The Department of Labour announced that 227,000 jobs were added in the month of February. It was the third straight month where a significant amount of jobs were created and many experts have said consumer confidence in the economy is rising as a result. However, unemployment has remained relatively constant throughout the past few months at 8.3% because many people who had stopped looking for a job have again resumed. There has also been a rise in people quitting their jobs, and people don’t quit their jobs unless they have another job opportunity. Jobs gains have also happened in a variety of areas including manufacturing. President Obama stated that this is the first time since the 1990’s that companies were bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. The President is also likely hoping that these job gains continue and consumer confidence continues to rise as the economy will likely be an issue of much debate come the election. Republicans instantly responded by saying these jobs gains were too little and too late. Will this job surge continue? Are these jobs too little and too late for Obama?
Super tuesday was not the game changing test that it was in the 2008 election. There were no real surprise victories. Newt Gingrich won his home state of Georgia by a significant margin and Romney won Massachusetts by a large margin. Romney is also have said to have won the much coveted Ohio and will likely take home most of the delegates from Ohio because of his wins in the more populated areas and also because Senator Santorum failed to meet the requirements to be put on the ballot in some congressional districts in Ohio. Senator Santorum also did not file for all of the delegates in six districts, failed to file for all 18 of his at large delegates and also failed to appear on the ballot in the state of Virginia. It is likely that these ballot troubles will continue as he failed to meet the requirements to be placed on the ballot in Washington D.C. and in some districts in Illinois. Governor Romney has criticized Senator Santorum for his lack of organization, but Mr. Santorum has simply brushed it off. Instead, Senator Santorum has called for Newt Gingrich to throw in the towel, so the nomination can become a two man race, between a true conservative (Santorum) and a moderate (Romney). Gingrich having a strong base in the south may pose a threat to Santorum in upcoming primaries in Mississippi and Alabama. However, it is not likely that Gingrich will drop out before those key primaries on March 13th, but if he does not get much support in Mississippi and Alabama then that could likely be the end of his quest for the GOP nomination.
Although Santorum and Gingrich appeal more to the southern core of the Republican party Romney has not given up hope. His campaign is running the most expensive advertising campaign in the south out of all the candidates and hopes to increase his delegates count.
Mitt Romney is doing well since he has now added two old-fashioned supporters to include to his wins in 3 states last week while heading towards Super Tuesday. He now has 207 delegates after his wins in Michigan, Arizona, and Washington. Corburn, a tea party member, wrote in the Oklahoman newspaper that, “Romney has done hard things. He has turned businesses around, told people hard truths about what needed to be done, inspired confidence and overcome excuses. Romney is not a career politician or a career legislator. As a former governor and business leader, he is an executive who knows how to use executive power”. Corburn seems to say that Romney is not only the leader, but is looking like the leader.
Does anyone still stand a chance? Well Rohmey has 207 delegates, Santorum has 86, Ron Paul has 46, and Newt Gingrich trails with 39. It takes 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination and run against President Obama in November. Gingrich seems to be falling behind. I remember when he was one of the top competitors in the race. Does he even stand a chance still? To keep alive in his campaign, Gingrich needs to win in Georgia in addition to some additional states. “Polls show [Gingrich] with a solid lead in the state he represented in Congress, and Gingrich spoke confidently Sunday about the road ahead”.
Personally, I think Romney is going to take the Republican win. He is far enough ahead to secure his win and he seems to be popular enough. But is if he does win can he defeat Obama? I guess we will just have to wait and see!
594,000 valuable gold and silver coins were found at the bottom of the ocean recently. These coins where on a Spanish Warship that was sunk over 200 years ago. These coins still need to be restored but are valued at 500 million dollars.
300 years ago, a war ship was going from Peru to Spain to drop off the coins. On its way to Spain, the boat was stopped at attacked by British war ships. The ship sunk with its cargo, killing over 200 sailors.
5 years ago, an American ship found the coins and brought them back to the United States. Although the American’s found it, the Spanish wanted them back and said they were the originally theirs. The case went all the way up to the Supreme Court where there was much debate. In the end, Spain won the coins. When asked to comment on the coin situation Jim Goold, who defended Spain's claim to the treasure, “’ Spain has now been victorious… I am pleased and proud for all of us"’.
Spain's Culture Minister, Jose Ignacio Wert, told CNN that the coins were going to be put in a museum. The coins will not be showed for awhile because they need to all be cataloged and need much restoring. There are 200 gold coins and over 13,000 silver coins that have been restored so far and scientists have been working hard on trying to save more.
Personally, I feel like the United States should have been able to keep the coins, or at least some of them. I know the coins were originally Spain’s, but the US found them and worked hard to find them. If Spain really wanted them the coins back so badly, why didn’t they go looking for them? Finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers!
Gas prices are skyrocketing like never before. Ruben Navarrette Jr. said that, “In the summer of 2008, I pulled up next to a gas pump off a major highway in Southern California where -- apparently, a few minutes earlier -- a recreational vehicle, which held more than 100 gallons, had stopped to fill up. The price was still on the screen: $500”. That is insane. I can’t image spending 500 dollars on gas to fill up my tank. That is almost as much as a monthly car payment! The average price of gas is estimated to reach somewhere around $5 before Memorial Day. I guess Americans are getting use to spending tons of money on gas but there has to be a solution?
Many of the presidential candidness are promising hope. For example, Newt Gingrich is promising lower prices. He also pledges that, if elected president, he won't bow before a Saudi king. But there might be a better solution than making empty promises! One solution might be Mexico. “Mexico is a major producer, and a friend and ally. The relationship between the United States and Mexico isn't perfect; tensions recur over immigration, drugs and trade. Each country has an annoying habit of blaming the other for its problems. But it's a strong marriage that will endure. Instead of chanting "Drill, baby, drill," more of our leaders should be saying: "Hola amigo." The U.S. government should increase oil imports from Mexico. Not only is it better to deal with friends than adversaries, it's also a good way to help the Mexican government fund its war against the drug cartels -- a battle that is, let's not forget, fueled by another one of our addictions”.
Mexico drills crazy oil. They’re national oil company can make 12,000 barrels of oil in one day and could add up to 220 million barrels a year. I think America would much rather talk to Mexico and work with them than work with people who are hostile towards the US. And if we can get along with Mexico and work something out, gas prices would be looking a lot better!
