Consumer spending did rise 2.2 percent on an annualized basis in the last quarter.

Just to summarize, there were 611,000 jobs lost in the private sector last month, is that right?

What would you say, just to summarize, have been the biggest areas of loss for the types of jobs across the country?

The recession, as we've talked about, seems to be different from previous recessions, given the severe housing slump, the credit crunch and the global nature of the economic downturn.

How many jobs have been lost since December 2007?

And that trend is similar to the regular unemployment rate?

I know we discussed last year the health care effect here and the burden on workers of the cost of health care in this country.

I would think these numbers are important. People have to realize across the country that it's not just one person messing up here.

You can't tell someone who has lost their job 'Hey, we've seen some good increases in consumer confidence.' That's not going to help them.

we're going to be working on health care reform this year, and if we're able to bring some costs down and make it more affordable and do it in a different way, do you think that would help people with their wages?

We need to get our act together here in terms of these financial regulations.

That is what led us in Congress to extend unemployment benefits, something that we always did in the past.

Let us all remember that there are real people behind these statistics.

Does that tend to be an indicator that there is some glimmer of hope here?

That's historically true if we're going to look at long-term situations. That should make a difference.

So these are people that are discouraged workers, that can't quite get the money they need or the hours they need?

I believe having judges with real-world front-line experience as prosecutors is a good thing.

I, too, am looking for a person with good judgment, someone with intellectual curiosity and independence, but who also understands that her judicial decisions affect real people.