The Gaffe Master Speaks Again!

If he's one thing, it's consistent:

Vice President Joe Biden delivered a rousing review of the government's economic stimulus plan in a conversation with the nation's governors. "In my wildest dreams, I never thought it would work this well," he said. "Thank you, thank you."

Biden oversees the $787 billion spending program, a centerpiece of the Obama administration's economic recovery effort. He was speaking on a conference call with 55 governors, territorial officials or their designees, who next month must report to the White House on how many jobs were created or saved by stimulus money.

"What you guys are doing is having an impact on the economy…knock wood," said Biden, punctuating it with the sound of knocking ostensibly on a wooden surface.

...

Nixon asked Biden whether states could have a bit more time to fact-check the job numbers before they're released to the public. Not really, Biden told him, adding that states weren't being asked to do any more reporting than corporations do all the time. But not to worry, he said; he he knows the information is "not going to be perfect."

Nixon thanked the vice president for his work on the stimulus. "I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your…interest," he said.

"Pure self interest, Jay," Biden responded. "If it fails, I'm dead."

Hm.  Okay, let's walk through this.  First of all, the Stimulus Czar is thrilled to the gills at the results of the stimulus program.  Then he makes a crack about needing to knock on wood.  Now, given that he forgot the 'website number' of his own stimulus tracking website, he may genuinely not know that knocking on wood is a signal that you're banking on luck (though this administration might call it hope) not to jinx things.  How encouraging.

Still, the other interesting thing I wanted to point out was Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's question.  He's asking for more time to 'fact-check' the Missouri jobs numbers before making them public.  Before we go over the answer, let's look at the question first.  Why might he be looking for more time?  If this is something that corporations do all the time, could the question be an indicator that the government doesn't work as well, as quickly, or as accurately as the private sector?  Nah, surely not.  And what about the fact that Biden doesn't need accurate numbers?  Apparently, he's willing to take whatever crap the Governors want to throw his way.  No way...surely the federal government of the eminently excellent and professional Obamessiah wouldn't do things in such a haphazard or inaccurate way, would they?  Or does this mean that Biden's just going to make up whatever number he feels is politically appropriate at the moment?  It makes one wonder, doesn't it?  Finally, could Nixon's question hint at some genuine frustration at the fact that all these Governors are being asked to quantify the ultimately unquantifiable 'saved or created' jobs mythology in their states?  Why might it be a problem to have to go on record with a certain number of mysteriously 'saved' jobs?  Hmmm...I can't imagine.  And as for the answer itself, well, Mr. Governor, it's pretty simple:

August 2008 Missouri unemployment rate: 6.2% (at the time, it was the highest in a decade)

August 2009 Missouri unemployment rate: 9.5%

Remember, the stimulus was signed into law in mid-February, and at that point the Missouri unemployment rate was 8.3%.  So...these are the results that Biden couldn't have wildly dreamed up?

No, I think his final statement is the Show-Me State kicker.

On a related note:

Reports ABC News:

Nearly one year after Congress approved the $700 billion financial bailout, it was attacked by Republicans and fiscal watchdogs as an expensive failure that has not stopped home foreclosures or jobs from disappearing.

"This has been a failed program," Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said at today's Senate Banking committee hearing. "The very promises made to the taxpayer of what was going to happen with this money, in my judgment, have not been kept."

Johanns cited what he called "very damning" testimony by the bailout's Special Inspector General Neil Barofsky that said it is "extremely unlikely" that American taxpayers will get a full return on their $700 billion investment. Moreover, Barofsky observed, the Troubled Asset Relief Program has failed to increase bank lending, stop rising unemployment, or stem the rash of home foreclosures.

Nixon's got to be smart enough to know that by being led around by the hope-n-change nose, Obama is threatening to pull them all down together.

I'm not sure, though - can we really get that lucky?

There's my two cents.