Top Story: Germany’s walk back from austerity leaves John Boehner and Republicans as its only true disciples. Just ask a Northern Ireland “shopkeeper.”
- How bad’s the economy in Europe? So bad that the Northern Irish town hosting next month’s G8 summit is putting up fake stores to make the place a little sunnier. Seriously, you have to check out these pictures: (Irish Times)
- Funny? For a second, and then you realize the horror that implies: After three-plus years of “austerity”, Europe now is suffering record unemployment. (Reuters)
- Even Germany is finally admitting that, maybe, Prussian-style austerity is killing southern Europe. (Der Spiegel)
- Of course, that’s because Germany’s austerity chickens are coming home to roost. (Bloomberg)
- And so — with all that evidence you’d think Republicans would wise up. You’d think that, wouldn’t you? (Jonathan Weisman)
- Instead, austerity continues to take a bite out of our “best of a bad lot” economy (Reuters)
- Consumers, however, are bullish. In fact, more so than economists thought (and Republicans hope). (Business Insider)
- And if you’re surprised, you’re not paying attention. (Joseph Weisenthal)
- Of course, this bullish attitude assumes you have stocks and/or real estate that’s increasing in value. (National Journal) (Bloomberg)
- What? You don’t have a stock portfolio and/or real estate increasing in value? Well, just be glad you don’t live in Conserv-istan, i.e. North Carolina. (The Washington Post) and (Think Progress)
- Krugman: “Estimates from the consulting firm Moody’s Analytics suggest that each dollar spent on food stamps in a depressed economy raises G.D.P. by about $1.70.” (Paul Krugman)
- The RNC’s answer to the “jobs” question? The Keystone pipeline and only the Keystone pipeline —> (RNC)
- “Boehner said jobs are his top priority. After 183 votes, The House has held only 1 vote on jobs legislation.” (Ari Melber)
- Polls are pretty clear, too: Voters are “meh” on the various scandal investigations when compared to the ” jobs” question. (Talking Points Memo)
- So what does the GOP need to do? Well, for starters it needs to become more than — as one conservative puts it — “the party of heroic entrepreneurs and tax cuts” (James Pethokoukis)
John Flowers