Shadowboxing. . .

(Shadowboxing. . .)

"A groundhog and his shadow are a very famous pair. They forecast the weather, together, a trick that is rare. One little thing that bothers me when out of doors I go. Will it be like Springtime, or sixteen feet of snow ? Never know which. I just can't remember. Will it be warm ? Or made like December ? The whole thing just confuses me and that is why I sing: A groundhog's shadow, just doesn't mean a thing."

That tune was sung by "Grover the Groundhog" from the Warner Brothers' animated classic One Meat Brawl, also starring Porky Pig and his hunting dog, Mandrake. They were a hunting pair out for Grover, At the end of the feature, shadows of the three of them were seen trying to beat each other up, only to see the Grover, Porky Pig and Mandrake in front of a lamp. Porky then says: "Shadowboxing. This way, nobody gets hurt."

As one might look at the calendar, today is Groundhog Day, much to the continued chagrin of weatherman, Phil Connors, Bill Murry from the movie. And this morning, it is reported that Punxsutawney Phil apparently did not see his "shadow," indicating an early spring.  Something else happened this morning and that was the un-employment report from last month. It was a stronger than expected 353,000 for January and November and December were revised upward as well. The in-employment rate held steady at 3.7%.

However, there is a reason why this called a "headline" number that while it look impressive, there is always the fine print. Yes, over three hundred fifty thousand jobs were created, they were largely in goverenment or the health care sector. Not as much in the private sector. But as impressive as this report might be, President Biden has nothing to do with it.

It is curious that "Bidenomics" has disappeared from the campaign rhetoric but the President will be taking non-justified credit regardless He will, in a sense, be "shadowboxing" like Porky Pig. Only, Biden will be shadowboxing in the sense that he will be taking credit for the positive employment news from this morning. And what of the impending "action" against Iran and its proxies ? It has now been six days since the attack on Tower 22 that resulted in the deaths of three servicepeople and the Administration has yet to formulate a response.  The question from the last few days.

Will it be real ? Or will Biden be shadow boxing ? That way, no body gets hurt.