Spoke Joe Brusuelas, Bloomberg, and learned that the second half of the year is expected now to grow at 3%, which will put the year into the 2.5% GDP growth range, substandard by all measures. What is holding the hiring back are the debt load of the government, the troubles in Greece and the eurozone, the unknown of the Japanese recovery from the tsunami, the misfit of the US skill set to global jobs, and the general caution of employers to take on workers and debt while the consumer is cautious. Joe Brusuelas uses the metaphor "stuck in second gear." POTUS error on camera and on stage to jest about the "shovel-ready" stimulus projects of 2009 looks to be the mistake of the first term; and we can anticipate seeing that laughter a thousand times before now and Election Day. What was funny? Anyone who experienced job loss and the fear of debt and obligations in the last four years (and I am one of the legion) does not forget that laugh. The stimulus was a $1 Trillion boondoggle, and POTUS admits it. The cynicism in the jest and the laugh are most damaging in the Blue states. The image of POTUS shoveling at the White House is not easily explained eighteen months later.
The only thing that ever was and still is and always will be "shovel-ready" at the Obama Administration is the Obama Administration itself, and what is shoveled therein is thick and brown and stinks like hell.
Also, BTW, a most appropriate photo above -- hail to the Shoveler-in-Chief!
If you're gonna dig yourself into a hole, at least use the right kind of shovel.
HT to Tom: Yes, this does look like a shovel for shoveling @*#%
I particularly like the carpet. Wouldn't want Barry to dirty his shoes on the grass.
Nothing says "I've never worked a day in my life" better than this photo.
Let's not forget about The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The Recovery Act logo which was provided not only looks oddly similar to the Obama logo from the 2008 campaign but its stated purpose, according to the document, is to act as "a symbol of President Obama's commitment to the American people to invest their tax dollars wisely and put Americans back to work."
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/signs-stimulus/story?id=11163180
Mike:
THe Bamster often prefers casual dress, especially eschewing the necktie. Yet, here he is, shovel in hand, decked out in suit-and-tie and, as you note, standing with polished shoes on a carpet. At the risk of dating myself, I must say that this photo puts me in mind of the Sixties TV sitcom "Green Acres" in which Eddy Albert played NYC lawyer Oliver Wendell Douglas who became a dilettante farmer in the hamlet of Hooterville and who did all his farm chores, including manure spreading, in an expensive suit. Today, we have a dilettante President doing the same; maybe we should re-title the current Administration "Red Acres," an homage to both Obama's budget deficits and his overarching ideology.
"Red Acres"
Wherever Barry goes the opposition should roll out the 'Red Carpet' for him.
I'd like to see the same picture above as it exists today.
What was supposed to be built there -- a one-car garage for Obama's presidential library?