"Tell us about your plans for nuclear war with Russia?"

What the Heck Are You Talking About!?”

Watch as a brilliant and even tempered President dispatchers a complete idiot who was so obviously a plant.  GOP operatives are really busy.

If you have 1:44 minutes……

http://youtu.be/r6GAgM00MWU

ObamaCare (s): "Blessed are the progressive "brainiacs."

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare”, is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

I recently responded to a phone survey, that well after the caller hung-up I realized was sponsored by conservative Karl Rove-like survey politicking. 

You know, the type survey with questions so worded that survey sponsors can run-off to press and Fox News with survey results as phony as Bush/Cheney’s WMD. Rovian-like surveys are developed for broadcast and with a mission to sway people who for whatever reason are on the fence.  A recent historical example of such surveying resulted in Karl Rove’s election night meltdown on Fox News and Mitt Romney’s failure to prepare an election concession speech. Yes, the kind of survey induced planning that led to Romney appearing many hours after the results of the 2012 General Elections was settled. Romney eventually appeared with the most unsophisticated concession speech in US history. 

 “I would love to have been your president and Ann would have made a great first lady.” 

I bring-up the Farnsworth Company (Caller ID’d) survey because it included questions about the ACA rollout. There wasn’t one question beyond the five or six creatively – reworded questions about the ACA other than those related to the roll-out.  MSNBC’s Chris Hayes and Lawrence O’Donnell broadcast ACA development and roll-out segment that are “Must Watch.”  I have linked and embed both segments below.

Two more point about the “conservative” Farnsworth Marketing survey.  The phone caller asked four to five questions about rail transport of oil products.  You have to know that set of question related to the GOP XL Pipeline Project.  

The real kicker question? I was asked question about the coming “2014 General Elections.” Interesting, if you are “up-on” politics and Civics. No matter my answer, the 2014 elections are generally referred to as “mid-term elections.”   Do you see the creative deception?

I digress.  Be aware of your survey calls. The GOP and Karl Rove are really busy!

The previously stated MSNBC segments follow. After viewing the segments, I could only think, “Blessed are the progressive “brainiacs.”

TIME.com        ✔ @TIME

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Code Red: Inside the nightmare launch of http://HealthCare.gov  and the team that fixed it http://ti.me/1ft5PQs 

6:22 AM – 27 Feb 2014

http://on.msnbc.com/1cem3wu

http://on.msnbc.com/1d4dB0E

http://on.msnbc.com/1hrYrnm

There are times when the right thing happens!

Racist Alert: Even More Spineless Than The Prototypical Racist!

Imagine !

Alabama veteran who hired KKK hitman to kill black neighbor begs judge for mercy (via Raw Story )

An Alabama man is asking a judge for mercy after pleading guilty to hiring a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) hitman to murder his black neighbor. Defense attorneys for Allen Wayne Morgan told U.S. District Judge Karon Bowdre that their client — a veteran of over…

Christie Scandal: Email is Such Fun!

Regardless of efforts to close the books on Bridgegate, we have notice something that you have also notices.  why is Chris Christie now acting like a wet puppy and a congeal human being after years of revealing bullying and brashness uncommon to US politicians. Personalities and behavior do not so drastically change without impetus. It seems the Christie way of doing business and governance model are blossoming for the public to see. 

Christie’s staff was on top of the world with gleeful abuse towards others. In some cases their targets claim to have no idea the genesis of Christie staff’s scorn and abuse.

Christie and his staff are as guilty of gubernatorial abuse and malfeasance in New Jersey as we are of overuse of the internet.  

Bridge scandal: Newly uncensored texts show Wildstein, Kelly mocked rabbi (via NJ.com)

By Susan K. Livio and Christopher Baxter/The Star-Ledger TRENTON — Newly uncensored records released today by the legislative panel investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closings show David Wildstein and Bridget Anne Kelly, two people at…

The US Economy: A Set Of Snapshots

“data bugs!”

On occasion, we secure and post economic data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank (FRED) , YCharts, and Yahoo Finance. It seems we haven’t been as diligent in posting the economic data based on numerous request to develop and post data for February 2014. 

Here you go, “data bugs!” Despite frequent proclamation of a “disastrous” US economy, data doesn’t agree. While, Manufacturing and Auto Sales slowed during the month, other indicators stayed on the path to improvement. Regardless of reason for the 6.6% unemployment rate, when coupled with Fed managed inflation the Misery Index shows well and continues a snail’s pace downward with some level as we move through early 2014.

There is a story here and it is certainly not that of a “disastrous” US economy!  The story is available for those who seek information.

FRED (The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank) Industrial Production Index (INDPRO) 2014-01: 101.0251 Index 2007=100   Last 5 Observations Monthly, Seasonally Adjusted, Updated: 2014-02-14 10:41 AM CST Notes: The Industrial Production Index (INDPRO) is an economic indicator that measures real output for all facilities located in the United States manufacturing, mining, and electric, and gas utilities (excluding those in U.S. territories).(1)  The index is compiled on a monthly basis to bring attention to short- term changes in industrial production,. It measures movements in production output and highlights structural developments in the economy. (1) Growth in the production index from month to month is an indicator of growth in the industry.  Real Gross Domestic Product (GDPC1) 2013:Q4: 15,932.9 Billions of Chained 2009 Dollars   Last 5 Observations Quarterly, Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate, Updated: 2014-02-28 7:46 AM CST Notes: Real gross domestic product is the inflation adjusted value of the goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.  Civilian Unemployment Rate (UNRATE) 2014-01: 6.6 Percent  Monthly, Seasonally Adjusted, Updated: 2014-02-01   (We performed  REVIEW EDIT FORM 01.01.07 ( the Great Recession started in December 2007) Notes: The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. Labor force data are restricted to people 16 years of age and older, who currently reside in 1 of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, who do not reside in institutions (e.g., penal and mental facilities, homes for the aged), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces. This rate is also defined as the U-3 measure of labor underutilization. See More after the break below All Employees: Total nonfarm (PAYEMS) 2014-01: 137,499 Thousands of Persons    Monthly, Seasonally Adjusted, Updated: 2014-02-07 8:16 AM CST Notes: All Employees: Total Nonfarm, commonly known as Total Nonfarm Payroll, is a measure of the number of U.S. workers in the economy that excludes proprietors, private household employees, unpaid volunteers, farm employees, and the unincorporated self-employed.(1) This measure accounts for approximately 80 percent of the workers who contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This measure provides useful insights into the current economic situation because it can represent the number of jobs added or lost in an economy. Increases in employment might indicate that businesses are hiring which might also suggest that businesses are growing. Additionally, those who are newly employed have increased their personal incomes, which means (all else constant) their disposable incomes have also increased, thus fostering further economic expansion. Generally, the U.S. labor force and levels of employment and unemployment are subject to fluctuations due to seasonal changes in weather, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) adjusts the data to offset the seasonal effects to show non-seasonal changes: for example, women’s participation in the labor force; or a general decline in the number of employees, a possible indication of a downturn in the economy. To closely examine seasonal and non-seasonal changes, the BLS releases two monthly statistical measures: the seasonally adjusted All Employees: Total Nonfarm (PAYEMS) and All Employees: Total Nonfarm (PAYNSA), which is not seasonally adjusted. (1) Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Establishment Survey.” BLS Handbook of Methods; last date modified July 10, 2013; http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/.  4-Week Moving Average of Initial Claims (IC4WSA) 2014-02-22: 338,250 Number   Last 5 Observations Weekly, Ending Saturday, Seasonally Adjusted, Updated: 2014-02-22  YCharts (Manufacturing and Auto sales) ISM Manufacturing Production Index: ISM Manufacturing Production Index is at a current level of 54.80, down from 61.70 last month and up from 53.80 one year ago. This is a change of -11.18%from last month and 1.86% from one year ago .54.80 for Jan 2014 ISM Manufacturing Production Index data by YCharts US Auto Sales: 15.54M for Jan 2014 US Auto Sales is at a current level of 15.54M, down from 15.68M last month and up from 15.51M one year ago. This is a change of -0.89% from last month and 0.17% from one year ago. US Auto Sales data by YCharts Yahoo Finance (major market Indices) Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI)  –DJI  16,368.43  95.78(0.59%) 2:32PM EST Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) –DJI Prev Close: 16,272.65 Open: 16,273.23 Day’s Range: 16,258.33 – 16,398.95 52wk Range: 13,937.60 – 16,588.2 NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC)  –Nasdaq GIDS  4,315.96  2.97(0.07%) 2:36PM ESTo NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) –Nasdaq GIDS Prev Close: 4,318.93 Open: 4,323.52 Day’s Range: 4,315.96 – 4,342.59 52wk Range: 3,129.40 – 4,342.59 (Another S & P Record clsoe on 2.27.2014) S&P 500 (^GSPC)  –SNP  1,862.08  7.79(0.42%) 2:41PM EST S&P 500 (^GSPC) –SNP Prev Close: 1,854.29 Open: 1,855.12 Day’s Range: 1,854.60 – 1,867.92 52wk Range: 1,501.48 – 1,867.92 US Misery Index Chart US Misery Index data by YCharts Misery Index (8.2) equals Unemployment rate (6.7) plus Inflation rate (1.5) The misery index was initiated by economist Arthur Okun, an adviser to President Lyndon Johnson in the 1960’s. It is simply the unemployment rate added to the inflation rate. It is assumed that both a higher rate of unemployment and a worsening of inflation both create economic and social costs for a country. A combination of rising inflation and more people out of work implies a deterioration in economic performance and a rise in the misery index.    High: 21.98 June 1980 Current: 8.2 December 2013 Low: 2.97 July 1953

Let’s close with Steven Benen, Rachel Maddow Blog, look at the US Deficit.

The incredible shrinking deficit

02/28/14 08:00 AM—UPDATED 02/28/14 09:16 AM

By Steve Benen

There are still quite a few politicians who claim, just a matter of course, that in the Obama era, the United States runs “a trillion-dollar deficit every year.” It’s clearly time for them to update their talking points. 

Closing the books on a fiscal year in which the federal budget deficit fell more sharply than in any year since the end of World War II, the Treasury Department reported on Thursday that the deficit for 2013 dropped to $680 billion, from about $1.1 trillion the previous year.

 

In nominal terms, that is the smallest deficit since 2008, and signals the end of a five-year stretch beginning with the onset of the recession when the country’s fiscal gap came in at more than $1 trillion each year. As a share of the nation’s economy, the budget deficit fell to about 4.1 percent, from a high of more than 10 percent during the depths of the Great Recession. 

Note, this points to the deficit for the 2013 fiscal year. We won’t know the deficit for 2014 until October, but it’s projected to be even smaller.

Read more

Housing inequality: The tale of two communities

Income disparity will one day boil over into major national unrest!