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Election Central Saturday Roundup

Obama: My Plan Will Save Or Create 3-4 Million Jobs
In his latest Presidential YouTube Address, Barack Obama announced that he is releasing a report analyzing the impact of his proposed stimulus package, saying the package would save or create three to four million jobs:

"The jobs we create will be in businesses large and small across a wide range of industries," Obama says. "And they'll be the kind of jobs that don't just put people to work in the short term, but position our economy to lead the world in the long-term."

NYT: Economists Worried The Stimulus Isn't Big Enough
The New York Times reports that some economists are worried the proposed stimulus package still isn't big enough, with Obama's hands tied by the political need to propose tax cuts to win Republican support, and also having to deal with an already-massive deficit. "We have very few good examples to guide us," said William G. Gale, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "I don't know of any convincing evidence that what has been proposed is going to be enough."

Illinois Secretary of State Signs Burris Appointment -- Sort Of
Roland Burris' legal team has tried a new legal maneuver to secure Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's signature on his Senate appointment: They have obtained a certified copy of the appointment paper, signed by White. Bear in mind that this is not necessarily the same as if White had signed the appointment form itself -- his signature here attests that the new paper is a true and accurate copy of the original, valid appointment. The Senate's lawyers will make their own decision as to whether it's binding.

Burris Legal Team: We're Going Back To Washington, Could Sue
The Chicago Tribune reports that Roland Burris' legal team is citing yesterday's state Supreme Court decision, holding that he doesn't even need White's signature in order for the appointment to be valid under Illinois law, as proof that the Senate must seat Burris. They are now promising to return to Washington on Monday, and will file a lawsuit in federal court if Burris isn't seated.

Al Franken To Attend Obama's Inauguration
Al Franken will be heading to Washington in a week and a half -- though for now it will only be to attend Barack Obama's inauguration, not to be sworn in as a Senator. A spokesperson for Norm Coleman said he will not be attending the event.

Coleman: Democrats Blocking Constituent Services
Norm Coleman is complaining that the Senate's decision to close his offices after his term expired -- leaving the seat vacant while Coleman challenges the election results in court -- is hurting Minnesotans who have been relying on him for constituent services. "There are people -- this is real-life stuff -- who come to us for help," Coleman. "They're being hurt by Harry Reid." Meanwhile, Reid's office denies that they promised Coleman they would let his staffers keep working, though they are working to come to an acceptable solution.

GOP Sen. Voinovich Could Retire In 2010
The office of Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has acknowledged rumors that he could retire in 2010, saying in a statement: "If he changes his mind about running, he will share that decision quickly with the people of Ohio -- people he considers his second family." A Voinovich retirement would immediately set up a close and hotly-contested race in a big swing state.

Scalpers Turning Big Profits On Obama Inaugural Tickets
The Hill reports that ticket scalpers are already making a bundle off of the tickets to Barack Obama's inaugural parade, which sold out in minutes on Friday afternoon. The retail price of the tickets was $25, but they are now going for prices of more than $400.


22 Comments

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I have a solution, Norm, if you're that worried about Minnesotans- drop your hopeless legal challenge and let the new Senator take his seat.

Oh, right, you're not really THAT concerned about Minnesotans. Asshole.

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Exactly. Or at least let Franken be seated while you challenge.

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MN law precludes certification while a challenge is active. Norman has to drop the challenge.

As if.

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MN law barring certification while litigation is pending has nothing to do with this. The Senate could agree to seat Franken *provisionally* without the certification. But Republicans have vowed to block it with a filibuster.

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When in the past has the Senate seated someone "provisionally"?

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In 1997, the Republican-controlled US Senate seated Democrat Mary Landrieu provisionally while her opponent challenged the election results. In 2007, Republican Vern Buchanan was seated by the Democratic House, even though there was an election challenge.

Just because "Big Bad John" John Cornyn said it would be unprecedented to seat Franken doesn't mean it's true. In fact, quite the opposite.

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If reid's office is working on it with Coleman, I imagine he will be seated until the matter is settled. I don't know of a time that reid hasn't caved when a republican looked crosseyed at him.

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I've noticed lately that Obama has slipped in "save" to his job numbers. It's now "save or create x number of jobs", whereas before wit was "will create x number of jobs". How can one really tell how many jobs were saved?

So if he only creates a million jobs, he can say "Well how many jobs would have been lost..." to cover for him creation shortage.

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he's been saying that since right before or right after he got elected. if he only creates a million jobs, that word "saved" will not be enough of a cover.

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Those sorts of projections (regarding jobs saved/created) are a load of crap anyway. The whole stimulus package is a gamble, there is no certainty regarding the outcome. Certainly not enough to base figures on.

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It is a gamble which is why I get annoyed when I hear people say it won't work and they always seem to have a better plan - in their minds anyway. No one knows if this is going to work and I'm more concerned about how it's going to be executed and monitored.

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1.You haven't payed attention to Obama speaking, he has said that for months now.
2.It's called "wiggle room"
3.He plans to far exceed his own expectaitions which is good politically and substantially.

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Yeah, but he's also expanded the target number. He's now saying it's upwards of 4,000,000 jobs. So he's actually increased the goal, which isn't really giving himself extra wiggle room.

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well, right now it's "3 to 4 million", but IIRC back in November it was 2 million, so yeah, the figure has risen along with the country's desperation.

But I suspect others are right wrt the target figure; even in hindsight, noone will be able to put a number on it -- esp. since most of the jobs are supposed to be in the private sector, so by definition they'll be created indirectly.

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Well, technically during the campaign he was promising 5 million "green collar" jobs plus another 2 million created in infrastructure programs. As recently as Oct. 2008.

http://obama.3cdn.net/eff0ff1daa8bafe984_4yjqmv8j3.pdf

http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/14/the-obama-promise-five-million-new-green-jobs/

This seems like a decrease of 3 million from what he was promising a few months ago - and now it includes "jobs saved" instead of being all "jobs created". Now we have a "bailout" that costs 5x more and creates fewer jobs? How does that work?

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That was the best weekly address to date, made me feel confident in Obama all over again.

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I agree that that was Obama's best youtube weekly address yet.

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If Coleman was truly concerned about the welfare of people of Minnesota and making sure they get the necessary voice in Washington he should concede the election right now. Why? Because Normy lost. Normy is only concerned about his own self-interest and no one else’s

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Ho-hum. Reid caves in, restores Norm Coleman to Senate.

And apologizes for even hinting that ANY Republican might be born without the divine right to always win whatever they demand.

What a farce. Future Canadian historians, writing about the decline and fall of the empire to their south, better give Harry Reid plenty of credit.

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A projection of 4 million jobs in two years. I don't know why this number has been a point of debate, come back in two years and then argue it.

Right now the focus should be on the record of 3 million jobs in 8 years that the outgoing president has to answer for.

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:) Are you new? That's not how it works here. There is a debate about everything here before it happens and then when the event occurs - crickets!

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Norm Coleman is no longer a Senator from MN. There is currently no second Senator from MN, and no need for any staff. Whose direction are they going to take? What initiatives would they be pursuing? Constituent services can be handled by MN's other Senator, along with its Congressmen.

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