The economy added 80,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down to 9 percent, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The private sector added 104,000 jobs, while the public sector continued to shrink, losing 24,000 jobs. August and September’s numbers were also revised upwards.
The 99 Percent protesters in occupations across the country are disavowing the violence committed by a handful of Oakland protesters this week. “Occupy Oakland does not advocate violence and has no interest in supporting actions that endanger the community and possibilities that it has worked to build,” said a statement prepared by the group.
The Central Intelligence Agency has tightened the rules of its drone campaign after complaints from military and diplomatic officials that large strikes were damaging the U.S.’s relationship with Pakistan. The program remains in place, but as one senior official said, “The bar has been raised. Inside CIA, there is a recognition you need to be damn sure it’s worth it.”
Senate Republicans shot down another critical piece of President Obama’s jobs bill yesterday, refusing to pass a measure to spend $50 billion on highway, rail, transit and airport improvements, and another $10 billion on an infrastructure bank. Democrats have been trying to advance the bill piece by piece since the Senate blocked the entire package last month. Republicans also defeated a measure to provide $35 billion in aid to states to hire teachers and first responders.
The deficit super committee remains deadlocked as their Nov. 23 deadline to reach an agreement nears. A key sticking point is revenue: while Republican leaders offered to accept up to $800 billion in new revenue during debt ceiling negotiations, they have now backtracked are demanding none.
High technology internet industry and trial lawyers are replacing Wall Street as President Obama’s biggest donors for the 2012 election, with Microsoft Corp. employees ranking first. Obama raised $88 million which exceeds his record fundraising pace in 2007 and indicates that “he has been able to replace the defecting Wall Street donors” and that “Democratic discontent is still containable.”
Embattled presidential candidate Herman Cain’s wife Gloria Cain decided to pull out of her Fox News appearance, deepening the troubles for Cain.
The National Restaurant Association may allow a former employee who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment to release a statement about her story. A spokeswoman for the organization said they had been contacted by the woman’s attorney and would decide today whether to waive the confidentiality agreement .
And finally: It may be political season in Iowa, but in one small town, the election is just a week away and no one is running. The ballot for New Liberty’s upcoming elections lists no names for mayor or city council, but residents say that’s fine as everyone knows each other and will just write somebody in.
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