Lessons Learned — White House Wary of Jobs Predictions September 13, 2011
Posted by Michael in Ducks.trackback
Jeebers, is it possible that the White House got stung by an obscure little blog like this with charts by Geoff that went viral, got repeatedly linked by Ace, Instapundit and Hot Air, and eventually made it to conventional media and RNC talking points?
Maybe. Could be Instapundit has a point when he talks about the “Army of Davids.”
The White House seems to have learned their lesson.
Members of Congress now have in-hand the full text of President Obama’s jobs plan, but one key ingredient is missing: how many jobs the White House expects it to create.
If you ask the White House, that is by design.
“I think there’s a danger of ever predicting unemployment rates, because… there’s a lot of things that determine what the unemployment rate is and will be,” Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew told reporters in a briefing Monday.
I think you’re right about that, Jack. It’s pretty clear by now that throwing good money after bad with another federal spending binge, and more debt, is not going to help. You really know that, Jack, don’t you? If you don’t exactly get this, I can give you Geoff’s email address.
The White House learned that first hand after the incorrect January 2009 predictions of then-president-elect Obama’s advisors were revisited in the press with a fury. Mr. Obama’s economic advisors at the time; Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, both of whom later worked for President Obama, predicted that passage of a stimulus bill for would keep the unemployment rate below 8%. The Recovery Act passed. The unemployment rate currently stands at 9.1%.
via White House Wary of Jobs Predictions – Fox News.
Actually, those predictions were not “revisited in the press with a fury” until long after the charts by Geoff had become an internet staple.
Here’s a song for Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, the simplistic Keynesian multiplier effects in their model, and all those shovel ready jobs that predictably did not happen when confronted with the reality of the federal procurement process and politics:
Heh.
I remember that when I saw Geoff’s chart for the first time, I said that this chart can bring down the Idiot’s presidency. It was wishful thinking at that time, but getting closer to reality every day.
Kudos to Geoff and the IB Moronosphere… But mostly Geoff.
Nice post Michael, and nice of you. Noting Geoff’s awesomeness can never be overdone.
*pats geoff on the back yet again*
Thanks, Cathy & lw, but as always the credit belongs at least as much to Michael, laura, and Dave for getting the word out. I first posted on the chart in February ’09 – nobody saw it. I posted again in March – nobody saw it. Then I posted it here in April, and people started noticing it. In May it went viral because laura posted about it at Ace’s, Dave mentioned it at Ace’s, and Michael emailed Instapundit (and Hot Air?) about it.
You guys really made it happen.
I never could get to the link to buy the t-shirts. I weould wear them with honor. Still, the concept of “I’m not worthy” keeps posting in my mind.
OBF: Try going to S. Weasel’s site (it’s on the sidebar here) and hitting her link to the store.
Ha ha ha haa, the Obama meltdown stickers over there are great too.
Yes, Geoff, I did pimp your charts at Hot Air. Heck, I pimped them to NRO, Treacher, Protein Wisdom, and I don’t know how many other places. I had to give up a lot of blowjobs in the process, but it was worth it.
Play to your strength.
I didn’t see the charts in alot of places so it may not be one of his strengths.
It’s not who you know it’s who you blow – Thomas Jefferson letter to John Adams (1788)
“Show charts to the people, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.”
– Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1785
I had to give
upa lot of blowjobs in the process, but it was worth it.FIFY
I think RG was the only one who noticed that there was an ‘up’ after ‘give’ in Michael’s comment.
I think RG was the only one who
noticedcared that there was an ‘up’ after ‘give’ in Michael’s comment.FIFY
I didn’t see the charts in alot of places so it may not be one of his strengths.
After seeing his technique in St. Louis, I can tell you that he does show promise, but needs to learn to work the shaft a bit more.
After seeing his technique in St. Louis
*Envisions H2 lemon party*
*makes appointment with therapist*
Double murder charges dismissed in Florida under the Stand Your Ground law.
The whole story is pretty interesting.
http://tinyurl.com/5rsj8rp