Despite a deepening job slump and few signs that the recession that began in December 2007 is nearing an end, Americans have grown more optimistic about the U.S. economy and the country's direction in the 11 weeks since the inauguration of President Obama, the latest New York Times/CBS News poll shows.

Further, Americans approve of President Obama's handling of the economy, foreign policy, (wars in Iraq and Afghanistan), and two-thirds said they approved of his overall job performance.

Continue reading Poll: Americans more-optimistic about U.S. economy, president's performance

Poll: Americans more-optimistic about U.S. economy, president's performance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The United States is preparing for a new year, and a new presidential administration -- one that has the potential to usher-in a rejuvenation of the U.S. economy, society, and culture, after nearly a decade of descent.

Still, that's not to say measures should not be taken to keep the Obama Administration and the Democrats honest. Now yours truly is not talking about the rhetorical observations and critiques of right-wing talk radio, which opposes seemingly everything from an increase in federal student loan programs to the rising of the sun in the east, but rather about techniques investors can use to make sure the Obama Administration remains true to its word -- i.e., to keep Obama and the Democrats honest.

Benchmark 1: The economy and job growth. Obama and the Democrats have promised a large fiscal stimulus package that invests in the nation's infrastructure and public institutions (schools, hospitals, civil administration buildings, parks), and that provides aid to the states, among other benefits. The fiscal stimulus package alone will not guarantee a return to robust economic growth and job creation, but it will point the U.S. economy in the direction of sustainable growth, with hundreds of thousands of jobs that will help 'prime the pump' for additional commercial activity. Hence, the U.S. economy and the stimulus package represent the top priority: any failure to deliver here would be a serious underperformance.

Continue reading How can investors keep Obama, Democrats (economically) honest?

How can investors keep Obama, Democrats (economically) honest? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hillary can't wait for Pennsylvania

Hillary can't wait for Pennsylvania originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Carville said that objective economic events in this election cycle favor the party out of power. Those objective economic events? The housing slump, higher energy and food costs, and anemic job growth, conditions that are "presenting real economic hardship for many Americans." (Or as Carville would put it, in the 2008 election, as in the 1992 election, "It's the economy, stupid.")

Continue reading Carville: Economic issues will favor Democratics in 2008

Carville: Economic issues will favor Democratics in 2008 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Is Obama in 2008 like JFK in 1960 -- on the glory road?

Is Obama in 2008 like JFK in 1960 -- on the glory road? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Clinton campaign hopes for spring renewal after winter of discontent

Clinton campaign hopes for spring renewal after winter of discontent originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On Super Tuesday, as the United States approaches its first $1 billion election, the chorus sounds a familiar refrain.

The conventional wisdom regarding campaign spending -- that the U.S. is spending too much on campaigns, or that certain groups have too much influence -- reminds me of what Mark Twain said about the the public's attitude toward the weather: "Everybody complains about the weather, but no one ever seems to be able to do something about it."

While some would argue that campaign spending is not a problem, for the sake of argument let's assume that the conventional wisdom on campaign spending is valid. The next logical question would be, what changes could and should we make to the current campaign spending laws?

Limits on campaign spending? The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Congress and regulators can do this, but only up to a degree, as beyond a certain point it violates the First Amendment's free speech right.

Continue reading As U.S. approaches $1 billion campaign, what can be done to control spending?

As U.S. approaches $1 billion campaign, what can be done to control spending? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The presidential race is started to come into focus ahead of next week's Super Tuesday primaries.

Democrat John Edwards, whose anti-corporate message never resonated with most voters, is dropping out of the race after failing to win the primary in his native South Carolina, according to media reports. Rudy Giuliani, who fell from presumptive front-runner to also-ran, also is expected to bow out and endorse rival John McCain.

Odds are that Edwards will endorse rival Barack Obama, adding to the growing list of backers which include Democratic stalwart Sen. Edward Kennedy. The Illinois senator is far from having the race locked up.

Continue reading John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani bow out of presidential race

John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani bow out of presidential race originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hillary Clinton likely to revise strategy, aided by an old friend

Hillary Clinton likely to revise strategy, aided by an old friend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Obama's New Hampshire strength highlights Clinton's vulnerablity

Obama's New Hampshire strength highlights Clinton's vulnerablity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remember how they used to say that the sun never set on the British empire. The same goes for talk show queen Oprah Winfrey's empire.

In an era when most media conglomerates struggle, Winfrey has the midas touch, which is why her endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may have a huge impact on the election. Her continuing presence at the pop culture zeitgeist is nothing short of remarkable.

Ratings for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" remain strong. When she got 100 plus members of the Osmond clan on her program on November 12 following the death of patriarch George, she scored her best ratings since the prior January, according to Broadcast and Cable. During the week ended November 25, Her protege Dr. Phil McGraw earned a 5.5 rating, trailing Winfrey's show, which got a 5.7, but her ratings included Thanksgiving while his didn't, the trade publication says.

Continue reading Money Winners of 2007: Oprah Winfrey remains media queen

Money Winners of 2007: Oprah Winfrey remains media queen originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The truth is, our middle-class families are not going to be secure so long as they can't get out of debt. If we're serious about stopping Americans from falling deeper in debt, we've got to crack down on predatory credit card companies that are pushing them over the edge....

"Many credit card companies are tricking Americans into agreements they can't afford because that's how they make big profits. Well, no company's bottom line should come before what's right for the American people."

Continue reading Barack Obama wants crackdown on predatory lending

Barack Obama wants crackdown on predatory lending originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Would you vote for Lou Dobbs for president? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The official election is more than a year away; but the Democratic party is trouncing the Republics in the CEO money primary. According to Bloomberg News, some of George W. Bush's top 2004 fund-raisers, are now helping Democrats running for president.

Among the 60 executives writing checks to Democrats such as Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are these formerly pro-Bush CEOs:

• Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS) CEO John Mack, a Bush Ranger, held a fund-raiser for Clinton in July. He wrote to his executives "I personally believe that [the best] person [running for president in 2008] is Hillary Clinton."
• Yahoo Inc.'s (NASDAQ: YHOO) former CEO Terry Semel gave $2,000 to Bush in 2004 and $50,000 to the Republican National Committee. Semel has given the maximum, $4,600, to Clinton and $2,300 to Obama.
• News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) CEO Rupert Murdoch, who donated $25,000 to the Republican National Committee in 2004, has given Clinton $2,300.

Continue reading Democrats winning 2008 CEO money primary

Democrats winning 2008 CEO money primary originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I can't believe that CNBC is seriously debating the question about whether Democrats are "rooting for a recession." This is what happens when pundits run amuck on a slow news day.

Most of this "discussion" consisted of cranky Republican pundit Lawrence Kudlow yelling at the other panelists who pointed out the stupidity of the premise.

Here's a sample of his remarks:

• "If the Democrats ever discover the benefits of the investor class, they might win a national race," he said in a typical remark.
• "George W. Bush is not on the ballot."
• "The problem is that they don't have any pro-growth policies."
• "The public will not elect a Walter Mondale type-canditate."

John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, pointed out on CNBC that that Bush and his allies in Congress have take on "staggering" additional expenses that have to be paid with actual money. Good point.

Plus, the Democrats aren't as anti-business as conservatives suggest. Remember, times were pretty good during the Clinton administration for CNBC's parent General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) and lots of other businesses during the 1990s.

Businesses aren't oblivious to the President Bush's staggering unpopularity. They are making nice with the Democrats such as Hillary Clinton in a way that would have been unthinkable back in 2001. Investors better wake up to the fact that chances are good that a Democrat will win the White House in 2008.

If that happens, the world won't end.

Democrats want a recession? CNBC seems to think so originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.