Robert Reich now calls this a "Depression", not a mere "Great Recession".

[Better Believe It]

The Zero Economy
by Robert Reich
September 2, 2011

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports today no jobs were created in August. Zero. Nada.

Since this Depression began at the end of 2007, America’s potential labor force – working-age people who want jobs – has grown by over 7 million. But since then the number of Americans with jobs has shrunk by more than 300,000.

If this doesn’t prompt President Obama to unveil a bold jobs plan next Thursday, I don’t know what will.

Do you hear me, Mr. President? Please — be bold next week. And if, as expected, Republicans refuse to go along, take it to the people. Mobilize the public. Use the bully pulpit. That’s what you have it for.

Read the full article at:

http://robertreich.org/post/9709926186

[inna]

1. fat chance

[Faygo Kid]

5. +1

[DJ13]

2. Finally, someone tells the truth

[Supersedeas]

18. Shhh, Christmas is coming and Americans need to spend money that they don't have

Wall Street and Madison Avenue are counting on it--so they will fill the airways with Biz Chicks to tell us that good times are just around the corner.

[GodlessBiker]

3. I agree, but I fear he will talk about tax credits to go to community college to get retrained.

[sethgrogen]

4. oh, shit!

[leeroysphitz]

6. Reich just wants a pony. n/t

[chill_wind]

7. Reich said tonight

this will be the most important speech of his presidency.

(Hardball or O'Donnell, can't remember which.)

[gkhouston]

8. It's a pivotal speech. If he aggressively advocates going big, and

stays with that, I think he'll be re-elected, even if Congress refuses to pass anything he wants to do. If, however, he advocates crap like working for free to get "training", his chances in 2012 are markedly worse--as are the country's.

[blkmusclmachine]

12. I'm expecting more warmed-over GOP slop:

:puke:

[cilla4progress]

9. I just want to ask Obama

when did he turn on us, and why?

[Desertrose]

10. I want to ask....

were you EVER with us or was the "hope & change" all just spin?

[cilla4progress]

11. Good question

Maybe he just didn't think about it that hard. I certainly haven't heard a good explanation of what happened...or any explanation, come to think of it. Maybe we have to wait till the Presidential debates. God help us.

[Kaleko]

13. I see you have a quote from Niz in your sigline...

that's a rare sight on DU, so I just wanted to say hi and good for you!

As to your question about the depth and length of Obama's deception, he's an Enneagram 9 -- a peacemaker, fence-sitter, diplomat, people-pleaser type, with a deeply buried anger with which he is completely out of touch.

This type is not a leader but a negotiator/compromiser who would find it against his nature to be fiercely aggressive and start a fight with any of the hoodlums at the negotiating table.

Just a few thoughts... if you're into armchair psychologizing. :)

[jimlup]

14. This could be Obama's master stroke.. or it could be his Waterloo

If he goes meek and concedes hoping to get the Reptilians on board it will cost him the Presidency in 2012.

On the other hand if he goes bold either:

1. The Reptilians will oppose it but it is boldly pushed by the democrats and Obama through giving the American people renewed confidence in Obama's boldness and ability to lead.

2. The Reptilians will oppose it and succeed in blocking it. If Obama stays bold - people will blame the Reptilians for blocking a jobs bill. While Obama will be intellectually right in the debates the American people are too ignorant to know that - nevertheless they will respect the effort and his boldness in the face of opposition and re-elect him and blame the Reptilians.

Bold is win/win

Meek is lose/lose...

mark my words!

[Better Believe It]

15. The answer to this simple question will probably determine who the voters elect President in 2012

"Are you doing better than you were four years ago?"

All other issues are secondary.

"It's the economy stupid".

And you won't need PHD to figure out how the economy is doing.

Is it in the "shitcan" or is a strong recovery from the depression taking hold?

[jimlup]

23. I actually think it will be somewhat more complex than that

Voters are ignorant and sometimes stupid but they can see that neither side has really helped. They are capable of reasoning beyond the simple "I'll blame the sitting president for whatever the economy is doing" meme. But they need guidance from a strong leader who uses his bully pulpit well to grasp this.

Barack Obama the heat is on. Time to come through for us - just once is all you need. I believe what he says on September 8th will ultimately decide the November 2012 election.

[Buns_of_Fire]

21. It's going to be tough for him to do -- he's not a confrontational-type person.

But it's put-up or shut-up time, and no matter which way he goes on this, he's going to get confrontation (from one side or the other) whether he wants it or not.

If he goes all slack on this, it may not matter much whether he wins re-election or not, because the next president -- whoever they may be -- could well only be presiding over an economy grinding to a halt, and it won't be pretty.

[jimlup]

22. Agreed... /nt

[WI_DEM]

16. BE BOLD--Obama could have used somebody like Reich in his administration.

[Vanje]

17. K & R

[deacon]

19. To the GOP zero jobs and economic depression equals "success!" n/t

[QC]

20. Robert Reich is a pony-demanding poutrageous purist. n/t