Research

Obama’s Decision To Punt On The Keystone Pipeline And Creating Jobs Was A Political Decision

The Detroit News: Obama’s Decision To Delay A Decision On The Keystone Pipeline Is More Evidence That The President Is Now In Campaign Mode. “Listen to chants of the Occupy Wall Street protesters: ‘What do we want? Jobs! When do we want them? Now!’ So when does President Barack Obama plan to give them the 18,000 direct construction jobs promised by the Keystone XL pipeline project? Maybe after the 2012 election. Maybe not. More evidence that the president is now in campaign mode comes from his announcement last week that he won't make a decision on the pipeline that will carry crude oil from the Canadian oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries until after his re-election bid is over. Keystone XL is a major infrastructure project of the sort Obama said he wanted for America when he proposed the $450 billion Stimulus II. The only difference is that the jobs will be entirely funded by private ... more

On CNBC This Morning, Warren Buffett Said It Was “An Absolute Tragedy” That Simpson-Bowles Was Ignored

CNBC’S BECKY QUICK: “So is that an argument for a tax code that is stripped down the way Simpson and Bowles laid out?”

WARREN BUFFETT:  “Well it – you go back to what, you know, Kemp-Roth and all that that too that they were working on that. I think what happened with Simpson-Bowles was an absolute tragedy. I mean here are two extremely high-grade people. They have somewhat different ideas about government but they're smart. They're decent. They’ve got good senses of humor, too. They're good at working with people.
They work like a devil for ten months or something like that. They compromise. They bring in people as far apart as Durbin and Coburn to get them to sign on and then they're totally ignored. I think that's a travesty.” (CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” 11/12/11)

Buffett: No Super Committee Would Be Necessary If Simpson-Bowles Was Not Ignored

QUICK:  “Why are we starting over with ... more

When Barack Obama actually has a project with shovel-ready jobs, he punts in favor of appeasing his environmentalist and union allies. Obama knows he can’t afford to risk losing either interest group for his 2012 reelection bid. So why bother to create jobs and reduce energy dependence from unstable portions of the world when you can appease big labor and the enviros?

Obama Plans To Punt On Keystone XL Pipeline, Claiming To Study “Alternate Route” So That He Can Effectively Push “Any Action Past The 2012 Election.” “The Obama administration is preparing to delay a decision on the contested Keystone XL pipeline while it studies an alternate route, effectively pushing any action past the 2012 election, officials and lobbyists who have been briefed on the matter said on Thursday.” (John M. Broder and Dan Frosch, “U.S. To Delay Decision On Pipeline Until After Election,” The New York Times, 11/10/11)

“Barack Obama's Keystone Pipeline Dilemma: Why Not Punt?” (Darren Goode, “Barack ... more

“A Majority Of Voters In The Three Most-Important Swing States Of Florida, Ohio And Pennsylvania Disapprove Of The Job President Barack Obama Is Doing And Most Believe He Does Not Deserve Re-Election.” (Marc Caputo, “Swing State Poll Redux: Cain, Romney Lead GOP. Romney More Trusted, Better V. Obama,” The Miami Herald, 11/10/11)

Florida

“Florida: Voters Disapprove Of Obama's Job Performance By 52 - 41 Percent Split. By A 51 - 43 Percent Spread, They Say He Does Not Deserve Reelection.” (Marc Caputo, “Swing State Poll Redux: Cain, Romney Lead GOP. Romney More Trusted, Better V. Obama,” The Miami Herald, 11/10/11)

• 51 Percent Of Florida Independents Disapprove Of Obama’s Job Performance. (Quinnipiac Polls, 1185 V, MoE 2.9%, 10/31-11/7/11)
• 51 Percent Of Florida Independents Think Obama Does Not Deserve Reelection. (Quinnipiac Polls, 1185 V, MoE 2.9%, 10/31-11/7/11)

51 Percent Of Florida Republicans Are More Enthusiastic About The 2012 Election Than Normal, Only 29 Percent Of Florida ... more

Women Have Been Hurt By The Obama Economy

Since Obama Took Office, Over 1.1 Million Women Have Lost Their Jobs As The Unemployment Rate Among Women Has Risen From 6.9 Percent To 8.5 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 11/9/11)

“Women Have Been Worse-Off Than Men Through The Past Two Years Of Sluggish Economic Recovery, According To This Report By The Pew Research Center.” (Conor Dougherty, “Recovery Is Bypassing Women,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/6/11)

• “‘The Recovery From The Great Recession Is The First Since 1970 In Which Women Have Lost Jobs Even As Men Have Gained Them,’ Pew Writes In The Report.” (Conor Dougherty, “Recovery Is Bypassing Women,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/6/11)

68 Percent Of Women Think The United States “Is Moving Downhill.” “Gender played a small role in dictating voters’ sense of the country’s health, according to the survey, with 70 percent of men and 68 percent of women saying the United States is moving downhill.” (Mike Lillis, “The Hill ... more

SHOT – Politico – Today:  “This Morning, President Obama Will Sign An Executive Order That Will Cut Waste And Promote More Efficient Spending Across The Federal Government.” (Mike Allen, “362 Days Out - Obama Curtails Spending On Smartphones, Swag,” Politico’s “Playbook,” 11/9/11)

CHASER – Politico – June 13, 2011: “[T]he Big Rollout Today Is The Launch Of The Campaign To Cut Waste.” “[T]he big rollout today is the launch of the Campaign to Cut Waste. POTUS and the VP do the honors in a video as the President puts Sheriff Joe on the case to hold the Cabinet accountable for cutting waste in their agencies.” (Mike Allen, “Romney Hope To Soar Over GOP Rivals,” Politico’s “Playbook”, 6/13/11)

• June 13, 2011: WP: “Obama Announces New Steps To Tackle Wasteful Spending”

CHASER 2 – Politico – December 21, 2009: “The Message Event Today Is On Cutting Government Waste And Improving Government Performance.” “The message event today is on cutting government waste and improving government ... more

Holder Pressed Repeatedly On What And When He Knew About Fast And Furious

Holder Testifies That A Number Of Fast And Furious Guns Are Unaccounted For

Despite Being The Attorney General, Holder Says He Can’t Be Expected To Know About Fast And Furious

Watch Attorney General Eric Holder Struggle To Answer Simple Question About Fast And Furious:

Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT): “Let me ask you the fundamental question and give you a chance to be more precise. When did you first learn of the operational tactics being used in Operation Fast and Furious and what did you do about it?”

Attorney General Eric Holder:  “I first learned about the tactics and the phrase Operation Fast and Furious in the beginning of this year, I think when it became a matter of public controversy. In my testimony before the House committee, I did say ‘a few weeks.’ I probably could have said ‘a couple of months.’ I don't think that what I said in terms of using the term ‘a few weeks,’ was inaccurate based on what happened. I got from – as Senator Grassley indicated – a couple of letters from him at the end of January, I believe it was January 31st. These letters talked about a connection between an operation and the death of Agent Terry. It did not mention Fast ... more

Despite Promising To End Business As Usual, Obama Admits The “Fever Has Not Broken”

February 2008: Candidate Obama Pledged To End “Business As Usual.”  OBAMA: “In this election our party can't stand for business as usual in Washington. The Democratic Party must stand for change, not change as a slogan, not change as a bumper sticker but change we can believe in. That's what this campaign is all about” (CNN’s “CNN Newsroom,” 2/10/08)

November 2011: President Obama: "But in terms of changing the culture of Washington, the fever has not broken yet. Not everyone has gotten the word yet that this is not how the American people want their government to operate.” (Ken Thomas, “Obama Says Washington Culture Not Yet Changed,” The Associated Press, 11/7/11)

And Americans Agree That Obama Has Fallen Short On His Promises Of Change

72 Percent Of Americans Think Obama Has Failed To Change Washington. “And nearly three-quarters of respondents say that his administration has fallen short on ... more

Americans Are “Deeply Pessimistic” About The State Of The Country

Americans Remain “Deeply Pessimistic” About The Economy And The State Of The Nation. “One year out before President Barack Obama faces voters in his bid for re-election, he encounters an American public that remains deeply pessimistic about the state of the country and its economy, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11) 

“Nearly Three-Quarters Of Respondents Believe The Nation Is Headed In The Wrong Direction; Just 25 Percent Think The U.S. Economy Will Improve In The Next 12 Months; And A Solid Majority Says The Country Is Experiencing The Start Of A Long-Term Decline.” (Mark Murray, “NBC Poll: Despite National Pessimism, Obama Tops GOP Foes,” MSNBC, 11/7/11)

When Asked For A Single Word About How Respondents Feel About The Country, 58 Percent Had Negative Responses, Including “We’re In The Gutter.” “The poll ... more