Have any of you out there noticed that
no matter how bad the economic numbers are, the Obama administration
(and campaign) try to twist them around to make it seem things are
getting better? That's certainly the case with both the latest
jobless numbers, retail sales numbers, food prices (and by extension,
gasoline prices), and manufacturing output. They're all heading in
the wrong direction and Obama's folks trumpet them as if they're a
prelude to the Second Coming.
One interesting spin on the latest
jobless figures? “It's not 8.3%. It's only 8.254%!” Yeah,
that makes it better.
Then there's the “unexpectedly”
poor sales and manufacturing numbers. How is it explained away? Well,
it's like this...ummm...uh...I guess they can't explain it away.
Perhaps they can borrow a lesson from
California. After all, the Golden State political machine has gotten
pretty good at taking bad economic news and making it sound good.
Take one of their latest ploys, stating the state's falling
population is a good thing because “it gives the state and the
municipalities the time to rebuild and replace infrastructure for
future good times.” But they never explained that with falling
population they also have falling tax revenues to pay for it all.
Even Detroit never tried to pull that, knowing it would never fly.
Perhaps the Obama camp will say the fall off in sales and
manufacturing will allow retailers and factories to prepare for
future demand? I wouldn't put it past them.
With the drought taking a toll on crops
throughout the Midwest, you'd think Obama's administration would
allow corn to be used primarily for food and feed rather than being
burned in our fuel tanks. But that isn't going to happen and the
result has been a spike in food and fuel prices.. I expect Obama will
explain that away by saying “it's good for you” without really
explaining why. That's pretty much par for the course for him.