This week's weekly remarks open with President Obama in Africa opening on foreign affairs. But by the second paragraph out of 20, he gets to what he really wants -- needs -- to talk about: domestic business in general and the economy specifically.
His polls numbers have slipped, especially among seniors and even independents. People still like him a lot (though they now like his wife better).
But they're increasingly worried about some of his programs and these numbers with more digits than civilian calculators can display -- all the spending and unemployment still growing, reform of healthcare that some 70% of Americans are satisfied with now.
You can tell what White House polling has told them by the subjects ticked off in Obama's remarks: We inherited this mess, the economic stimulus bill so urgently pushed in February wasn't really designed to fix the economy, and the switching of terms about jobs. It used to be about creating and/or preserving jobs. Now, preserving jobs comes first, which, like murders not committed, is difficult to prove or disprove without numbers. Which is the point.
Be patient, Obama urges, more spending will kick in this summer. I promise healthcare reforms won't add to the deficit. We're cutting waste. We need clean energy. Etc.
The Republican remarks, provided this week by Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, are in many ways the mirror image.
They see their own poll numbers. It's been six months; the economy belongs to Obama now. Where are the promised jobs? Unemployment at 9.5% is already higher than the 8.5% the administration promised as max. The stimulus bill was larded with pork. We can't afford all this spending and borrowing. The federal government this year alone has borrowed $10Gs for economic stimulus from every American family. Do you feel better knowing that?
This is an argument we will all hear in varying forms from now until next year's midterm elections, when the White House party historically takes a hit in Congress.
This week, we’ve made important progress toward the goal of bringing about change abroad and change at home. During my visit to Russia, we began the process of resetting relations so that we can address key national priorities like the threat of nuclear weapons and extremism. At the G-8 summit, leaders from nearly 30 nations met to discuss how we will collectively confront the urgent challenges of our time, from managing the global recession to fighting global warming to addressing global hunger and poverty. And in Ghana [see arrival photo below], I laid out my agenda for supporting democracy and development in Africa and around the world.
But even as we make progress on these challenges abroad, my thoughts are on the state of our economy at home. And that’s what I want to talk to you about today.
We came into office facing the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. At the time, we were losing, on average, 700,000 jobs a month. And many feared that our financial system was on the verge of collapse.
As a result of the swift and aggressive action we took in the first few months of this year, we’ve been able to pull our financial system and our economy back from the brink. We took steps to restart . . .
True to his coming-into-office promise, President Barack Obamahas held his top staff salaries at the same level as his predecessor.
Which ain't too shabby.
$172,200.
True, according to an initial analysis by The Hotline, Obama has more folks making that top salary (20) than George W. Bush did (18). The hours are long. And they could probably make more dough back in Illinois politics, if you know what we mean. And D.C. house prices always get jacked when a new administration comes to town because there's not a lot of time to negotiate.
But they get free parking for their foreign brand cars in downtown Washington. And access to the White House Mess.
Here are some of the newly-minted bigshots making the big bucks: David Axelrod, Robert Gibbs, Valerie Jarrett, Carol Browner, Larry Summers, James Jones, Susan Sher (Michelle's chief of staff), Rahm Emanuel and Jon Favreau, the paper Hillary-groping speechwriter (photo here).
(The president, btw, gets $400G's plus $50G's tax-free for expenses. Vice President Joe Biden gets $208,100, less than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's $223.5G's.)
And he'll end it in the afternoon with, surprisingly, another series of private meetings.
In between, Biden, who spent nearly four decades in the U.S. Senate from little old Delaware preparing to handle the duties of the vice presidency, will meet pretty privately with the deputy prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. Photos will be allowed briefly.
Biden will also witness President Obama's meeting with the administration's special Mideast envoy for peace, George Mitchell. Closed to the press.
And the Democratic vice president will speak at a lunchtime Democratic fundraiser. Just to ensure no videotapes emerge of any impromptu Biden remarks, the lunch may be covered only by a few print media with pens (or pencils).
Oh, and yet another afternoon oath-giving, this one for Ray Maybus, the new secretary of the Navy. But because this is such a uniquely transparent administration, that historic event will be closed to the press altogether.
Other than that, more private meetings. Also closed. Hence the term "private."
Team Obama is downplaying the story, arguing that President Obama is a great navigator who never lets dissension delay decision but welcomes rigorous debate.
“You can’t assemble a group of really brilliant people, and deal with some of the most complex problems in our lifetimes and not have disagreements,” said senior political guru David Axelrod.
So, ever sensitive to shifts in public opinion, the White House is moving into action.
This morning, Obama and Vice President Biden announced that money from the stimulus package -- so far trickling out of Washington in a sluggish way -- would be speeded up to create 600,000 new jobs over the next 100 days on everything from improvements in national parks to youth summer jobs.
"We have a long way to go on our road to recovery but we are going the right way," Obama said in a statement, just before meeting with his Cabinet. "Our measure of progress is the progress the American people see in their own lives. And until that progress is steady and solid; we're going to keep moving forward. We will not grow complacent or rest. Surely and steadily, we will turn this economy around."
Under the plans detailed today, 1,129 health centers would expand their services, the Interior Department would begin work on 107 national parks, the Labor Department would create 125,000 summer youth jobs and improvements would be undertaken at 90 veterans medical centers.
Plus 5,000 law enforcement officers would be hired, while the Department of Agriculture would start 200 new waste and water systems in rural areas and the Environmental Protection Agency would begin or accelerate cleanup at 20 hazardous waste sites.
As he repeated for the cameras his line that, "We have a long way to go," Obama pounded on the desk.
Many things are absolutely essential to American civilization -- cars, cellphones, microwaves, laptops, drive-thrus, iPods, politics blogs, fourth-grade band concerts, double-cheeseburgers, electricity, voicemail, tooth whiteners, refrigerator magnets and "No. 1 Grandpa" license plate holders. Also toilet paper.
But right up there somewhere on that list would also be television, that amazing contraption that some people can well remember a pretty good life without back when movies and radio were essential.
Which is why it's so understandable that Gary Locke (below), President Obama's second choice for Commerce secretary, who didn't have problems with income taxes or a federal grand jury, would issue another urgent warning to "Unprepared Consumers" about this Friday's looming deadline.
June 12 is the new D-Day, Digital Day, the absolute shut-off, no-sound, blank-screen deadline for conversion to digital TV, already postponed once from last winter.
Let us be very clear: Obama has been very clear he will grant no extensions. Not even if the NBA Finals go that long.
But, then, he's probably got satellite.
Not that the makers of digital conversion boxes had any influence over Congress requiring this change from rabbit-ear antennas that worked pretty well if you touched them just right for, oh, about three generations.
The public reason given is that firefighters and police need the old frequencies to order pizzas and donuts. Also the fake grass will look sharper during NFL games.
Whatever.
In an actual news release direct from his department, Locke said: "I urge consumers who use an older television not on cable or satellite to take the necessary steps to ensure that they can continue receiving the news and information they rely on after June 12."
A clear slam against commercial entertainment programming.
A new Harris Poll reveals that no one in President Obama's Cabinet and administration is helping his strong popularity ratings at all.
In fact, instead of Obama's 60+% popularity being bolstered by colleagues, the Great Change Agent is carrying most of the favorability factor on his own shoulders.
If his figures ever slip, there's not much below to support him. On the other hand, for now there's no competition for publicity.
The new online poll of 2,681 American adults taken last month shows that after eight years of the well-known Evil Crowd, many on Obama's team are not only not well-known, they're little-known. Almost unknown.
(Psst. This may be how The Boss wants it.)
Only Pelosi (66%), Biden (69%) and Secretary of State Hillary "Shame on You, Barack Obama" Clinton (83%) are known to most Americans.
While Treasury Secretary Timothy "Not Paying Taxes to One of the Departments I Now Run Was an Inadvertent Mistake" Geithner enjoys 16% positive opinions, fully 26% feel negatively about him. And 59% don't really have an opinion about the guy.
Pelosi has by far the worst ratings, more than 2 to 1 against -- 21% positive to 45% negative.
In Biden's case, 32% positive feelings, but 36% negative.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has nearly 2-to-1 positive ratings -- 28% positive to 15% negative. But despite being an Evil Crowd holdover, 57% have never heard of him.
Only 17% have not heard of Clinton, but those who have break 50%-33% positive-negative.
"None of his colleagues do much to help him politically," the Harris commentary notes. "Some commentators have written about the supposed strength of his team and his cabinet members. The public does not share this enthusiasm. And Nancy Pelosi is a political liability."
Other than that, it's seen as a very strong Obama administration team.
Advice to all General Motors dealers: If the phone rings today and Caller ID shows the 313 area code, don't answer.
It's likely GM's Detroit headquarters calling to can you. GM is informing 20% of its dealerships all across the U.S. of A. -- about 1,100 Pontiac, Chevy, GMC, Buick and Cadillac dealers, that they're losing their affiliations. Chrysler did the same on Thursday to 789 of its 3,200 dealers. Part of the forced reorganizations by the Obama administration.
Now some people will smile smugly because back in high school it was the rich kids of those very car dealers who got shiny new cars every year. But fact is, these moves will likely mean joblessness for some 101,000 dealer employees. Plus many others in associated suppliers.
Presumably, since these positions will have been lost, they'll be added to the 3.5 million jobs the Obama administration will save or create.
Anyway, perhaps anticipating some antipathy toward the federal government's rapidly increasing control of the rapidly shrinking American automotive industry, the Treasury Department issued one of those unsigned it-could-actually-have-been-worse and would-you-believe-this-is-actually-good-news statements that won't buy anybody any groceries but look good on paper.
Gee, now why wouldn't Secretary Geithner want his name on this release? Well, here's his photo anyway. And the statement in full:
Today, General Motors initiated the dealer consolidation plan it laid out in its interim plan on April 27, 2009.
GM’s announcement is part of the company’s larger effort to restructure to achieve financial viability. The Task Force is continuing to work with GM and all its stakeholders and will stand behind GM during this process to ensure that it emerges as a more competitive, viable business in the long-term.
As was the case with Chrysler’s dealer consolidation plan, the Task Force was not involved in deciding which dealers, or how many dealers, were part of GM’s announcement today.
As difficult as these announcements are for the dealers that will no longer be selling GM and Chrysler cars and the communities in which they operate, without the President’s intervention, the entire GM and Chrysler dealer networks could have been lost.
The Administration’s commitment to this industry has given both companies a new lease on life. By supporting a restructuring that results in stronger car companies – supported by efficient and effective dealer networks – this process will not only provide more stability and certainty for current employees but the prospect for future employment growth.
In addition, the Administration is committed to continuing its significant efforts to help ensure that financing is available to creditworthy dealers and to pursuing efforts to help boost domestic demand for cars. These steps will help auto dealers, the auto industry and the American economy.
Yes, sure, Democratic Rep. John Conyers is alleged to be from Michigan. But, seriously, what planet do these folks come from?
Watch this amazing video below that we came across from the House Judiciary Committee hearing this morning.
First off, what's Congressman Conyers chewing so much? It wasn't lunch time. But, more importantly, this is what's considered dialogue on Capitol Hill?
This is how members of the legislative branch communicate with members of the executive branch of President Barack Obama, in this case Attorney General Eric Holder?
No wonder the AG looks so flummoxed. Anybody did this in the real world and the HR folks would be stopping by.
Good thing the Democrats control Capitol Hill and the White House. Otherwise, we might have some real communications challenges going on within our federal government.
BTW, as a sign of unity with other hard-pressed Americans in these difficult economic times, Congress gave itself a $4,700 raise this winter. Helps stimulate their economy. And as you can see from this video, the country is sure getting its extra money's worth.
(UPDATE: A loyal Ticket reader calls our attention to another hearing video, this one of Rep. Conyers' wife, Monica, a member of the Detroit City Council and third in line to the mayor's office, during a recent council exchange that is, uh, more lively than her husband's. We'll add that one to the stack below.
(Wonder who gets to talk at the Conyers' dinner table.)
For all 36 years of his long Senate career, Biden used the Wilmington station daily on his commute to and from the Capitol. Which means that Biden was riding the rails as a U.S. senator way back when the current president was on an elementary school playground.
Biden will appear in the Amtrak station, despite his own warning (see video below), later corrected by the White House, to call attention to the accelerated start of structural repairs there using funds from the Obama administration's economic stimulus package.
But Biden will not be alone in his act of bravery. He'll be joined in that transportation facility by a whole crowd of local, state and federal officials.
Hopefully, no one sneezes.
In the afternoon, Biden will join Interior secretary Ken Salazar at the University of Delaware. There, the men will discuss the potential in wind power, which seems appropriate for two ex-senators.
Today is the 100th day since the nation experienced Aretha Franklin's huge hat.
Crime and drinking rates are back to normal. Crowds on the mall have dwindled. The Washington Nationals, an alleged major league baseball team, have lost five of the last six games. Numerous seniors have postponed retirement after reading their 401(k) statements.
Timothy Geithner, Kathleen Sebelius, Tom Daschle and Hilda Solis' husband are finally up-to-date on their taxes, which is nice and democratic. But automakers have tanked; Pontiac's been euthanized. And unemployment and the projected national debt have soared since she sang. Oh, and China's reaping immense interest income on its loans over here.
The pundits have all had their chance -- actually, several chances each, with more to come all day and after tonight's news conference -- to punditize on these 14+ whole weeks. So now it's your turn. Vote here and feel free to leave copious comments below. See how your feelings match others.
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Our Bloggers
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the Countdown to Crawford blog here at The Times.
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