01 | June | 2012

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Energy Milestone: Gas Rig Share Falls Below 30%

Mark J. Perry | June 1, 2012, 6:27 pm

In response to natural gas prices falling to inflation-adjusted multi-decade low levels over the last several years, along with high oil prices, there has been an ongoing switch in drilling activity from natural gas to oil, as can be seen … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion

Wow, this Reuters video on the May jobs report could be a Romney campaign ad

James Pethokoukis | June 1, 2012, 3:45 pm

Sometimes, you don’t need to get fancy. The facts say it all.

Economics, U.S. Economy

Stunning Google Trends chart shows growing sense of malaise in America

James Pethokoukis | June 1, 2012, 3:26 pm

Back in 2009, White House economist Larry Summers said he felt better about the U.S. economy since Google searches on “economic depression” had declined sharply. Since he’s a pretty smart guy, I thought I would try the same approach in gauging … read more >

Carpe Diem

Today’s Employment Report

Mark J. Perry | June 1, 2012, 2:03 pm

Today’s employment report paints a somewhat bleak and mixed picture of current U.S. labor market conditions, with an increase of only 69,000 payroll jobs in May (less than half of the 150,000 consensus expectation) and an increase in the May … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Angry protests against Khomeini’s commemoration in Kabul

Ahmad Majidyar | June 1, 2012, 1:41 pm

Angry young Afghans poured into the streets of Kabul today, tore down billboards and posters of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini across the city, and condemned Iran’s growing influence in Afghanistan. The protests began after some Afghan Shi’a leaders held a gathering … read more >

Economics

White House offers weak response to terrible jobs data

James Pethokoukis | June 1, 2012, 1:00 pm

Does the White House really want to highlight this jobs chart on its blog since it shows the economy losing momentum? And does the White House really want to make this dry argument: Problems in the job market were long … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy

Best of the foreign policy blogs (May 25 to June 1)

Marc Thiessen | June 1, 2012, 11:28 am

Here is the best of what AEI’s foreign and defense policy scholars are reading this week: Alex Storzynski at NYPost.com explains why Poland is so upset about “Polish death camps” in O’s polish blunder. Uri Friedman at ForeignPolicy.com details The … read more >

Economics

The real religion of modern central banks: Inflation forever

Alex J. Pollock | June 1, 2012, 10:01 am

In a typical economic comment recently, financial columnist Martin Wolf wrote that central banks have “the religion of price stability.” This is blatantly not true. If Wolf’s statement sounds plausible to you, it is because your perceptions have been shaped … read more >

Economics, U.S. Economy

Miserable May jobs report suggests U.S. in recession red zone

James Pethokoukis | June 1, 2012, 9:53 am

[THIS POST WILL UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE AS EVENTS UNFOLD ...] The May jobs report was a complete and utter disaster for the economy and, perhaps, President Obama’s chances for reelection. Employers created just 69,000 jobs last month, the … read more >

Politics and Public Opinion

What you may have missed in the polls: Queen Elizabeth, Wisconsin, and stand your ground

Karlyn Bowman and Andrew Rugg | June 1, 2012, 9:52 am

Long Live the Queen: An outpouring of polls as Queen Elizabeth begins her Diamond Jubilee celebrations reveal a very popular monarch. Fifty percent in a new YouGov/Sunday Times poll said Queen Elizabeth has been one of Britain’s greatest monarchs and … read more >

Hindsight Isn’t 20/20
Many lessons should be drawn from the U.S. experience in Iraq. Unfortunately, we’re not learning what we should. […]
The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]