John King, USA

The latest political news and information on the most important stories affecting you.
August 5th, 2011
07:09 PM ET

Be in the know: Today's political bullet points

Every day we ask influential politicos to send us their top three bullet points that are driving the day's conversation inside and outside Washington.

RedState.Com Editor Erick-Woods Erickson:

– The jobs numbers are better than expected. The unemployment rate is down. The problem, though, is that the reason the unemployment rate is down is because so many people have given up hope for a new job. That is not a good thing.

– Food stamp usage is now at a record. More Americans are dependent on the federal government than at any time, including the Great Depression — at least you can expect to start hearing a lot of Republicans say that.

– And now Democrats are saying if the government cuts anything it will worsen the economic crisis. It's a Keynesian argument, i.e., if the rate of government spending drops, GDP will drop because there will be no offsetting business spending. After weeks of calling the GOP hostage-takers, it seems the Democrats are doing the same to the economy by making the case that if we make the government stop spending, the economy will die. There is not much sympathy for that argument among voters.

Firedoglake.com Blogger/Founder Jane Hamsher:

RNC Using the Mediscare, Attacking from the Left

The Next Debt Ceiling Deal Will Likely Be Much Worse

Piers Morgan Resorts to “Liar, Liar Pants on Fire” in Heather Mills Phone Hack Claims

Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors.


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