There's been an interesting trend in the news recently when it comes to the American economy: it's been pretty good.
The retail sales figures released yesterday were even stronger than expected, and the industrial production figures released this morning also exceeded expectations. We learned last week that consumer confidence has reached a five-year high, while the federal budget deficit, initial jobless claims, and the overall unemployment rate are all at four-year lows.
With this in mind, I'd say President Obama has an economic case he can and should make.
This Obama campaign ad was released yesterday, and features regular folks talking about the economy looking up in their communities. One mentions a parking lot that was once empty starting to look full; another mentions a plant that's added a second shift. A third person explains, "When you look at the president's plan I don't think there can be any question that we're on the right course for today's economy."
I realize the larger political dynamic that makes the pitch difficult. Obama and his team realize that with high unemployment and sluggish growth, there are still a lot of struggling families who don't want to hear the president boast about how much conditions have improved. Much of the country is still deeply frustrated with the status quo, and reject the idea that it's "morning in America."
That said, Obama has an entirely credible case to make: after inheriting the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the president took the lead in saving the nation. Nearly four years after taking office, by literally every relevant metric, the nation's economy is stronger and more secure than it was when he started.
If Obama struggles to present these facts, Mitt Romney will gladly define the status quo for him in a far less flattering way. As Ari Berman explained yesterday, "The last four years have taught us that if Obama doesn't forcefully make the case for his own policies, no one else will.... Instead of running away from the economy, as the conventional wisdom suggested Obama had to do when he launched his re-election bid, Obama should be forcefully campaigning on the progress made so far and the unfinished work still left to do."
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And the really important point to make here is this progress came about despite overwhelming obstruction from the Republicans. The question I really wish Obama and the Democrats were asking is, "How much better would things be right now if the Republicans hadn't blocked absolutely everything we tried to do?"
The REAL important thing is Obama needs to be engaging and personable in tonights debate. Policy details matter little. Perception versus reality is obviously what is driving this election as Republicans couldn't care less whether Romney flip-flops, outright lies, or is going to dismantle most Democratic reforms of the 20th century. If he looks good in tonights debate, has a few zingers right or wrong, he's their guy and probably the next President of the United States.
Freddie - That 's the exact point I came on here to make. Obama needs to make the American Jobs Act - blocked by Republican obstructionism - the centerpiece of his economic platform. He has a plan that credible economists believe would have added millions of jobs to the 2012 economy. Republicans blocked that. Why? They would rather see America fail than Obama succeed.
Exactly. Instead of debating and voting on the president's Jobs Act, or coming up with their own version of it, Congress was busy voting on what to name post office buildings, making sure English is our official language, and symbolically voting to repeal the ACA while knowing none of those 30+ bills would ever be signed. Jobs, jobs, jobs.
Talk about wasting taxpayer dollars. Worst Congress ever. Thanks GOP - Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, etc.
you forgot the real biggies!!
keeping in god we trust on the money. how to get creative in ways of examining female body parts.
Then tie romney and the gop do nothing house, to the romney/ ryan ticket , they are presenting the same austerity plans , they want to cut romneys taxes even more , so he can stash his money in the caymens , and of course gut all government investment in the infrastructure ....then we all have to wait for romney and his pals to decide where and when to invest in america , if they are even interested in doing so any way , economic disaster bush style part 3
Obama should be forcefully campaigning on the progress made so far and the unfinished work still left to do.".
...And tie the proposals of Mor-man and Boy Blunder to the policies of W.
This has not been stressed nearly enough in this campaign. Romney has studiously avoided any labels that tie him to Bush, and Obama has failed to connect those dots. I think it is one area he needs to emphasize tonight.
The one thing that really stands out with President Obama has been his more openness about what is going on with the world and America. Republicans are so sneaky and deceptive on what they do and usually it is only for the rich while everybody else suffers from the Republican failed policies. There is clearly way more truth coming from the Democrats than any lying and deceiving Republican out there. Republicans have been too busy in their power craving, corruption, arrogance, greed, being hypocrites, and deceiving that shows too clearly they care about no one unless some how you can line their pockets. And now the Republicans, extremists of hatred and extreme wealthy want the biggest greedy bastards around to be in the White House Romney and Ryan a long with the Bush cronies. As these Republicans spout off their continuous lies and deception while people unfortunately get taken in by these foolish and corrupt actions. People who generally vote Republican plainly are getting so deceived right now and probably will not learn this unfortunate lesson until it is too late. And we wonder what destroys a Democracy and a civil society, when you have a Republican Party acting like Dictators. What did the Republicans do take money also from some foreign country like China?
The best offensive strategy is to do what is unexpected. In this case that means go positive and tell the truth that the GOP can't avoid.
Yesterday the consumer confidence index was not only up and retail sales went up by 1.1% by every metric things are getting better. The problem and genuine fear for the GOP is that as things get better people will want to them to explain how our economy got so bad and will be willing to listen and understand the answers.
California's unemployment is over 12%. The economy here is much worse today compared to four years ago and getting worse everyday.
The simple truth is that things are not as bad as they have been and are definitely a whole lot better than they could have been.
I lived most of my life in various parts of California. The last place I lived was in Sac from 2000- 2008 and was very involved in state politics. So I know exactly what goes on out there and why.
I remember the last 10 years very, very well. The economy went from being one of the most prosperous no only in the Nation but in the world, to what is is like today and largely because Mr. Issa and people like him led the charge for deregulation of the power industry so that the treasury that was at a surplus could be looted by Enron and others and if it had the sweet side effect of getting a popular Democratic Governor recalled so much the better for them.
Then there was Arnold. Ok nuff said.
Then you add the housing bubble that destroyed Stockton and the Bush recession on top of that and it's no small wonder that things there are harder than other places.
It takes a long time to come back from an economic beating like that.
Don't mess with me on stuff like this. It's Not a good idea.
Importing all that cheap slave labor has not panned out hank? To bad huh ?
Hank,
North Dakota's unemployment rate is 3% with a steady influx of oil workers as well as the local population.
The statistics discussed here are nationally averaged, are they not?
Alabama hasn't any jobs right now either. Now I no longer live in AL...
well just more good news that the teapublicans can use against President Obama and America.
LOL sad inst it went you have some many fighting so hard against something their suppose to love.
its as if we change the American dream from owning a house in a nice neighborhood good jobs good schools bbq`s etc.
for the new american dream Greed Money!!!
Most folks in the towns I've lived in just want to live comfortably, go out to eat, drive a nice vehicle, be able to put their kids through college, maybe take a decent vacation now and again. Most of us don't ask for the moon, just a nice house in a safe neighborhood, a grill out in the back yard, and friends to share it with.
People like these CEO's, these millionaire politicians, they have luxury estates, vehicles, staff, and they want more, always more. No matter how much they drain off the middle class, how great their profit margins are, how low their taxes, they want more, without stopping to think what their unquenchable needs take away from the lives of the less greedy people around them.
Presidential ? YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!
DRIVE to the basket and take the shot. Be the POEPLE, for the PEOPLE, WE the PEOPLE.
FINISH THE GAMES THESE PLAY !! IN TRUTH IS OUR GREATEST STRENGHT.
Sure isn't in my spelling
You ever hear the saying "all politics is local"? Well, never a truer word spoken and for those without jobs or only working part time - the fact is they aren't hearing you, they are busy trying to figure out how to keep the lights on & food on the table. Yes, President Obama has done much to try and turn the economy around, is there still more to do - of course there is, but Romeny's lies and manipulation. Let's face it Americans have been dumbed down and are divided by "faux" issues and WE have a corporate press corp so willing to NOT even ask the pertinent questions that it is no longer funny!
The GOTP have shown by the policies that have been promulgated by them that they only support the 1%, they want "women"(read: WHITE women) to be home barefoot and pregnant ala Stepford Wives, and minorities need to "learn their place" (which is in the back of the bus)! They want Granny under the bus, and everyone else is on their own, along with paying people less for working longer days! Exactly what is it that Americans aren't understanding? No, their reticence is due to the "black man in the White House", period!
Four years wasn't that long ago, yet Americans want to pretend that the Bush years what were an anathema, sorry people WRONG!!! And now they want to vote for Romney which will be the 3rd term of Bush on steroids, really?!? WTF! C'mon people wake up and start paying attention - the GOTP is NOT working for you, but against your economic interest!! A vote for Romney is a vote to cut off your nose to spite your face, just plain wrong for this nation and displays poor thinking skills and how dumbed down Americans really are!!
Here's the truth about the deficit by president:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesglassman/2012/07/11/the-facts-about-budget-deficits-how-the-presidents-truly-rank/
Rachel MadCow is simply using the old democrat trick of spouting off things that sound smart in hopes of culling idiot voters to cast one for their guy. Disgusting.
its Maddow
but seeing you are just a re-reg total jerk with your head so far up your 4th point of contact that rumbling sound you hear is your bowls!
you get the gong for being ignorant.
Ahh, Jon,
You KNOW you are citing the guy that wrote "Dow 36,000", don't you?
I looked at that article - yep, same BS thought processes that created "Dow 36,000". These guys never learn and are never afraid of distortion, are they? What a BS "analysis"!!!
And yet you cannot cite WHY it's wrong... just that it's wrong. Good comeback. I'd expect nothing less from a MadCow follower.
Jon,
How its wrong is obvious!! So sorry YOU aren't smart enough to figure it out!!
Hint - check GDP figures and "dates" he chose to "analyze"! The guy is playing "statistical games" just like he did in "Dow 36,000"!
Get a clue boy, before you come and start trolling!!
Jon,
I too can link to a Forbes article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/
I will not call your link wrong, I'll just call it only a part of the overall picture.
In 2009 who put forth the budget that increased the deficit? A: a democrat controlled house and senate. Who signed this budget?
In the economic figures, why is there little or no mention of the increase in housing values? This represents real wealth for the middle-class. In fact, had the overall housing values been properly monitored and published as are employment figures, maybe the housing bubble and bust could have been avoided in the first place.
jhamje
There was a piece on the housing market just this morning on NPR
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/16/162670568/renters-no-more-newbies-lured-to-homeownership
Jobs and retail sales may be up, but so are retail prices! I work for a retail chain, and we have had to raise prices on pretty much the entire store in the last several weeks. Some items went up by a few cents; some are now marked at 150% of their former price. Of course, many customers simply wait for a sale to make their purchases (as do the underpaid and underemployed sales associates). 30 or 40% off a higher price is still better than full price, but is still more than that item used to cost. Maybe the CEO will get a raise from the price increases, but those of us on the sales floor have effectively seen our paychecks shrink.