 months of the year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The unemployment rate, at 5.0 percent, also was little changed in April. Employment continued to decline in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while jobs were added in health care and in professional and technical services.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MAY 2008 - The unemployment rate rose from 5.0 to 5.5 percent in May, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down (-49,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In May, employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and temporary help services, while health care continued to add jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: JUNE 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down in June (-62,000), while the unemployment rate held at 5.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and employment services, while health care and mining added jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 6 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: JULY 2008 - The unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down in July (-51,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and several service-providing industries, while health care and mining continued to add jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 6 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: AUGUST 2008 - The unemployment rate rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent in August, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down (-84,000), the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In August, employment fell in manufacturing and employment services, while mining and health care continued to add jobs. Average hourly earnings rose by 7 cents, or 0.4 percent, over the month.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: SEPTEMBER 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment declined by (-159,000) in September, and the unemployment rate held at 6.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while mining and health care continued to add jobs.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment fell by (-240,000) in October, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.1 to 6.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. October's drop in payroll employment followed declines of 127,000 in August and 284,000 in September, as revised. Employment has fallen by 1.2 million in the first 10 months of 2008; over half of the decrease has occurred in the past 3 months. In October, job losses continued in manufacturing, construction, and several service-providing industries. Health care and mining continued to add jobs.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: NOVEMBER 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply (-533,000) in November, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.5 to 6.7 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. November's drop in payroll employment followed declines of 403,000 in September and 320,000 in October, as revised. Job losses were large and widespread across the major industry sectors in November.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: DECEMBER 2008 - Nonfarm payroll employment declined sharply in December, and the unemployment rate rose from 6.8 to 7.2 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employment fell by (-524,000) over the month and by 1.9 million over the last 4 months of 2008. In December, job losses were large and widespread across most major industry sectors.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: JANUARY 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply in January (-598,000) and the unemployment rate rose from 7.2 to 7.6 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employment has declined by 3.6 million since the start of the recession in December 2007; about one-half of this decline occurred in the past 3 months. In January, job losses were large and widespread across nearly all major industry sectors.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: FEBRUARY 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to fall sharply in February (-651,000), and the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 to 8.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employment has declined by 2.6 million in the past 4 months. In February, job losses were large and widespread across nearly all major industry sectors.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MARCH 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline sharply in March (-663,000), and the unemployment rate rose from 8.1 to 8.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Since the recession began in December 2007, 5.1 million jobs have been lost, with almost two-thirds (3.3 million) of the decrease occurring in the last 5 months. In March, job losses were large and widespread across the major industry sectors.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: APRIL 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in April (-539,000), and the unemployment rate rose from 8.5 to 8.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Since the recession began in December 2007, 5.7 million jobs have been lost. In April, job losses were large and widespread across nearly all major private-sector industries. Overall, private-sector employment fell by 611,000.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MAY 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment fell by (-345,000) in May, about half the average monthly decline for the prior 6 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The unemployment rate continued to rise, increasing from 8.9 to 9.4 percent. Steep job losses continued in manufacturing, while declines moderated in construction and several service-providing industries.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: JUNE 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in June (-467,000), and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Job losses were widespread across the major industry sectors, with large declines occurring in manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JULY 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in July (-247,000), and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The average monthly job loss for May through July (-331,000) was about half the average decline for November through April (-645,000). In July, job losses continued in many of the major industry sectors.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- AUGUST 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in August (-216,000), and the unemployment rate rose to 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Although job losses continued in many of the major industry sectors in August, the declines have moderated in recent months.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- SEPTEMBER 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline in September (-263,000), and the unemployment rate (9.8 percent) continued to trend up, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The largest job losses were in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and government.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- OCTOBER 2009 - The unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline (-190,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The largest job losses over the month were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- OCTOBER 2009 - The unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline (-190,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The largest job losses over the month were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- NOVEMBER 2009 - The unemployment rate edged down to 10.0 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged (-11,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. In the prior 3 months, payroll job losses had averaged 135,000 a month. In November, employment fell in construction, manufacturing, and information, while temporary help services and health care added jobs.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- DECEMBER 2009 - Nonfarm payroll employment edged down (-85,000) in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, while temporary help services and health care added jobs.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JANUARY 2010 - The unemployment rate fell from 10.0 to 9.7 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged (-20,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction and in transportation and warehousing, while temporary help services and retail trade added jobs.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- FEBRUARY 2010 - Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000) in February, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction and information, while temporary help services added jobs. Severe winter weather in parts of the country may have affected payroll employment and hours; however, it is not possible to quantify precisely the net impact of the winter storms on these measures. For more information on the effects of the severe weather on employment estimates, see the box note at the end of the release.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- MARCH 2010 - Nonfarm payroll employment increased by +162,000 in March, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month. Employment in federal government also rose, reflecting the hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010 [+51,300 per Table B-1, Federal hires]. Employment continued to decline in financial activities and in information.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- APRIL 2010 - Nonfarm payroll employment rose by +290,000 in April, the unemployment rate edged up to 9.9 percent, and the labor force increased sharply, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in manufacturing, professional and business services, health care, and leisure and hospitality. Federal government employment also rose, reflecting continued hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010 [+69,100 per Table B-1, Federal hires].

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- MAY 2010 - Total nonfarm payroll employment grew by +431,000 in May, reflecting the [hiring of 411,000 temporary employees to work on Census 2010], the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Private-sector employment changed little (+41,000). Manufacturing, temporary help ser-vices, and mining added jobs, while construction employment declined. The unemployment rate edged down to 9.7 percent.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JUNE 2010 - Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by (-125,000) in June, and the unemployment rate edged down to 9.5 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The decline in payroll employment reflected a decrease (-225,000) in the number of temporary employees working on Census 2010. Private-sector payroll employment edged up by 83,000.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- JULY 2010 - Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by (-131,000) in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Federal government employment fell, as 143,000 temporary workers hired for the decennial census completed their work. Private-sector payroll employment edged up by 71,000.

Look it up for yourself. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

1 posted on 08/25/2010 4:30:30 PM PDT by NaturalBornConservative

Thanks for all that hard work! Just love “The Era Of Flimflam Economics”, great description! Man! What a bunch of cry babies but what can you expect from a Community Organizer, they lie all the time.

2 posted on 08/25/2010 4:48:51 PM PDT by yoe ("N" is for NO for Progressives in government.)

Nice set of stats to drive libs crazy

3 posted on 08/25/2010 4:51:28 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom

thanks for this. plus the RATS were in charge of Congress since 2007. It happened on their watch.

4 posted on 08/25/2010 4:59:49 PM PDT by stylin19a (Never buy a putter until you first get a chance to throw it)

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