Thursday's Starting Lineup

February 4, 2010 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) |

By Reid Wilson

Good Thursday morning. Who's ready for another fake snow storm? Alright, maybe you shouldn't trust us; when it comes to weather, we're about as accurate as this guy.

Here's today's Starting Lineup, previewing the facts and figures who are going to matter today:

JOBLESSNESS: New job tallies show the US has lost close to 8M jobs during the current recession, 1M more than expected, the Labor Dept. is expected to announce tomorrow. A report revising estimates of US payrolls is expected to show the country lost more jobs between Apr. '08 and Mar. '09 than it did in any other yearly period in 70 years.

That gives Dems an obvious, but not very useful, strategy: Blame Pres. Bush. The party has signaled it will hold the previous admin accountable for bad economic times, and it will attempt to paint the GOP as complicit in those acts. Every GOPer, Dems will say, wants to "go back to Bush economic policies."

The trouble is, that doesn't work. Just ask GOPers who keep trying, and failing, to make Speaker Nancy Pelosi an issue. Yes, voters still blame the Bush admin, but the economy is Pres. Obama's problem now, and voters aren't seeing anything get much better. New unemployment figures are due out on Friday, and unless they show some serious downward trends, it won't matter what argument Dems make come Nov.

By the way, stay current on all the latest economic indicators with our latest clip-and-save.

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP: Speaking of taking action to reverse the unemployment rate, Pres. Obama meets today at the WH with Pelosi, Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid, House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Maj. Whip Dick Durbin for a conversation about jobs legislation and the strategy for getting it through Congress in a timely way.

As Fox News' Major Garrett notes, it will be the first time in months Obama has met Dems without wanting to talk about health care. Senate Dems will introduce their version of the bill today, and it had better be effective if the party wants to keep their majorities.

Let's underscore the point: We made a joke about folks following us yesterday, but ex-Sen. Dan Coats' (R-IN) entry into the race against Sen. Evan Bayh (D) gives the GOP chances in 10 races, a first all year, meaning they now have the chance to take back the Senate. It's a long shot, yes, but it's a possibility.

TEA PARTIERS: Today marks the first day of a national Tea Party Convention in Nashville, an event that has drawn no small measure of controversy. The group, headed by small-town lawyer Judson Phillips, has come under fire for hoping to make a profit, for charging sponsors exorbitant amounts and for shady business dealings at least one backer really wants Sarah Palin to be a part of.

But the party will be a success, and Palin's Saturday night keynote speech is going to be the buzz of conservative circles. The speech will be broadcast on several stations, further securing Palin's place in the hearts and minds of the growing movement.

Palin says she's not personally benefiting from her speech at the event, though a $100K check is difficult to argue with. She could donate it to candidates or causes, but so far she has not announced plans to do either.