Friday's Factoids

++Carnival Cruz wants to use the confirmation hearings for Kathleen Sebelius' replacement as a moment to repeal Obamacare. 

++Mitch McConnell agrees that Sebelius exist doesn't help and that Obamacare needs to be replaced. What is he going to tell the 400,000plus in his own state what they should do with their new healthcare insurance.

++Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball thinks the GOP will gain 1-3 governorships this year. Currently, the state of play is 29 GOP to 21 Dems. The lead prospects are Pennsylvania,Maine and Florida to go democratic.

++It looks like the budget deficit is down to $413 billion for the first half of the fiscal year. That's down $187billion from last year. Last month was the smallest deficit recorded since 2000. Over all,the deficit is supposed to equal 4.1 percent of GDP in 2014, down nearly 10% during the depths of the recession in 2009. The deficits in the next few years are expected to stay at 2 to 3 percent of the GDP. This is the fastest 4-year reduction in deficits since the demobilization after World War II. Today's New York Times.

++Unemployment claims have declined to a 7 year low. The 300,000 adjusted claims is the lowest level since May 2007. While unemployment is at a five year low,chief economists at investment firms believe unemployment rates will fall faster than the FED expects over the next year.

++Even still,the events in the Ukraine triggered another outcry that Obama is diminishing U.S.'s leadership in the world. Steve Benen at RachelMaddowblog says "Wait a Minute." Benen analyzes the Gallup US Leadership Project, which polled 130,000 people in 130 countries. It seems America's approval with the NSA scandal and all bounced up 5 points. It is the highest regarded country including Germany, China,the E.U and Russia. In Asia last year, America's approval rate topped anytime in either the Obama and Bush Administration. 

++So what is the tale of the tape. In 2008,US's approval rate tied its disapproval at 34-34. Now 46% approve and only 24% disapprove.