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David Crawford

Organizing for America

Organizing for America


Dernière mise à jour : 16/12/2009

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Sexe : Male
Statut : Célibataire
Age : 30
Zodiaque: Taureau

Ville : David Crawford
Région : Washington DC
Pays: US
Date d’inscription :: 28/06/2006

Souscriptions

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dimanche, novembre 29, 2009 
dimanche, novembre 29, 2009 
samedi, novembre 21, 2009 
jeudi, novembre 19, 2009 
Vet visit: Before you go on a trip with your pet, you should always take them to the vet. As you'll see below, get a health certificate listing latest shots, copies of prescriptions, your vet's name and phone number.

Medication: Check your supply and fill up if need be.

Sedatives: Don't give sedatives without checking with you vet. It could interfere with your pet's ability to maintain his balance and equilibrium which could prevent your pet from being able to brace himself and prevent injury. Air travel while under the influence of these medications is especially dangerous as exposure to increased altitude can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Food: If you're not sure if your pet's regular brand of food is available during your travels, bring enough of it with you.

Kitty litter: You should pack your cat's regular litter box and kitty litter. It can be disturbing to use other kinds of litter.

CAR TRAVEL

Desensitize: This is especially true if the only time your pet goes in the car is to go to the vet. They might not be so thrilled to pile in with the family for an eight-hour drive to the beach.

Use a carrier or doggie seat belt: It's much safer in case of an accident and it will prevent Fido or Fluffy from distracting the driver.

Noses inside: Never permit your pet to hang his head out the window. Each year pets escape into traffic or suffer eye injuries from blowing debris. It can also give them respiratory problems.

Stops: Make sure to build in ample stops for walks and water.

Never alone: Never leave your pet unattended in the car. The temperature increases and dehydration and heatstroke can set in rapidly.

MAKE SURE TO BRING:

* Extra leash and collar
* I.D. tag with two numbers — one at home, one where you are staying
* Food and water dishes
* Bottle water/treats from home. You don't know what's in the water on the road, it might upset their stomachs.
* Cooler with ice: Pets are very susceptible to heatstroke.
* Health certificate/vet's name and number
* A dirty blanket from home
* Favorite toys
* A recent photo and written description including name, breed, gender, height, weight, coloring and distinctive markings
* Grooming supplies
* Flea and tick repellents
* First aid kit
* Pre-moistened wipes with no alcohol  
samedi, novembre 14, 2009 
jeudi, novembre 12, 2009 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                                                                 November 12, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON THE ECONOMY

Diplomatic Reception Room

9:43 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  Before departing for Asia this morning, I’d like to make a brief statement about the economy.

Over the past 10 months, we’ve taken a number of bold steps to break the back of this recession.  We’ve worked to stabilize the financial system, revive lending to small businesses and families, and prevent responsible homeowners from losing their homes.  And through the Recovery Act, we’ve cut taxes for middle class families, extended and increased unemployment insurance, and created and saved more than a million jobs.

As a result, the economy is now growing again for the first time in more than a year -- and faster than at any time in the past two years.  But even though we’ve slowed the loss of jobs -- and today’s report on the continued decline in unemployment claims is a hopeful sign -- the economic growth that we’ve seen has not yet led to the job growth that we desperately need.  As I’ve said from the start of this crisis, hiring often takes time to catch up to economic growth.  And given the magnitude of the economic turmoil that we’ve experienced, employers are reluctant to hire.

Small businesses and large firms are demanding more of their employees, their increasing their hours, and adding temporary workers -- but these companies have not yet been willing to take the steps necessary to hire again.  Meanwhile, millions of Americans -- our friends, our neighbors, our family members -- are desperately searching for jobs.  This is one of the great challenges that remains in our economy -- a challenge that my administration is absolutely determined to meet.

We all know that there are limits to what government can and should do, even during such difficult times.  But we have an obligation to consider every additional, responsible step that we can [take] to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country.  And that’s why, in December, we’ll be holding a forum at the White House on jobs and economic growth.  We’ll gather CEOs and small business owners, economists and financial experts, as well as representatives from labor unions and nonprofit groups, to talk about how we can work together to create jobs and get this economy moving again.

It's important that we don't make any ill-considered decisions -- even with the best intentions -- particularly at a time when our resources are so limited.  But it's just as important that we are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we’ve already taken to put America back to work.  That’s what this forum is about.

In the coming days, I’ll also be meeting with leaders abroad to discuss a strategy for growth that is both balanced and broadly shared.  It's a strategy in which Asian and Pacific markets are open to our exports -- and one in which prosperity around the world is no longer as dependent on American consumption and borrowing, but rather more on American innovation and products.

It's through these steps with our partners, in addition to the work we're doing here at home, that we will not only revive our economy in the short term, but rebuild it stronger in the long term.  That's been the focus of our efforts these past 10 months -- it will continue to be our focus in the months ahead.

Thanks very much, everybody.

                                                        END                                      9:46 A.M. EST

jeudi, novembre 12, 2009 
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release November 12, 2009
NOTICE
- - - - - - -
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO IRAN
On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the
President declared a national emergency with respect to
Iran, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy,
and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in
Iran. Because our relations with Iran have not yet returned to
normal, and the process of implementing the January 19, 1981,
agreements with Iran is still underway, the national emergency
declared on November 14, 1979, must continue in effect beyond
November 14, 2009. Therefore, consistent with section 202(d)
of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am
continuing for 1 year this national emergency with respect to
Iran.
This notice shall be published in the
transmitted to the Congress.
BARACK OBAMA
Federal Register and
jeudi, novembre 12, 2009 
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release November 12, 2009
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
November 12, 2009
Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national
emergency unless, prior to the anniversary date of its
declaration, the President publishes in the
Federal Register
and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the
emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.
In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the
Register
national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared in
Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, is to continue in
effect beyond November 14, 2009.
Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the
process of implementing the January 19, 1981, agreements with
Iran is still underway. For these reasons, I have determined
that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared
on November 14, 1979, with respect to Iran, beyond November 14,
2009.
Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA
Federalfor publication the enclosed notice stating that the
# #
jeudi, novembre 12, 2009 
A few months ago, posters depicting President Obama as "The Joker" -- Batman's nemesis as portrayed by Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" -- began popping up around Los Angeles. Some conservatives quickly seized on the image, making it a popular Twitter or Facebook icon. Now, a new ABC TV science fiction series, titled "V," has acquired a political meaning.

"V," a remake of a 1983 series, premiered Nov. 3. It depicts the arrival of aliens claiming to come to Earth in peace. The visitors (V's for short) are lizard-like creatures disguised as attractive and engaging people. Despite promises of mutual benefit, the visitors actually have sinister motives, and that story line has inspired a handful of conservatives to appropriate "V" for their partisan purposes.

To be sure, this is not a huge phenomenon on the right. It's not as if Fox News has added a "V" to Glenn Beck's logo, or anything. But to a subset of conservatives, the imagery is starting to catch on.

Could it be that ABC is intentionally seeking to tap into the sizable number of Tea Party activists, many of whom view President Obama's motives as sinister? It may be smart marketing, but it doesn't make for smart messaging. It's one thing to believe Obama's policies are harmful, but quite another to believe he is seeking to destroy the world. Some conservatives and libertarians are probably just having harmless fun with this comparison, but one can't help finding it disturbing that some – and let me stress some – of these folks may literally embrace it.

At a recent health care protest at the U.S. Capitol, The American Spectator's Philip Klein noted a sign with the letter, "V" and the words: "The Lizards Don't Really Want to Help Us." Obviously, it was an attempt to compare the Obama administration to the TV aliens and their nefarious plans.

While one might think the Obama/"V" analogy is a stretch, The Boston Globe cited the following line, spoken by Anna, the alien leader: "Embracing change is never easy, but the reward for doing so can be far greater than anything you can imagine.'' The Globe writer went on to ask, "Doesn't Obama own the trademark on the word 'change''? Hasn't he been accused of the kind of dispassion that Ana, whose speech is as even-toned as that of a voice-mail operator, cultivates so effortlessly?"

Jonathan Chait of The New Republic noted the script jumps out of today's headlines: Anna "promises to use futuristic technology to heal humans. 'You mean universal health care!' gapes a reporter, who, naturally, has been co-opted by the aliens."

To be sure, the phenomenon of anti-Obama forces appropriating pop culture into their activism is a clear sign that something new and interesting is afoot. This is not your father's stodgy old conservative movement. On the other hand, political-pop culture comparisons are always up for interpretation and reinterpretation. When "V" first aired in 1983, some assumed it was a metaphor for the Reagan administration.

Fundamentally, the problem is the interpretation that "V is for Obama" is a way of viewing the world through the prism of hyper political interpretation -- and seeing things that aren't really there.

When the Obama/Joker graphic surfaced, many liberals accused the artist (and the conservatives who used the image) of racism. When he dropped his cloak of anonymity, the creator of the image turned out to be an apolitical 20-year-old Photoshop user and college student reacting to over-the-top Obama supporters. Yet both sides interpreted the image as having a much deeper meaning than it actually had.

The "V" uproar may prove to be much ado about nothing or it may pick up momentum. Either way, though, while it is true that Americans must continuously be vigilant against totalitarianism, we must also guard against paranoia. There is a real danger in assuming that every effective practitioner of politics we disagree with -- be it Reagan or Obama -- is a tyrant.

Promiscuously accusing your enemies of the most sinister of motives only serves to diminish the value of those same words and ideas when you really need them.
vendredi, octobre 23, 2009 
The Navy's need for speed is being answered by a pair of warships that have reached freeway speeds during testing at sea.
Independence, a 418-foot warship built in Alabama, boasts a top speed in excess of 45 knots, or about 52 mph, and sustained 44 knots for four hours during builder trials that wrapped up this month off the Gulf Coast. The 378-foot Freedom, a ship built in Wisconsin by a competing defense contractor, has put up similar numbers.
Both versions of the Littoral Combat Ship use powerful diesel engines, as well as gas turbines for extra speed. They use steerable waterjets instead of propellers and rudders and have shallower drafts than conventional warships, letting them zoom close to shore.
The ships, better able to chase down pirates, have been fast-tracked because the Navy wants vessels that can operate in coastal, or littoral, waters. Freedom is due to be deployed next year, two years ahead of schedule.
Independence is an aluminum, tri-hulled warship built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The lead contractor is Maine's Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Lockheed Martin Corp. is leading the team that built Freedom in Marinette, Wis. It looks more like a conventional warship, with a single hull made of steel.
The stakes are high for both teams. The Navy plans to select Lockheed Martin or General Dynamics, but not both, as the builder. The Navy has ordered one more ship from each of the teams before it chooses the final design. Eventually, the Navy wants to build up to 55 of them.
Speed has long been relished by Navy skippers. Capt. John Paul Jones, sometimes described as father of the U.S. Navy, summed it up this way in 1778: "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way."
Eric Wertheim, author and editor of the U.S. Naval Institute's "Guide to Combat Fleets of the World," said speed is a good thing, but it comes at a cost.
"This is really something revolutionary," Wertheim said. "The question is how important and how expensive is this burst of speed?"
Early cost estimates for Littoral Combat Ships were about $220 million apiece, but costs spiraled because of the Navy's requirements and its desire to expedite construction. The cost of the ships is capped at $460 million apiece, starting in the new fiscal year.
Both ships are built to accommodate helicopters and mission "modules" for either anti-submarine missions, mine removal or traditional surface warfare. The goal is for the modules to be swapped out in 24 hours, and no later than 96 hours, allowing the ships to adapt quickly to new missions, said Cmdr. Victor Chen, a Navy spokesman.
While they're fast, they aren't necessarily the fastest military ships afloat. The Navy used to have missile-equipped hydrofoils and the Marines' air-cushioned landing craft is capable of similar speeds, Wertheim said. And smaller ships are capable of higher speeds.
Nonetheless, the speed is impressive, especially considering that other large naval vessels have been cruising along at a relatively pokey 30 to 35 knots for decades.
Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, noted that Independence sustained 44 knots despite a 30-knot headwind and 6- to 8-foot seas in Alabama's Mobile Bay. "For a ship of this size, it's simply unheard of to sustain that rate of speed for four hours," he said.

On the Net:
vendredi, octobre 23, 2009 

Humeur actuelle :  fâché
A baby boy who made a surprise arrival on board an AirAsia flight this week will be given free flights for life with the budget carrier, as will his mother, the airline said Friday.
AirAsia said 31-year-old passenger Liew Siaw Hsia went into labour on Wednesday's flight from the northern island of Penang to Kuching on Borneo island.
The aircraft made an emergency diversion to the Malaysian capital but the baby arrived just before landing, delivered by a doctor who was on board and who was assisted by the airline's flight attendants.
"The baby was safely delivered when flight AK 6506 was approaching Kuala Lumpur for landing at 2,000 feet," the airline said in a statement, adding that mother and baby were taken to a nearby hospital following touchdown.
"To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to present both mother and child with free flights for life," said AirAsia's director of operations Moses Devanayagam after visiting them in hospital
lundi, octobre 19, 2009 

Humeur actuelle :  honteux
Tens of millions of U.S. computers are loaded with scam security software that their owners may have paid for but which only makes the machines more vulnerable, according to a new Symantec report on cybercrime.
Cyberthieves are increasingly planting fake security alerts that pop up when computer users access a legitimate website. The "alert" warns them of a virus and offers security software, sometimes for free and sometimes for a fee.
"Lots of times, in fact they're a conduit for attackers to take over your machine," said Vincent Weafer, Symantec's vice president for security response.
"They'll take your credit card information, any personal information you've entered there and they've got your machine," he said, referring to some rogue software's ability to rope a users' machine into a botnet, a network of machines taken over to send spam or worse.
Symantec found 250 varieties of scam security software with legitimate sounding names like Antivirus 2010 and SpywareGuard 2008, and about 43 million attempted downloads in one year but did not know how many of the attempted downloads succeeded, said Weafer.
"In terms of the number of people who potentially have this in their machines, it's tens of millions," Weafer said.
It was also impossible to tell how much cyberthieves made off with but "affiliates" acting as middlemen to convince people to download the software were believed to earn between 1 cent per download and 55 cents.the page which has been shut down, had boasted that its top affiliates earned as much as $332,000 a month for selling scam security software, according to Weafer.
"What surprised us was how much these guys had tied into the whole affiliated model," Weafer said. "It was more refined than we anticipated."
mardi, octobre 06, 2009 

Turn Small Savings Into a Big Nest Egg

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal savings rate of Americans has ranged between -1% and approximately 4% between the years 2005 and 2009. Americans' nonchalance was reflected in the negative savings rate of fiscal 2005, which occurred as people reduced their savings and delved further into debt in order to purchase goods and services. Although the savings rate had rebounded to 6% by May of 2009, as global financial crisis forced many consumers to adopt more cautious spending habits. Despite the about-face in consumer spending habits, in many cases, the attempt at saving proved too little, too late. Read on to find out why you need to save no matter what the economic climate.

Why You Need to Save
While individuals should avoid excess (and high interest) leverage/debt and prudently manage cash flow, there is also a longer-term need to ensure one has adequate funding set aside for a comfortable retirement. Given historical trends in the U.S. stock market and overall economic performance, people can be lulled into becoming overly optimistic about how much they need to save and their projected life expectancy. The only trends that are relevant for the individual, however, are those that occur over the course of one's lifetime.

Many companies are transitioning jobs (such as back office functions, IT, research and even higher margin services such as consulting and financial services) to other regions of the world, including Eastern Europe, India and China. The economic dynamics and implications of such movement are not comparable to the business settings of the past 50 years. Additionally, medical breakthroughs and other health-related variables have increased people's life expectancy. Certainly, it is better to have a conservative outlook in order to help ensure one has adequate retirement funds.

Financial Scenarios
Saving money and diverting cash away from unnecessary frills and wasteful spending into investment payments such as the stock market translate to huge differences in the size of one's retirement savings over the course of a lifetime. When you purchase a bicycle or go out for a lavish dinner, you are not simply incurring a cost of that bike or dinner (say $100). The amount of the receipt is actually misleading. When you incorporate the basic laws of finance, the opportunity cost of that $100 is much more.

If you eliminate $100 of wasteful spending per month and instead channel that cash to an investment vehicle that yields an annual interest rate of 10%, that translates to more than $75,000 over 20 years, and more than $500,000 over the course of 40 years. Granted, the buying power of figure is chewed up by inflation, but the prudent person still reaps the benefits of not wasting cash on unnecessary things.

        Starting principal balance: $0
        Monthly investment payments: $100
        Interest rate: 10%
        Future value: 20 years = $75,936
        Future value: 40 years = $632,408

        Starting principal balance: $0
        Monthly investment payments: $250
        Interest rate: 10%
        Future value: 20 years = $189,842
        Future value: 40 years = $1,581,019

If someone were motivated enough to find $500 a month and put it away in the form of investment payments, the results lead to an exponential increase in comfort during one's retirement. With an annual rate of return of 10% over 40 years, the figure approaches $3 million for your nest egg.

        Starting principal balance: $0
        Monthly investment payments: $500
        Interest rate: 10%
        Future value: 20 years = $379,684
        Future value: 40 years = $3,162,039

How much more would your nest egg be if you work for a company that matches your 401(k) dollar for dollar up to a certain amount? Given that the federal government's social safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare are expected to hit fiscal challenges as the baby boomers retire, such anticipated uncertainties encourage individuals to take their retirement circumstances into their own hands. Secondly, the high cost of healthcare in the United States is a primary driver for individuals and couples filing for personal bankruptcy. The power of compound interest can help one to avoid financial straits in the future.

From Wasteful Expenses to Monthly Investment
To redirect cash that might otherwise be spent on junk or unnecessary spending, explore savings opportunities that can increase your monthly contributions to your retirement accounts. These might include:
Fewer restaurant lunches and dinners can easily save the typical professional between $100 and $200 per month. Using our numbers above, $100 invested monthly in retirement accounts that earn 10% annually becomes $75,000 in 20 years.

Purchase discipline at groceries and malls. At the end of your life, it is not the accumulation of objects that provides meaning. A lifetime habit of impulse buying has a tremendous opportunity cost when you realize the power of compound interest. Most people can save between a hundred dollars to several hundred dollars a month with greater spending discipline.
The Bottom Line
If you work for a company that matches your retirement savings contributions, absolutely take advantage of it. It is basically free money. Additionally, the increase in monthly contributions translates into an exponentially larger nest egg over the course of a lifetime.
dimanche, octobre 04, 2009 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

___________________________________________________________

Immediate Release                         October 2, 2009

REMARKS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ON TODAY’S UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS

Roosevelt Room

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  We’re here this morning in the Roosevelt Room to talk about a Middle Class Task Force meeting and discuss our fall plans.  And the Middle Class Task Force, as we've said before, was designed to make sure that everyone who aspires to the middle class has a chance of getting there and staying there.

Our ultimate goal here is what we set out in day one, that is that the middle class -- the measure of our success at the end of this four years is the middle class growing.  And while we worked hard toward that goal, today we learned we still have a whole lot more work to do, and a long way to go before we get there. 

We just learned that unemployment fell by 263,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of 1 percent.  And now -- now it's true that this reflects an improvement of overall things based on the results of our policy.  The first quarter of this year, we were losing jobs at an average of 700,000 jobs per month, month after month.  In the quarter that ended this week, the loss was 250,000 jobs per month, two-thirds less.

But we also have known all along that the recovery was going to take a long time.  We inherited an awful lot of baggage, and we knew that it would come -- recovery would come in fits and starts, and that job creation would be the last element to come into place.  Those were the realities we inherited.  Those are the realities we know.  And those are the realities we acknowledge.

But those facts and those realities aren't good enough for President Obama, and they aren't good enough for me.  We don't think that "less bad" is good.  "Less bad" is not our measure of success.  One job lost is one job too many, and it's still too much pain.  There's still too many hard-working Americans without a paycheck, still too many families struggling to get by. 

And while the fears of a depression have been replaced by forecasts of recovery, the kind of recovery the President and I are working to create will not have been achieved -- and as Christy was saying a moment ago -- until we're standing here and announcing substantial positive numbers, a positive growth rate in jobs.  That's why the Recovery Act, which by some estimates has already saved and created a million jobs, is such a vital part of that economic plan, combined with our financial rescue plan, housing plan, a small business plan and all the other efforts. 

We are working hard on every front to turn this economy around.  And as bad as things are, they would be far worse without the recovery plan, or these other efforts.  That's why we've worked hard to accelerate the recovery spending, getting money out the door on schedule; and that's why we announced yesterday nine ambitious goals for the Recovery Act to perform between now and December 31st.    

Today's tough news is a reminder though that -- as if anybody would need it -- how critical this work is in making the Recovery Act work and why.  As I told the Cabinet assembled yesterday, those efforts need to be redoubled in the weeks ahead.  Let me be clear about one thing:  Today's bad news does not change my confidence in the fact that we are going to recover.  We will be producing jobs.  The American economy and the job engine is going to be created and moving once again. 

And I believe we're doing the right things to move things in the right direction.  And the determination and creativity of the American people, combined with our determination to stay the course on this recovery, are what is going to produce the ultimate result of a thrilling, vibrant economy, which brings me to the meeting that we're having today.

We're working with the task force to lay a new foundation for economic growth, a future predicated on good education, high-quality health care, and clean energy innovation; and that future that doesn't leave the middle class behind.  And we're up against -- we are committed, as we go through, there will be peaks and valleys in this process.  This is not a straight line to recovery, but we are recovering.  We will recover.  And we're determined that when we do, the middle class is in a better position coming out of this than when it went into this Great Recession.

So I thank you all very much for taking the time to come in, and we're going to get about our work here.  Thank you.

Q    Sir, what's the thinking on a second stimulus package?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We're working on finishing the first one here, let's -- and doing it right.  Thank you.

                   END

dimanche, octobre 04, 2009 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

___________________________________________________________

Immediate Release                         October 2, 2009

REMARKS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ON TODAY’S UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS

Roosevelt Room

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  We’re here this morning in the Roosevelt Room to talk about a Middle Class Task Force meeting and discuss our fall plans.  And the Middle Class Task Force, as we've said before, was designed to make sure that everyone who aspires to the middle class has a chance of getting there and staying there.

Our ultimate goal here is what we set out in day one, that is that the middle class -- the measure of our success at the end of this four years is the middle class growing.  And while we worked hard toward that goal, today we learned we still have a whole lot more work to do, and a long way to go before we get there. 

We just learned that unemployment fell by 263,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of 1 percent.  And now -- now it's true that this reflects an improvement of overall things based on the results of our policy.  The first quarter of this year, we were losing jobs at an average of 700,000 jobs per month, month after month.  In the quarter that ended this week, the loss was 250,000 jobs per month, two-thirds less.

But we also have known all along that the recovery was going to take a long time.  We inherited an awful lot of baggage, and we knew that it would come -- recovery would come in fits and starts, and that job creation would be the last element to come into place.  Those were the realities we inherited.  Those are the realities we know.  And those are the realities we acknowledge.

But those facts and those realities aren't good enough for President Obama, and they aren't good enough for me.  We don't think that "less bad" is good.  "Less bad" is not our measure of success.  One job lost is one job too many, and it's still too much pain.  There's still too many hard-working Americans without a paycheck, still too many families struggling to get by. 

And while the fears of a depression have been replaced by forecasts of recovery, the kind of recovery the President and I are working to create will not have been achieved -- and as Christy was saying a moment ago -- until we're standing here and announcing substantial positive numbers, a positive growth rate in jobs.  That's why the Recovery Act, which by some estimates has already saved and created a million jobs, is such a vital part of that economic plan, combined with our financial rescue plan, housing plan, a small business plan and all the other efforts. 

We are working hard on every front to turn this economy around.  And as bad as things are, they would be far worse without the recovery plan, or these other efforts.  That's why we've worked hard to accelerate the recovery spending, getting money out the door on schedule; and that's why we announced yesterday nine ambitious goals for the Recovery Act to perform between now and December 31st.    

Today's tough news is a reminder though that -- as if anybody would need it -- how critical this work is in making the Recovery Act work and why.  As I told the Cabinet assembled yesterday, those efforts need to be redoubled in the weeks ahead.  Let me be clear about one thing:  Today's bad news does not change my confidence in the fact that we are going to recover.  We will be producing jobs.  The American economy and the job engine is going to be created and moving once again. 

And I believe we're doing the right things to move things in the right direction.  And the determination and creativity of the American people, combined with our determination to stay the course on this recovery, are what is going to produce the ultimate result of a thrilling, vibrant economy, which brings me to the meeting that we're having today.

We're working with the task force to lay a new foundation for economic growth, a future predicated on good education, high-quality health care, and clean energy innovation; and that future that doesn't leave the middle class behind.  And we're up against -- we are committed, as we go through, there will be peaks and valleys in this process.  This is not a straight line to recovery, but we are recovering.  We will recover.  And we're determined that when we do, the middle class is in a better position coming out of this than when it went into this Great Recession.

So I thank you all very much for taking the time to come in, and we're going to get about our work here.  Thank you.

Q    Sir, what's the thinking on a second stimulus package?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We're working on finishing the first one here, let's -- and doing it right.  Thank you.

                   END