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He Kept His Eyes on the Prize
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A 2012 Conservative Case for America’s Future
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Trust, Don’t Verify
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The Obama Watch
Jobberwacky
What? Another department of jobs?
Floundering. Flopping around like a fish on deck. That’s the best description of the Obama administration this summer. The president’s now on a bus tour of the Heartland. Next, he’s slated to go to Martha’s Vineyard for a well-earned vacation.
He’s done about all the damage he can do for one summer, so let’s give him a break. The media shows the president stepping smartly off Air Force One or briskly scaling the stairway up to Air Force One. It’s intended to impress us and it does impress. Until you recall that that’s $187,000 an hour to fuel and fly the jumbo jet, all added to our national debt.
Earlier this month, President Obama announced a new program for returning veterans. In his “Weekly Radio Address,” he called it “a reverse boot camp.” A what? What does that mean? Boot camp, as everyone knows, is designed to whip you into shape, to get you ready for the rigors of military service. So, what’s a reverse boot camp? To reverse that process would do what? Get you out of shape? Make you less prepared for your role? Leave you a couch potato? It cannot mean wear your boots in reverse.
Who writes this stuff, anyway? The president’s speechwriter makes $172,200 a year. Maybe we could start trimming the deficit there. Barack Obama is on record saying he’s a better speechwriter than his speechwriters. If this is what that speechwriter comes up with, Mr. Obama could hardly do worse.
Now making the rounds is this howler: The president is planning to unveil his new jobs proposals — in September. Why wait until after Labor Day? Wouldn’t it be neat to think, as we approach Labor Day, that the administration had a forward-looking plan in place right now? I think the 25 million unemployed or underemployed Americans would be especially excited to hear of a plan before they have to shell out for the kids’ new school shoes.
One of the trial balloons currently being floated is that the president will announce a new Department of Jobs. This has got to be a joke. Here’s a paragraph on the U.S. Department of Labor. It details the history of this federal agency, now approaching its 100th year of existence:
The organic act establishing the Department of Labor was signed on March 4, 1913, by a reluctant President William Howard Taft, the defeated and departing incumbent, just hours before Woodrow Wilson took office. A Federal Department of Labor was the direct product of a half-century campaign by organized labor for a “Voice in the Cabinet,” and an indirect product of the Progressive Movement. In the words of the organic act, the Department’s purpose is “to foster, promote and develop the welfare of working people, to improve their working conditions, and to enhance their opportunities for profitable employment.”
Reads pretty much like a Jobs Department to me. Has anyone talked to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis about any new “Jobs Department”? What is she supposed to do, how is she supposed to labor, if we have another Jobs Department?
Then, of course, we have the U.S. Commerce Department. The Mission Statement of this department makes it sound like it, too, is a Jobs Department:
The U.S. Department of Commerce promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development and improved standards of living for all Americans by working in partnership with businesses, universities, communities and our nation’s workers.
Reading these official statements — cranked out by people whose salaries we all pay — reminds us of Ronald Reagan’s famous line. The closest thing to eternal life we will see on this earth is a government program.
If the function of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce is to promote job creation and economic growth, it sure seems that — how can I say this charitably? — this distinguished public servant has been falling down on the job of late. Like the last two and a half years.
If I were Mr. Obama’s Commerce Secretary, I’d want to get out of town, and fast. In fact, that’s exactly what Secretary Gary Locke did. Having done such yeoman’s work in promoting job creation and economic growth here, Gary Locke was recently sworn in as our Ambassador to China .
Now, there’s a jobs plan! If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Ambassador Locke can now observe job creation and economic growth from a unique vantage point: Beijing .
As he unpacks in China’s Forbidden City , I suggest that Ambassador Locke enter into meaningful dialogue with the Chinese about U.S. exports. Maybe he can persuade them to buy more American flounder. We have entirely too much American floundering here and on Martha’s Vineyard.
About the Author
Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio is Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Club For Growth and the National Taxpayers Union.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (62) | Leave a comment
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Groad| 8.17.11 @ 6:37AM
More like the Ministry of Jobs, who will be the commissar. They could no doubt produce jobs with the same efficiancy the Ministry of Energy produces energy. This is a farce and just a big ___-job is all.
Phil Latio| 8.17.11 @ 8:10AM
Barry reminds me of the hurricane saying to the palm tree,"Get ready for the biggest blow job you have ever had."
Shamus| 8.17.11 @ 9:06AM
Obama should create a Department of Stupidity.
Peter Hardwick| 8.17.11 @ 9:38AM
Plenty of staffers in DC for either one.
Boar Hunter| 8.17.11 @ 1:41PM
This quote came from the Czech Republic, sorry I don't know exactly who to credit it to, but after reading this article I couldn't help to think of this. "The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."
TrueBlue| 8.17.11 @ 5:50PM
"Who's the more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-wan Kenobi, Star Wars Ep. 4
Ah the number of great quotes that could be used to describe this administration and their followers.
C.K. Amos| 8.17.11 @ 7:05PM
He already has. It's the amalgam of his entire administration. And he's the Secretary of Stupidity.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.17.11 @ 7:01AM
That sounds eerily like the Ministry of Plenty from 1984.
Well, it certainly seems like a big brother is watching you, guiding you and certifying you. Remember our training and thoughts for the day:
Unemployment is prosperity
War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is strength
Timothy L. Pennell| 8.17.11 @ 8:08AM
You're exactly right, Bill. And, SHARED SACRIFICE is for THEE and not for ME. Because, as we all should know: All pigs are created Equal, except that some pigs are MORE EQUAL than others.
It's like the thing with Millionaires and Billionaires and Private Jets.
These people are definitely EVIL, and must be PUNISHED. Unnnlessssss they are using these Jets to fly in to where I AM, for my Birthday, or to give me money for my Re-Election. Aaaaaand, having MILLIONS and BILLIONS is okay, if I need an Ocean Front MEGA-MANSION to stay at, in Martha's Vineyard, where my Family and I, can Dine on LOBSTER and KING CRAB and STEAK and CAVIAR, as we all sit on the Deck, sipping COGNAC, while we watch the Tide roll in.
It truly is GOOD TO BE KING.
Now, shut up and pay your REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS.
Or, are they still called: INVESTMENTS?
It's hard to keep up.
Drunken Sailor| 8.17.11 @ 12:15PM
You forgot the newest one.
Food Stamps =Stimulus.
http://www.realclearpolitics.c.....mulus.html
Doctor_X| 8.17.11 @ 7:11AM
I wonder if my soon to be new boss Jeff Immel will head up this department.
Dick Nome| 8.17.11 @ 8:47AM
Nah. Bill CLinton will get it to start with and Monica as his Deputy. SHe will then take over once he gets her re-trained.
Mike D.| 8.17.11 @ 7:25AM
Well, it would create jobs. Appoint a new Commissar of work, hire 10,000 more people to sit in cubicles and shuffle papers, play computer games, twitter, and check up on the latest facebook stuff and vaaaaawwallllla, he's created jobs. It really is a pleasure to watch this clown and his circus act. We in Detroit had Bozo the clown and Milky the clown, now its Obysmal the clown.
Melvin| 8.17.11 @ 7:45AM
This is just another political ploy to marginalize the Tea Party members of Congress. No Congressmen in their right mind would fund a silly department like this, but look at the headlines, "Republicans don't want Americans to have jobs, refuses to fund Department that can get America back on it's feet."
Then what the hell is Jeffrey R. Immelt doing? Wasn't he supposed to be the jobs Czar, that was going to get manufacturing rolling again.
Dick Nome| 8.17.11 @ 8:51AM
Don't leave out all that help former Gov Granholm provided. That dimbulb sure did a lot to re-vitalize Michigan.
Mike D.| 8.17.11 @ 9:02AM
I live in Michigan and she blew me away!
chuck| 8.17.11 @ 7:52AM
The inmates are in charge of the asylum. Why not just have the government take over everything and provide employment for everyone. We all could be paid exactly the same, so there would be no rich or poor!
Okay, this is sarcasm. I need to point that out so some idiot doesn't come along and say "what a great idea, why don't we try that!"
idalily| 8.17.11 @ 4:31PM
Don't kid yourself. The scenario you paint is their ULTIMATE goal.
TrueBlue| 8.17.11 @ 5:53PM
There will be rich and poor; the poor will be us, the rich will be the establishment rubes in DC... oh wait, they've already done that.
Southern_Comment| 8.17.11 @ 7:58AM
A Dept of Jobs, hmmm this could accomplish quite a bit and be a good thing.
1) Yes, it's a complete waste of money, but at least it's a waste of our money on our soil and not cash sent offshore.
2) Another government department set up to fail. Another department in proof that bigger government is not better government. Another failure for us as voters to point at and say - this is NOT the American way. This is just waste and another failure for Congress to cut. After all, the government can't create jobs silly.
3) Growing a public sector union, and what's the old saying "The bigger they are the harder they fall". I'm an honest person by nature, hence my being a conservative, and I'm not lying when I type . . . I, for one, would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see that! Talk about a silver lining to a long and arduous dark cloud journey.
4) Helps us keep Obama in the WH through the election (although considering his ego we're not in much danger). We as conservatives would prefer that. What a mess were he to drop out and they replace him.
He's been given a toy (life sized black bus) and told to go play in the corner(midwest tour) while the adults handle business. He's now the guy nobody invites to the meetings. I'd almost feel sorry for him, but being conservative I've been told I have no compassion so I'm not going to bother much with that waste of time.
Sonny Butterbuns| 8.17.11 @ 9:07AM
The motto could be "waste all you want -- we'll print more."
benfromMO| 8.17.11 @ 12:26PM
Ah ha...you hit the nail on the head Sonny. The problem is that Obama will do just that....except he will call it something fancy so people do not realize he is just printing money. I think we should create it with computers and call it something different. How about Quantitative Easing? YEA!
JohnC| 8.17.11 @ 9:18AM
Meanwhile, under the radar, Obama along with the GOP leadership are pushing for another free trade agreement. You can bet hidden in this multi-thousand page agreement is more outsourcing of our ever-declining industry and jobs. I guess it is not enough for the liberal multi-national corporations that communist China now owns us as they continue to sell out America.
The real tragedy is that both the left and the right media are silent on the primary reason of our disappearing jobs. The Republican base (taking their cue from talk radio) actually believe that these so-called free trade agreements are conservative policies, even though they undermine America’s sovereignty and independence and make us hostage to foreign powers.
Someone needs to tell the conservative media that a country that no longer makes anything is worthless -- an economic paper tiger.
Moe Blotz| 8.17.11 @ 11:27AM
Jobs leaving our shores are attributable to over taxation and over regulation. Free trade has nowt to do with our loss of manufacturing.
Buck Ofama| 8.17.11 @ 1:05PM
>The Republican base (taking their cue from talk radio)...
And your point is ______________________.
Groad| 8.17.11 @ 5:44PM
His point is, cut taxes and regulation to make us competetive. You Libs are dense.
Anneke| 8.17.11 @ 9:28AM
"a new Department of Jobs"
Not a surprise. I attended a townhall last night in Oakland, sponsored by the Progressive Caucus in the House, specifically Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Honda and Luis Grijalva. One of the biggest laments of the sponsors and attendees is the loss of Public Sector jobs. Of course, the event was populated by union members, esp. those representing government employees. A Dept. of Jobs will provide lots of grateful constituents with new jobs. According to these people, only the Public Sector provides good jobs, not the Private sector.
And, the Republican House is to blame for the lack of jobs. Nevermind that the Democrats control the Senate and controlled the House for the years prior to 2011 and never had a workabel plan for employment. Nevermind that Obama is a Democrat who has no workable plan for employment. It's all the fault of the Tea Party and the Republicans.
JimH| 8.17.11 @ 9:59AM
The new jobs program: Barrack’s Lame Old Wheeze
OregonBuzz| 8.17.11 @ 10:02AM
I wonder if anyone in Government will ever realize that Government doesn't create jobs in the private sector? Government jobs produce nothing and ultimately waste taxpayer money. The government/Obama can only destroy the true job creating environment, the free market. In that regard I am compelled to admit that he and his lackeys have done a yeoman's job.
Conrad Spiracy| 8.19.11 @ 11:20AM
Yes, gummint does create jobs - military jobs - the ONLY ones they are Constitutionally bound to create and maintain.
Anchors Aweigh
Semper Fi
Hoo-ah
Wild Blue Yonder
My inestimable thanks to all who have served, are currently serving, and will ever serve.
My humblest and sincerest honor who have not come home from serving.
Con
Hillel| 8.17.11 @ 10:20AM
Years ago there was a popular TV show "The Man from U.n.c.l." co-starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum. In one episode David McCallum has to convince some Native Americans that he is on their side and they have to help him. Why should we listen to you said one sceptic? Because said McCallum,I have the plan" This of course is what all of us await eagerly after Labor day.
JimH| 8.17.11 @ 10:30AM
Open channel D.
kurt| 8.17.11 @ 10:46AM
What is the best way to create jobs in the USA??? I would think that large tariff's on all products coming into the US from third world slave labor nations would do the trick! Oh, I forgot, the large corporate multi-nationals that own our government would lose money if they had to pay a living wage and then would respond by cutting off political contributions to the clowns in Washington DC. We could never allow that to happen to the elite in DC screwing the American worker at ever turn !
Mike Hawk| 8.17.11 @ 10:54AM
You have obviously never heard of the Smoot-Hawley tarriffs. Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it. Tax cuts and regulatory relief are the immediate needs.
Moe Blotz| 8.17.11 @ 11:30AM
Meanwhile our beloved President is reading from his teleprompter to blow more smoke in our eyes whilst touring the corn patch in two buses built in CANADA.
JohnC| 8.17.11 @ 11:15AM
The liberal CNBC money guys always trot out the Smoot-Hawley lie. They love rebuilding China under the guise of free trade while decimating America.
Have you noticed how the Wall Street gang always talks about free markets until their corrupt manipulation causes the market to come tumbling down – then they scream for TARP or helicopter Ben to rescue them.
The answer is yes – an import tax would start to right this sinking ship called America. The markets might collapse but in their ashes America’s industry will be rebuilt along with good paying jobs.
Mike Hawk| 8.17.11 @ 11:45AM
Would you please tell us what great benefits were realized by the Smoot-Hawley tarriffs??
benfromMO| 8.17.11 @ 12:40PM
Um, Mike, back in the 1930's when this was passed the country was in a great depression. Foriegn trade was only 5% of our GDP. Our largest trading partners in fact threatened us and our leadership at the time blew it on this one, instead of coming up with a diplomatic solution, they went ahead and let trade die. This was bad because if we had adjusted the tariff correctly like we should have, it would have kept Canada in our loop so to speak.
The point of this story is to make everyone aware that we should be aware of history so as to not repeat mistakes. Yes, in this case it was implemented poorly and the taxes for foreign goods was indeed too high. This just means that in this case Smoot (short for the act) was implemented and researched poorly and like I said, the statesmanship of the Hoover administration did leave something to be desired.
Benefits? Well the benefits were easy to see, American manufacturing went up. Factory jobs went up. All of this in the middle of the Great Depression...but the harm was actually worse then the benefit because the tariffs were poorly implemented.
Drunken Sailor| 8.17.11 @ 2:00PM
Many economist believe it was just one of the many causes for the Great Depression. Manufacturing went up due to the war.
Groad| 8.17.11 @ 5:48PM
Smoot-Hawley was signed in 1930. The econmy showed little inprovement for 4 years. Then modest growth before another downturn in 1938. Smoot-Hawley did more damage than good . Many factors caused the depression. High taxes, tariffs and deficit spending prolonged it. Keynesian theory in it's first tests was an abysmal failure.
TrueBlue| 8.17.11 @ 6:00PM
You mean Keynesian theory in ALL of its tests is an abyssmal failure.
Pete| 8.17.11 @ 11:18AM
I, for one, would be pleased to pay the members of the new department handsomely while they "study" the problem in advance of making "recommendations." This would be funny if it weren't so sad.
Shamus| 8.17.11 @ 11:22AM
How would the Department of Labor differ from the Department of Jobs?
The Department of Labor would restrict the supply of jobs while the Department of Jobs would restrict the supply of labor.
Conrad Spiracy| 8.19.11 @ 11:24AM
ROFLMAO!
David| 8.17.11 @ 11:47AM
Unf_cking believable. ANd to think this clown could very well be re-elected.
Stefan Stackhouse| 8.17.11 @ 12:14PM
Just wait until he unveils his proposal for a "Department of Departments". The idea will be to employ all people not already employed by government, and to be funded by taxing the remaining money not already taxed. He'll call it a "stop gap" measure, I suppose. . .
Butch | 8.17.11 @ 3:48PM
Heh, many universities have a "Committee on Committees."
Drunken Sailor| 8.17.11 @ 12:22PM
Apparently Obama's job creation plan is to create another, redundant, goverment department. More goverment drones = jobs creation. What a genius!
Petronius| 8.17.11 @ 12:42PM
Get up to speed SS. That's a working title. Next week it will be designated Department of Departmental Development, which will be subsumed by the Red Ink Ribbon Clerk Commission. But this also is a diversion. The black mariah bus caravan rolling to a town hall put up job near you just got a media black eye, as they say these megachariots were built by a custom coach outfitter in Canada. Who really knows? Tomorrow the MSM will complain because these vehicles aren't Volvos. Nothing will change. The man behind the curtain isn't the one behind the wheel. But only one job really matters here. What this country needs is a guest President while the divine B.O. is on Martha's Vinyard. Just a thought. Gordon Brown is available.
George S| 8.17.11 @ 12:50PM
Will the Department of Jobs hire a couple of million bureaucrats to cut the unemployment rate and live up to its name?
Will the Department of Jobs offer suggestions or will it need regulatory power with armed agents?
Will the Department of Jobs diligently engage in the thankless task of matching employer need to job seekers or will they save time and money by simply assigning hiring quotas to businesses?
If the Department of Labor regulations makes it expensive to hire additional employees, will the Department of Jobs be sympathetic and excuse their quotas?
Will the Department of Jobs give any concern to political districts or party registration?
Will the Department of Jobs have any jurisdiction in China?
Buck Ofama| 8.17.11 @ 1:03PM
Jokebama should simply resign... NOW. Wish the fool had resigned 2.5 years ago.
Michael Tomlinson| 8.17.11 @ 1:18PM
Obama is becoming more of a joke and his "plan" has zero chance since it is the same old same old.
Hold your seats for the Obama double dip recession and high inflation. Jimmy Carter II is alive and well.
john| 8.17.11 @ 3:06PM
What about the Dept. of Edu. in DC, there are already 50 of them (57 according to Barry) What do these folks REALLY do?? And not to forget the Dept. of Energy, they have YET to produce 1 GALLON OF FUEL. This is just the TIP of the iceberg.
JohnC| 8.17.11 @ 3:45PM
My point about the Republican base taking their cue from talk radio on embracing free trade is that they are being misled and it is hurting the GOP and the country.
Free trade sounds good but outsourcing entire U. S. factories is neither free or trade, nor is it conservative -- it is libertarian, Worse then that it is international socialism since it transfers our wealth through sweetheart trade agreements from our once productive and prosperous country to poorer Third World countries and dictatorships.
Do these so-called conservative pundits realize they are on the same free trade page as liberals Clinton, Gore, Bush, Kerry and Obama? That alone should give them pause.
idalily| 8.17.11 @ 4:34PM
It is neither conservative, nor libertarian. It is simply, ECONOMIC NECESSITY. Eliminate capital gains, lower corporate tax rates and reduce the minimum wage and watch how fast those jobs come back.
Pat| 8.17.11 @ 4:01PM
But what about Americans who have jobs or own small businesses and are desperately clinging to them with all their might? Their problem is the cost of bribing a government official in return for favorable consideration has soared well beyond the reach of the average American. In the old days, a couple hundred bucks and a box of Grandma’s pecan sandies would do. Nowadays, only the wealthy within private industry can afford to bribe the wealthy within government service. Sure, growing rich through selfless public service is honorable but where does that leave us Americans who can’t afford the massive bribes needed?
Just today, CNBC reports that the Congressional committee members who decide on government financing issues have raised $50 million in political contributions since 1990. Wall St. firms can easily afford such bribes and are literally throwing money at the Super Committee members to avoid losing out when future government handouts are cut or tax loopholes closed – assuming that will actually happen. But how does the average Joe afford bribes in this range? Obviously, we can’t afford to pay our elected employees such “incentives”, we can’t buy our own piece of the influence rock. So, yeah, we do need more jobs in this country but we also need to reign in the cost of bribing a government official – otherwise, we’ll be stuck with paying for all those new tax provisions and can’t swing the bribes necessary to avoid carbon offset regulations or new federal mandates concerning job discrimination in the workplace.
JohnC| 8.17.11 @ 5:33PM
Idalily,
I agree with your lower tax & minimum wage positions but the outsourced jobs will not come back -- the multi-national global corporations will just become richer. We cannot and should not compete with slave labor.
Outsourcing our vital manufacturing base is suicidal not an economic necessity. The fruits of this insanity are over 9 % (really probably 20%) unemployment and heading towards another depression.
Economic globalism is socialism and a race to the bottom.
kurt| 8.17.11 @ 11:41PM
John,
I wish there was another hundred million people that thought like you and would rather spend an extra buck or two on a better quality product that would keep their neighbor in a decent paying job, but sadly there are not! Common sense isn't very common in the good ole USA anymore!
C.K. Amos| 8.17.11 @ 7:08PM
Can we wait until November 2012 to remove this execrable excuse for a man, president and leader?
Mike| 8.17.11 @ 11:14PM
Plenty of staffers in DC for either one.
http://www.summer-products.com
http://www.ainibag.com
House| 8.17.11 @ 11:15PM
Bill CLinton will get it to start with and Monica as his Deputy. SHe will then take over once he gets her re-trained.
http://www.jerseys-hats-store.com
http://www.honey-gifts.com
Marc Jeric| 8.17.11 @ 11:48PM
It's pathetic to watch our President Pinocchio jumping up the stairs like a grasshopper to show us his athleticism. But like in the real Pinocchio's case, every time he pronounces another lie his nose grows another 1/8th of an inch.