"Retail sales fell for a second straight month in April, a disappointing performance that raised doubts about whether consumers were regaining their desire to shop. A rebound in consumer demand is a necessary ingredient for ending the recession."
Update--this news ought to make the Obama people quiet the happy talk, too:
"The number of U.S. households faced with losing their homes to foreclosure jumped 32 percent in April compared with the same month last year, with Nevada, Florida and California showing the highest rates, according to data released Wednesday."
MEDIA BIAS UPDATE: here's an MSNBC headline on its website--"Cheney Attacks May Not Help Republicans." But read the whole story...
...and what you see is not one piece of solid evidence that his criticism of the Obama administration won't help Republicans. Not one. But what else is new...
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CORRUPTION UPDATE: the next time a Democrat tries to claim Republicans are corrupt, ask them to comment on Democratic Rep. John Murtha...
"Robert C. Murtha Jr. has made a sizable living for years working with companies that rely on Pentagon contracts over which his uncle, Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., holds considerable sway. He has maintained that his uncle played no role in his defense-related work, much of it secured without competition. Newly obtained documents, however, show Robert Murtha mentioning his influential family connection as leverage in his business dealings and holding unusual power with the military. The documents add to mounting questions about Rep. Murtha, whose use of federal earmarks to help favored defense companies and whose relationship with a former lobbying firm are under scrutiny by federal investigators."
TERRORISM UPDATE: by the way, what really recruits terrorist wannabes to the cause?
Easy--terrorist victories--not our own supposed faults and mistakes, as Rich Lowry highlights well today.
FAVORITE TEAMS UPDATE: the Detroit Red Wings lost game 6 at Anaheim, 2-1. So now it's on to a deciding game 7. I didn't the Wings played horribly last night...but Anaheim played with just a bit more energy and desperation. They faced elimination, and it showed; and this proves why the old adage can be true, that clinching a playoff series on the road is one of the toughest things to do. Still. the Wings almost came back to tie the game, and still fired 38 shots on Duck goaltender Jonas Hiller. At home, the Wings should have the energy they need. Or at least, they'd better...
BASEBALL DIARY: it wasn't a great night for the Tigers, either, as they lost to Minnesota, 6-2. Minnesota's Metrodome, too, has historically been a house of horrors for the Tigers; seems like they frequently struggle there, lose bizarre games there, etc. Last night was no different--Tiger hitters had all kinds of chances to drive in runs, but didn't. Worrisome sign: Armando Galarraga is struggling big time, allowing 5 runs or more in each of his last four starts. All this needs to improve.
But the news was good on other fronts. The Texas Rangers have now won 8 of 10, beating Seattle 7-1 last night. Josh Hamilton came off the DL and homered. Scott Feldman to me is the big story--another quality start for him, allowing only 1 run in 6 plus innings. If the Rangers keep getting decent pitching...
And the Cubs won, beating San Diego 6-2. The team got another good start from Rich Harden; he's won 4 starts in a row. And maybe Milton Bradley is starting to hit--he hit two long home runs...perhaps if he gets hot, it will make up for the absence of Aramis Ramirez.
MAUREEN DOWD UPDATE: so a lot of folks are highlighting her unbalanced column today, mainly I guess because she said this about Dick Cheney...
"No matter if or when terrorists attack here — and they’re on their own timetable, not a partisan red/blue state timetable — Cheney will be deemed the primary one who made America more vulnerable."
So what she's saying is that Cheney's public statements today are somehow making America more vulnerable in the future to terrorist attack. That is indeed amazing.
What's even more amazing is that she doesn't explain why or how!!
