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Politics Obama - Actually doing a good job?

Discussion in 'Tilted Philosophy, Politics, and Economics' started by rogue49, Mar 10, 2012.

  1. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    it is Acian logic....start with a pre-determined conclusion, then create and toss out an anecdote to fit and see if it sticks.

    Or we could rely on data from Bureau of Economic Analysis...like the fact that economic growth from 2001 to 2007 averaged 2.39 percent a year (and down to an average 1.66 percent if the 07-09 recession is include.) -- the lowest in 50 years.

    [​IMG]

    There is no evidence that the Bush tax cuts stimulated anything.
     
  2. pig

    pig Slightly Tilted Donor

    Didn't stimulate anything?

    [​IMG]

    Some people got very stimulated. I'm stuck wondering if we should start the vassal system up again, and if so how do we assign proper title?
     
  3. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Trickle Flow-up economics. It works.
     
  4. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Interesting perspective on how this war was negotiated and interpreted earlier on in the administration...

     
  5. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    I heard a good analogy from Bobcat Goldthwait for much of America's attitudes towards the Obama's efforts during the past few years.

    "It's like a bunch of people are taking a plane to Disneyland...

    Then all of a sudden, the plane starts diving towards the ground.
    And this one guy, he takes over flying from the pilot, because the pilot doesn't seem to be doing the trick
    And the guy actually pulls the plane out of the dive and somehow safely lands somewhere on a nice grassy field near civilization
    And the people are disappointed, yelling "BUT we were going to Disneyland and you didn't get us there!!!""

    :rolleyes:
     
    • Like Like x 3
  6. EventHorizon

    EventHorizon assuredly the cause of the angry Economy..

    Location:
    FREEDOM!
    i saw him speak a few days ago and i have to hand it to him, he finds a way to make the current problems seem conquerable while countering the "America is in decline" arguments. i was really disappointed at how few friends applauded the Commander In Chief, but i was still pretty impressed.
     
  7. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    Economically speaking, things are improving and this week's rise in the consumer confidence index -to it's highest level since 2007 - is either an indicator that consumers have more disposable income now, or the Democrats and Obama are gaining some momentum over the right wing "America is in decline" machine. Either way the economic numbers look promising, which is good for Obama. Rather than focusing on divisive social issues or maintaining the portrayal of Republicans as corporate ass lickers, all the Obama campaign needs to do is continue to drive home the economic truth. Romney's only position will remain one of defense - - if Obama can maintain hold of the ball.
     
  8. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Joniemack

    Things have been pointing in that direction for a while. Leading economic indicators have been generally positive for many months now (years, even). One obvious one is the S&P 500. If you haven't looked recently, the index has recovered substantially since its drop in 2007-2009 and has been flirting with historical highs recently. I would go into more detail with other indicators, but I've already done so in previous threads.

    What may happen soon (if it's not happening now) is coincident indicators may start reflecting what leading indicators have been pointing to. The problem is that Joe Blow doesn't give a shit about leading indicators. Only economists, manufacturers, investors, etc., do. Joe Blow cares about unemployment, inflation, cost of living, income, wages, etc. Coincident indicators include the number of employees on payrolls, personal income levels, industrial production, and manufacturing/trade sales. Basically: lower unemployment, a rise in average incomes, and making and selling shit. The increased consumer confidence may reflect the outlook regarding these things.

    Come election time, if unemployment continues to drop, if retail sales stay strong or grow, if manufacturing continues to grow, etc., the Republicans will have to rely on their usual propaganda to get elected. If they had to rely on facts, they'd have to explain how these things could possibly happen during Obama's "failed presidency."

    The financial community is expecting some positive numbers with some upcoming reports in about a week. Many things have been looking up and are expected to be looking up: existing home sales, auto sales, etc. (which usually contribute to retail sales). The signs are pointing to a gradually increasing recovery. We may be heading out of the trough soon, and it may coincide with the election.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2012
  9. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    A fascinating perspective.

    I also find it interesting the alternative headline for this article,
    "Obama's Leadership in War with Al Qaeda"

    It's almost as if a traditionally "liberal" newspaper (nytimes) is having conflicts of interest in reporting on Obama.
    Each one offers a different tone...same article though.
    One "noble", the other "tabloid"...

    Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of Obama’s Principles and Will
     
  10. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    And things get more interesting for Obama...and not in a good way.
    Is this just a hiccup or something to address?
    I know Summer is going to be a pain in his ass...fighting with the House, catering to the Dems, crossing his fingers with the Supreme Court
    and all the while having to please the masses, actually do something productive...and finally deal with his opponent.

     
  11. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
  12. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    This majority you speak of are you referring to 2007 when the Dems officially held 51 seats in the Senate but that included two Independents and two vacancies (IL and MN?)

    The reality anymore is you need 60 full seats to have a majority that can pass any agenda you propose. 51 or in this case more like 49 will get you nothing but deadlocked.
     
  13. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    There's an idea going around stating that Obama's administration has basically set up a Republican economy. That should bode well for his re-election, right?

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/opinion/krugman-this-republican-economy.html
     
  14. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    Nothing Paul Krugman writes, states or does will benefit Obama. In the eyes of the GOP faithful he's an idiot and whatever he says the opposite is obviously true.
     
  15. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Obviously. All socialists are liars.
     
  16. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    Now you're getting it you're just forgetting anyone who disagrees with the hard right agenda is a commie or at a minimum a socialists. Often they're a commie and Nazi... at the same time. Apparently these morons have never heard the term oxymoron .
     
  17. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    I think he has labeled himself, a liberal. (Bravely and unabashly considering the US these days)
    "Socialist" is to the GOP today as "Communist" was to the conservatives of yesteryear.
    A label for anyone not conservative or going along their way.
    I guess since conservative movement has gone over even more to the right, then Socialists are what Communists were.
    Except one used to be in China, North Korea & Russia...and the others mostly in Western Europe (our allies)

    Whatever, he's still a capitalist...and one that worked for the Reagan administration at that...but they ignore this.

    Per Wikipedia... (whatever, it's easy)
    But still unquestionably Liberal...wha???
    This shades of grey stuff is "complicated" :rolleyes:
     
  18. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Now, no matter what or who...this is nice news.
    That it happens under Obama, well kudos to him.
    Let's see how it spins...

    Seems to reflect the actual policy & protocol being encouraged & enforced that I saw while in the EOP/OMB

    **BTW - Here's the link to the article, take a look at the comments underneath.
    The author rips apart his critics with some serious facts and formal links to those. :cool:

     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2012
  19. Joniemack

    Joniemack Beta brainwaves in session

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    So who do we trust? Economists who are no better than the talking heads on Fox News or MSNBC telling the faithful what they want to hear or the guy out there who formulates opinions based on his knowledge and expertise and shares them regardless of whether or not they are in conflict with a party line?

    Krugman is only a liberal in contrast with extreme right-wing supply-siders like Laffer and Kudlow who look primarily to preserve wealth and power. Straighten the picture on the wall and politically Krugman's probably more of a centrist. From an economics standpoint? He's another Keynesian monetarist looking to save capitalism from itself.

    He's definitely no socialist.