In the former, the writers admit the stimulus has been relatively useless at adding jobs, and admits that conservatives claim that the package was a waste of governmental funds, but still claims that a consensus of economists who have viewed the data insist that it is working (interesting definition of consensus). Apparently, the best way for the economy to quickly produce jobs is to throw even more pork at states, hope some jobs get produced, then let the results ‘trickle down’ to the rest of us.

But wait. In the second article, not only does Michigan lead the pack with a 15.6% unemployment rate, but 14 other states plus DC have double digit unemployment right now and unemployment has risen in 29 states in the last month. So, we see the numbers are not merely increasing of people out of work, we also see that the unemployment is spreading throughout the nation, rather than being concentrated in a few states.

So, when we combine the information from the two articles, we find that:
• A consensus of economists (other than conservatives) claim that the stimulus package, which was intended to provide jobs, is working,
• The jobless rate is increasing throughout the nation, with more than 20% of the states suffering an unemployment rate that was unimaginable only two years ago,
• Finally, my analysis is that the stimulus package was not really expected to provide jobs; instead, it was just a pig with lipstick.

The nicest part of doing this job is when my thoughts are confirmed by data from other sources. The data from Fox News, Quinnipiac and PPP clearly confirms the downward trends within the data.

We have several new records.

1. All-time low for the 30-day trend for the “approval index” … -10.75% !!!!!!
2. All-time low for the 30-day trend for overall approval for men … 43.74% !!!!!!
3. All-time low for the 30-day trend for overall approval index for men … -11.68% !!!!!!
4. Third time that the 30-day trend for overall approval for men has been less than 44%!!!!!!

You may access this data via the links below.

This page on political polls and analysis will be updated daily so bookmark it and return frequently for updated information. The data will grow over time to include sections on key 2010 Senate race polls, 2012 presidential polls, and the data you see today.

What we have now is an analysis of Rasmussen data as it pertains to Barack Obama’s job approval rating on a 3-day basis and on a 7-day basis, public opinion of his performance on the Economy and National Security, healthcare weekly updates, the generic congressional ballot, trust on the issues on ten issues and trust on the issues regarding healthcare alone.

Recent updates are highlighted in red.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree from Colorado College. Senior thesis: “The Evolution of Presidential War Powers,” in 1988.
J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1996, having also taken courses in Middle Eastern history at the Oriental Institute.

Seems to me she was looking into the Presidency ever since college. More from Wikipedia:

Early Career:

Before attending law school, Cheney worked for the State Department for five years and the U.S. Agency for International Development between 1989 and 1993. After 1993, she took a job at Armitage Associates LLP, the consulting firm founded by Richard Armitage, then a former Defense Department official and Iran-Contra operative who later served as Deputy Secretary of State.
After graduating from law school, Cheney practiced law in the private sector (at the law firm of White & Case) and as an international law attorney and consultant at the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. She has also served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State for Assistance to the former Soviet Union, and as a USAID officer in U.S. embassies in Budapest and Warsaw.

Seems to me she was better prepared to be President at the time then Barack Obama was in January this year.

Middle East :

In 2002, Cheney was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, a pre-existing vacant post with an “economic portfolio,” which is a mandate to promote investment in the region. Amid reports, including a New York Times editorial by Paul Krugman, saying that the job was created especially for her, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that she had come recommended by then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. The Times (London) reported that Cheney’s appointment was “the most intriguing sign that America is getting serious about Middle East reform” and that the appointment was “a measure of the seriousness with which the administration was taking Middle East programmers for literacy, education, and reform.” The appointment followed publicized policy divisions between the Vice President’s office and the State Department on Middle East policy. In that position, she was given control of the Middle East Partnership Initiative, designed to “foster increased democracy and economic progress in a troubled region.”
In February 2005, she returned to the US State Department and was appointed the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State For Near Eastern Affairs and Coordinator for Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiatives. In this position, Cheney supported the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, C. David Welch, and coordinated U.S. multilateral efforts to promote and support democracy, expanded education and economic opportunities in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Her position made her the second-ranking U.S. diplomat for the Middle East.

Seems to me as a solid foreign experience in the hardest diplomatic region.

So what is Liz Cheney doing now, you sexists?
Is she baking cookies? May be, but she also is running a non-profit 501(c)4 organization, Keep America Safe. The purpose of the group is to support and defend policies of the Bush/Cheney administration which they believe will keep America safe.

Hello! Liz Cheney threw a major trial balloon on a major political show on a major network and nobody noticed? Take the challenge you guys! “Think Cheney 2012 – Think Liz!”

As of this writing, Medicare is not specifically named as one of the approved health care plans. Therefore we suggest you fax your objections to the excise tax.

2. If a citizen living abroad pays the $750 will they be covered when in the U.S. on visits?

Payment of the excise tax will not cover you in the US; you will get no insurance benefit for paying this tax. The excise tax will be a penalty you pay for not participating in one of the authorized health plans. You will still need to purchase travel insurance.

3. Is that amount the same for everyone regardless of income? If someone is a student, retiree, child, otherwise unemployed still required to pay it?

The excise tax mentioned in the Senate bill will be the same for everyone.

4. In the version without the excise tax can citizens living abroad opt to pay it and get the insurance while in the U.S.?

Paying the excise tax will NOT give you healthcare coverage. In the House version and the Senate version, US citizens living abroad CAN choose to buy into one of the approved insurance plans. Once the various plans are approved, you can determine if any of them are appropriate to your needs. From previous experience, you cannot rely on these plans for coverage outside the U.S.

5. Is there a site where I can get a copy of the proposed bill written in layman terms?

Unfortunately, as of yet, there is no such creature. This is because the bill is still being debated with amendments added and sections changed

6. I have lived in several states prior to moving abroad. To which Senators do send my faxes?

Under federal election law, the Senators from the state in which you last resided prior to moving abroad are the ones to receive your faxes.

7. Wouldn’t this excise tax be covered under the tax treaty between the US and Israel; since we pay an Israeli health tax, wouldn’t this be deducted from the US tax?

The specific issue of the US/Israeli tax treaty has not been addressed in either of House or Senate bills. This excise tax is applicable to ALL US citizens living outside the US, not just those in Israel.

8. If the bill goes through with the excise tax, how is it going to be enforced?

All excise taxes are added to the taxpayers’ final tax liability owed to the IRS.

9. If Americans living outside the US do not pay the excise tax, how would they pay for their medical care if they became ill or injured on a visit to the US?

The excise tax will not provide any medical coverage to anyone. It is merely a tax on people who choose not to participate in any of the American Approved Health Care Plans (to be determined at a later date). Americans living abroad can choose to participate in one of Approved Plans and pay for it (costs are unknown at present) or can purchase travel insurance here in Israel. It is unknown if any of the approved plans will provide services outside the U.S. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid provide such services.

To check the number of Americans living in particular country or region click here

The retired Brian Thomas from South Wales suffers from several sleep disorders including sleepwalking; he apparently killed his wife during a state of automatism. Automatism is exactly how it sounds, automatic behavior while unconscious.

While the Thomas’ were on vacation in July, they had apparently been disturbed by some men earlier on, and Brian Thomas had a nightmare that they broke into the camper in which the couple was sleeping. In his dream, Thomas fought the attackers off, only to find when he awoke that it was his own loving wife he had strangled to death.

The judge in the case told Brian Thomas that he seemed like a decent man and was not responsible for his actions. His family has been supportive of him and showed great joy when he walked free for the killing.

This case in which Brian Thomas killed wife during nightmare is extremely rare. Quite possibly only 50 occurrences worldwide with this being the first in Great Britain; doctors have determined that Brian Thomas’ condition would most likely not result in a repeat of the horrible crime if he were to walk free.

Besides the fact that Brian Thomas killed wife during nightmare, the one truly sad aspect of this story is Thomas himself having to live with what he did. Since the incident, he has suffered from depression and has had almost constant thoughts of suicide.

Even if we loose this opening salvo these 4 Democrats have stated large reservations about this bill and at least two of them have stated that they will not vote for any plan with a public option. We only need one of them to vote against cloture to stop the bill and I think we have a pretty good chance of that happening.

Joe Lieberman has been the most emphatic about not accepting any plan with a public option. What a perfect way for him to pay back the Democrats who have treated him so shabbily. How does that knife in the back feel Democrats. The next best bet is Sen. Lincoln of Arkansas. National health-care is very unpopular in that state and a recent Zogby poll shows that the folks down there are not at all excited about either Lincoln or anyone who votes in favor of national health-care.

A Zogby Poll this week illustrates the stark choice facing Senate Democrats as they have to decide whether or not to vote for ObamaCare. The poll shows that Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln, high up on the list of vulnerable Senate Democrats seeking reelection in 2010, literally faces a choice between being reelected and voting for the bill.
The Zogby Poll shows Arkansans opposed to the Obama/Reid bill by 28-64, with 50 percent “strongly opposed” to the legislation. To swim in the face of such a current of public opinion is risky business for a U.S. senator.

Lincoln’s most likely Republican opponent, state Sen. Gilbert Bennett, is hot on her heels in the poll, trailing by only 41-39. But asked who they would support if Lincoln votes for ObamaCare, Arkansas voters switch to Bennett, giving him a 49-36 victory. That Lincoln goes from two points ahead to 13 points behind over one Senate vote illustrates the potency of the opposition to healthcare changes.

So, basically, if she votes for the bill she’s done, if she votes against it she has a chance of retaining her seat.

On the other hand, we still have the Maine sisters to worry about, who knows.

Rightpundits will have live video of the proceedings and debate as available on Saturday.