The news that the U.S. unemployment rate for June remained at 8.2 percent was expected by most economic analysts, with the new jobs added in the private sector less than expected (84,000 vs. the 100,000 promoted).
So does this add anything to the presidential race that takes place exactly four months from today?
Hard to say. 8.2 percent unemployment is unacceptable. It's down from the highs of 10 percent plus from 2009, but when will it significantly be lowered?
Mitt Romney's main chance for beating Barack Obama is based on the idea that because of his (alleged) business acumen, he can do what Obama can't, which is bring the country back economically. It's hard to say objectively he's made a convincing case for that so far, however. What he seems to be doing is counting down the days to the election with everything remaining status quo as it is today – unemployment being too high, so let's make a change. The philosophy isn't winning plaudits this week from a host of fellow conservatives (such as Rupert Murdoch and William Kristol) who simply don't see him doing enough to prove to the country that they should make an affirmative vote for him, and not just because the other guy isn't doing a good job and needs to be replaced.
Meanwhile there will be a number of 3rd party candidates running in November, and the man polling the highest (when he's included in such polls), Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, is in Tampa Bay today. Check back on our blog on Monday for a breakdown of our latest session with the former New Mexico Governor.
So what's going on with Occupy Tampa these days you ask? Of late there have been some tensions in the West Tampa area where they've made camp the last six months, but there is now a call for detente in the area.
Congressman Bill Young apparently didn't think much of a young constituent who inquired about his thoughts on raising the minimum wage the other day….
Florida Senator Bill Nelson hailed the passage of the RESTORE Act in Congress yesterday in St. Pete…
And if you're going out to a Pinellas County beach over the course of the next few days, do read CL contributor Kate Bradshaw's story about what's going on with Caddy's on Treasure Island…
This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2012.