First consider:
"States Using Stimulus Money for Short-Term Needs, Audit Shows Cash-strapped states have used federal stimulus dollars to close short-term budget gaps and avert major tax increases but generally have not directed the money toward long-term expansion, according to a new report.
Related: Stimulus Was Stolen
"House questions spread of stimulus
WASHINGTON - The GAO said the stimulus is keeping teachers off the unemployment lines, helping states make greater Medicaid payments, and providing a desperately needed cushion to state budgets. Investigators, however, found repeated examples in which, either out of desperation or convenience, states favored short-term spending....
The Obama administration intended the stimulus to jump-start the economy, build new schools, and usher in an era of education reform. But since Obama signed it in February, the economy has shed more than 2 million jobs, bringing to 6.5 million the net job losses since the recession began in December 2007. Unemployment now stands at 9.5 percent, its highest in 26 years.
Why are you low-balling the OVER 7 MILLION unemployed, and why didn't you tell us when the recession started, MSM?
The epicenter of the debate this week is Ohio, the traditional presidential bellwether state where Obama spent quite a bit of time campaigning and where a new poll this week had worrisome numbers for Obama.
Respondents in a Quinnipiac University survey were evenly divided over Obama’s handling of the economy - 48 percent approved, 46 percent disapproved - and his approval rating had dropped to 49 percent from 62 percent in May, while his disapproval number rose to 44 percent from 31 percent. Quinnipiac called Obama’s numbers lackluster, and said they were the lowest in any national or state poll it had conducted since his inauguration.
Related (absolutely): Breaking News: Obama Approval Rating Under 50%
The Obama administration concedes that the continuing job losses are unacceptable, but says that the stimulus package was always going to take some time to have measurable impact.
Of course, that is NOT the WAY THEY SOLD IT TO US!!!
Vice President Joe Biden said over the weekend that the White House might have misread the depth of the recession; he plans to visit Ohio today to trumpet the stimulus.
Oh, he's something else!!
Why not CALL IT what it is, Joe? A DEPRESSION!
Clarifying Biden’s statement, Obama said in an interview this week that during the stimulus debate, the administration had incomplete information of how bad the recession was.
And yet they HOLLERED how they needed it RIGHT NOW!
And NOW they are saying they need a SECOND LOOTING, 'er, STIMULUS?
"Biden said... the country will need a second stimulus package."
Fool me once, America....
"So, no real stimulus, just the bill for one." -- Wake the Flock Up