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“The unemployment numbers released today underscores what I have been saying for months – Congress should be focusing on real job-creation legislation. It should be Congress’s most important domestic priority right now,” said U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties).

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate reached 10.2 percent in October, the highest rate since 1983.

“I voted against the trillion-dollar stimulus bill in February because it was unfocused and spent more on social programs than job creation. Unfortunately for the American people, I have been proven right. Unemployment was 7.9 percent nationally when President Obama signed the bill in February. It’s now 10.2 percent and growing. Very few jobs were created by the stimulus, as reflected in today’s unemployment numbers.

“Of those jobs that were created, more than half are government, not private sector, jobs. That means more deficit spending or higher taxes to cover government payrolls with no goods or services created to stimulate the economy. Likewise, the health care and cap and trade bills being pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will destroy millions of more jobs through burdensome and unnecessary regulations on small businesses and higher taxes on businesses and the American people.

“We can and must do better.

“I supported a stimulus package that actually would have created jobs by giving small businesses—which employ half of all Americans—the incentives to innovate and expand, thereby producing new jobs. Congress should repeal the stimulus package passed in February and pass this bill now.

“I supported an energy bill that would have created more jobs and enhanced our national security by expanding energy production in all areas—including wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas. I urge Speaker Pelosi to allow a vote on this bill.

“I support a healthcare plan that does no harm by opening up competition and reining in frivolous lawsuits and which helps the working poor and those with preexisting conditions to obtain coverage. Again, I urge the speaker to rescind her $1.3 trillion healthcare bill and push for real reform that creates, not destroys, jobs.”

As an aside for Ventura County, California political observers: Elton Gallegly is NOT retiring and running for re-election in 2010.

But, the likely Republican nominee Carly Fiorina also has net unfavorability driven by Democrats and Independent voters. On the positive side, she is the ONLY Republican with net favorables by GOP voters.

The other Republican candidates, Chuck DeVore and Al Ramirez are unknown by three quarters of voters and both have net negative favorability.

If Carly Fiorina is to have a chance to beat Barbara Boxer next November, it appears she will have to appeal to the broad spectrum of California voters, including independent, or decline to state ones.

But, Fiorina’s campaign has just begun and the heat is being turned upon Boxer for her partisan style and failures in leadership.

Stay tuned……

The American Medical Association is a strange endorser of Obamacare. Perhaps the physicans that do belong to the AMA (and their membership has been eroding lately and NOT every MD belongs) are either big government, public health types or they are just scared as to not be a part of a reform solution. I do know that many physicans that are my age WILL retire if the government takes over the remainder of private medicine. How will Obama and Pelosi deal with a lack of trained professionals?

With last Tuesday’s election results in Virginia and New Jersey, I continue to hold that Obamacare with a public option has a slim chance of passing into law. The GOP will NOT support it in the Senate (even Senator Olympia Snowe) and neither will a few Democrats like Senator Joe Lieberman. The Democrat majority will not be able to invoke cloture (prevent a filibuster). Now, reconcilation may be a different matter – but very risky politically in an upcoming midterm congressional election year.

Exit question: Will Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid push Obamacare through at the political risk of their members?

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From the press release:

Support for United States Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina grew today as she earned the endorsements of eight Republican United States Senators including Tom Coburn, Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Olympia Snowe.

“I am humbled to have earned the endorsement of each one of these distinguished Republican Senators. They are all dedicated public servants and it is a true honor to have their support. I look forward to working with each of these Senators to get our economy moving again and to restore fiscal accountability to Washington,” said Fiorina. “California is not getting the kind of representation it deserves in the United States Senate. In nearly 18 years, Barbara Boxer has only managed to get a handful of inconsequential bills signed into law and I don’t believe that is good enough for California. It’s time for a change.”

What is most interesting to me is that Fiorina is being supported by a broad base within the Republican Party. There are liberal Republican, moderate Republican and conservative Republican Senators from the East Coast to the Far West who are endorsing Carly and most importantly will help her raise money for her campaign.

Each Senator issued the following:

• “One of Carly’s greatest strengths is that she has never served in elected office.  Her frame of reference was shaped by the real world, not politics.  Our nation is facing serious economic challenges because we keep rehiring the same failed career politicians who have proven themselves incapable of making hard choices.  Carly’s common sense and fiscal conservatism will be a welcome addition to the United State Senate.  I am glad to offer her my endorsement,” said Senator Tom Coburn, M.D.

• “As a business leader and innovator, Carly Fiorina will bring great perspective to the United States Senate and she has my full support. She understands that Americans are concerned with the state of the economy and our expanding federal deficit and has the knowledge to help address those issues in a real way,” said Senator Susan Collins.

• “Carly’s experience as a business leader has given her the knowledge and tools to help craft policy that will get our economy moving again. There is too much waste in Washington and we need leaders like Carly who can apply what they have learned in the business world to government. She is the best choice for Californians,” said Senator Lindsey Graham.

• “During these tough economic times it is critical that we have leaders who can bring a dedication to fiscal discipline to Washington, and Carly is exactly that kind of leader. I am proud to endorse Carly Fiorina for Senate,” said Senator Jon Kyl.

• “Carly Fiorina is a visionary Republican leader and I am proud to endorse her to represent the people of California as their next United States Senator. Carly is an outstanding business leader and I benefited from her no-nonsense way of getting things done when she served on my campaign last year. Carly dedicated her time, energy and intelligence to our cause working with Republicans at every level across the country,” said Senator John McCain.

• “I believe that Carly has what it takes to serve as a U.S. Senator. She will serve the people of California and this nation with integrity, honesty and will fight each and every day to ensure that California is getting the kind of representation it deserves. I am proud to endorse Carly Fiorina,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

• “Carly is a strong Republican candidate who will put ego aside, reach across the aisle and develop real solutions to the problems we are facing. Her style of innovative leadership and ability to bring people together is desperately needed in Washington. I hope the people of California send Carly to the U.S. Senate next November,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski.

• “Carly will help us create policies that will put Californians and all Americans back to work. Washington needs business leaders with experience who can help us restore fiscal accountability and get our financial house back in order. I am pleased to endorse Carly and look forward to working to help send her to Washington, DC,” said Senator Olympia Snowe.

And, three of the four Republican women Senators have quickly endorsed Fiorina. 

The fundraising potenital of all of these Senators will translate into millions of dollars for campaign ads to use in the GOP contested primary election against Chuck DeVore and later in the general election.

Flap remembers the babies crying and the diapers. Now, one of my babies is getting married and will start her own family cycle.

Where does the time go?

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