Although the federal government shutdown continues, they can’t shut down another exciting edition of “Thursday Numbers!”
If this is your first time reading “Thursday Numbers,” this is where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes spiked with a little sarcasm).
This week I write about veterans’ disability compensation, The Kelly File, new claims for unemployment, Fisher House, dark money initiative, health care, Who will blink first poll results, David Lee Roth, Brett Favre, Republicans’ unfavorable ratings, Democratic National Committee and the U.S. House, winless/unbeaten NFL teams, the Daines Diet, and much much more!
3,800,000
The Associated Press reports, “About 3.8 million veterans will not receive disability compensation next month if the partial government shutdown continues into late October, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told lawmakers Wednesday.”
The backlog in disability claims is increasing, too.
2,800,000
That’s the total viewers (2.8 million) for the second night of the Fox News show, “The Kelly File,” hosted by Megyn Kelly. This was more viewers than the CNN (Piers Morgan) and MSNBC (Rachel Maddow) shows that aired at the same time combined.
I stopped by the first night, but Kelly was interviewing Tea Party Senator Ted Cruz, so I quickly turned back to Maddow.
374,000
That’s the number of new claims for unemployment, which is “an increase of 66,000 from the previous week’s unrevised figure of 308,000.”
Part of the increase was caused by federal workers applying for benefits. There will probably be more federal workers applying next week.
100,000
National Journal reports, “The Fisher House Foundation, an organization long- known for caring for wounded troops and their families, will pay death gratuity benefits for the families of servicemembers killed during the government shutdown – and the Pentagon will back them pay once it’s over.”
This includes the $100,000 paid to family members within 36 hours of a military member’s death.
Fisher House is a wonderful organization.
168
The Associated Press is reporting, “Backers of an initiative aimed at shedding light on so-called “dark money” in politics have received approval to start gathering signatures. Initiative 168, if approved by voters next year, is meant to force all independent groups to disclose political spending.”
This is a good thing…
71
According to polling from Rasmussen Reports, “Eighty-two percent (82%) of Democrats want to end the shutdown by continuing spending for the health care law at current levels. But 71% of GOP voters would rather keep the shutdown going until the law is defunded.”
There’s a lot of hate from the righties about Obamacare – this is their new abortion issue.
70
I asked readers yesterday, “Who will blink first in the government shutdown?” House Speaker John Boehner was picked by 70% of those taking part, while 30% said President Barack Obama would.
The President has the upper hand in this mess which was caused by Tea Party members of the U.S. House, including Montana’s Congressman Steve Daines.
59
David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame turns 59 today.
44
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre turns 44 today.
I bet he could still play…
28
A new poll from Gallup “With the Republican-controlled House of Representatives engaged in a tense, government-shuttering budgetary standoff against a Democratic president and Senate, the Republican Party is now viewed favorably by 28% of Americans, down from 38% in September.”
The Democratic Party is viewed by 43% favorably.
27
The same poll from Gallup found that 27% of Republicans “view their own party unfavorably.” That is compared to just 13% of Democrats who view their own party unfavorably.
They have a big problem in the GOP. A big problem…
17
The Democratic National Committee sent an e-mail saying they need 17 seats to take back the majority in the U.S. House in 2014.
It is actually looking like they may have a chance to do it, too.
4
There are four teams in the NFL that are winless: New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Pittsburgh.
I am surprised about the Giants and the Steelers.
3
There are three unbeaten teams left in the NFL: New Orleans, Denver, and Kansas City.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance! Go Chiefs!
1
Over at James Connor’s Flathead Memo blog, James tells readers about the “Shutdown survival guide: how to eat on a dollar a day” which he calls “the noodles and oil diet, aka the Daines Diet.”
Outstanding! I was looking for something to replace the government cheese…
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