WHITHER THE ECONOMY? DEPT:
Hard to figure where the economy is going. Every day there's a different lead.
Today, the news is not so good:
"Household income in the U.S. is essentially stagnant, raising doubts about whether consumers already hurt by job losses can sustain an economic recovery."
Although in past days we've heard news that new jobless claims are down, that consumer confidence is up, but that the budget deficit and unemployment figures should continue to rise.
Sure doesn't figure to be a big-time recovery anytime soon, though.
OBAMACARE UPDATE DEPT:
Charles Krauthammer last night gives an excellent summary concerning why President Obama's poll numbers are plummeting re: health care:
"What's killing the Obama health plan is not the Republicans, it's not the Blue Dogs, it isn't the rallies in the town meetings. It's numbers. It's reality. Obama says: "I'm going to expand coverage and reduce the cost." And the CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, steps in and gives you numbers. It says: No, it will not reduce. It will increase our costs by $1 trillion.
Obama says: "Oh, yes, [cost might rise] in the first decade , and then it will decline." The CBO says no. There will be an increase in the deficit in the second decade. It's the numbers and the reality that is sinking Obamacare."
And by the way, watch out for a lot more iterations of the following liberal talking point, this time coming from Michael Kinsley:
"The reason Americans have turned against health-care reform, after electing President Obama in part for promising it, is simple: Despite protestations to the contrary, Americans don't like change."
That's a falsehood. Oh, liberals would like it to be true--for if it was, then the left could simply claim Americans are acting out of "fear", and more easily (they think) move them off that position. Fundamental: this is not just fear of "change." This is a belief that what the Democrats are selling on health care is a bad idea.
BASEBALL DIARY: the Tigers were off. The Texas Rangers beat the Yankees, 7-2--and won two of three in the Bronx. Two big home runs from Ian Kinsler were highlights--as was the Rangers' bullpen throwing 5 and 2/3 innings of two-hit ball. The Rangers trail the Red Sox for the wild card by only a game and a half. And it continues to be the team's pitching that's the big story.
Meanwhile the Cubs need a big winning streak. So they immediately go and lose two of three to the Washington Nationals, including yesterday's 5-4 loss. Give the Nationals some props, though--they've gone 14-11 in August. No luck this year for the Cubs.
