Gaffes in federal reports this week about stimulus have called into question the government’s ability to accurately track how many jobs are being created by the massive $787 billion Recovery Act.

The data in Thursday’s reports were filled with mistakes, including an error that made it look like a French vaccine maker received the largest stimulus contract, $1.4 billion, when in fact it has gotten an award one-100th the size.

Government research organization OMB Watch said its assessment of the reports revealed many inconsistencies in the job data.

“The data is rife with mistakes,” said Craig Jennings, senior federal fiscal policy analyst at OMB Watch. “When you put out data that hasn’t yet been checked, it undermines transparency, because you are putting out wrong information.”

…A mistake in the very first contract listed on the site prompted doubts about the reliability of the reports.

Recovery.gov erroneously reported Thursday that French vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur had received $1.4 billion in stimulus funds from the Department of Health and Human Services. The company topped the site’s list titled “Largest federal contracts in U.S.”

When CNNMoney.com first asked about the contract Thursday, a spokeswoman from Sanofi Pasteur suspected the $1.4 billion figure was a mistake. HHS spokeswoman Vicki Rivas-Vazquez said the number on recovery.gov was erroneous and the actual amount was $10.4 million.

Sanofi Pasteur said Friday that $10.4 million is the correct figure.

“We anticipated errors in the reporting and so informed many reporters beforehand,” said Edward Pound, spokesman for the Recovery Board. “This is the first time this kind of reporting is being done. These reports are being reviewed by federal agencies and recipients to catch any errors or problems.”

The Recovery Board has the tall task of compiling all of the data, and is spending $18 million revamping its Web site to manage all of the information.

OMB Watch said its review yielded “really weird job numbers,” including many discrepancies within the reports themselves. For instance, Jennings said OMB Watch found that many companies said in a narrative portion of their reports that it was able to retain several employees because of stimulus funds, but the “jobs created” column read “zero.”

The Recovery Board aggregates its jobs data from the “jobs created” column to display the total number of jobs saved or created. Jennings speculated that recipients might have been confused about the scope of the term “created.”

“I would not stake any sort of claims on those job numbers,” said Jennings. “We don’t know what’s going on there.”

FY 2009 Federal Deficit Terrifyingly Huge

after reading the links within that link, this will make perfect sense:

That’s a little like resuscitating a guy who had a heart attack on the way to his execution. Yeah, he’s alive but for how much longer?

When confronted with something this unsustainable there’s only two things to be done.

1- Spend untold trillions more taking over the nation’s health insurance system.

and

2- Blame Bush.

Obama to conservatives: Grab a mop and help me clean up your mess

The good news: The “socialist mop” line made me laugh. The bad news: He’ll be telling us it’s our mess that he’s cleaning up until, oh, 2015 or so at the earliest. How he’s planning to blame the stimulus waste or inevitable cost overruns on health care on the right isn’t yet clear to me, but have faith. He’ll find a way. It’s … what he does.

Question: Given the electoral realities in Congress these days, is it really the right that’s his biggest pain in the ass?

We have been laughing on our back channel at BLACKFIVE about the Biden plan to have our secret squirrels locate al Qaeda and then let our magic ninjas swoop in and take them out. The idea is ludicrous for many reasons, but mostly because we don’t have the will to do the dirty trickery necessary to pull it off.

Ever since we eviscerated the CIA in the Carter era and destroyed any ability to do human intelligence we have relied on electronic intercepts and satellite imagery for our weak and generally wrong “intelligence”. While those tools can be useful, absent a humint capability, they are woefully inadequate. So the idea that we could rely on them is a joke I ‘m surprised they have the stones to make. Targeted strikes by UAVs in Pakistan have been successful, but expanding that into a theater-wide, pipehitter free fire zone is not gonna happen.

If I thought for a minute that they were serious about actually resourcing this and providing the networks of spies, warlords, assassins, and shady characters with satchels of cash it would take to make it work, I might could get behind it. But does anyone see the Obama administration, which right now is thinking about prosecuting the CIA for being mean to terrorists, doing any of that? All right, get up off the floor.

Biden’s plan is a way to cut and run, while maintaining that you are doing neither. That is why it is becoming increasingly likely. I think the more we say Biden plan though, the more damage we do to it’s viability. Seriously, just say it out loud…Biden plan. It makes my brain cry out in pain.

I just watched the POTUS lie to the American people for like the 30th time, but this was during an address to the Joint Sessions Of Congress..

There is no abortion in the bill nor death panels?!?!  I guess he has been too busy to read the bills?

He also blames spending from the last decade for his deficit problems!

What was the lie?

He says he pulled it back from the brinK.
How’s that?
The economy has not been such a wreck for decades but Obama wants you to trust him with your health care.

Barack says he is “determined to be the last president” to bring up the health care challenges. –He wants to be the one to nationalize it once and for all.
Obama points out a woman died after she did not declare her acne to her insurance company?
Hmm.

Obama says there is agreement on about 80% of what needs to be done?

We’ve seen the same partisan bickering and scare tactics and too many scored short term political points.
Now is the season for action.
We must bring the best ideas of both parties together.
(Obama hasn’t met with GOP leaders on health care since April.)

Lie- Obama says nothing in the plan will require you to change what you have.
Not true.

Obama says he will fine individuals who do not purchase a health care plan.
Individuals will be required to carry health insurance and businesses will be required to offer insurance or “chip in.”

The teleprompter is rockin.

Misinformation–
Bugus claims by those whose only agenda is to kill the plan.

Obama takes on Palin and death panels.
“It is a lie plain and simple.”

Illegal immigrants–
They will not be covered.
Someone just screamed “liar.”
** Here’s the video.

Abortion will not be covered.
This is not true.

Obama pushes the public option but says he doesn’t want to take over insurance industry.
Not true.

Audience Member Yells “Liar” as Obama Spews Talking Points to Congress (Video)

On the bright side…
It only happened once.

Obama also took a personal swipe at Sarah Palin and her death panels during his speech.
— Sarah Palin responded.

OBAMA SCARE: 'MORE WILL DIE' IF WE DO NOTHING ON HEALTH...
'DEFICIT WILL GROW. MORE FAMILIES WILL GO BANKRUPT. MORE BUSINESSES WILL CLOSE'...
SYSTEM 'AT BREAKING POINT'...
'TIME FOR GAMES HAS PASSED'...
'We have seen scare tactics'...

UPDATE:

GOP congressman yells “liar” at Obama

The culprit was South Carolina rep Joe Wilson, who felt moved to act when The One told what was, in fact, a lie. Although certainly not his biggest of the night: Where this jackass gets off lecturing Americans on civility after his cretinous cronies spent a month demagoging the hell out of every protester in sight is beyond me. You’re Mr. Clean, aren’t you, champ? And bottom-feeders like Harry Reid are your hatchet men. Nice work if you can get it.

I’m told that his magic number of “47 million” uninsured Americans magically dropped to 30 million uninsured in this speech, presumably to omit the illegal immigrants who were inflating the tally. Here’s a photo of Wilson at work.

Wilson Apologizes

Wilson issues apology.

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”

UPDATE II:

FLASHBACK: Top Dem calls Bush 'loser' and liar...
FLASHBACK: Dems booed Bush during State of the Union Speech...

But it was Obama who said himself in the speech: “If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out.”

That’s what Joe Wilson was doing, wasn’t it?

And that’s what Democrats would undoubtedly tell you they were doing during George W. Bush’s 2005 State of the Union Speech when they booed and shouted down his remarks about the need for Social Security reform. Omri Ceren remembers

Allahpundit, via Twitter: “Joe Wilson’s big mistake: Not saving the ‘liar’ catcall for when The One was pushing his moronic ‘deficit-neutral’ mega-lie.”

Ed Driscoll

» AP: President’s Speech Contained “Variety Of Oversimplifications And Omissions”

Betsys Page

» Fact-checking the President

Legal Insurrection

» The House Bill Does Cover Illegals

Linked with:

• The Harrington Report
• GOP Congressman Calls Obama Out on Blatant Lie : The American Pundit
• Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » Congressman Calls Obama a “Liar” During Health Care Speech
• Audience Yells “Liar” At Obama During Health Care Speech to Congress! « Mcnorman’s Weblog
• Video: GOP congressman yells “liar” at Obama « -THE “G” BLOGS ~ Gunny G Online -
• Narcissistic views: Obama did lie about illegals
• Harder edge, still vague « Healthcare Horserace
• Obligatory POTUS & TOTUS open thread [Darleen Click] UPDATECassy Fiano » Video of the DayWOW, Audience
• Member Calls Obama a Liar As Obama Says His Obamacare will Not Cover Illegal Aliens | Scared Monkeys
• Stop The ACLU
• You Lie! – Congressman Corrects the President During his Speech | The Patriot’s Mind
• Ed Driscoll » “Argue With Your Neighbors! Get In Their Faces!”
• The Angry White Guy » Blog Archive » Obama speech … YOU LIE!!
• “You Lie” « Sharp Right Turn
• It Had To Be Said « Nice Deb
• Obama’s speech: What’s good for the goose is apparently not good for the gander on The Patriot Room
• S.C. Congressman Wilson Heckles Obama at Health Care Speech, It’s a Lie « Iron Mill News Service – Columbia, SC
• Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » The greatest American hero
• Enhanced Audio Of Republican Outburst During Obama Healthcare Address » The Nose On Your Face
• Republican Congressman Joe Wilson Heckles the President | Political Byline
• [Image/Video Update] Join Us To Live Blog Obama’s Health Scare Speech! : NO QUARTER
• Joe Wilson Transforms Himself Into the Left’s Newest Red Herring | The Crowbar
• South Carolina rep Joe Wilson yells YOU LIE – most news worthy event of the “speech” | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
• Obama Heckled by Republican Congressman: Three Cheers for Joe Wilson! | DBKP – Death By 1000 Papercuts – DBKP
• Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: GOP congressman yells “liar” at … | kozmom news
• A South Carolinian’s Response to Joe Wilson « The Lady Patriot
• How to prove that Obamacare covers illegal aliens and funds abortions « Wintery Knight Blog
• Thank You Congressman Wilson « A Political Dookie
• Soaring Presidential Rhetoric Triggers Presidential Label As Liar « Quipster
• Barack Obama Boldly Lies To Congress; Is That A High Crime Or A Misdemeanor? — Lee-Reedy.com
• Establishment media ecstatic over God-Emperor’s SOS oratory, vows renewed commitment to the fight for his/their National Socialist agenda » Cold Fury
• Michelle Malkin » Unruly moment, manufactured outrage
• Shouting ‘Liar’ in a Crowded Congress
• Daily Pundit » No, We Don’t Want to Pay for Health Care For Illegal Immigrants
• Obama in a box « DaTechguy’s Blog
• Men Named “Joe Wilson” Are Always Trouble For Presidents « Around The Sphere
• Unruly moment, manufactured outrage? « SCHotline
• Michelle Malkin Unruly moment, manufactured outrage « Are you Freaking Stupid?
• Let’s Talk About Civility, Shall We? « The Underground Conservative
• President Obama fulminates before congress | novatownhall blog

….. a $10-billion provision tucked deep inside thousands of pages of health care overhaul bills that could help the UAW’s retiree health-care plan and other union-backed plans.

It would see the government — at least temporarily — pay 80 cents on the dollar to corporate and union insurance plans for claims between $15,000 and $90,000 for retirees age 55 to 64.

Big businesses with union workers are twice as likely to offer retiree benefits as nonunion ones.

Greg Mourad of the National Right to Work Committee called it “a shameless case of political payback,” saying Democrats and President Barack Obama are trying “to force the rest of us to pay billions to cover those unions’ health care.”

Labor advocates say even more funding may be needed.

“It is not enough money,” said former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, a Mt. Clemens Democrat who chairs the board at Washington, D.C.-based American Rights at Work, a labor advocacy group. “That will have to be supplemented to fill the gap.”

…. The health care debate roiling the nation promises an even greater impact in Michigan: It could determine whether the UAW’s gamble that it can insure 850,000 retirees from Detroit’s automakers pays off or goes bust.

Thanks to Detroit’s twin auto bankruptcies and other concessions, the UAW’s voluntary employee benefit association, or VEBA, had to take stock of unknown value for $24 billion in claims, while adding thousands of early retirees to its rolls.

Outside experts estimate the funds have about 30 cents in cash for every dollar of future claims, with no guarantee of what its stock assets will be worth. Lance Wallach, a New York-based VEBA expert, says if the funds “don’t get something, they’re out of business in 12 years.”

…. The $10 billion is aimed at a growing gap between the skyrocketing cost of care for early retirees — ages 55 to 64, too young for Medicare — and what President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats promise will be less-expensive coverage once, and if, the much-debated reform measures kick in several years from now.

[S]uch a change could alter the dynamic of talks surrounding health care legislation, and even change the substance of a final bill. With no need to negotiate with Republicans, Democrats might be better able to move more quickly, relying on their large majorities in both houses. Democratic senators might feel more empowered, for example, to define the authority of the nonprofit insurance cooperatives that are emerging as an alternative to a public insurance plan…

Administration officials, who maintain that Republicans are badly mischaracterizing the legislation that has emerged from three House committees and the Senate health committee, said they had hoped to achieve some level of bipartisan support. But they are becoming increasingly convinced that they will instead have to navigate the complicated politics among varying Democratic factions.

The officials said the White House hoped to make the case to the American people that it was Republicans who had abandoned the effort at bipartisanship. Republicans countered by saying that they simply opposed the legislation and that the public outcry had validated their view and solidified their opposition.

One senior administration official said the sense within the White House was that Republicans, in an effort to undermine President Obama and Congressional Democrats, had made a political calculation to oppose any health care legislation.

Allahpundit

Thus did a party that no longer has enough Senate seats to pull a filibuster somehow become an obstructionist, utopia-destroying leviathan. Belated exit question: Is this all just a ruse by The One to put pressure on the Blue Dogs to accept a public option? Symbolically kicking the GOP out of the negotiations leaves the media free to focus on conservative Democrats as the true stumbling block to universal health care. Ironically, the “go it alone” move may be aimed more at his own side than at the GOP.

STACLU:

I’m disappointed the article didn’t live up to the hype. I was hoping to watch the lemmings jump off the cliff. It sounds like a bluff to me that would only expose the Democrat bluedogs as the ones really keeping this from getting passed. Perhaps this was meant to pressure them? They really don’t have the votes with a public option, and that option is vital to the liberals. Of course this isn’t stopping some to scheme, but I’m calling bluff on this rumor.

Be sure to read this: Axelrod’s profits: Uh, who’s on the take from the drug lobby again?!?!

Unlike pretty much every other Hopenchange economic policy, not only did this one work, it worked better than expected. And yet, I can’t help thinking there’s a lesson in the fact that a centrally planned program budgeted to run through the end of October went bust in, er, seven days. That’s some miscalculation — not unlike the miscalculation that promised unemployment no higher than eight percent once we pinched that $787 billion loaf known as the stimulus. And naturally, the program came buried in so much bureaucracy and paperwork that some dealers gave up on it despite the amazing business it drummed up.

Ah well. I’m sure none of that will happen with national health care.

Well, as Nina says,
it’s [the stimulus package] a trillion dollar mulligan. You know, the
first rule in Washington is if you’re in a hole, stop digging. And this
is digging more and more into the hole.

The administration
argues that the reason unemployment is higher than they projected is
that the stimulus hasn’t yet kicked in. Well, if that is the case, why
would you argue for a second stimulus that’s going to add another $1
trillion to the debt when there is no evidence yet, admittedly—you
would admit yourself there is no evidence—that the first stimulus had
worked.

And secondly…if
you’re going to add on a second stimulus after arguing that the lag in
the effect of the stimulus is large—and that’s why we haven’t seen any
effect yet—that means that the effects of the second stimulus would be
way down the road. It would be kicking in at a time when the
administration itself is projecting that the economy will be rising and
in recovery.

So it will overheat
and over-stimulate the economy, add to inflation rates, and add hugely
to our debt at a time when we already have rumblings from the Russians,
the Chinese, and even the Indians today of removing the dollar as the
world reserve currency.

Well, as Nina says, it’s [the stimulus package] a trillion dollar mulligan. You know, the first rule in Washington is if you’re in a hole, stop digging. And this is digging more and more into the hole.

The administration argues that the reason unemployment is higher than they projected is that the stimulus hasn’t yet kicked in. Well, if that is the case, why would you argue for a second stimulus that’s going to add another $1 trillion to the debt when there is no evidence yet, admittedly—you would admit yourself there is no evidence—that the first stimulus had worked.

And secondly…if you’re going to add on a second stimulus after arguing that the lag in the effect of the stimulus is large—and that’s why we haven’t seen any effect yet—that means that the effects of the second stimulus would be way down the road. It would be kicking in at a time when the administration itself is projecting that the economy will be rising and in recovery.

So it will overheat and over-stimulate the economy, add to inflation rates, and add hugely to our debt at a time when we already have rumblings from the Russians, the Chinese, and even the Indians today of removing the dollar as the world reserve currency.