Most American Believe We are Still in a Recession

The media is chanting America is on the road to recovery. However, they need to try and convince the majority of Americans with that stupid rhetoric because the public isn't buying into it. Destruction of the dollar, true high unemployment, high gas prices, and out of control spending won't convince the American people we are doing okay.

(Reuters) - More than half of Americans say the U.S. economy is in a recession or a depression despite official data that show a moderate recovery, according to a poll released on Thursday.

The April 20-23 Gallup survey of 1,013 U.S. adults found that only 27 percent said the economy is growing. Twenty-nine percent said the economy is in a depression and 26 percent said it is in a recession, with another 16 percent saying it is "slowing down," Gallup said.

The poll findings have a 4 percentage point margin of error, according to Gallup.

The health of the U.S. economy is expected to be a major issue as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, seeks re-election in 2012.

The Real State of the Economy and It Sucks

It doesn't matter how the Associated Press paints a rosy picture of the economy. What matter is that the economy really sucks! You can blame on Obama for not doing his job. Instead of fixing the economy, Obama is on the campaign trail for this re-election bid.

(Yahoo) WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Economic growth braked sharply in the first quarter as higher food and gasoline prices dampened consumer spending and sent inflation rising at its fastest pace in 2-1/2 years.

Another report on Thursday showed a surprise jump in the number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits last week, which could cast a shadow on expectations for a significant pick-up in output in the second quarter.

Growth in gross domestic product slowed to a 1.8 percent annual rate after a 3.1 percent fourth-quarter pace, the Commerce Department said. Economists had expected a 2 percent pace.

With much of the pull back traced back to sharp cuts in defense spending and harsh winter weather, analysts were hopeful the economy would regain speed in the second quarter. The drop in defense spending was seen as temporary.

"Growth was disappointing given the momentum of the economy heading into the year. We are still of the belief that the economy will improve out of the soft patch through this quarter into the second half of the year," said Brian Levitt, an economist at OppenheimerFunds in New York.

Economists were encouraged that details of the report, in particular consumer spending and business outlays on software and equipment, were not as weak as they had feared and said this suggested a foundation for stronger growth was in place.

Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

The weak GDP report and the Federal Reserve's stated commitment to a loose monetary policy stance after a two-day meeting on Wednesday drove the dollar to a three-year low against a basket of currencies.

The Fed on Wednesday trimmed its growth estimate for 2011 to between 3.1 and 3.3 percent from a 3.4 to 3.9 percent January projection.

Growth in the first quarter was curtailed by a sharp pull back in consumer spending, which expanded at a rate of 2.7 percent after a strong 4 percent rise in the fourth quarter.

Rising commodity prices meant consumers had less money to spend on other items. Gasoline prices remain a concern, even though they are expected to stabilize somewhat.

The GDP report underscored the pain that strong food and gasoline prices are inflicting on households.

A inflation gauge contained in the report rose at a 3.8 percent rate -- the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2008 -- after increasing 1.7 percent in the fourth quarter.

A core price gauge, which excludes food and energy costs, accelerated to a 1.5 percent rate -- the fastest since the fourth quarter of 2009 -- from 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter.

The Traveling Obama Show

Obama needs to shut up and govern. At this rate, telling the people of the Titanic that everything will be okay is not going to do it.

(The American Spectator) In the first few moments of his speech at Northern Virginia Community College on Tuesday, President Obama gave the game away.
He said he ventured to the campus, a mere 17 miles from Washington, to "get out of the immediate environs of Washington and hear directly from voters and have a conversation with them."

Voters?

The election is 19 months away. The government's collision with its debt ceiling is about one month away, maybe less. How is Obama spending the first of the four weeks (if that) he has left before the government -- over which he allegedly presides -- hits its credit limit? He is campaigning for reelection.

Obama's three-stop trip to California and back "has all the markings of a campaign swing," according to Bloomberg News. That's because it is one. Los Angeles-based Democratic strategist Bill Carrick told Bloomberg that the trip was not really campaigning, but, well, with it the White House will "start focusing on swing states early so you can broaden the electoral map."

In the trip's public speeches, Obama has portrayed Republicans as cold-hearted agents of the greedy rich who work to squeeze a few more dimes from the peasants by "cutting children out of Head Start." Not a campaign trip? Sure, and Donald Trump has a lovely flaxen mane.

If this story sounds somewhat familiar, that's because in only two years the president has repeated it incessantly. When the stimulus bill was making its way through Congress, Obama took to the road to sell it to the people. His budget? Ditto. The health care bill? Months of the Traveling Obama Show.

The man loves to talk. He loves the performance and the attention it brings. But at this point in the Obama presidency, it should be obvious to someone in the West Wing that this is an enterprise of rapidly diminishing returns. What is gained from the expulsion of so much wind from the president's overtaxed lungs?

Passage of major legislation? Obama's nearly three dozen speeches actually hurt the cause of health care reform. The health care bill, which he let Congress craft as he flew around the nation talking, was passed through the old-fashioned back-room arm twisting of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, not the persuasive powers of the president. The stimulus bill passed because it was a traditional Congressional goodie bag, not because the president converted reluctant lawmakers into Keynesians.

How can Obama win the future if he can't even win independents? Obama's answer: Give more speeches! The right answer: Park Air Force One, unplug the teleprompter, roll up the sleeves, and govern.

AP survey, Only oil shock can stop economy now

The Associated Press must be from another planet. They see the present state of this environment positive. AP is saying Americans are spending more on furniture, cars and electronics. Really? Who is buying cars with these gas prices?

AP is reporting an increase in American exports and corporate spending, which have helped drive the recovery, are expected to remain strong. What? With the failed bailouts to pay the CEO bonuses, the only way to drive this economy is consumer spending. We aren't producing anything in this country. Companies aren't spending. There is still a trillion dollars tucked away awaiting for the right time for companies to diversify.

The Associated Press is Obama's lap dog. The spending is through the roof, our debt will never get paid off, true unemployment and productivity will never improve, the dollar will continue to sink, and the turmoil around the world will keep this country struggling to make ends meet. Gas prices is one thing that will hinder this economy, but there is a solution; DRILL BABY DRILL.

(AP) WASHINGTON -- The American economy is now strong enough to withstand Middle East turmoil and the Japanese nuclear crisis. Only a big rise in the price of oil could stop it now.

Those are the findings of an Associated Press survey of leading economists, who are increasingly confident in a recovery that is nearly two years old. They expect the economy to grow faster every quarter this year.

In part, that's because the economists think Americans will spend more freely in the coming months. Higher stock prices have made people wealthier. And a cut in the Social Security payroll tax is giving most households an extra $1,000 to $2,000 this year.

American exports and corporate spending, which have helped drive the recovery, are also expected to remain strong, according to the quarterly AP Economy Survey.

The one factor that could make a second recession a possibility would be a jump in oil prices to $150 a barrel, economists say. Oil trades at about $112 a barrel now. The record high, set in the summer of 2008, is about $147 a barrel.

More Drivers Stranded for Running Out Of Gas

It is only to get worst as summer approaches. Hopefully by then, the American people can start that revolution I only can dream about. Of course, there will be cars stranded on the highway. Drivers are no longer filling their tank at the three-quarter mark on the fuel gauge. They are filling when the indicator light of the fuel gauge goes on. Like myself, we are all guilty of that.

(CBS) PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — With gas prices pushing $4 a gallon, a lot of people are trying to stretch their dollar at the gas pump, but some of them are trying to stretch it a little too far.

Since the beginning of March, AAA has seen an 18 percent increase in the number of roadside calls for people running out of gas.

“I never put a lot in because I can’t afford to fill it up,” Leo Greek, a stranded motorist, said.

He says he’s not even sure how much it would cost to fill up his truck these days because he hasn’t done it for a while. He gets only what he needs and today he underestimated.

“It’s frustrating,” Greek said. “I can’t believe it has to be that expensive, but I know everybody’s going through it.”

According to AAA, gas prices in the Pittsburgh area have gone up 26 cents per gallon in the last month.

“Before it was more absentminded than anything else,” Jim Krebs with Brighton Service said. “But now, I believe that’s what it is. I believe people are like, ‘Man, I got to buy something else so I’m not going to put gas in the car. I should be able to make it,’ and they don’t.”

RINO GOP Warn Risks Of Pushing Debt Ceiling Debate Too Far

You cant believe everything Washington say. Democrats wants to debt ceiling raise, but will punt with spending cut. The GOP establishment doesn't want to lose their power and they are dancing with the issue. The Tea Party Conservatives want a shut down. The myth of economical disaster if we don't raise the debt ceiling suggests it is the end of the world. It is a myth and a lie. The revenues we take in as tax is sufficient to pay the debt obligations the government owes. This is the only weapon Conservative have to curb spending. We don't need a scalpel to cut the spending; we need a machete. The market is resilient and will adapt to the change. We have been delaying this for a long time. We need to fix it now or it will be too late down the road.

(Huffingtonpost) All of this is supported by a poll from the Tea Party group FreedomWorks, which found that 69 percent of all voters oppose raising the debt ceiling.

While there is disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over when a default would occur if the government hit the debt ceiling, there is broad bipartisan agreement that such a scenario is undesirable and would likely have dire consequences for the economy and the nation.

So the task for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will be to extract significant concessions from President Obama and Democrats in Congress that will not be rejected as a fig leaf by Tea Party activists. Judging from the Tea Party’s scathing reaction to the deal struck in the most recent fight over this year’s budget, that will be a difficult task.

There are three main components to any potential deal that Boehner and McConnell must address.

One is what kind of structural changes to spending can be enacted, such as spending caps for each year's budget. A second is how deeply spending will be cut in the budget for fiscal year 2012, which starts in October. And the third is how high the debt ceiling will be increased from its current $14.3 trillion level, and whether that will last beyond the 2012 election or not.

They must also deal with what are essentially two different Congressional Republican camps.

Many GOP lawmakers are in the conventional wisdom crowd, which says that the debt ceiling has to be raised no matter what. This subset wants to avoid scaring the markets, but they also think the united GOP bloc has substantial leverage and can extract significant spending cut concessions from Democrats.

The second Republican camp is the more hard line conservative group, which appears willing to press their case to the political and economic limit. They will not vote for a debt ceiling increase unless they receive significant concessions.

For Democratic leaders, the narrative is relatively straightforward: The ceiling should be raised promptly, and some limited spending cuts would be appropriate.

Obama's deficit plans run into economic reality

Finally, Earth to Obama!!! The president is understanding reality.

(AP) LOS ANGELES-- President Barack Obama headed west to sell his big picture deficit-reduction plan. But many people are waiting for a quick fix to their own economic problems caused chiefly by persistent unemployment and the crippled housing market.

Audiences in California and Nevada understood why it's important to get a handle on the deficit over the long term. Yet they made clear that the economic recovery hasn't fully taken hold in ways that are meaningful to them.

As Obama shifts into re-election mode, he will need to show that he hasn't lost his focus on jobs even as the conversation in Washington swings to paying down what the nation owes.

An audience member at Obama's town hall meeting Wednesday at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., summarized how the increased attention on red ink looks to the public.

"At the beginning of your term you spent a lot of time talking about job creation and the road to economic recovery," the questioner told the president. "Since then, we've seen the conversation shift from that of job creation and economic recovery to that of spending cuts and the deficit."

"I would love to know your thoughts on how you're going to balance these two going forward, or even potentially shift the conversation back," she added.

Obama said that unless lawmakers get the country's long-term finances under control, more immediate economic gains could prove difficult.

Obama Falsely Claims to Cut the Deficit in 10 Years

Obama is confused between reduces deficit spending and reducing the national debt. There is a humongous difference. Also, Obama is planning to reduce the deficit by adding over $7 trillion to the national debt over 12 years instead of 10 years. Huh??

(HotAir) When Barack Obama gave a much-anticipated speech on the budget and deficit spending last week, it turned into a disappointing mix of ambiguities and demagoguery. Most people couldn’t discern any “plan” at all in the speech, only hazy promises with few specifics. As it turns out, Obama himself doesn’t appear to be aware of even those few specifics he did offer. In yesterday’s Facebook townhall event, Obama not only mischaracterized the scope of the Republican plan to cut deficits, he also mischaracterized his own:

Obama Pressure S&P Not to Lower Outlook on US Debt

Obama tried to manipulate the market by forcing S&P to change our debt outlook as negative. In other words, this country is going bankrupt.

(WaPo) — The Obama administration privately urged Standard & Poor’s in recent weeks not to lower its outlook on the United States — a suggestion the ratings agency ignored Monday, two people familiar with the matter said.

Treasury Department officials had been discussing with S&P whether the ratings agency should change its outlook on the United States to “negative” from “stable,” an indication that the country could lose its crucial AAA rating in coming years over its soaring debt levels.

Treasury officials told S&P analysts that they were underestimating the ability of politicians in Washington to fashion a compromise to curb deficits, a Treasury official said. They argued a change in ratings was not needed at this time because the debt was manageable and the administration had a viable plan in the works, the official said.

But S&P analysts told Treasury officials on Friday that they were unmoved — and released a report that expressed skepticism that the political parties could come together on how to bring spending in line with revenue.

Any doubts by credit rating agencies about government debt has the potential to increase borrowing costs for the Treasury.

National avg. gallon of gas jumps to $3.76

Am I the only one noticing the cost to pump gas? This is unfreakingbelievable! This was about the same price before we saw an uprising in 2008. Forget the damn budget. Fix the damn price of gas. Drill already!

(Reuters) NEW YORK, April 10 (Reuters) - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States has moved closer to $4, jumping more than 19 cents since mid-March to a level less than 10 percent below its all-time high, a widely followed survey said on Sunday.

The Lundberg Survey said the national average price of self-serve, regular unleaded gas was $3.765 on Friday, up from $3.573 on March 18, and up 91.3 cents from $2.852 a year ago.

The national average would have been higher had refiners and retailers not resisted passing on rising crude oil prices as customers grow less willing to pay what it takes to fill their gas tanks, analyst Trilby Lundberg said in an interview.

Crude oil prices are higher amid unrest in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East, as well as a weaker U.S. dollar, which on Friday fell to a 15-month low against the euro.

A falling dollar often lifts dollar-denominated commodities such as oil. This is because some investors use commodities as an inflation hedge, and consumers who use other currencies may view the commodities as cheap and buy more, driving up prices.

Even if crude prices do not change, Lundberg said pump prices could rise another dime per gallon as earlier increases work their way into the retail market.

Dammit, No Government Shutdown

Congress finally got a budget for this fiscal year that will end September 30, 2011. It is over for now. The budget bill is not exactly great, but it did trim some of the spending. The problem with every budget is making the Department of Defense the pariah or the "bogeyman." Instead of cutting entitlement programs, Congress has no problem trimming the lean fat from the Pentagon. However, Congress did trim some of the foreign aid to other countries. The move is commonsense. In order to help others, one needs to take care of their own house first. At least, America doesn't need to worry about another balance budget till September.

(Politico) After a long day of trading offers, the White House and House Republicans reached agreement Friday night on a budget framework that would cap 2011 appropriations near or below $1.050 trillion while cutting domestic and foreign aid by more than $40 billion from the rate of spending at the beginning of this Congress.

Behind the closed doors of special meeting of the Republican Conference, Speaker John Boehner presented the package to his party as at least an agreement in principle and said at one point “We have a deal.” He has yet to speak publicly but all signs indicate that the Senate will now feel confident enough to move ahead with a stop gap spending bill to avert—or at least shorten—any shutdown beginning at midnight

Boehner made a final bid at getting a still lower top line directly to President Barack Obama, when Obama called him in the early evening. A second key variable is Pentagon spending, where Democrats had moved up to $514 billion –a $5.3 billion increase— but were also asking for an across-the-board government-wide percentage cut that would not exempt defense.

Actually, We Have 10 percent Unemployment

The unemployment figures provided monthly by the government are always revised and can never paint a true picture of the job market. With the manipulations by the Obama government, Americans can't trust what bogus unemployment numbers the government projects. Therefore, Gallup provides an actual real number of our current state of our economy. Without seasonal adjustments, this country had a 10% unemployment in the month of March. It is a decreasing trend, but still way above the psychological threshold of 8%. Underemployment gives a true picture of our job market and it fell 19.3%. This is really high, and it is not surprising that the government won't disclose it.

(Gallup) PRINCETON, NJ -- Unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, was 10.0% in March -- down from 10.2% in mid-March and 10.3% at the end of February, but above the 9.8% at the end of January. U.S. unemployment was 10.4% at the end of March a year ago.

Underemployment combines part-time workers wanting full-time work with those who are unemployed. Both groups' readings fell in March; consequently, underemployment also fell, to 19.3% from 19.9% in mid-March and at the end of February. Underemployment was more than a full percentage point higher one year ago.

The percentage of part-time workers who want full-time work was 9.3% at the end of March -- down from 9.7% in mid-March and 9.6% in both February measurements. The current percentage remains higher than the 9.1% at the end of January but lower than the 10.0% of a year ago.

GOP budget would kill 70,000 children

Idiot liberals! So, Democrats funding for abortions isn't the same thing? I say screw it! If China wants to be the next world leader, let them help fund it. We can't be saving the world, and at the same time, lose our world exceptional status. Enough is enough. If we don't cut spending, there will be more than 70,000 children dead.

(Foreign Policy) As Congress struggles to negotiate a budget deal to keep the government running, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) told lawmakers Wednesday that the GOP version of the budget bill would result in the deaths of at least 70,000 children who depend on American food and health assistance around the world.

"We estimate, and I believe these are very conservative estimates, that H.R. 1 would lead to 70,000 kids dying," USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah testified before the House Appropriations State and Foreign Ops subcommittee.

"Of that 70,000, 30,000 would come from malaria control programs that would have to be scaled back specifically. The other 40,000 is broken out as 24,000 would die because of a lack of support for immunizations and other investments and 16,000 would be because of a lack of skilled attendants at birth," he said.

The Republican bill, known as H.R.1, was passed by the House, and would fund the government for the rest of fiscal 2011. It would effectively cut 16 percent from the Obama administration's original fiscal 2011 request for the international affairs account.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) pointed out that H.R. 1 would provide $430 million for the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account, which is 50 percent below the president's fiscal 2011 request and 67 percent below fiscal 2010 levels.

Rasmussen Survey 42 percent Strongly Disapprove Obama

I'm not surprise. As the media brags how the economy is on the right track to recovery, it is short lived by new reports of revise numbers on GDP, housing, national debt, budget deficits, and consumer confidence. Every indicator is showing negative and it will be impossible for the media to try to spin this. Obama is an epic failure.

(Rasmussen) The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 20% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -22. That is the president’s lowest rating since September.

Forget Unemployment Obama is Giving us Stagflation

During the Jimmy Carter Administration, America endured high oil prices and long gas lines. In addition, consumer spending was stagnant and we saw higher price of goods. By definition, stagflation means an economic condition in which inflation and economic stagnation are occurring simultaneously and have remained unchecked for a significant period of time. Today, America is experiencing a Jimmy Carter's stagflation recreated by Obama.

(NewsMax) Obama's failure to support America's allies in the Middle East and his dithering endorsement of chaos in the region will send oil and gasoline prices skyrocketing, triggering a massive bout of stagflation.

Consider what he has done to push up oil and gas prices:

Endorsed spreading chaos in the Middle East.

First banned and now slowed down offshore oil drilling.

Considered curbs on fracking (horizontal drilling to unlock shale deposits in theNortheast- a potent new source of oil).

Imposed a carbon tax on domestically produced coal and oil through EPA mandate.

Proposed an end to tax advantages designed to encourage oil drilling and exploration.


Now Obama is reaping the fruits of these misguided policies — $4-per-gallon gas, soon to go up to $5 or $6!

And the fuel-price increases will take their place alongside food-price rises. Food prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, and other basic crops have almost doubled in the past year.

The combination of reduced confidence in the dollar (at home and abroad) and the rises in fuel and food prices will force up prices as costs push them higher. Already, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has pressed for the replacement of the dollar as an international currency by "drawing rights" printed by the IMF.

With inflation, consumer demand will drop. Then, unable to recoup their costs, vendors will be forced to raise prices even higher. An inflationary psychology will take hold of the economy. Higher interest rates will be needed to break its hold, forcing us into yet another recession, this one fully courtesy of President Obama.

New Study Shows That Offshore Drilling Could Make Alaska the Eighth Largest Oil Producer in the World – Ahead of Libya and Nigeria

What the hell are we waiting for.......................

(CNSNews.com) – A new study says drilling on Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) could make Alaska the eighth largest oil resource province in the world -- ahead of Nigeria, Libya, Russia and Norway.


The report -- by the consulting firm Northern Economics and the University of Alaska-Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research -- says that developing Alaska’s OCS could produce almost 10 billion barrels of oil and 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, create around 55,000 new jobs and produce $145 billion in new payroll nationally, generating a total of $193 billion in government revenue through the year 2057.


A senior policy advisor with the American Petroleum Institute, the trade group for hundreds of U.S. oil and gas producers, said in a statement about the study that offshore drilling for oil and natural gas can help with the country’s energy and economic needs.


“America will need all forms of energy to get our economy back on track, and that includes oil – we can either produce it here and create more American jobs or import it and create jobs elsewhere,” Richard Ranger said. “The administration and Congress need to adopt an ‘all of the above’ energy approach that leverages our offshore resources in Alaska to create an energy plan for America that boosts, rather than inhibits, our economy.”


About 77 percent of world oil reserves are owned or controlled by national governments and the U.S. currently imports over 60 percent of its crude oil, according to API. The Northern Economics-University of Alaska study estimates that Arctic offshore development could cut U.S. imports by about 9 percent over 35 years.


Crude oil prices in New York broke through the $100-a-barrel threshold on Thursday, with rising prices linked to the unrest in the Middle East, including Libya and its vast oil reserves.


The Washington Post reported on Thursday that U.S. pump prices for regular gasoline jumped 4 cents a gallon overnight to $3.23, an 8-cent-per-gallon increase in the past week and 55 cents more than a year ago.


“Given the current political turmoil in the Middle East and increased demand from a slowly growing economy, it is more essential now than ever before that we develop Alaska’s OCS to increase domestic production,” Ranger said. “Increased OCS production in Alaska would also extend the operating life of the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), a critical lifeline of domestic energy for America.”

Gas prices surge 17 cents in a week

As the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa escalates, America's dependency for foreign oil must stop. With the weak dollar making the barrel of oil very expensive, it is impossible to hear our politicians gripe about this dilemma. In fact, higher pump price means more tax revenue for Washington, D.C. Since 1974 during the Nixon Administration, politicians want the USA to be less dependent on foreign oil. Ironically, it has been more than 30 years and the same politicians are still talking about it. Currently, alternative energy is decades away. The electric cars currently available are not what the consumers had in mind. America is current sitting on a massive depot of untapped oil, but afraid to touch it. It is time to be more proactive and tap into that resource, and at the same time, we must continue to improve all forms of alternative engergy. Like the old adage, "Why live for tomorrow if we can't live today."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Gas prices have increased nearly 17 cents a gallon in the past week. And analysts expect prices to continue higher, following a sharp rise in the price of crude oil.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose 4.3 cents to $3.33, motorist group AAA said Saturday. That marks the fourth day in a row that prices have risen, and brings the national average to the highest level since October 2008.

Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, said gas prices' 6-cent jump reported Friday was the largest one-day increase since at least 2008.

Analysts expect prices to continue rising over the next few days, since gas prices typically lag trends in the oil market.

The spike in oil last week could translate to an increase in gas prices of 37 cents per gallon in the coming weeks, according Moody's Analytics economist Chris Lafakis. He estimates that for every $1 increase in the price of oil, retail gas prices typically rise 2.5 cents a gallon.

Economists warn that an energy price shock could hurt the economic recovery in the United States. In general, every $1 increase in the price of oil costs consumers $1 billion over the course of a year.

That's concerning because consumer spending makes up the bulk of U.S. gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic growth.

Democrats Game Plan is to Blame Republicans for a Government Shutdown

The Democrats game plan is a scare tactic using class warfare as their initial assault. Next will be a cowardly blame game on the Republican party. This is typical of Democrats. It would be wiser to follow the Wisconsin Democrats and leave town. This whole thing is a joke. The Democrats are claiming that cutting $100 billion will affect society adversely. The budget deficit is in the trillions of dollar and the Democrats are complaining $100 billion. Let the shutdown of the government happen. This time around the American people understands the dilemma this country faces. The American people are more educated that Washington is corrupt. It is ironic how the Democrats are trying to find their way to the American people after ignoring them for the past 4 year. Democrats in Washington are a bunch of scumbags.

(The Hill) Democrats headed back to their districts for the Presidents Day recess hope to drive home the message that Republicans should be blamed if the fight over spending cuts ends in a government shutdown.

House Democrats were still deciding Friday on how much advertising to buy during the week, but they had settled on a message of pointing out specific cuts in the House GOP spending bill and portraying them as unreasonable, a Democratic strategist said.

Democrats will tell constituents that the GOP bill will kick 218,000 children out of Head Start, cause 7,000 special education teachers to loose their jobs, devastate cancer and diabetes research and deny assistance to homeless veterans.

Key part of the Democrats’ messaging strategy will be to place the blame on the Republicans if an agreement on the CR can not be reached and the government is forced to shut down.

If Republicans cuts are successfully painted as unreasonable, then it is easier to blame them if a shutdown occurs, a Democratic aide said.

One aspect of the message is that the spending bill “destroys jobs” at a time of economic recovery. It says Democrats will trim spending by “going after tax loopholes and wasteful subsidies, instead of the reckless and indiscriminate cuts in the GOP spending plan.”

Democrats will also point to efforts they were made by their party to save American jobs. They will highlight attempts to pass a Build America Bonds initiative and a bill ending government contracts for companies that offshore jobs, according to the House Democrats “District Work Plan.”

The Man Who Will Be President One Day

The Answer is U.S. Congressman Lt. Col. Allen West. He will put honor back in the Oval Office, strengthen the military, curb aggression around the world, make conservatism as the norm, and bring patriotism and America's exceptionalism back to where it belongs. I will be looking forward for the day when a true black president can emerge and bring respect back to America. Allen West will have to establish his merits in Congress before pursuing the presidency. Once he understands the politics in Washington, Lt. Col. Allen West can lead this country forward.

(NewsMax) Allen West tells Democrats to "Grow-Up!"

“Over this past week I have watched and listened to members of the House of Representatives from across the aisle.

“I am appalled at their ignorance, belligerence, and dishonest rhetoric filled with empty emotional platitudes. Have they no shame in realizing that their inept, incompetent failures are the reason why we are debating this continuing resolution. They failed to pass a budget during the 111th Congress.

“Have they no honor in realizing that their fiscal irresponsibility over the past four years has resulted in our standing on the precipice of a fiscal canyon from which we may not recover.

“Also troubling are the events in the state of Wisconsin which mirror those that happened in Greece several months ago. We are witnessing the abject hostility of a unionized entitlement class that is being lauded by the liberal left, seemingly to include our President.

“It is such a critical time for our Republic, yet there seems no visionary leadership — it is as if America stopped producing adults. I have never seen a greater assembly of petulance and sophomoric behavior as what I have witnessed this week on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“To those across the aisle, please explain to the American people how your economic policies have created a better environment for long-term sustainable growth.

“This debate is about jobs and the economy.

“It begins with remedying the spending problem on Capitol Hill. It includes tackling the burdensome taxation and regulation policies strangling our country. It is the understanding that Keynesian tax and spend policies did not grow America’s economy, but the indomitable, entrepreneurial spirit of the American people.

“Government sets the conditions for job and economic growth, it does not create jobs.

“I am pleased that we are having open debate in the peoples’ house. However, there is clearly something lacking in this discourse — the recognition of the failure of the bureaucratic nanny-state liberal policies.

“Rest assured that I will do everything in my ability to stand firm and lead on the principles that make America exceptional.”

UPDATE: Obama Budget Proposes Broader Unemployment Taxes

Forget what Obama said about not raising taxes over the last two year. In today's headlines, Obama wants to increase unemployment taxes. Hypocrite! It would be easier to give business more of a tax break so they can hire employees and expand their business. Therefore, there would be a larger pool of workers to fund the unemployment insurance program. It is commonsense!

(WJS) WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama's budget proposal is expected to give states a way to collect more payroll taxes from businesses, in an effort to replenish the unemployment-insurance program. The plan could cause controversy at a time when the administration is seeking to mend fences with corporate America.

The proposal would aim to restock strained state unemployment-insurance trust funds by raising the amount of wages on which companies must pay unemployment taxes to $15,000, more than double the $7,000 in place since 1983.

The plan, which would take effect in 2014, could increase payroll taxes by as much as $100 billion over a decade, according to a person involved in its construction.

To avoid hitting businesses with a tax increase during the economic recovery, the proposal would delay the new rules until 2014. The plan is expected to be included in Mr. Obama's budget proposal for fiscal 2012, to be released Monday.