US Unemployment DOWN to 8.3%

Guardian: Reports on the downturn in US unemployment, the article states the following, “ …hiring in January and bringing the unemployment rate down for the fifth month in a row, to a three-year low of 8.3%. ”. This is good news for the Oval folks, it helps the Chicago Re-Elect Committee, but and there is always a BUT, the Congressional Budget Office has predicted that by Election Day the rate will be back up to 8.9% and going over the 9% in 2013. The CBO could be wrong, but what if they are right, it should be noted that past US unemployment figures have been low due to the fact that people have given up looking for work, what happens if they come back, YES the rate goes up. The Chicago Re-Elect Committee would have loved this news in September or October of this year, but to be fair it allows the Democrats to have a story arc, they can say that Oval is turning the economy around, that voters should trust President Obama and stick with him, lets see the unemployment over the next couple of months folks.

The Coalition Government and Chris Huhne

Telegraph: Reports that the Conservatives are happy at the demise of Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, he was seen as leaking against his Conservatives Cabinet Colleagues, also his divorce caused splits within the Liberal Democrats. That’s the downside of being a maverick folks, when your popular or seen as effective you have supporters, but when the tea bags hit the fan you find your support is shallow, thus it will be interesting to see as the Trial develops and evidence comes out in Court how the Liberal Democrat leadership deals with the consequences. Lets go beyond the trial, and lets look at what happens IF, and its big IF folks the Court has a negative result for Chris Huhne, from the talking heads it seems the result could be jail time, if that happens Mr Huhen is out of the House of Commons either way, he resigns or is thrown out. This will lead to a By - Election, as the seat is a close Conservative/LibDem fight it could cause tensions between the partners in the Coalition. It could be argued that the Conservative Party could win the Seat, considering the fallout of the Case. IF found Not Guilty Mr Huhne will expect to get his Cabinet post back, that could cause problems for Mr Clegg, the Coalition Agreements the LibDems five seats in the Coalition Cabinet, someone will have to be thrown overboard, thus more tensions for the LibDems. The future might not be to bright for either the LibDems or Mr Huhne.

Huhne Trial

BBC News: Reports on today’s announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service that Chris Huhne and his ex wife, Vicky Pryce will be charged with perverting the course of justice, the allegation is that Mr Huhne transferred his car penalty points to his then ex wife. After the news broke Mr Huhne resigned as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, although Deputy PM Nick Clegg stated that should Mr Huhne be fond not guilty he could come back in to the Coalition Government this should be seen as a political promise, in other words not worth the paper its written on, the Clegg Camp although not happy with the Cabinet demise of Mr Huhne must feel somewhat less than unhappy, Mr Huhne was seen as a political threat to Mr Clegg, if a Liberal Democrat walked out of the Cabinet it was either going to be the Energy Secretary or the Business Secretary Vince Cable. Thus the Coalition Government should have more of a united front, in a odd way this helps the Liberal Democrats, there are those within the Liberal Democrats who want to point out the differences between the LibDems and the Conservative Party, but they are making a mistake, all left wing voters are going to go back to the Labour Party, thus the Liberal Democrats if they want to have a political future have to move centre right, not left, also they have to get over Europe, the LibDems might want to be run from the EU, this is not the case with the rest of the UK. This just might be a good day for the LibDems, if not so for Mr Huhne and his ex wife.
　
　

UK and the Afghan War

Guardian: Reports that No 10 has stated the following on the UK’s role in Afghanistan, the article states the following, “ ..have ended their lead combat role.. by the end of next year ”. Thus folks NATO policy is being driven by the US election cycle, the Obama Administration wants out of Afghanistan, the War Obama wanted to fight and his two surges has become a victim of Obama’s low poll numbers, the liberal base of the Democratic Party wants out of Afghanistan, it wants to spend the money on welfare. Thus the Taliban must be laughing their backsides off, why bother talking to NATO, they just have to wait for the West to leave, then they will take over in Kabul, and you can bet the mortgage folks that the Taliban and Al Qaeda will be back in partnership, thus an increase in terrorism, also a threat to the Government of Pakistan. Thus folks you can expect more flashpoints between 2014 to 2018 when it comes to the region, the Taliban of Pakistan could take over Pakistan and thus gain control of their nuclear weapons, thus the threat of nuclear terrorism, all this so President Obama can look good to his liberal base, shame on the White House.

Greece vs. EU

Telegraph: Reports that a deal between the Greek Government and its bond debt holders is close, but another threat comes as the article states from “ ..simmering clash with EU officials and the International Monetary Fund has yet to be resolved and remains a larger threat. ”. The Troika of the EU/IMF/ECB is less than impressed with the progress that Greece has made with its reforms, out of billions of State assets only 1 billion has been sold off, the Greek Government system is showing resistance to chance at the most basic level. The article notes that the Troika wants further cuts in Government spending, up to 1% of the GDP of Greece, the Troika is aware that there will come a point that Greece will just say NO. Thus why give them another 130 billion that will go to the bankers, better that Greece defaults then the Troika can support Greece, start from scratch rather than this water torture of constant cuts, and Greek resistance, it will not end well for either Greece or the Troika if this policy is not changed.

The Judgement on Chris Huhne - Friday

BBC News: Reports that Energy Secretary Chris Huhne will learn tomorrow if he will be charged with getting his then wife to take his car penalty points. This saga has been going on for an age folks, at lest it will be over tomorrow, either Mr Huhne will be charged or absolved any wrong doing, if and it’s a BIG IF the Secretary of State is charged he will have to resign from the Cabinet, thus another Liberal Democrat will take his place, it could be expected that the former Minister David Laws could take his place, this would be good for the Coalition, as Mr Laws is a team player, all eyes on the TV for the news at 10am folks.

Romney WIN in Florida - Republican Race

BBC News: Reports on Governor Romney beating former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Florida, by 46% to 32%, a lead of 14%. This was a BIG win for the Governor, now his Campaign has to turn its attention to President Obama, if they thought the Florida fight was rough they have not seen anything yet, the Chicago political mob play dirty. Thus expect a lot of TV Adverts with the message that Romney is part of the 1% rich Americans while 99% of Americans are poor. The Adverts can expect to have those fired by Romney while he was in business, also the charge that he is a flip flopper, that he has gone extreme to win the Republican nomination. The Romney Campaign should expect the left to call Romney racist for wanting illegal immigrants to self deport, for business to crack down on illegal workers, the usual emotive attacks from liberals. Its going to get harder for the Romney Campaign folks.