It's the economy....

[WCGreen]

With continuing bad economic news from Wall Street to Main Street, why is everyone, by that I mean the talking heads and most everyone here on DU, focused on Sarah Palin?

She is a distraction, plain and simple.

Don't you think that every minute that is spent on Sarah's kids, perceived sexism, the EBay plane and all the rest of the gobbledygook is a minute not focused on the economic hardships that American's are facing.

It's the economy, stupid.

Plain and simple.

Why do you think they were so relentless in their pursuit of the Clinton Blow Job?

To keep the talk away from the economy.

Just compare and contrast Bush vs. Clinton.

Compare Obama's tax cuts to McCain's tax cuts.

Basically, go on offense. Through some long passes now and then to keep the honest, but keep running up the middle with your strength; the economy.

[FreakinDJ]

1. Thank you for saying this

We here at DU are all political junkies.

To the average working stif or single mom trying to make ends meet, none of this makes a "Rat's Ass" bit of difference. The only things that count are "How many boxes or Mac & Cheese can we afford and do I have to take out a loan to fill my gas tank"

[WCGreen]

2. Retail sales took a dive in August....

And this was after gax started it's slow slide down.

People are making choices in the market place that shows they are hurting; more sales at WalMart, Costco.

Auto sales are down, unemployment is up.

People are worried and we are arguing over Palin's kids...

[FreakinDJ]

3. Was there not a HUGE list of store closings coming

I saw it here on DU, but haven't heard any thing more about it

[FreakinDJ]

4. Here is the list of stores closing

Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide.

Eddie Bauer to close more stores after closing 27 stores in the first quarter.

Cache, a women’s retailer is closing 20 to 23 stores this year.

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores nationwide

Talbots, J. Jill closing stores. Talbots will close all 78 of its kids and men's stores plus another 22 underperforming stores. The 22 stores will be a mix of Talbots women's and J. Jill.

Gap Inc. closing 85 stores

Foot Locker to close 140 stores

Wickes Furniture is going out of business and closing all of its stores. The 37-year-old retailer that targets middle-income customers, filed for bankruptcy protection last month.

Levitz - the furniture retailer, announced it was going out of business and closing all 76 of its stores in December. The retailer dates back to 1910.

Zales, Piercing Pagoda plans to close 82 stores by July 31 followed by closing another 23 underperforming stores.

Disney Store owner has the right to close 98 stores.

Home Depot store closings 15 of them amid a slumping US economy and housing market. The move will affect 1,300 employees. It is the first time the world's largest home improvement store chain has ever closed a flagship store.

CompUSA (CLOSED).

Macy's - 9 stores closed

Movie Gallery – video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery

and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 locations the video rental

chain closed last fall as part of bankruptcy.

Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores closing

Pep Boys - 33 stores of auto parts supplier closing

Sprint Nextel - 125 retail locations to close with 4,000 employees following 5,000 layoffs last year.

J. C. Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are all scaling back

Ethan Allen Interiors: plans to close 12 of 300 stores to cut costs.

Wilsons the Leather Experts – closing 158 stores

Bombay Company: to close all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores.

KB Toys closing 356 stores around the United States as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

Dillard's Inc. will close another six stores this year.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=114x42655

[Lakerstan]

5. I was just getting ready to start an "It's the economy, stupid" thread

You are 100% spot on. The rest is noise right now. Focus like a laser on the economy.

Recommended.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Most people are easily distracted by peripheral issues...

Look how easy it is to get the average voter to vote against his/her best interests!

Spot on, as usual...

K&R