Economic growth in the first quarter was an abysmal 1.8 percent.  Last week, initial jobless claims increased by 25,000 from the previous week, up to 429,000.  The Federal government borrows $188 million an hour, or over $52,000 a second, just to keep up with President Obama's spending demands.  Despite almost a trillion dollars for Obama's and the Democratic Congress's stimulus, unemployment remains at 8.8 percent.

Amid all these storm clouds, the Obamamaniacs at CNN have found a silver lining.  Anchor T.J. Holmes on CNN Newsroom reported yesterday:

Here is a sign that the economy is getting better, an unexpected sign you didn't think about. Divorce rates in the U.S. are on the rise. It's explained here. In 2000 before the recession, of course, way back before the recession, the divorce rate was 4.0. When hard times started in 2007 the breakup rate dropped to 3.6 percent here. But then last year it fell a bit more, a bit more to 3.5. That was the divorce rate then. So, fewer and fewer people are getting divorced.

But now as the economy gets better, we're learning now, we're starting to see a surge in divorce filings. I'm going to bring in matrimonial attorney -- that sounds so much better than divorce attorney -- Elizabeth Lindsay, here to explain this to me. Explain to me just the basics. Why is it when the economy gets better people are OK to get divorced?

The counselor, of course, was more than happy to provide details.  

T.J. didn't ask what evidence exists of the "surge in divorce filings," but why mess up a happy story? In the Age of Obama, good news about the U.S. economy is so very hard to find.  But apparently, the news readers at CNN will grasp at any straw. 

It was good economic news on CNN's Newsroom this morning. After a brief mention of radiation in Japan , anchor Carol Costello reported:

Brand new numbers out of the Labor Department this morning. It turns out jobless claims plummeted last week. Down 6,000 to 388,000.

I'm not certain what dictionary CNN news readers use, but "plummet" wouldn't seem to be the right verb. Merriam-Webster's online reference defines plummet as "to fall perpendicularly" or "to drop sharply and abruptly." A 1.5 percent reduction in jobless claims quite clearly doesn't meet those definitions.

Moreover, the 6,000 drop figure is "seasonally adjusted" with a Labor Department statistical technique designed to accommodate fluctuations in the job market. DOL's Employment and Training report included the raw data:

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 354,301 in the week ending March 26, a decrease of 156 from the previous week.

156 fewer jobless claims. Hundreds of billions spent by President Obama and his liberal accomplices on shovel-ready jobs and that's what results.

Yet at CNN, jobless claims "plummeted." Don't they ever tire of trying to prop up Obama's failed administration?

Fox News Chicago  reports this morning:

Tim McCarthy, a former Secret Service agent who took a  bullet intended for President Ronald Reagan, will observe the 30th anniversary  of the attempted assassination on Wednesday by going to Springfield to oppose  legislation that would repeal Illinois's ban on concealed carrying of  firearms.

McCarthy said he's alarmed that an Illinois House  Committee approved a concealed carry proposal. The full House could vote  soon.

As happens so often, the fact McCarthy, now the police chief of Chicago  suburb Orland Park, is a Democrat isn't reported.  In 1998, he sought  his party's endorsement for Illinois Secretary of State.

We admire Tim McCarthy for doing his job bravely and possibly saving  President Reagan's life.  But that doesn't give his views on concealed  carry laws any special credibility

Interestingly, the alarmed Chief McCarthy notes (at about 1:27 of the  video):  "I know the gang members will still get their guns and that  criminals will still get their guns."

Given that obvious truth, why does he not want to give law-abiding citizens  an even chance?  Oh, that's right.  He's a Democrat, a fact Fox News  Chicago didn't find relevant. 

The New York Times's Web site on Tuesday reported, "Former  City Council Leader Avoids Prison for Tax Evasion."  Andrew J. Stein  didn't pay taxes on $1 million in income in 2008.  His punishment: Three  years' probation and 500 hours of community service.

Possibly Stein's cause was helped by Geraldo Rivera asking the judge for  leniency.  Or maybe the judge was impressed by Stein's cooperation;  the story notes that he "also agreed to pay taxes for the years 2003  to 2008."  Whatta guy!

The New York Times did omit at least one salient fact:  Stein  is a Democrat.

Oops.  Maybe next time.          

On CNN Newsroom this morning, anchor Carol Costello spoke with national correspondent Jason Carroll about the potential for a nuclear disaster in Japan.  Carroll noted that "some scientists say the best-case scenario at this point is that the situation in Japan ends up like Three Mile Island. . ."  This possibility  frightened the anchor:

COSTELLO: It's kind of crazy to me that we're hoping the outcome is like Three Mile Island. It's just so sad and scary.

Why?  According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island "led to no deaths or injuries to plant workers or members of the nearby community."  The average radiological exposure for 2 million people in the area was about one-sixth of that received from a chest x-ray.  Moreover, ". . .comprehensive investigations and assessments by several well-respected organizations have concluded that in spite of serious damage to the reactor, most of the radiation was contained and that the actual release had negligible effects on the physical health of individuals or the environment."

The accident at Three Mile Island was indeed the most serious in U.S. history.  Changes were implemented that, it is believed, enhance safety.  Yet the fact remains that no one died at Three Mile Island and the health effects were negligible.  Hoping that the Japanese outcome is no worse isn't crazy.

Hope springs eternal at CNN, at least some of the time.  Sure, the massively expensive Obama stimulus was a miserable flop.  And extending unemployment benefits worked to extend periods of unemployment, as numerous studies have shown.  Government jobs programs have failed for decades.

No matter.  According to business correspondent Alison Kosik on CNN Newsroom today, a jump in jobless claims proves more government intervention is necessary:

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Kate, we've got a lot of negative news all at once, that's weighing down the markets right now. You know what, pick your poison at this point, we got unemployment claims. They rose more than expected, much more than expected, double what was expected. That's after all the optimism that was created from the previous week's numbers. We're inching back towards the 400,000 mark we've so much been trying to get away from. It really just shows that people still need a lot of help from the government because people are still being laid off.

Yeah, baby, Stimulus II, that's what we need.

Interestingly, the hike in jobless claims was mentioned in only one of the four hourly segments of CNN Newsroom today.  Last Thursday, when the news was brighter on the job front, it was reported during the 9:00 AM program:

KOSIK: Yes, you know what? They (jobless claims numbers) are upbeat like the music here at the stock exchange. The unemployment claims report is definitely coming in much better than expected. It's the reason that we're seeing Dow futures up about 100 points. Wall Street did expect claims to rise. So, this is good news because they instead fell to 360,000 last week. It's actually the lowest level in almost three years.

On the 10:00 AM show, Kosik celebrated "a really positive jobs report on weekly unemployment claims" and noted, "We are moving in the right direction."

The 11:00 AM segment included Kosik's observation that "Analysts are saying it's a sign that we're moving toward a new threshold of 350,000."

On the 12:00 PM Newsroom, CNN business correspondent Christine Romans reported the "very, very good news."

And it was.  But isn't it strange that when unemployment claims drop it's constantly newsworthy at CNN, but when they jump up it's worth mentioning only once in the four-hour long CNN Newsroom and then with the commentary that the government needs to do more? 

At CNN, obviously Lindsay Lohan attending her plea-deal hearing is more important.  That was covered twice on CNN Newsroom today.     

Today on CNN's Newsroom, anchor Kyra Phillips reported on "Confession: A Roman Catholic App," available from iTunes.  Describing herself as  a  "woman of the cloth," Phillips claimed the app meant ". . .you don't have to go to church. You don't have to go see the priest. All you do is you go on to this app. . ."  She also said the app is endorsed by the Vatican.

She was wrong on all counts.  Designed to assist Roman Catholics in examining their consciences while preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the app doesn't end the requirement to go to church (in most situations)  and see a priest.  Moreover, while the developer does indeed claim an imprimatur from the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, that doesn't signify Vatican endorsement.

In the first segment of Newroom, Phillips engaged meteorologist Rob Marciano in a discussion of the app:

PHILLIPS: This is the new app for sinners. Have you heard about this?

MARCIANO: What are you implying? Why are you dragging me into this?

PHILLIPS: Can you remember your last sin?

MARCIANO: Yes. Just a few minutes ago.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Exactly. You can remember it. Anything that you can confess to me right now?

MARCIANO: You know, you're not a man of the cloth although I gave them a break a long time ago.

PHILLIPS: I'm a woman of the cloth, OK? All right. Here's the deal. For $1.99 you can now get this app, all right? And it's for sinners. And I'm not -- and the Catholic Church is actually saying -- endorsing this. So you don't have to go to church. You don't have to go see the priest. All you do is you go on to this app, OK, you log in.

Unsuccessful in getting Marciano to confess a sin or two, Phillips then went through portions of the app:

PHILLIPS: You type in your sin, all right? Go to the next part, then comes the "Act of Contrition." And you say the prayer here. My God, I'm sorry for my sins with all my heart in choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Amen. OK? You say the prayer. Move on to the next part and here you go.

You receive absolution and you respond "Amen," then the priest says, and I guess, I don't know, maybe you just read this, maybe you can act as the priest. Give thanks to the Lord and he is good. Answer? For his mercy endures forever. So I don't know. You can someone there to play priest. OK. You're done it. You're finished.

After more inane banter, the piece ended:

MARCIANO: How about that.

PHILLIPS: $1.99, brother. There you go.

MARCIANO: And saving the Catholic Church a lot of man-hours. You know? The priesthood is in demand. Supply is down. And guys like me, you know, having them line up around the corner because I'm keeping them in there for hours at a time. That is fantastic.

PHILLIPS: Isn't that terrific?

MARCIANO: Yes.

Phillips went on to amplify her ignorance during the next hour when again she discussed the app.  Now she stated:

PHILLIPS:  It's a Roman Catholic app, it's called Confession. If you don't want to go to church, if you don't want to see the priest, if you don't want to, you know, it takes a lot to get in the car, think of everything you've done wrong.

She then went through a mock confession with Marciano, completing it by placing her hand on the meteorologist's head to "forgive" him:

MARCIANO: And this is endorsed by the Vatican?

PHILLIPS: Yes, it is. $1.99, you confess on your iPad, and you are good to go.

MARCIANO: For those who think the Vatican is in the dark ages, I mean, get on with the iPad right there.

PHILLIPS: They were one of the first, you know, the Roman Catholic church to go on-line, do Youtube, start talking about, you know --

MARCIANO: (INAUDIBLE) I feel cleansed. I feel so much more pure.

PHILLIPS: Let me heal you right here, I got to get on the head. Bless you. Thank you, Rob, for playing.

Some viewers may consider Phillips's silly patter,  blatant disregard for facts, and mockery of a sacrament to be blasphemous.  Perhaps they would have expected more from a self-styled woman of the cloth.  Then again, this is CNN, the most trusted name in news.  Or so they allege.  

This year, MSNBC celebrates Presidents' Day with Chris Matthews's February 21 documentary “President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon.”  The Impeached One has become, says MSNBC in its press release, "a hero to peoples across the globe."

It'd be great if Matthews questioned Clinton on a matter that, at least for a time, was a subject of considerable interest to the MSNBC host:  the former president's personal behavior.  On February 2, 2007, Matthews interviewed Ann Lewis, who served as Clinton's Director of Communications and then White House Counselor.  In 2007, she was senior adviser to Hillary Clinton's campaign. Part of the interview:

MATTHEWS:  Is Bill Clinton going to be a problem in this campaign?

LEWIS:  Absolutely not.

MATTHEWS:  Is he going to behave himself?

LEWIS:  Bill Clinton has been around—in the first place, he‘s been around the world saving lives.

MATTHEWS:  Is he going to behave himself?

LEWIS:  He‘s going to do what he does best.

MATTHEWS:  Is he going to behave himself...

 And later:

MATTHEWS:  So he‘s going to behave himself.

LEWIS:  He‘s going to be out on the campaign trail...

MATTHEWS:  And he‘s going to behave himself so Hillary can be the first woman president.

Six days later on "Hardball with Chris Matthews," the host was still absorbed by Bill's personal affairs.  This time, the conversation was with Hillary Clinton's campaign director, Terry McAuliffe. 

MATTHEWS:  Will he distract our attention from his wife by misbehavior?

MCAULIFFE:  No sir.

MATTHEWS:  He won‘t?  He‘s going to be a good boy?

Wouldn't you love to hear Chrissy ask the president who gave phone sex a bad name, a man who is now a hero to peoples across the globe,  if he's been a good boy?  It might be enough to send a thrill up the legs of many viewers.    

"Postscript: Sargent Shriver" appears on The New Yorker's Web site today.  In it, senior editor Hendrik Hertzberg writes:

In 1972, when George McGovern’s original running mate, Senator Thomas Eagleton, had to withdraw, Shriver defied the family pecking order by taking Eagleton’s place on the ticket. The Democrats had their problems that year, but Shriver wasn’t one of them. He was a magnificent candidate.

It's doubtful that the late Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill (D-MA), who knew a thing or two about campaigning, would have agreed.

Scott Stossel, deputy editor of The Atlantic, wrote the 2004 "Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver."  Included in the book was this anecdote, as recorded in the April 9, 2004 Atlantic Unbound:

(A) campaign-trail legend from 1972 places Sargent Shriver, the dashing Democratic candidate for the vice presidency and the former director of the Peace Corps and the War on Poverty, in Youngstown, Ohio, chatting up voters in a working-class tavern. Shriver is his usual genial self, and seems to be connecting with the assembled steelworkers, who will form part of a vital voting bloc in the general election. As the merrymakers call for another round, people shout out the names of their favorite beers. Not to be outdone, Shriver eagerly joins the chorus: "Make mine a Courvoisier!" For Congressman Tip O'Neill, who had been traveling with Shriver, this faux pas was the last straw. "That's it," said O'Neill, stepping away from the bar. "I'm getting back on the plane and going back to Boston. There's no hope here."

O'Neill, of course, was right. There was no hope.  McGovern and Shriver won only Massachusetts. 

Mr. Shriver may well have had many admirable qualities.  Being a magnificent campaigner wouldn't seem to have been one of them.