2012 Election | The Liberty Tree

Private Sector is Doing Fine – 14 Sep 12 Edition

“The private sector is doing fine” ~ President Obama

“I think he’s really defining what it means to be out of touch with reality.” ~ Willard Mitt Romney

Since the above exchange between the President and Willard the following indicators the private sector is indeed “doing fine”:

In the 2^nd Quarter the following earnings were reported by the private sector:

Yahoo reported $1.08 billion
Facebook reported $1.2 billion
EBay reported $3.4 billion
Macy’s reported $6.12 billion
Travelers reported $6.36 billion
McDonald’s reported $6.92 billion
Morgan Stanley reported $7 billion
Best Buy reported $10.55 billion
Amazon.com reported $12.8 billion
Google reported $12.21 billion
United Parcel Service (UPS) reported $13.4 billion
Coca-Cola reported $13.09 billion
Intel reported $13.5 billion
Dell reported $14.5 billion
Pfizer reported $15.1 billion
Johnson & Johnson reported $16.5 billion
Microsoft reported $18.06 billion
Citigroup reported $18.4 billion
Procter & Gamble reported $20.2 billion
Bank of America reported $22.2 billion
IBM reported $25.8 billion
Verizon reported $28.6 billion
AT&T reported $31.6 billion

Hewlett-Packard reported third quarter earnings of $29.7 billion

Following are fourth quarter earnings:

News Corp. reported $8.4 billion
Cisco reported $11.7 billion

The private sector added 163,000 jobs in July, according to the ADP report. Analysts had been expecting an increase of 120,000.

The Labor Department reports nonfarm payrolls rose by 96,000 in August from July, less than the 125,000 expected. The unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 8.1% from 8.3.

The Conference Board’s gauge of consumer confidence rose to 65.9 in July from 62.7 in June, better than the 61.5 economists expected.

The manufacturing sector in the U.S. Midwest expanded at a slightly swifter pace in July than it did the month before. The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago’s PMI gauge came in at 53.7, higher than expectations of 52.5 and a reading of 52.9 in June.

Home prices in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas climbed 2.2% in May from the month before on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, according the S&P/Case-Shiller report. That came in stronger than the 1.5% gain economists expected.

Sales of existing homes rose 2.3% in July from June to an annualized rate of 4.47 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors.

U.S. pending home sales rose 2.4% in July from June, topping the 1% expected and hitting the highest level since April 2010. Sales were up 12.4% from a year ago.

U.S. housing starts jumped 6.9% in June from May to a 760,000-unit rate, topping estimates of a 745,000-unit rate and marking the highest rate since October 2008.

Sales of new single-family homes rose 3.6% in July from June to an annualized rate of 372,000 units. Analysts were expecting an annualized rate of 365,000 units.

The Commerce Department reported that building permits rose 6.8% to a rate of 812,000, the highest level in four years.

The Labor Department reported producer prices climbed 0.3% in July from June, the fastest pace in five months. Analysts expected an increase of 0.2%. Excluding the food and energy components, prices were up 0.4%, also more than the 0.2% increase forecast.

Retail sales climbed 0.8% in July from June, the largest increase since February and a bigger gain than the 0.3% economists expected.

The consumer sentiment reading of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment increased to 73.6 in early August from July’s final reading of 72.3. The August preliminary reading topped forecasts for an increase to 72.4 and marked the highest level since May.

U.S. retail sales rose 0.9% in August from July, more than the 0.7% expected and the largest rise since February. Excluding the auto segment, sales were up 0.8%, topping estimates of 0.6%.

The broad S&P 500 struck its highest level since May 2008 on 21 Aug 12, while the Dow is sitting less than 60 points beneath its highest point since the end of 2007. Meanwhile, oil futures are jumping 1.5% as the U.S. dollar sinks to its lowest level since early July.

The Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.9 in August from 51.4 in July, the first monthly increase in five months. Readings over 50 point to expansion while readings below 50 indicate contraction.

Orders for long-lasting U.S. goods rose 4.2% in July from June, blowing past estimates of a 2.4% increase. Excluding the transportation segment, orders were down 0.4%, missing estimates of a 0.5% gain.

A second reading on U.S. gross domestic product showed the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 1.7% in the second quarter, in line with economists’ estimates and faster than an initial estimate of 1.5%.

The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas shows home prices rose 2.3% in June from May on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, a bigger gain than the 1.6% expected. Prices were up 0.5% from the same period a year earlier in the first increase since September 2010.

Personal spending rose 0.4% in July from June, as expected, to the highest level since February. Personal income rose 0.3%, also as expected.

A final reading on consumer sentiment for the month of August checked in at 74.3, higher than a preliminary reading of 73.6, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan.

The Institute for Supply Management’s gauge of service-sector activity rose to 53.7 in August, the highest level since May, from 52.6 in July; the index was expected to fall slightly to 52.5.

A preliminary reading on consumer sentiment for the month of September came in at 79.2, up from 74.3 in August and higher than the 74 expected, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan.

Stock Market was 8077.56 on 19 Jan 09 and 13,593.37 on 14 Sep 12

New claims for unemployment benefits fell to 365,000 from an upwardly revised 377,000 the week prior. Claims were expected to fall to 370,000 from an initially reported 374,000.

Who’s out of touch Mitt?

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Posted by PEB on September 14, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: apple, Bank of America, best buy, business, case shiller, consumer confidence, earnings news, ebay, Economy, facebook, fourth quarter earnings, google, institute for supply management, Mitt Romney, mitt romney private sector not doing fine, Mitt Romney wrong on private sector, morgan stanley, nonfarm payrolls, personal spending, Preisdent Obama private sector is doing just fine, Private Sector is Doing Just Fine, procter amp gamble, real-estate, s gauge, technology, undefined, unemployment rate, united parcel service, united parcel service ups

Maybe Al-Qaeda “Gave Up” Bin Laden To Make Obama “Look Good”?

13 Sep

Right wing talk radio buffoon Rush “Rusty” Hudson Limbaugh III has decided there’s a reason for why President Obama was able to order Navy Seals into Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden; he was able to get Bin Laden, because as Rusty puts it, “What if Ayman al-Zawahiri and other Al Qaeda leaders gave up Osama bin Laden for the express purpose of making Obama look good?”

Limbaugh claims his theory has legitimacy because Bin Laden was no longer a key player in Al Qaeda when he was killed, and that the group wanted Obama to remain in power so that it could have a better chance of seeing Israel destroyed, since the president is supposedly so hostile towards Israel.

“Do you think that militant Islamists will be as hopeful of getting rid of Israel with a Republican president or with a Democrat president?” he asked his listeners.

Once again Rusty’s trying to play on the conservative talking point that the President’s somehow weakened Israel, never mind all evidence to the contrary, such as providing Israel with 55 bunker-buster 5,000 pound bombs putting it in the perfect position to take out Iran’s buried nuclear facilities; or that while under the Bush administration aid to Israel steadily declined to $2,424,000,000 and that under President Obama aid to Israel’s on the rise once again with $2,550,000,000 given in 2009 and $2,770,000,000 given in 2010 with continued increase expected through FY 12.

Limbaugh’s proven once again that he’s not only a dolt, but the king of the dolts, making comments which are so far off the norm that only his obtuse audience would believe them. It’s another sign of just how desperate the right is and, that like their candidate, they’re willing to throw everything out there no matter how wild or untrue in an effort to defeat the President. As I said, Limbaugh’s a dolt.

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Posted by PEB on September 13, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: ayman al zawahiri, democrat president, Libya, Limbaugh claims al qaeda gave up bin laden, Limbaugh the dolt, Limbaugh's an idiot, Media News, militant islamists, Politics, Rush Limbaugh, Rush Limbaugh Al Qaeda Bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh Bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh Conspiracy Theory, Rush Limbaugh Obama, undefined, Video

Allen West Blames President Obama For Libya Attack?

13 Sep

Republican Tea Party (GOTP) Congressman Allen West (aka Walter E. Kurtz), the former Army officer forced to “retire” after discharging his side arm next to the head of a prisoner he’d just told he was going to kill, has jumped into the fray over attacks on U.S. diplomatic posts in Libya and Egypt blaming President Obama.

Mobs rioting in Egypt and Libya, allegedly outraged by an anti-Islam film promoted by Quran-burning preacher Terry Jones fired rocket-propelled grenades in Libya at the U.S. Consulate, killing four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Kurtz (West), who’s fighting for his Congressional seat in a tight race against Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy, is doubling down saying it was the Obama administration’s support for the Arab Spring uprisings that encouraged the attacks by “intolerant, barbaric, radical Muslims.”

“Americans need to question whether the deaths of these innocent patriots could have been avoided,” West claimed in a statement. “The Obama Administration touted the Arab Spring as an awakening of freedom, which we now see is a nightmare of Islamism.” West then repeated the already debunked lie that U.S. Embassy officials in Cairo “apologized” for the inflammatory film.

“President Obama’s policy of appeasement towards the Islamic world has manifested itself into a specter of unconscionable hatred,” West said, declaring the current events ranked with the Iranian hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held for 444 days in Tehran, starting in late 1979.

“President Obama has clearly surpassed former President Jimmy Carter and his actions during the Iranian Embassy crisis, as the weakest and most ineffective person to ever occupy the White House,” he said, of course failing to mention how under the President’s watch Osama bin Laden was killed along with scores of other top Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders – the ones the Bush Administration seemed either unable or unwilling to find.

West is soon to be a foot note in political history as a one term congressman who’s outlandish claims have included that the Democratic Caucus in Congress was filled with communists. He’s trying to score points out of desperation, and his latest crazed comments are proving once more how in the end, just as he was unfit to wear his country’s uniform any longer, he’s unfit to serve in the United States Congress.

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Posted by PEB on September 13, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: Allen West, allen west crazy, Allen West Democrats are Communists, Allen West Democrats are Nazis, Allen West Libya, Allen West Libya Attack, allen west president caused attack in libya, Ambassador Chris Stevens, Arab Spring, barack obama, Chris Stevens Libya, Christopher Stevens, former president jimmy carter, iranian hostage crisis, J Christopher Stevens, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, John Mccain Libya, Libya, Libya Ambassador, Libya Attack, Libya Embassy, Libyan Embassy, Lindsey Graham, Obama Blamed For Ambassador, Obama On Libya, policy of appeasement, Politics, Politics News, president jimmy carter, Sarah Palin Libya, undefined, Video

Reasons Why I Can’t Vote for Romney – 12 September Edition

12 Sep

The ever expanding list of reasons as to why I can’t vote for Willard Mitt Romney because he:

12 Sep 12 – Lied about the President’s response to attacks on U.S. diplomats and embassies in Libya and Egypt.

31 Aug 12 – Continues to lie about President Obama’s record, spokes person said the campaign wouldn’t be influenced by fact checking – meaning they’ll lie about whatever and whenever they choose.

Lied during his acceptance speech about President Obama saying he went on an apology tour after being inaugurated, cut $716 billion dollars from Medicare, raised taxes on the middle class and had thrown Israel under the bus.

Allowed VP pick Paul Ryan to give a speech full of lies.

Allowed Clint Eastwood to stand up on stage at age 82 and make a fool out of himself turning a Hollywood icon into the Court Jester.

20 Aug 12 – Lied about President Obama ending welfare to work.

12 Jul 12 – Lied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about his role at Bain Capital; possibly committed a felony.

12 Jul 12 – Lied about when he left Bain Capital

16 Jun 12 – Said he’d do opposite of everything President Obama’s done for Israel

14 Jun 12 – Said it was OK to fire public sector employees

12 Jun 12 – Claimed he wanted to serve in Vietnam although granted multiple deferments

09 Jun12 – Thinks we have too many teachers, fire fighters and police officers

05 Jun 12 –Confirmed earlier confirmation there’s a village missing him

30 May 12 –Has morons on his team –misspells America on campaign iPhone app

29 May 12 – Chose to chum around with Trump

18 May 12 –Confirmed there’s a village missing him

11 May 12 –Joked about bullying a fellow student in high school

09 May 12 – Lied about saving the auto industry

19 Apr 12 – Refused to release Tax Returns and lied about John Kerry

17 Apr 12 – Failed to denounce Ted Nugent

14 Apr 12 – Thought “struggling” in college wass divesting some of your stock portfolio

11 Apr 12 – Willard didn’t know what the Lilly Ledbetter Act was

29 Mar 12 – Told a “humorous” story about firing people

29 mar 12 – Accepted campaign money from Pink Slime producer

28 Mar 12 – Supported Scott Walker

27 Mar 12 – Thought the Soviet Union’s still our number one threat

19 Mar 12 – Said he’d push back against “evil” teachers unions

23 Feb 12 – Lied about requiring Massachusetts’ non-profit hospitals to provide emergency contraception

10 Feb 12 –Claimed only Americans place hand over heart to show how much we love our country

01 Feb 12 – Said he “Doesn’t Worry About the Poor“

27 Jan 12 – Failed to Report Interest Earned in His Off Shore Accounts

27 Jan 12 – Lied about his Fannie and Freddie investments being in a blind trust

18 Jan 12 – Stashed Millions in Offshore Accounts

17 Jan 12 – Said $362,000 in Speaking Fees is ‘Not Very Much’?

11 Jan 12 – Believes class warfare is about envy

09 Jan 12 – Vetoed contraception bill for rape victims as governor

09 Jan 12 – Claimed he “likes to fire people”

05 Jan 12 – He released tax plan, steal from the poor and give to the rich

04 Jan 12 – Said Big Bird would get the boot

13 Dec 11 – Bet Perry $10k during a debate

28 Nov 11 – Constantly flip-flops

23 Nov 11 – Said false ad’s ok

14 Nov 11 – Said he’d prepare for war with Iran

08 Oct 11 – Lied to cadets at the Citadel

22 Sep 11 – Claimed to be middle class

06 Sep 11 – He released economic plan favors the rich over everyone else

11 Aug 11 – Said “corporations are people”

05 Aug 11 – Pledged himself to evangelical group

01 Aug 11 – Opposed deal on debt ceiling

06 Jul 11 – Lied about the economy

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Posted by PEB on September 12, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: acceptance speech, bain capital, campaign money, clint eastwood, court jester, current-events, deferments, emergency contraception, fellow student, GOP convention 2012, hollywood icon, humorous story, iphone, John Kerry, Lilly Ledbetter, Mitt Romney, obama, Paul Ryan, Politics, profit hospitals, public sector employees, quotes, Reasons not to vote for Mitt Romney, Romney acceptance speech, Romney is a liar, Romney lies, Romney lies about accounts, Romney lies about health care, romney lies about medicare cuts, Ryan acceptance speech, securities and exchange commission, teachers unions, Ted Nugent

Romney opens mouth inserts foot over early US response to attacks?

12 Sep

According to the Associated Press (AP), Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential wannabe Willard Mitt Romney criticized President Obama following attacks on U.S. diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya, and as per his standard operating procedures he didn’t bother to check his facts, branding as “disgraceful” an early response to the assault in Cairo and saying it sympathized with the attackers.

The attacks were allegedly spurred by a video posted on the Internet, which protesters say attacks Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

Protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to replace the American flag with an Islamic banner, while in the Libyan city of Benghazi, four Americans were shot to death as protesters burned and looted the U.S. consulate.

Romney rushed to release his statement without having all the facts, saying he was outraged by the attacks and the death of the American consulate worker, mewing, “It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

Of course while Willard was busy throwing gasoline on the fire, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, was condemning the attack in Libya “in the strongest terms.”

“Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet,” Secretary Clinton said. “The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.”

In response to Romney, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an email early Wednesday, “We are shocked that, at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Gov. Romney would choose to launch a political attack.”

While the campaign may be “shocked” it is of course no surprise, indeed it’s straight out of Romney’s playbook, lie and lie often and loudly; don’t wait for facts, or just plain ignore them. Once again Romney’s proven he’s not ready for the prime time.

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Posted by PEB on September 12, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: attacks in egypt, attacks in lybia, hillary rodham clinton, Libya, Politics, Religion, romney condemns obama on attacks, romney lies again on attacks, undefined

Latest 2012 Presidential Polls – 11 Sep 12 Edition

11 Sep

With eight (8) weeks to go until the November election there’s good news and bad news for Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential wanna-be Willard Mitt Romney. The good news is he’s finally found his post convention “bounce”, and the bad news? President Obama’s got it. Following a mediocre Republican National Convention filled with all the usual FOX News talking points the Democratic National Convention finished high after three days of incredible speeches and multiple political home runs.

So, how does the GOTP candidate stand up against the President?

The last favorability CNN/Opinion Research poll of likely voters conducted from 7 – 9 Sep 12, showed the President with a 57% favorability rating compared to Romney’s 48%.

So, who’s more electable right now?

In the most recent viable’ national poll(s) – which are any group other than the Washington Times or Rasmussen (which are generally always skewed not just to the right, but far to the right) – the above mentioned CNN/Opinion Research poll of likely voters conducted 7 – 9 Sep 12, if the election were held today:

President Obama 52/Romney 46

The most recent Gallup (Monday – 7 day tracking) poll of registered voters conducted from 3 – 10 Sep 12, if the election were held today:

President Obama 49/Romney 44

As a comparison, the last Gallup Tracking poll prior to the DNC of registered voters conducted 20 – 26 Aug 12 demonstrates clearly how the President’s poll numbers have indeed bumped higher by six points following the DNC:

President Obama 46/Romney 47

The most recent IBD/CSM/TIPP poll of registered voters conducted 4 – 9 Sep 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 46/Romney 44

The most recent Democracy Corps (D) poll of likely voters conducted from 23 – 27 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 49/Romney 47

The most recent CBS News poll of registered voters conducted from 22 – 26 Aug 12, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 46/Romney 45

On this day four years ago John McCain was leading in the polls 47.7/45.2 but the President went on to defeat McCain 52.1/44.5.

If the general election was held today, according to national polls, Willard Mitt Romney loses to President Obama in the general election.

And according to state polls, if the General Election were held TODAY (note these are based on current poll numbers – not projections), the Electoral College totals based on all available current poll numbers the President defeats Romney 347/191:

As a comparison, President Obama defeated John McCain 365/173 in 2008

Results of 10 consecutive simulations based on poll data as of 11 Sep 12

Obama 314/224
Obama 337/201
Obama 287/251
Obama 287/251
Obama 285/253

Romney 270/268
Obama 288/250
Obama 313/225
Obama 326/212
Obama 312/226

Of 10 simulations Romney wins only one as the President beats him nine (9) times, and usually by very comfortable margins.

The simulations use cumulative polling data by state and are not based off of national polling data.

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Posted by PEB on September 11, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: 2012 Election, 2012 Electoral Map, 2012 presidential polls, ABC News, Barrack Obama for President, cbs news, cnn, congressman paul, congressman paul ryan, current poll, d poll, democracy corps, double digits, Election 2012, elections 2012, FOX News, hurricane isaac, ipsos poll, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney 2012, national poll, nbc news, news poll, obama, Obama/Biden 2012, opinion research, Politics, poll numbers, post poll, presidential polling sites 2012, registered voters, research poll, Romney 2012, Romney-Ryan 2012, s poll, Sarah Palin, senate candidates, state polls, tracking poll, vp candidates, vp choice

Ryan claims he never voted for defense cuts?

10 Sep

According to the Huffington Post, CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell questioned Republican Tea Party (GOTP) vice-presidential wannabe Paul Ryan this past weekend about voting for the very defense cuts he now criticizes President Obama for supporting.

But what brought this line of questioning to the fore front of the 2012 campaign? Blame it on GOTP presidential aspirant Mitt Romney’s “Meet the Press” appearance, where he thrust the cuts squarely into the limelight declaring Republicans had made a “mistake” when they agreed to $500 billion cut in defense spending over the next ten years.

“He’s talking about you because you voted for those cuts, correct?” O’Donnell pressed Ryan.

Ryan defensively tired to claim he’d voted for the cuts because he was trying to find “common ground” with the Democrats in reducing the budget deficit.

But O’Donnell didn’t appear to buy what Ryan was selling pointing out to the Congressman the defense cuts were part of the Budget Control Act Ryan had full throated supported declaring the legislation not only a “victory” but a “positive step forward”.

“So, you voted for defense cuts, and now you’re criticizing the president for those same defense cuts that you voted for and called a victory,” she said.

“The goal was never that these defense cuts actually occur,” Ryan mewed, claiming weakly he supported a sequestration measure, which would have triggered automatic cuts if the so-called supercommittee didn’t reach a deal.

O’Donnell kept up the heat and pressed on saying the act also contained $1 trillion in immediate cuts, including the defense cuts.

“And you also voted for those, and now you’re saying you didn’t vote for them?” she asked.

Ryan whined the Obama administration proposed $478 billion in defense cuts, in addition to cutting about $500 billion in defense from the sequestration.

“Right. A trillion dollars in defense spending, and you voted for it!” O’Donnell shot back.

“No, Norah. I voted for the Budget Control Act.”

No Congressman, you voted for defense cuts. Call it what you will, whine about however you wish, but the truth is you voted for $1 trillion dollars in defense cuts all the time blaming the President for them. Someone needs to review his notes from 9^th grade civics class; the House of Representatives Congressman Ryan spends the money, not the President.

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Posted by PEB on September 10, 2012 in 2012 Election

Tags: government, Norah O'Donnell, Norah o'Donnell Paul Ryan, Norah o'Donnell Paul Ryan Defense Spending, Paul Ryan Defense Spending, Paul Ryan Norah o'Donnell, Politics, Politics News, presidential aspirant, presidential wannabe

Private Sector is Doing Fine – 7 Sep 12 Edition

07 Sep

“The private sector is doing fine” ~ President Obama

“I think he’s really defining what it means to be out of touch with reality.” ~ Willard Mitt Romney

In the 2^nd Quarter the following earnings were reported by the private sector:

Yahoo reported $1.08 billion
Facebook reported $1.2 billion
EBay reported $3.4 billion
Macy’s reported $6.12 billion
Travelers reported $6.36 billion
McDonald’s reported $6.92 billion
Morgan Stanley reported $7 billion
Best Buy reported $10.55 billion
Amazon.com reported $12.8 billion
Google reported $12.21 billion
United Parcel Service (UPS) reported $13.4 billion
Coca-Cola reported $13.09 billion
Intel reported $13.5 billion
Dell reported $14.5 billion
Pfizer reported $15.1 billion
Johnson & Johnson reported $16.5 billion
Microsoft reported $18.06 billion
Citigroup reported $18.4 billion
Procter & Gamble reported $20.2 billion
Bank of America reported $22.2 billion
IBM reported $25.8 billion
Verizon reported $28.6 billion
AT&T reported $31.6 billion

Following are third quarter earnings:

Hewlett-Packard reported $29.7 billion