When Did Dems (And Labor) Forget About Jobs?

Camden's Broadway in the 1950s.

I’ve always loved parades.
And I’ve attended many of them in my time.
But one parade above all others stands out in my memory.
I was just a kid at the time but I’ll never forget the big parade in my hometown to celebrate jobs. Sponsored by organized labor, the parade marched down Broadway in Camden (NJ) to herald the construction of the NS Savannah at Camden’s 273-acre New York Shipbuilding Corporation.
Above all, Camden was a blue-collar town. And it was solidly Democrat and pro-labor.
Employment was always the defining “bread and butter” issue for Democrats. And keeping people working and creating new jobs – good jobs – was the essential mission of the Democratic Party. Indeed, “jobs” was the party’s mantra and Democrats rarely spoke on any issue without mentioning jobs.
As Labor Day approaches once again, I think of that day in Camden so many years ago.
What happened?
What went wrong?
When did the Democratic Party lose sight of its core responsibility? When did it stop caring about jobs?
The just-released jobs report for August showed that ZERO jobs were created: zilch, nada, nothing.
That's the first time since 1945 that  this has happened.
When he came into office, President Obama pledged to create 2.7 million to 3.6 million private sector jobs, But by some accounts the nation has lost almost that many jobs (and more!) since the President made his pledge. In fact, unemployment seems stuck at 9.1% even though the president said he would have it below 8%.
That's right: In arguing for its massive stimulus plan, the Obama Administration said that if the stimulus was adopted, unemployment could be brought down into the seven percent range. Instead, the high unemployment rate has barely moved.
And most Americans firmly believe that things seem to be headed in the wrong direction.
Remember, the official rate does not count the underemployed and people who have given up and simply dropped out of the labor market. When those two groups are added, the rate jumps to 17 percent or more.

But nobody on the left seems to want to talk about these failures – not the liberal establishment, not the Democratic leadership and certainly not the labor movement. Last year at this time, President Obama argued that the economy was in a ditch and now “we’ve gotten it out of the ditch and want to put it in drive.” But the car still doesn’t seem to be moving.
There was a time when labor leaders were close to the people. There was a time when they actually worked alongside the people that they represented. Those days seem long gone.
And all of this has been happening as union membership has steadily dwindled. When the Savannah was built in Camden, labor unions represented a third of all workers. By 1983 the number had fallen to 20 percent. And by 2008 it was down to 12 percent. What’s more, the average age of union members seems to be getting older. The largest unionized age group is workers aged 55 to 64.
Why can’t the Democrats turn any of these numbers around?
What happened to one of the central promises of traditional liberalism – jobs?
These are questions worth pondering this Labor Day.

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Mel Brooks, Dick Cavett, Together On HBO, 9/9

Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again, an hour-long special featuring the two comedy greats in conversation onstage before a live audience, will debut FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

For four decades, comic genius Mel Brooks and talk-show king Dick Cavett have partnered to give the world scintillating conversation and sidesplitting humor. On Dec. 7, 2010, they reunited onstage at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles to share show-business memories and hilarious stories for loyal fans and a new generation of viewers.

Mel Brooks won an Oscar® for writing the 1968 film “The Producers.” Among his other classic comedy films as director, writer and sometimes actor are “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “High Anxiety,” “History of the World Part 1,” “Spaceballs” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” Brooks was a frequent guest on Cavett’s program. Dick Cavett hosted his own late-night program on ABC from the late-‘60s to the mid-‘70s; from 1977 to 1982, “The Dick Cavett Show” appeared five times a week on public television. “Talk Show,” his most recent book, was published in 2010. Cavett will be seen on an episode of the HBO comedy series “Bored to Death” this fall.

Noonan: Obama's Got A Mighty Hill To Climb

So, there was ZERO job growth in August. And the unemployment rate is still stuck at 9.1%. And the stock market is down again for the week. 
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan has succinctly summed up the problem that President Obama now faces. Here's an excerpt:

The real challenge for the speech is the collapse of trust in the president's economic leadership. There are any number of ways to illustrate this. Here is a CNN poll: 65% of respondents disapprove of how he is handling the economy, 34% approve.
The president's problem is that shortly after he was sworn in, the size and severity of the recession became apparent, and from that moment he did not do things that the majority of the American electorate, in hindsight, would say were helpful. And that's the problem with the speech Thursday night, a national mood of, "Nothing personal, but we don't think you can help in this area.

Click here to read the entire column.

Video: Christie Reports 'Great' Cleanup Progress

After more than a week of non-stop pre and post Irene action, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie reports "great" progress on the Irene aftermath cleanup and on the restoration of vital services.
The Governor urges everyone to head on down to the Jersey shore this weekend!

Christie, Napolitano Tour NJ Flood Areas

Kyrillos To FEMA: Declare Monmouth Disaster Area

New Jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos (R-13) is urging the Administrator of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to add Monmouth County to New Jersey's recent disaster declaration, making residents of the county eligible for federal assistance.President Obama declared New Jersey a disaster area on Wednesday, making affected residents and business owners in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Somerset counties eligible for a variety of federal grants and loans to cover uninsured losses. Kyrillos is calling for Monmouth County to be added to this list.

"Last weekend’s storm wreaked havoc on the entire state, including Monmouth County, causing power outages, sever flooding and extensive property damage," Kyrillos stated. "Public infrastructure such as roads and bridges were closed for days, families and businesses were without power and the extensive damage to trees, buildings and power lines will be a huge cost to the public. We need the same federal assistance that other New Jersey counties are receiving.

Published reports indicated that Monmouth County sheltered 2,200 people in the Colts Neck, Holmdel and Wall high schools, and provided 4,500 meals. Governor Christie has also called on the President to declare that a major disaster area exists statewide in order to provide federal financial assistance to governments, residents and businesses.

"I urge in the strongest possible terms that the Administrator of FEMA add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey's disaster areas," Kyrillos continued. "This is an accurate designation given what residents, business owners and municipalities endured during this devastating storm.”

A copy of the letter follows:

September 1, 2011

Mr. W. Craig Fugate
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Dear Administrator Fugate:

Hurricane Irene’s record rainfall and high winds caused significant damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure in Monmouth County, New Jersey. I respectfully urge you to add Monmouth County to the list of New Jersey counties qualifying for a disaster declaration.

The combination of high tides, extreme flooding and strong winds ruined electric substations. Additionally, high winds, combined with saturated soils caused trees and other vegetation to bring down power lines. This combination of factors has caused dangerous power outages across the County. As of yesterday more than 52,000 Monmouth electric customers were without power, more than four days after Hurricane Irene.

Our major county electric utility has also advised that it may be several more days before power is restored. The damage to homes and businesses has forced families to eat out, rip out carpets, purchase generators and replace major appliances in a very difficult economic climate.

As you might imagine, people are suffering, particularly the old or infirm.

Further, flooding has caused extreme damage to Monmouth’s transportation network including the closure of major roadways.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward towards speaking with you on this issue in the immediate future.

Sincerely,

Joe Kyrillos
Senator, 13th Legislative District

Christie Signs Measure To Help Small Business

Continuing the Christie Administration’s efforts to streamline government bureaucracy, assist small businesses to succeed and grow in New Jersey and improve the state’s climate for job growth, Governor Chris Christie signed into law A-3195. The measure establishes a program within the Department of State to assist small businesses in identifying all of the financial assistance programs for which those businesses may be eligible. This program will help small businesses navigate the numerous finance, incentive and assistance programs administered by various State departments and entities that are available to these businesses.

A-3195 sponsors included Assemblymembers Greenstein (D-Mercer, Middlesex), DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), Lampitt (D-Camden), Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Conaway (D-Burlington, Camden), and Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex). Senate sponsors for the substituted bill included Senators Beach (D-Camden) and Whelan (D-Atlantic).  

Eating Beccare-Style At NYC's Becco

The name Becco is derived from the Italian verb, beccare, which means to peck, nibble, or savor something in a discriminating way. Renowned TV chef and author Lidia Bastianich and her son, Joe, opened Becco in 1993 and ever since then the restaurant in New York's theatre district on restaurant row (West 46th St.) has been hugely successful.
You're well advised to make reservations for a table at Becco up to one month in advance.
Inside the restaurant you'll find a narrow bar alongside dining tables and a series of  interconnected rooms than join in a sunny, airy larger area with skylights. Personally, we liked this larger, brighter section and that's where we sat.
We can kindly term the seating at Becco cozy -- and that means that you will be seated VERY close to other guests. In fact, if you are seated at a table for two you will be probably be close enough to chat with the other guest (if you're so inclined) and when the waiter takes their order you'll almost think he's talking to you.
We began with the caesar salad which was appropriately warm and tangy.
One of  Becco's specialties is the endless trio pasta plate. A server will offer you each of three pastas and dish them out tableside from a large serving plate. Be sure of this: You're not at the Olive Garden. These pastas are each lovingly prepared, carefully served and individually savored. And the server will be back to offer you more!
The bowtie pasta in red sauce was zesty and unique. The fettuccine with just a bit of crab meat and in a clear sauce was light and easy on the palate. And the ravioli with swiss chard in a creamier sauce proved to be full and distinctive.
The swordfish was grilled and served with fresh corn, mushrooms and tiny tomatoes. Delicious! The traditional veal pramgiania was a huge veal chop (still on the bone) with fresh mozzarella  and an inspired, reasonably thick, red sauce. I must say, the veal was wonderfully tender and the mozzarella was dreamy.
The eating can be hearty and the portions tend to be large here. The executive chef, William Gallagher has worked side by side with Joe and Lidia Bastianich, creating one of the most value packed and admired menus in New York City. There's plenty to choose from and (by Manhattan standards) you won't find yourself dropping a ton of money here, if you don't want to.
But you will become familiar with the other guests and you're well-advised to arrive hungry. There's a lively hustle and bustle about the place and it can become quite noisy when it's operating at full tilt, which is almost always the case. We also found our waiter to be somewhat bellowing and a bit dramatic (well, it IS the theater district). More specials are offered (verbally) than you can possibly remember. And on top of all that. service captains pace back and forth throughout, endlessly checking on everything.
But the food is good, the menu is extensive, the location is wonderfully convenient, the tariff is reasonable -- you can't always have everything, right?

Star-Ledger: Christie Gets It 'Exactly Right'

The Newark Star-Ledger offers high praise for Governor Chris Christie and his handling of the hurricane Irene weather emergency and its aftermath. Here's part of what the Star-Ledger has to say:

"Gov. Chris Christie got it exactly right Tuesday when he told members of his own party in Washington to stop squabbling and send aid to the victims of Hurricane Irene right away. It was a dose of common sense that this discussion sorely needed, delivered right between the eyes."

Click here to read the full editorial.