September Jobs Report Once Again Fails To Meet Expectations

By William Teach October 22, 2013 – 9:09 am

Just remember, as the administration always stresses, “it is important not to read too much into any one monthly report”. So, don’t be concerned that yet another jobs report underperforms

(Business Week) Payrolls climbed less than projected in September, indicating the U.S. economy had little momentum leading up to the federal government shutdown. The jobless rate fell to an almost four-year low.

The addition of 148,000 workers followed a revised 193,000 rise in August that was larger than initially estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 93 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 180,000 advance. Unemployment fell to 7.2 percent, the lowest level since November 2008. The report, delayed by the 16-day shutdown that ended Oct. 17, was originally slated for Oct. 4.

Surprisingly, the August report was revised up. More often, they are revised down. July’s report was “revised” for a second time, down from the original 169K to 89K. The participation rate is still just 63.2%, which matches the lowest back during the Carter administration in 1978.

What does the jobs breakdown look like? 22K came from Government hiring

(CNBC) The bulk of the jobs came from professional and business services, which added 32,000 positions, while there were 20,000 more temporary jobs. Transportation and warehousing rose by 23,000, and there were 20,000 additional construction positions.

So, mostly low paying jobs. Remember when Democrats and the media used to assail George Bush, claiming that these were all “bad jobs”? Ed Morrissey notes that the report is slightly worse than treading water. We should expect an Obama speech proclaiming that he’s mad about this, and will get someone right on it.

Read: September Jobs Report Once Again Fails To Meet Expectations »

Posted in Economy | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

Politico: President Bystander Uses His Passive Voice

By William Teach October 22, 2013 – 8:42 am

Politico’s Edward-Isaac Dovere notices that Obama tends to be a bystander within his own administration and the issues it pushes. This goes back to the notion that Obama likes to be president, not do president

President Obama’s Passive Voice

Once again, Barack Obama risks looking like a bystander to his own presidency.

Here’s what he did to kick off the week: assemble a crowd in the Rose Garden to hear him repeat how “frustrated” he was about the many problems that plagued the launch of the Affordable Care Act’s website, promise that a “tech surge” was already on its way to set those problems right and implore people to bear with him until they see what the program can do.

Here’s what he didn’t do: explain why those problems weren’t addressed before the Oct. 1 launch, why he didn’t seem to be aware of them before they went very public, or who would be suffering the consequences for any of it. He didn’t apologize. He announced, in broad terms, who would be coming in to help. But he didn’t say anything about who would be shown the exits.

His “nobody’s madder than me” Monday echoed the kinds of statements he’s repeatedly made about problems over the last few months — “Americans are right to be angry about it, and I am angry about it” (the IRS scandal), “It’s not as if I don’t have a personal interest” (the NSA scandal), “This is not a world we should accept” (Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons). He puts himself forward as a man frustrated with what’s happened on his watch, promising change, insisting that nothing of the sort could ever happen again.

He’s good at yapping about problems, but actually dealing with them? Not so much. Any movement on NSA, IRS, or Syria? How about the stonewalling on Benghazi and Fast and Furious?

There’s a level of semantic distance there, though, that often gets interpreted as an inherent refusal to take responsibility. Obama is, after all, the president. He has more than a little say in what happens within his own administration.

Supposedly, Obama was heavily involved in the meetings leading up to the launch of the Exchange website, and Dovore notes

Part of the president’s frustration appears to stem directly from that involvement — the question of why wasn’t he given more accurate or expansive information, or a full sense of the problems once they started to appear.

The question remains, what did he know and when did he know it? Did he not know that his “signature law”, hated by a majority of Americans, was massively complicated, and would mean the website would be massively complicated? Did he not know that the contractor had serious issues? How about that so much of the code was old? Really, launching a website is this age shouldn’t be that difficult. Yet, it was well known by insiders that there were serious problems.

Dovore notes that Obama seemed to have been “blindsided” because other things, like the shutdown, were happening. He always seems to be blindsided by events, because he’s detached from the day to day operations of the job. We still don’t know where he was and what he was doing as Benghazi unfolded. Syria is unfolding and he plays golf.

Just wait till the issues surrounding the actual use of ObamInsurance start. More deer in the headlights followed by “I’m mad” yammer.

Read: Politico: President Bystander Uses His Passive Voice »

Posted in Barry Obama, Healthcare | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Bummer: The Initial Consumer Experience Of Healthcare.gov Didn’t Live Up To Expectations

By William Teach October 21, 2013 – 2:12 pm

As Obamacare ramps up with huge numbers moved to Medicaid and Medicare, along with those who will obtain insurance through the Exchanges (eventually), consumers should be prepared for lots and lots of failed expectations. Unless your expectation is poor service, poor care, byzantine dealings in order to use your insurance, lots of out of pocket costs, denial of some treatments and medicines, and long waits for care

(HHS) Unfortunately, the experience on HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans.  Some have had trouble creating accounts and logging in to the site, while others have received confusing error messages, or had to wait for slow page loads or forms that failed to respond in a timely fashion. The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people. We are committed to doing better.

It’s The Government. We don’t expect any of it to do better.

In response, we have made a number of improvements to the account service.  Initially, we implemented a virtual “waiting room,” but many found this experience to be confusing.  We continued to add more capacity in order to meet demand and execute software fixes to address the sign up and log in issues, stabilizing those parts of the service and allowing us to remove the virtual “waiting room.”  Today, more and more individuals are successfully creating accounts, logging in, and moving on to apply for coverage and shop for plans.  We’re proud of these quick improvements, but we know there’s still more work to be done. We will continue to conduct regular maintenance nearly every night to improve the experience.

They should have left the waiting rooms in, that way those with Obamacare can get used to them. As for regular maintenance, HHS is supposedly bringing in the “best and brightest” to fix the website. I wonder how much it will cost the American People to fix this $634 million boondoggle of a website?

(Politico) The changes will give people more information and options up front without having to wrestle with the flawed online process. It gives more information about health plan choices and provides clearer instructions on how to download a paper application, get through by telephone or find someone to assist in person.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to make improvements every day, new content is being featured on HealthCare.gov in response to user feedback. It’s now easier than ever to preview plan information, access a downloadable application form and find in-person help in local communities,” HHS spokeswoman Joanne Peters said in a statement released late Sunday evening.

The changes allow people to see health plans and prices in their region without having to jump over online hurdles that have aggravated millions of people trying to get on the Healthcare.gov site, the portal for health-care coverage in the 36 states where HHS is running the insurance exchanges.

Those are things that they initially wanted to hide till they had everyone’s personal information. And they have updated. Down at the bottom of healthcare.gov you can find pre-subsidized rates without giving more than very basic information. Unfortuantely, once you get to the plans you only get the costs, not what the plans actually cover. What are the details. What the network is. Copays. Deductibles. In other words, what you’re paying for.

More: DrewM notes

Of course the real number that counts isn’t website hits, registrations, or even people who have enrolled in plans. No, the important number is how many young, healthy and stupid people have gotten a policy. No one seems to have heard of any of them actually existing. Without lots and lots of those types of customers, this whole thing comes crashing down.

My post was written before the Liar-in-Chief’s ACA infomercial this morning, and Ed Morrissey notes that he Blamed Republicans

Say what? The White House had three and a half years to get this ready, and it rolled out on the same day as the shutdown.  The website issues existed long before the shutdown, and the Obama administration was well aware of them before the shutdown and decided to proceed anyway.  Talk about spin.

That’s what Obama calls changing the way Washington works. And then he wonders why Republicans won’t work with him.

Even more: Byron York laughs at what Obama thinks are successes for O-care. Just 3 of the 13 human shields had successfully registered. Some are “prospective applicants”.

Read: Bummer: The Initial Consumer Experience Of Healthcare.gov Didn’t Live Up To Expectations »

Posted in Barry Obama, Beyond Moonbat, Healthcare | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach October 21, 2013 – 1:00 pm

…is an evil carbon infused beer, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Daley Gator, with a post on why shutuppery works on Republicans.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

NPS Head Thinks Nothing Is More Important Than “Climate Change”

By William Teach October 21, 2013 – 11:20 am

Personally, I would think that keeping the parks open, keeping them clean, making sure visitors can be safe, conserving the public space, those would be the most important issues for the National Park Service. Not so, says NPS head Jonathan Jarvis

(Lansing Journal) Jarvis has made it clear as head of the federal agency there is no higher priority than climate change on his agenda.

Everything is different, he told his staff at a meeting on his first day. From now on, the single most important issue facing the National Park Service is, and will forever be in your lifetimes, climate change.

Jarvis commissioned some of the nation’s top scientists to evaluate whether the National Park Service’s policies were still relevant.

And because of his Belief, he’s trying to ram “climate change” policies down the throats of those who work for him, which will effect visitors. Because nature is apparently supposed to stay static and never ever change. This is the way Warmists think. They forget about the actual job of protecting the environment in favor of some pie in the sky mostly made up issue.

On a wider note, Carl Cannon asks if we can even trust the NPS anymore

Thanks to congressional hearings held this past week, we know who is running things: Under questioning from GOP lawmakers, park service chief Jonathan Jarvis conceded that he’d collaborated on his shutdown plans with White House officials. Throughout the shutdown, NPS officials and their Democratic enablers claimed that closing the parks and monuments was something they’d done reluctantly because they lacked the manpower to protect them for future generations. The closing of the Cliff House and Claude Moore Colonial Farm revealed this explanation to be, essentially, a lie.

“The future of the NPS rests with the goodwill of the American people and groups such as ours that could help them protect and manage their vast resources,” notes Anna Eberly. “But treating your partners with disdain and contempt dooms future possibilities.”

Well, since the agency is apparently moving into the climahysteric camp, and doesn’t seem to have much problem deploying armed personnel and employing fascistic tactics, no, we can’t trust them.

Read: NPS Head Thinks Nothing Is More Important Than “Climate Change” »

Posted in Collapsing Science, Global Warming | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

Guy Who Threatened Ted Cruz Inspired By Democrat Websites

By William Teach October 21, 2013 – 7:40 am

So, not just some random (and typical) liberal wackjob

(Daily Caller) Troy Gilmore, Jr., who identifies himself as having served in the U.S. Navy, is under FBI investigationfor possible violent threats on Twitter against Republican senator Cruz. The FBI has communicated with Gilmore as part of the investigation and is monitoring for possible violence inspired by Gilmore’s online writings. (snip)

“I WILL SAY IT AGAIN LET’S GO TO TED CRUZ,HOME AND KICK HIS STINKING ASS FOR CAUSING THIS MESS.YOU CAN BET HE HAS HIS PAYCHECK AND HEALTH BENEFITS FROM THE SENATE AND CANADA. HE LIVES AT [address redacted by The Daily Caller], THE FUCKING SCUM,” Gilmore posted on Facebook October 14, linking to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee web page entitled “Demand Ted Cruz Denounce Disgusting Tea Party Attacks on President Obama.”

“Show up at Ted Cruz’s home he is the dirt bag fucker who caused all of this shit to take place.Lets drag him out hid damn home and kick his ass [address redacted by The Daily Caller].The damn scum bag of a U.S.Senator,from the sorry ass state that hates women,and to think this Pussy is married to one,” Gilmore posted to Facebook October 14, linking to a petition to House Republicans paid for by the campaign of Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider.

“Why don’t we all show up at Ted Cruz,house in Texas,and beat the hell out of him,because he trying to be another Sarah Palin,has caused all of this that has taken place,and all those asshole Tea Party Pricks and that Wimpy ass Speaker of the House John Boehner,have caused this problem in the country,and they want Obama,and the Democrats to compromise,” Gilmore posted on Facebook October 8, linking to a web page paid for by the Democratic National Committee blaming Cruz for the shutdown and encouraging people to “Tell the GOP that it’s time to get the government back up and running.”

Those are just a few examples, the Daily Caller provides many more of Gilmore’s rants that have links to Democrat webpages. Were he a Republican threatening a Democrat, this would be all over the news with proclamations denouncing the entire Conservative base and the “hate-filled” websites.

Remember when Democrats called for civility? How’s that working out? Considering that Democrats are extremely unhinged and uncivil.

Read: Guy Who Threatened Ted Cruz Inspired By Democrat Websites »

Posted in Democrats, Liberal World, Unhinged Tools | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Bummer: The Initial Consumer Experience Of Healthcare.gov Didn’t Live Up To Expectations

By William Teach October 21, 2013 – 7:02 am

As Obamacare ramps up with huge numbers moved to Medicaid and Medicare, along with those who will obtain insurance through the Exchanges (eventually), consumers should be prepared for lots and lots of failed expectations. Unless your expectation is poor service, poor care, byzantine dealings in order to use your insurance, lots of out of pocket costs, denial of some treatments and medicines, and long waits for care

(HHS) Unfortunately, the experience on HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans. Some have had trouble creating accounts and logging in to the site, while others have received confusing error messages, or had to wait for slow page loads or forms that failed to respond in a timely fashion. The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people. We are committed to doing better.

It’s The Government. We don’t expect any of it to do better.

In response, we have made a number of improvements to the account service. Initially, we implemented a virtual “waiting room,” but many found this experience to be confusing. We continued to add more capacity in order to meet demand and execute software fixes to address the sign up and log in issues, stabilizing those parts of the service and allowing us to remove the virtual “waiting room.” Today, more and more individuals are successfully creating accounts, logging in, and moving on to apply for coverage and shop for plans. We’re proud of these quick improvements, but we know there’s still more work to be done. We will continue to conduct regular maintenance nearly every night to improve the experience.

They should have left the waiting rooms in, that way those with Obamacare can get used to them. As for regular maintenance, HHS is supposedly bringing in the “best and brightest” to fix the website. I wonder how much it will cost the American People to fix this $634 million boondoggle of a website?

(Politico) The changes will give people more information and options up front without having to wrestle with the flawed online process. It gives more information about health plan choices and provides clearer instructions on how to download a paper application, get through by telephone or find someone to assist in person.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to make improvements every day, new content is being featured on HealthCare.gov in response to user feedback. It’s now easier than ever to preview plan information, access a downloadable application form and find in-person help in local communities,” HHS spokeswoman Joanne Peters said in a statement released late Sunday evening.

The changes allow people to see health plans and prices in their region without having to jump over online hurdles that have aggravated millions of people trying to get on the Healthcare.gov site, the portal for health-care coverage in the 36 states where HHS is running the insurance exchanges.

Those are things that they initially wanted to hide till they had everyone’s personal information. And they have updated. Down at the bottom of healthcare.gov you can find pre-subsidized rates without giving more than very basic information. Unfortuantely, once you get to the plans you only get the costs, not what the plans actually cover. What are the details. What the network is. Copays. Deductibles. In other words, what you’re paying for.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Bummer: The Initial Consumer Experience Of Healthcare.gov Didn’t Live Up To Expectations »

Posted in Healthcare | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Hooray! You Can Fight Hotcoldwetdry With Your Fork

By William Teach October 20, 2013 – 3:42 pm

No, really

(TribLive) Swarms of giant hornets have killed dozens of people and injured 1,600 in central China in recent months. Experts believe unusually warm temperatures there have enabled the hornets to breed more successfully. Jellyfish recently clogged water-intake pipes at a nuclear power plant in Sweden, forcing a 1,400-megawatt reactor to shut down. Almost all jellyfish breed better and faster in warmer waters.

Most of us probably aren’t surprised to hear that events such as this past summer’s “biblical” flooding in Colorado and the loss of sea ice that has forced 10,000 walruses to come ashore on Alaska’s northwest coast are likely linked to climate change. But other effects of an increasingly warmer planet — such as those jellyfish — may be less expected. Experts warn that we should brace ourselves for everything from aggravated allergies and outbreaks of tropical illnesses in once-cold climates to increased interpersonal violence and global security threats.

The solution to these disparate problems may be just as surprising: Go vegan.

Nature is never ever supposed to change, according to Warmists, hence, we all have to give up meat, says Paula Moore, a senior writer for PETA. You have your marching orders, Warmists. You all have to give up meat. Get to it.

Read: Hooray! You Can Fight Hotcoldwetdry With Your Fork »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach October 20, 2013 – 1:00 pm

… is a tiny home that would be perfect for Everyone Else, as long as they aren’t pulled by fossil fueled vehicles, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is This ain’t Hell…, with some Sunday feel-good stories.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

By William Teach October 20, 2013 – 9:56 am

Happy Sunday! Another great day in the Once And Future Nation Of America. This pinup is by Edward D’Ancona, with a wee bit of help.

What is happening in Ye Olde Blogosphere? The Fine 15

  1. Jo Nova notes how CO2 benefited the US
  2. Atlas Shrugs discusses the Halal racket
  3. American Glob has more from the most transparent administration (n)ever
  4. Bookworm discusses liberal elites and racism
  5. Doug Ross has the most terrifying chart you’ll see all week
  6. Fire Andrea Mitchell has more on the new commie NYC mayor
  7. Five Feet Of Fury has zombies!!!!!! (yes, I love zombie stuff. Read a lot of zombie books. Reading one now)
  8. Gay Patriot notes that debt was once unpatriotic
  9. House of Eratosthenes discusses The Fail
  10. Jihad Watch notes an FBI investigation into a water supply threat
  11. Legal Insurrection opines about a racist lie that spread
  12. Maggie’s Farm discusses “The Change” (healthcare)
  13. Moonbattery notes Deval Patrick joining hands with radical Muslims
  14. neo-neocon covers America’s march to the gallows
  15. And last, but not least, The First Street Journal discusses a bad idea whose time has come

As always, the full set of pinups can be seen in the Patriotic Pinup category, or over at my Gallery page. While we are on pinups, since it is that time of year, have you gotten your “Pinups for Vets” calendar yet? And don’t forget to check out what I declare to be our War on Women Rule 5 and linky luv posts

Anyone else have a link or hotty-fest going on? Let me know so I can add you to the list. (BTW, since someone asked, the reason I leave links for the previous week up (or you might see a *) is because they are place holders for later in the day or for next weeks. Easier than rewriting all the time. Also, the listing order has to do with how they are added over time, not how good a post is. I just copy and paste from the previous week, then edit. If you see one of the *’s, go ahead and check out the blog anyhow, see if there is an update. I cannot update with my Android during the day.

Read: Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup »

Posted in Patriotic Pinup | 1 Comment | Trackback URL
Pirate's Cove