http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/stimulus/ en-us Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:43:54 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286488/posts Black swans really didn’t swim into global consciousness until the late summer of 2008 when the frazzled pieces of the global economy completely frayed, like the rope holding a piano dangling above a busy city street in an old silent film. But, Nassim Taleb had spotted the creature in 2007, writing about how sudden, outlying events affect the financial markets in Black Swan, the Impact of the Highly Improbable. He mentions September 11 and stock market crashes as Black Swan-type events. Whether any of the events were truly unpredictable–or just extremely complex, isn’t the point of this piece. What intrigues... Online Investing AI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286488/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:43:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286350/posts Paul Krugman gets his wish. So did Joe Biden just pull another "Biden" with his line this morning about "misreading" how bad the economy was? Some folks in the White House may chalk it up to "Joe being Joe," but make no mistake, the administration is laying the groundwork for the second stimulus. We predicted on Thursday, after the weak jobs report, that the second stimulus was no definitely on its way. The very next day, Paul Krugman, a reliable thermometer for establishment thinking, chimed in and said we must do a second, bigger stimulus. So when you have Joe... The Business Insider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286350/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 08:25:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286256/posts The KEY sentence, of this Story is... "The new equipment requires fewer people to operate, making it more cost-effective in the long run, TSA officials say." Omaha World herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286256/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 02:47:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2285240/posts Amid President Barack Obama’s admonishments of the American people concerning how it is necessary for them to change their lifestyles, give away more of their money, downsize their living quarters and trade their SUVs for battery-charged golf carts, there is one person who has no intention of doing any of these things, and that is Barack Obama. This is best exemplified by his recent weekend jaunt to New York City with his wife on the taxpayer’s dime. That’s right; he didn’t pay for it; you did. How much did it cost you? The answer is tens of thousands of dollars,... The Knoxville News Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2285240/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 03:04:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285216/posts Atlanta - Concerned about taxes, bailouts, government "pork," and rising deficits, thousands of Americans will spill out in cities from Atlanta to San Francisco this weekend, as part of a "Tea Party" movement that began earlier this year in protest of the economic stimulus bill. The July 4 event will be the second major Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party protest, following an April 15 event that drew as many as half a million people to over 800 separate protests across the country. This weekend's protests – sure to feature Colonial garb, witty signs ("Don't tax me, bro!"), and references to... The Christian Science Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285216/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 01:47:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285197/posts ob-sniffing bloodhounds follow the stimulus money trail across the nation in search of the millions of jobs the Obama Administration promised to save or create if the trillion-dollar spending bill were enacted. The trail takes them to AIG Headquarters in New York City, where stimulus funds were used to pay big bonuses to top executives; to Wisconsin, where stimulus funds are paying for repairs to a bridge that reportedly carries about 260 cars per day, many to a place called Rustys Backwater Saloon, according to a June 16 report in the Wall Street Journal; and to North Carolina, where stimulus... Live Leak http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285197/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:58:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285008/posts "Only a small part" of the nation's $787 billion economic stimulus had been spent through the end of last month, according to congressional analysts, despite the Obama administration's boasts Wednesday that the plan is a big success. "One hundred days later, we are already seeing results," President Barack Obama said during a visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada . "Across America, recovery is under way," Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement accompanying a 28-page progress report. However, Douglas Elmendorf , the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office , was more cautious in his "State of... McClatchy - Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285008/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:14:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284468/posts House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today released a new web video targeting Washington Democrats’ trillion-dollar “stimulus” bill and asking “where are the jobs?” The tongue-in-cheek web video, inspired by a classic 1984 TV commercial by now-Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), features a job-sniffing GOP bloodhound named Ellie Mae and a down-home voiceover by Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA). GO TO THE FREEDOM POST TO ACCESS VIDEO. THE FREEDOM POST http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284468/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 23:28:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284065/posts Some quotes of the day...a good read before you head out of the office for the 4th... “The fact of the matter is that the unemployment rate is much worse than the administration contemplated or that most people expected,” Economist Paul Krugman, to ABC’s Jennifer Parker “My rear end is on the line, just like yours. I’m the guy in charge of this deal. So if it doesn’t work, it’s me.” - Vice President Joe Biden, quoted in Time Magazine, on the success or failure of the stimulus package. "If you account for those who have given up looking for... ABC News Blogs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284065/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:25:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284279/posts WASHINGTON – With joblessness rising, President Barack Obama said Thursday he was "deeply concerned" about unemployment and conceded that too many families are worried about "whether they will be next" to suffer economically. In a White House interview with The Associated Press, Obama said that since he took office, "we have successfully stabilized the financial markets," and "started to see some stabilization on housing." "But what we are still seeing is too many jobs lost," said Obama, commenting after new government figures showed the unemployment rate had risen to 9.5 percent last month. YahooNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284279/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:18:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284200/posts US layoffs still too high, too many families worried, Obama says in AP interview WASHINGTON (AP) -- With joblessness rising, President Barack Obama said Thursday he was "deeply concerned" about unemployment and conceded that too many families are worried about "whether they will be next" to suffer economically. In a White House interview with The Associated Press, Obama said that since he took office, "we have successfully stabilized the financial markets," and "started to see some stabilization on housing." "But what we are still seeing is too many jobs lost," said Obama, commenting after new government figures showed the unemployment... Finance.Yahoo.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284200/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:46:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284194/posts Today's disappointing jobs number is certain to trigger a serious push for a second stimulus bill. The talk was already happening. Earlier this wek, John Judis at The New Republic argued that one was needed. Also this week, Obama responded to a question about a possible second stimulus by saying it was "too soon" to know whether one would be needed, suggesting that it's certainly on the table. Of course, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in favor of a second stimulus before the ink even dried on the first one, so it shouldn't be much of a stretch to get... The Business Insider http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284194/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:36:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284108/posts Remember the CBO warning that Obama's plan was worse than doing nothing? They were right!Thursday news that employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent. I've updated this chart: (Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net ... Flopping Aces http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284108/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:11:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284079/posts The financial system is crashing and action must be taken by the US government to convert debt into equity to produce a more stable environment, Nassim Taleb, author of "The Black Swan," told CNBC Thursday. CNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284079/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:37:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283389/posts <p>DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday called its 10.7 percent drop in U.S. June sales "steady progress," after a year of sharp declines across the industry.</p> <p>The monthly decline was Ford's smallest since July of last year, a sign that U.S. auto sales may be recovering from the worst slump in 27 years.</p> AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283389/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:17:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283193/posts NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. private employers cut 473,000 jobs in June, more than expected but down from the 485,000 jobs lost in May, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday. al-Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283193/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:09:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283216/posts When the federal government started dangling billions of stimulus dollars for education in front of states, many snapped up the money right away. By now, the last day to request stabilization funds, all but one state has submitted an application. That one is Texas. “We haven't received Texas' application yet, but we are hoping they will submit one,” Elaine Quesinberry, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education, said late Tuesday. Texas anticipates receiving more than $3 billion in stabilization funds, the largest appropriation. It's money that can be used to turn around failing schools, create student assessments or develop... San Antonio Express News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283216/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:41:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283034/posts WASHINGTON -- Obama administration officials will announce rules Wednesday for handing out $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus funds, but some companies already are raising concerns about how long it could take to award the money. Officials are expected to detail how they plan to distribute $4.7 billion in broadband money from the Commerce Department in grants and $2.5 billion from the Agriculture Department in grants or loans. WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283034/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 04:28:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282482/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates rose in all the largest U.S. metropolitan areas for the fifth straight month in May. The Labor Department says jobless rates in May rose from a year earlier in all 372 metropolitan area it tracks. The unemployment rate in Kokomo, Ind., jumped to 18.8 percent, up 11.7 percentage points from a year ago, the largest increase of all metro areas. The second-highest jump occurred in Indiana's Elkhart-Goshen. Its rate jumped to 17.5 percent, up 11.4 percentage points from a year earlier. AP via Yahoo! News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282482/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:47:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282388/posts The blunt truth is that even if we had had President Obama's financial regulatory "reforms" in place four years ago--reforms designed to prevent another financial meltdown--we would still have experienced a horrific economic disaster. In other words, the Administration's prescriptions deal with the symptoms--and those badly--not the underlying causes. The astonishing housing bubble could not have happened without the Federal Reserve's easy-money policy, which got under way in late 2003. If not for the excess liquidity created, there would not have been sufficient fuel to distort the housing market and ultimately the financial system. Yet President Obama has remained mum... Forbes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282388/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:44:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282358/posts WASHINGTON -- The first $250 payments to veterans as part of President Obama's recovery plan were sent Monday, and officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs said all payments will be distributed by June 30. As part of the recovery plan, VA is making one-time payments of $250 to eligible veterans and survivors to offset the effects of the current economy. VA estimates $500 million in payments will be made to approximately 1.9 million veterans and eligible beneficiaries as part of this measure. Military.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282358/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:17:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281906/posts White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs appeared on MSNBC's "Hardball" this evening to discuss President Obama's congressional agenda. Gibbs said even though the White House is not "satisfied" and "probably [will] see more job losses" in June, the White House feels "confident" about the economy. Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281906/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:36:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281567/posts What a terrible thing to have lost one's mind. Or not to have a mind at all. How true that is. Former Vice-President Dan Quayle The initial anger at the passing of the economy-killing cap and trade legislation, has been replaced by sadness. The Wexler bill is the second time in recent months that the US Congress has passed a major piece of legislation without, reading it (the first was the stimulus bill). If you remember the 1,000+ page pokulus bill was passed just hours after it became available, impossible for those voting in favor to know what they were... CNSNEWS/the lid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2281567/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:59:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280837/posts WASHINGTON – Republicans concerned about the Obama administration's big spending on economic stimulus, energy and health care are asking, "Where are the jobs?" "The president and Democrats in Congress claim this spending binge is necessary to put Americans back to work," House Republican leader John Boehner said Saturday in the Republican radio and Internet address. "They promised unemployment would not rise above 8 percent if their trillion-dollar stimulus was passed. "But our nation has lost nearly 3 million jobs this year. Unemployment has soared above 9 percent. And now the president admits that unemployment will soon reach double digits. "After... Newsmax http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280837/posts#comment Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:30:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279582/posts Fiscal Policy: The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on an anti-stimulus package that in the name of saving the earth will destroy the American economy. Smoot-Hawley will seem like a speed bump...As we've said before, capping emissions is capping economic growth. An analysis of Waxman-Markey by the Heritage Foundation projects that by 2035 it would reduce aggregate gross domestic product by $7.4 trillion. In an average year, 844,000 jobs would be destroyed, with peak years seeing unemployment rise by almost 2 million. Consumers would pay through the nose as electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket, as President Obama once... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279582/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:07:18 GMT