According to a damning and sobering new report by the Center For Economic and Policy Research, the prospects for an immediate recovery of the 8 million jobs shed during the 2000s are dim.  Unfortunately, our politicians and policymakers do not get it.  Calling for more austerity measures, the Republicans have demonstrated that they are either uninformed or unconcerned about the dire state of our economy.  If they regain power, they would drive America over a fiscal cliff.  However, the Democrats have been either too inept or too unconcerned to make a compelling case for a true jobs bill to the American people.

Either way, as this study demonstrates, unless our politicians are willing to confront the harsh truth and find innovative ways to get Americans working again, our current misery will be long and persistent.

It appears that Wall Street will get the bill that they have wanted all along.  Please do not be fooled by the complex charade that is taking place on Capital Hill.  Although, Wall Street put up a nominal fight, this was the mother of all point-shaving scams.  In the game of Wall Street versus Main Street, Wall Street still wins the championship.  Although the margin wasn’t as big as we expected, they still get to go to Disney World, while the rest of us make our way from our foreclosed homes into tent cities.  Don’t forget to save your grub worms.  Your canned beans become barely edible with a little protein in them.

How did we reach this current state of affairs?  Why has the current administration gone out of its way to ensure Americans that these tepid regulations are actually going to prevent the next financial meltdown?  This bill is a flawed blowout preventer.  If, (more than likely, when), the economy blows up again, we will lament the fact that we purposely enacted legislation that was ill equipped to handle the fallout.  Despite evidence to the contrary, the recovery is slowing.  The rush to declare the recession over was deliberately premature.

Mission Accomplished.

What makes all of this particularly galling is the blocking of a $33 billion extension of unemployment benefits.  Republicans, and some Democrats, are calling for these costs to offset elsewhere in the budget.  I would point out the blatant hypocrisy of their newfound adherence to fiscal discipline.  However, that has already been thoroughly documented.  Americans can be intuitive at times.  Despite conservative attempts to demonize the unemployed, with a plummeting housing market, a rising foreclosure rate, and a decrease in consumer confidence, Americans know that the line between employment and unemployment is thinner than ever.

Now whom do we blame?  Reasonably, we could blame the Obama administration.  Besides pushing a weak stimulus through Congress, Mr. Obama also over-hyped the supposed benefits of the package, predicting that unemployment would not get much higher than 8%.  Now that the unemployment rate is hovering between 9.5-10%, his administration has lost the credibility needed to advocate for a second stimulus.  Instead of promoting the stimulus as a cure-all, they should have proposed it as the first measure in their comprehensive strategy to get the economy back on track.  Everything that they have done since, including the unemployment extensions, appears reactive instead of predictive.

Of course, Republicans share a large portion of the blame because of their cynical election strategy that seems to be “Let them eat cake as we take back Congress and the White House.”  The Democratic base is understandably angry because rather than govern, it appears the Dems have allowed themselves to be hamstrung by Republican obstructionism.  Ezra Klein stated that this would go down as one of the most productive Congressional sessions in decades.  If our calculus is that something is better than nothing, then I agree.  However, if we are measuring potential versus results, then this session is an unmitigated failure.

As usual, I am at a loss for how to move forward.  Liberals (excluding myself and a few others) believed that Mr. Obama would actually work to enact progressive legislation and worked hard to elect him.  Instead, President Obama has governed from the pragmatic center and liberals were scolded as naive children for believing that anything other than governing from the center was possible.  It will be a long time before the country is again ready for transformative change.  Things will probably have to get worse than they are now.  Do we sit on our hands and wait for the world to end?  Thoughts?

Read this Politico article to understand the bullshit narrative the administration is pushing.

Read digby’s excellent counter…

Today is the perfect day to reflect on all of the wonderful things that make our nation great and our people strong. Let us also consider how we can continue to work harder in order to form a more perfect union. STR wishes everyone a Happy July 4^th.

Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass an unemployment extension, among a variety of other fixes, that were designed to help stave off a double-dip recession.  I was searching for someone to articulate the rage and sadness I felt at how far my country has fallen.  Try to watch these two clips from last night’s Rachel Maddow show and not mourn the pathetic state of our political system.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As Congress dithers, people across this country, who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, nervously await the fate of their meager unemployment checks. More Medicaid patients are having a tougher time finding doctors because Congress has not extended funding. States are poised to layoff close to a million employees because Congress has not extended aid to cash-poor states. It would be pointless to point out the hypocrisy of the Republican’s newfound concern about deficit spending. Conservative Democrats and Republicans have formed a coalition whose sole purpose seems to be sacrificing vulnerable citizens on the altar of political expediency.

Our country is bleeding out at a rapid rate. We have multiple wounds and there appears to be no way to dress them all. We are exsanguinating from environmental damage. Our lands, our air, and now, most visibly, our seas are being irreparably harmed. Mired in two wars and saddled with an incomprehensible foreign policy, America is bleeding from the accumulated damage of our overseas misadventures. In addition, America is bleeding from domestic wounds. The economy still struggles and Congress refuses to protect those at the margins of society. As interest rates increase and unemployment remains steady, we are in danger of a double-dip recession.

These terrible wounds have put a severe strain on America’s heart and soul. As people truly come to believe that the government is unable or unwilling to address these concerns in an effective way, as people turn away from the government and seek their own solutions, disinterest and anger will breed more contempt. People will lose sight of what it means to be an American because the government has continuously failed them as citizens.

The nation’s exsanguination is obvious to anyone who is honest about what is going on around them. Yet, the people we elected to staunch the bleeding are refusing to do so. Why? Is it merely greed and avarice? Although I am deeply cynical, even I find it hard to believe that our country is being allowed to slowly die because a few people want to line their pockets. Surely, if that were happening, then the true 99ers, those of us in the bottom 99% of wage earners, would do something about it. Until we can figure this out, apply pressure here, here, and here…

The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law held their 18^th annual Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. lecture on June 17, 2010. The guest lecturer was United States Attorney General Eric Holder. General Holder spoke about how individual acts of justice can create a better and more just society. The UDC law school requires an incredible 700 hours of public service so that law students can provide legal assistance to low-income D.C. residents. Mr. Holder issued a call to law students everywhere. Mr. Holder believes that using the law and the legal system to assist those at the margins of society can create a ripple effect throughout our nation that will ultimately lead to a more just and equitable society.

After the lecture, the Attorney General took some questions. One questioner asked him how he felt about the right to vote for D.C. residents. Mr. Holder stated unequivocally that D.C. citizens should have the right to vote. Another question dealt with the Obama administration’s advocacy for the Defense of Marriage Act. General Holder does not personally agree with the statute, though he is required to offer a legal argument for statutes passed by Congress.

He also stated his support for the way Mr. Obama has handled the BP disaster and reiterated his disagreement with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizen’s United case. Mr. Holder stated, “The logic of the decision escapes me.” According to General Holder, the Justice Department is working with Congress in order to create statutory remedies that will limit the harmful impact of the decision.

The Attorney General also discussed tribal sovereignty, the public safety exception to Miranda, and the ongoing review of whether certain CIA officers overstepped the OLC torture guidelines. For the most part, Mr. Holder towed the administration line regarding these issues. However, he did reiterate the government’s strong support for Native American tribal sovereignty.

Although Mr. Holder did not stray too far from the talking points, his call for more public service was very refreshing. It is important to take a step back and look at what our country could be. We should all aspire to do what we can in order to make the world around us a little better.

Although the unemployment rate fell to 9.7% for the month of May, the Obama administration is not happy.  The vast majority of jobs added to the economy were temporary census positions.  Meanwhile, private companies failed to meet economists’ expectations.  Last month, when unemployment rose to 9.9%, the administration was encouraged.  Now that it has dropped, they are scrambling to put a positive spin on the terrible economic news.

Most economists agree that the long-term economic situation is not promising.  Although the Obama administration keeps trying to spin a narrative that the economy is improving, the facts belie their optimism.  As fears about a double-dip recession grow, it is imperative that the Obama administration abandon their piecemeal approach to recovery and implement a comprehensive plan designed to put the U.S. economy on a road to real recovery.

This requires political courage that the Democrats in Congress seem to lack and political capital that Mr. Obama has all but exhausted.  Historically, there are only a few presidents that have had as much on their platter as President Obama.  However, when he ran for president, Mr. Obama recognized that he would be assuming office during a time of unprecedented challenges.  America’s problems cannot be solved by one stimulus package.  He still has access to the bully pulpit and the goodwill of a majority of the American people.  Instead of convincing us that the problems are going away, it is time for Mr. Obama to level with the American people about the challenges ahead and what it will cost to get this storied nation back on track.

Although the unemployment rate fell to 9.7% for the month of May, the Obama administration is not happy. The vast majority of jobs added to the economy were temporary census positions. Meanwhile, private companies failed to meet economists’ expectations. Last month, when unemployment rose to 9.9%, the administration was encouraged. Now that it has dropped, they are scrambling to put a positive spin on the terrible economic news.

Most economists agree that the long-term economic situation is not promising. Although, the Obama administration keeps trying to spin a narrative that the economy is improving, the facts belie their optimism. As fears about a double-dip recession grow, it is imperative that the Obama administration abandon their piecemeal approach to recovery and implement a comprehensive recovery plan designed to put the U.S. economy on a road to real recovery.

This requires political courage that the Democrats in Congress seem to lack and political capital that Mr. Obama has all but exhausted. Historically, there are only a few presidents that have had as much on their platter as President Obama. However, when he ran for president, Mr. Obama recognized that he would be assuming office during a time of unprecedented challenges. America’s problems cannot be solved by one stimulus package. He still has access to the bully pulpit and the goodwill of a majority of the American people. Instead of convincing us that the problems are going away, it is time for Mr. Obama to level with the American people about the challenges ahead and what it will cost to get this storied nation back on track.

Many people are attempting to draw parallels between the unprecedented disaster occurring in the Gulf of Mexico and slowly spreading to the Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida coastlines and Hurricane Katrina. However, comparing this man-made disaster to an act of nature whose damage was aided by human failure partially absolves BP of some of their culpability. As a victim of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath, I watched helplessly as the storm tore into the Gulf Coast. I was sad, frightened, and confused. Yet, I did not become angry until I found out the levees failed because of human incompetence and neglect.

Watching workers clean the oil off Louisiana pelicans, I am also sad. But, in addition to the sadness I feel a rage that I can scarcely articulate. I am angry because this disaster did not have to happen. It occurred because our public policy is severely flawed and thoroughly corrupted by special interests. It occurred because greed trumped caution and prudence. It is unprecedented because of human overreach and a lack of respect for nature and her gifts. As a result, the brightest minds on the planet are unable to plug a hole, albeit one that is 5,000 feet below the ocean surface and should have never had been dug in the first place.

Many people are criticizing Mr. Obama for his seeming lack of empathy. This false criticism obscures the real problems with Mr. Obama’s response. Instead of marshaling a stronger federal reaction to this tragedy, Mr. Obama admittedly trusted the very same corporations that have continually gouged the American people and shown disdain for the environment. Why would he assume that they had a viable contingency plan to deal with this situation when early evidence revealed that BP had repeatedly sought regulatory exemptions and circumvented federal inspectors in order to keep drilling unsafely? BP did this even though their own internal reports stated that there were serious problems with their equipment and practices.

Once again, the Gulf Region of the United States, one of the most culturally vibrant and economically important areas of the country, has been ill served by the federal government. However, what makes this tragedy worse than Katrina is that it was preventable. A hands off government, weaned on thirty years of laissez-faire economic policy, has proven unable perform the most basic function of providing security and stability for its citizens. All we can do is stand by idly as our air, land, and water is polluted for profit.

I have been catching a lot of flak for my pointed criticism of Mr. Obama’s foreign and domestic agenda.  Many individuals that I trust, admire, and respect have been urging me to be more optimistic.  However, how can you reconcile that optimism with Mr. Obama’s latest nomination to the Supreme Court?  According to most knowledgeable sources on the left and the right, Elena Kagan is an imminently qualified legal scholar who is more than qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.  In the last thirty years, these nominations have become much more politically contentious; and out of that chaos, there has emerged a tenuous balance.  There were four dyed-in-the-wool conservatives, three moderate liberals, and two swing votes.  It is important to note that one of former President George W. Bush nominees, Justice Samuel Alito, has an unapologetically conservative judicial philosophy.  He replaced Justice Sandra Day O’Connor who was a reliable swing vote.

Justice John Paul Stevens, who Elena Kagan was nominated to replace, was one the more liberal justices on the Court and the leader of its “liberal wing”.  Justice Stevens has been a stalwart of progressive and liberal causes since he took the bench in late 1975.  Although liberal Democrats and progressives fully expected President Obama to nominate a person with an open and verifiable liberal judicial philosophy, there were early rumblings that Mr. Obama was leaning toward his Solicitor General, Elena Kagan.  The problems with elevating Ms. Kagan to the highest court in the land are myriad and well documented.  Ms. Kagan has carefully cultivated a career that has allowed her to sit on the sidelines during some of the most contentious legal debates of the last fifteen years.  In addition, when she has taken a stand, especially on executive power, she has issued opinions that should be troubling to progressives.

So, the question remains, why has President Obama nominated a careerist who is so amorphous as to be all things to all people?  Is it another case of Mr. Obama being a pragmatic politician?  Has he placed her ability to be confirmed over the principals that should really govern who ascends to the Court?  Is it time for liberals and progressives to admit that for whatever reason, Mr. Obama no longer shares their governing philosophy, if he ever did?  He talks a wonderful game, shallowly wades into contentious battles, and backs away before absorbing any real damage.  There are quite a few jurists that are as qualified as Ms. Kagan is and have a record of liberal jurisprudence.  Why not pick one of them?  The right is going to attack whomever he picks.  Why not pick someone openly liberal and have a fight based on principal?

Liberals and progressives, do you feel hoodwinked, bamboozled?  If so, when are you going to begin holding Mr. Obama accountable?  Or, are you holding out hope for a glorious second-term?