Some people are such treasures that you just want to bury them. –Unknown

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm, humor, and bluntness.

This week’s topics include the federal debt, New Jersey sports betting, Sandy Hook school shooting, unemployment, the great (California) pumpkin, U.S. House & Syria, censure Schiff, Trump impeachment poll, Congressional approval, ESPN’s Pigskin Pick, and much more!

1,203,343,570,253.55

The federal debt increased by $1,203,343,570,253.55 in fiscal 2019, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury Department. That equaled approximately $9,432 for each of the 127,586,000 households the Census Bureau estimated were in the United States in 2018. (CNSNews.com)

Our federal debt does not seem to matter much these days.

445.000,000

Gamblers wagered a record-breaking $445 million on sports in New Jersey in September, the largest monthly total in the state since legal sports betting began in June 2018. Tuesday’s release of figures came as the rapidly growing New Jersey sports betting market challenges Nevada for nationwide leadership of the industry. (AP)

They should be able to repair a few potholes with the taxes…

450,000

A conspiracy theorist who co-wrote a book claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting never happened must pay $450,000 to a father (Leonard Pozner) of a boy killed in the shootings. (USA Today)

Good for Mr. Pozner.

210,000

In the week ending October 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment was 210,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised level. (DOL.gov)

Thursday’s data is released at 6:30 a.m. Mountain time, well after this column is published. Click HERE to see Thursday’s unemployment data.

2,175

That’s how much a California pumpkin weighed at the 46th annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh Off. This set a record for the largest in California. (AP)

The great pumpkin…

354 – 60

By a 2-to-1 margin, House Republicans on Wednesday broke with President Donald Trump and opposed his decision to pull back U.S. forces in Syria, a move that exposed Kurdish fighters to attack from Turkey. A resolution opposing the move passed 354 to 60, with 129 Republicans siding with the unanimous Democrats and 60 opposed. (Roll Call)

U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte (R-MT/At Large) was one of the 129 Republicans. (House.gov)

135

That’s how many House Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors to censure House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for his “parody” reading of President Trump’s July phone call with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. (Fox News)

As a reminder, the Democrats control the House so this probably won’t go anywhere.

52

Gallup Polling is reporting that 52% say Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 46% say he should not be. This is roughly the opposite of what Gallup found in June when asked in the context of special counselor Robert Mueller’s investigation. (Gallup)

Gallup also says that since June, Democrats’ and independents’ support for impeachment has grown, while Republicans’ views have not changed.

25

According to Gallup Polling, that’s the approval rating of Congress. This is an increase from 18% last month. (Gallup)

Maybe those polled like the impeachment talk? Maybe those polled like the gridlock?

8

That’s how many points I scored in ESPN’s Pigskin Pick last week. That’s the game where you pick the winners of the NFL games. There were 14 points available.

I started out well this year, getting 12 points in each of the first two weeks, but in recent weeks I have fallen on hard times! I’m looking forward to my Kansas City Chiefs getting back in the win column tonight (Thursday) when they play at Denver.

 

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