Two Fed Chairmen in One!

Bernanke: Sharp Spending Cuts Could Hurt the Economy (Time Magazine June 11, 2011)

Bernanke warns lawmakers nation headed for 'massive fiscal cliff' (The Hill, February 29, 2012)

The Economist: Europe's Labor Markets Stacked Aginst The Young

In this week's issue The Economist notes that youth unemployment may, in the long run, prove to be the worst of Europe's many problems 

OF ALL the euro zone’s many problems, youth unemployment is perhaps the most distressing. Joblessness among young workers is around 30% in Portugal and nearly 50% in Spain. Above-average unemployment is the norm for young people, even in more liberal markets like America’s. But Spain’s youth unemployment rate jumped by nearly 20 percentage points between 2007 and 2009, compared with a rise of seven points in America. Labour-market regulations take much of the blame: while hard-to-fire older workers luxuriate on permanent contracts, the young are typically hired temporarily and are easier to sack.

Read the whole thing!

Why the GOP Shouldn't Write Off the Milennial Vote

A new Harvard Survey shows that the votes of young people in 2012 are up for grabs.  In a trial heat against Mitt Romney, young people between 18 and 29 favor Obama by a mere 11 point margin over Mitt Romney (37% Obama to 26% for Romney).  That's a far cry from the 2-1 margin by which younger voters favored Obama over McCain.  The survey also found that a majority of young people believe that Obama will lose the election.     

On the issues (toplines here) Millennials disapprove of Obama's handling of the federal budget (30% approve, 67% disapprove) and the economy (32% approve, 65% disapprove).  Millennials even give Obama a thumbs down on his signature issue: health care (43% approve, 54% disapprove).

Will this be the year the GOP finally connects again with younger voters?