
Just for fun, I thought I'd post one more jobs chart, following up on the earlier item. This one shows job growth by year going back to 2001. The blue columns point to President Obama's term, while the red columns point to the Bush/Cheney era, and just as importantly, the lighter color refers to the overall jobs picture, while the darker color points only to the private sector.
So far in 2012, from January to July, the overall economy has added 1.06 million jobs, while the private sector has added 1.12 million jobs. Note that in every year of the Obama presidency, the private sector outpaced the overall economy, while in every year under Bush, that notorious Marxist, the private sector trailed the overall job market.
And while job growth has been underwhelming in 2012, the year to date -- which, again, only includes seven months -- has outpaced the first three years of the Bush presidency combined. Indeed, we've seen more jobs created since January than in five of the eight years Bush was in office.
What's more, the chart should also make it obvious that economic conditions have vastly improved since 2009, when Obama took office. In fact, what the hell, let's throw one more chart into the mix. Mitt Romney recently said the first 6 to 12 months shouldn't be held against a new president. If that's true, Obama has created 3.88 million jobs overall, and 4.44 million private-sector jobs.






Dang Steve, I just suggested adding net jobs created numbers on the last post and, by the time I finished typing, you had a *better* post done.
Imagine how many jobs we would have had if Republicans have compromised even ONCE with the Obama admin plans and hadn't CUT gov jobs in nearly half of the States.
B b b b b but...Obama is a great socialist marxist commie "furriner" from Kenya and we can't possibly let him continue to destroy our country the way he has, right?
Oh, never mind. I just hate it when facts get in the way of right-wingnuttery.
These charts and graphs are great for logical, sane, people. But, I have some conservative friends that would not believe these numbers even if Moses brought them down from the Mountain on stone tablets......I can here the BS Romney ads already.
Sad, but true.
Yep....given where I live, unfortunately I have many conservative friends and relatives that just go: "I beg to differ..." every time I show them these kinds of data. Why they beg to differ and how they back up their I beg to differ comment, I never get the answer from any one of those many. That was pretty much the end of the conversation with them before they start throwing the best arguments they have against President Obama: birth certificate and college transcript.
the funny thing is that Obama created more private jobs if you compare this with Bush... oh, the irony ;-)
So exactly how did President Obama "create" those private jobs? This blog is typical- it states two facts with the implication that there is an actual cause and effect. "Jobs created under Obama" simply links two facts- one job growth is X and President Obama is President. Yet there is in fact no cause and effect. Not suggesting that expanded fiscal policy (i.e. stimulus) as a bad thing, as likely it has had positive effects. But to suggest that President Obama created jobs ignores reality. No President can create jobs. Monetary policy is controlled by the fed and fiscal policy by Congress. Those are essentially the only two tools that the government has to help deal with a recession. Neither one of those tools is in the executive branch.
It's simply jobs created whiled under this administration. No one actually thinks Obama went out and hired people. C;mon man, use yer brain!
I agree which is my point- according to TICU above- President Obama created the jobs- and if as you indicated that they are simply jobs created while he was President- then what is the point of the chart- the point I suspect is to suggest by implication that that there is some cause and effect when there simply is none-
Interesting that Silver City, NM also got "bained" under Romney some years ago according to the following:
http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/2012/07/new-mexico-got-baind-too-romney-took-25m-in-nm-taxpayer-funds-to-outsource-1100-nm-jobs.html
For some reason the job creators still holding their purses close to their vests. Could it be they want to influence the election in favor of more tax cuts? So patriotic, not.
So... why does NBC broadcast advertisements on the Olympics sponsored by the Republican National Committee and by Crossroads GPS that say the opposite? Does NBC have no obligation whatever to disclaim or refuse advertisements that are factually untrue?
Green is the most important color in the universe. And it doesn't matter where it comes from, as long as the color "green" is there, any company will turn Switzerland. ;)
Can you imagine if the GOP hadn't watered down the stimulus? That would have saved thousands of state & local govt. jobs across the country. AND would have given some states a headstart on fixing the infrastructure (bridges and highways).... adding MORE jobs.
And what if the GOP had cooperated with half of the president's ideas over the past 4 years? (Notice I said only half? Because that's what compromise means! And that's what I would consider reasonable.) What would these charts look like if these things had happened?
Answer: It would look like the GOP could just have a seat over there, and we'll call them later. (As if we'll ever need them again.) The GOP would be out of power for at least a decade if Obama was successful. And that's just unacceptable to them. They'd rather ruin our economy and have the chance to regain power in 2012.
Truthfully, if the GOP was out of power for 10 years ... we'd probably never hear from them again. Can I get a "hell yeah" ?
When President Obama was running for office and later essentially said that he would fix the economy- or words to that effect. He did not say elect me President and if the Republicans will cooperate I will fix the economy. Conversely Romney is claiming that if he is elected he will create 12 mln jobs. He is not saying elect me if the Democrats cooperate I will create 12 mln jobs. All candidates for Presidents make promises they can not keep. And when they can not keep them then they blame someone else. A little honesty, like no President can fix the economy with out the cooperation of the fed and congress would be good.
STFU,
Your post is an amazing trip into the mind of a crazy right winger who either has no idea how the government works or is just plain ignorant.
So ST54,
I agree, these types of data tend to get boiled down but to say, in essence, "everyone is to blame" they all do the same thing" is also boiling it down and, to the same degree, inaccurate.
I think it is fair to say that the President has presented honest and positive policies that, by all impartial judging, would have had positive results on the economy if implemented.
I think it is also fair to say that those measures have been stopped by Republican resistance in Congress and nothing else.
Personally, I'm amazed there is ANY job growth at all.
Donna J what is incorrect in my post- this is how our government works- the executive has no control over the fed- the fed controls monetary policy a key tool in dealing with a recession- fiscal policy the second key tool is controlled by congress not the executive- under the consitution all revenue and spending bills orginate in the house of representatives- not the white house-
dfabs4- President Obama has done what he can in terms of fiscal policy- this a different kind of recession- and it does not appear that the normal tools work- I believe 8% unemployment for all these months may be a record- and likely with the exception of the resent highway bill which if you believe the claims will generate millions of jobs- most fiscal/stimulus bills have been blocked by the Republicans-
the point remains however that President Obama promissed to fix the economy- just like Romney is promising to create 12 mln jobs- neither hedging those promises on the cooperattion of the other party- which would be a more truthful statement- if you going to promise something then perfom- and if it does not work then take the blame- and do not blame some else- this applies equally to President Obama and Mit Romney-
STFU
Get your words straight about what Obama said about the economy.
Obama cannot "fix the economy" on his own. He can sign bills, or he can veto them. To lay this only at the feet of Obama is intellectually disingenuous at best, a lie at worst.
You are trying to sway the "lurkers" on this site to either vote for robme or not vote at all, because you know you can't post nonsense with the regular people who post here without being called out on it.
Now if you want to blame Obama for everything, fine. Keep posting. It only shows that you are either ignorant about how the government works, what Obama has done and has accomplished, or that you are just another right winger who, despite everything, will still believe what he wants to.
But don't expect your posts to do much damage to Obama or his campaign.
Donna- not sure where you are coming from- first the claim I do not know how the government works and I ask you what was incorrect in my post- and you do not respond - the initial blog claimed that President Obama created x million of jobs- simply not true- in my own company we have added 15 new employees over the last 12 months those adds have nothing to do with President Obama-
President Obama said or essentially said he would fix the economy. You are correct he can not fix it by himself. That said I do not blame the current economic problems on President Obama- the bad economcy is not his his fault- nor more than the current recession is the fault of President Bush. President's do not cause recessions and they have limited tools to help any recovery and it clearly takes the cooperation of both the fed and congress. And if one or the other does not coordinate- as the fed did not when it lowered interest rates in 08 without coordination with the EU central bank- or cooperate in terms of passing fiscal spending legistlation- then we have problems.
President Obama said he would fix the economy and lower unemployment and Mit Romney claims he will create 12 mln jobs- both may he honest statements by both- put simply not something either can do- and in President Obama's case when he can not deliver on his promise he blames someone else- not a mature thing to do-
STFU I don't even think you know where you are coming from.
And again:
bama cannot "fix the economy" on his own. He can sign bills, or he can veto them. To lay this only at the feet of Obama is intellectually disingenuous at best, a lie at worst.
You are trying to sway the "lurkers" on this site to either vote for robme or not vote at all, because you know you can't post nonsense with the regular people who post here without being called out on it.
Now if you want to blame Obama for everything, fine. Keep posting. It only shows that you are either ignorant about how the government works, what Obama has done and has accomplished, or that you are just another right winger who, despite everything, will still believe what he wants to.
But don't expect your posts to do much damage to Obama or his campaign.
Farm aid not passing because of one issue. The conservatives want to cut food stamps and can't agree to pass the aid without the cuts. I would like the whole congress to be on food stamps for one month.
PLEASE LET CONGRESS KNOW!!
In the President's next 4 years, I hope he takes some big swings at trimming the fat from all of these programs. Let's face it, our gov't LOVES throwing money hand-over-fist at everything to 'fix' things. Left and Right, everyone is taking a piece. Well, the middle class is getting taken advantage of.
Things need to be stopped, for instance, if you're receiving HUD, then don't you think you should tell them of your live-in-boyfriend of 7 years? Is it right that Im paying every cent of my mortgage and have to contribute to your rent too?
Hey, way to take that unemployment check, cash it, then go buy a bag of weed. Never mind that you're getting paid under the table at your real job and not paying any taxes. Here, lemme just dice out another slice of my paycheck for your lying and laziness.
Its time for the Gov't to get out of the pockets of the taxpayers.
Yes, we need police, firefighters, education, yes, even health care, but there is TOO MUCH WASTE! At least the Dems are willing to work on America's problems, unlike their warmongering counterparts, but they too are all too willing to waste money. Lower my taxes, cut the wasteful spending, do better. Signed~ Life-Long American Middle Class Taxpayer.
I too would like to see cuts where they can be made (which is jyst about everywhere) but give the prez his due. you are now paying less in taxes than you ever have due to the largest tax cut in history included in the stimulus of 2009. and I too know people who are on unemployment and have been for some time. The question is if you can make $325 per week or work for minimum wage 40 hours ($290) per week which would you do? I also believe there should be random drug screening for anyone collecting from any program paid for by taxpayers. I'd love to sit around and get high on someone else's bill but I have to work for a living and don't like feeling like crap (drug and alcohol free). I also would love to see someone in power have the balls to talk out their issues instead of throwing bombs ( which is what has run up most of our bills over the last decade) I also believe there are plenty of people out there who really need these programs and would rather not need them. These are the risks of discontinuing programs like these. real people are on them and have no other recourse. I don't mind paying for them and will take the risk of paying for 10 who don't to help the 1 who does. signed another life long middle class American.
Not bad considering he's been obstructed by a House that refuses to pass a single piece of jobs legislation.
they passed the highway bill which some claim will generate millions of jobs
finally!! it only took 3 1/2 years to get cooperation!
I was just watching CNBC, speculator's were at it already, oil was up $3.50 .They just ca'nt wait to get their hand's on the money that will be gained by more employment.With most of the money generated going to oil companies and speculator's. The money going to them wo'nt be injected into the economy but back into the stock market or into their bank account's,causing more economic downturn's.
@Steve Benen: What is the source for the graphics? On what data are you basing the graphs?
actual job numbers that come out every week!
While that would be a reasonable assumption, the creator of the graph(s) did not specify the source of his information.
Just curious.
"And while job growth has been underwhelming in 2012, the year to date -- which, again, only includes seven months -- has outpaced the first three years of the Bush presidency combined. Indeed, we've seen more jobs created since January than in five of the eight years Bush was in office."
Great spin...common sense on reading this graph, the number of jobs created by BOTH presidents is cancelled out by the number of jobs lost! Neither was or has been any better at it, so quit misinforming!
actually Obama policies began around March of 09 which throws out Jan and Feb. positive growth since stimulus was passed.
"On what data are you basing the graphs?" - Great question !
Yes, please. What is the source of the numbers for the graphs?
Steve... A few suggestions...
1) Cite the source for the data in the chart, or at the very least, it should be included in the article, don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about a full-up MLA bibliography, even "in-line" with the text (e.g. "According to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report...")
2) Use legends in the graph, rather than or in addition to describing the colors in the text of the article.
3) Possibly the most important - label your axis with titles and units, specifically if it's something other than the obvious (like when the X-axis is somethign like years).
On the first chart: What is the title and what are the units for the Y-axis? The title of the chart is "Job creation" and the numbers are in single-digit thousands. Are the units in thosuands (i.e. 3,000 really means three thousand thousands, or 3M; just as most people know 3,100KB means 3.1MB (or roughly, depending on your definition of 1MB whether it's 1000KB or 1024KB). Obviously more than just 5,000 jobs were lost in 2009.
On the second chart: Using the terms, "Starting at" implies the Y-value is running total, or the present value, if you go back to specific time up through today, which obviously you can't have a negative number starting at Feb 2009 through today b/c that would mean employment would be lower today than in Feb 2009. If I said, Weight I've GAINED while I've been working out: If "Starting at Jan 2009" had a value of -10, that would mean going back to Feb, I'm actually a lower weight than I was in Feb. If "starting at July 2009" had a value of 20, then that would mean I am 20Lbs heavier than I was in July 2009. If it's a bound period, than say so. Does "Starting at Feb 09" mean the "Jobs Created under Obama" (as the title of the chart reads) from Inauguration through February 1st? To go along with what the text says, I think it should have only shown two periods, one called "During First 6 months" and another called "During First 12 months" or possibly a better way would have been a single stacked bar graph (or double if you're showing overall and private sector) where the top section would be the jobs created during the second 6 month period and the lower section would be jobs created during the first, with the total height being the jobs created during the entire 12m period.
Smart is sexy.
Clarification... "On the first chart: What is the title and what are the units for the Y-axis?" was meant as, "On the first chart: What is the title [of the Y-axis] and what..."
Anyone else have these same issues with Steve's charts? And Steve, please don't take this personally... I'm not some conservative RW nut job, and I'm not trying to discredit anything you're saying, just don't want it to be an opportunity for the GOP folks to pick at the charts...
Congress, especially the House just needs to be DISBANDED .... a vote of ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE is in order here
Surely the y-axis must be wrong (as the text appears to confirm) -- i.e., missing the "(x 1000)" label that would make it consistent with the text (and Reality).
See what GW Bush left President Obama to deal with.