President Obama may emphasize jobs in his state of the union address, but there's one statistic he probably won't mention -- more than 29 million Americans lost jobs during his first year in office.

That's the grand total of initial unemployment claims filed nationwide during the weeks of Jan. 24, 2009, through Jan. 16, 2010.  It's the real, actual number of claims, not "seasonally adjusted", 29,003,159 to be precise, compiled by adding all the weekly figures reported by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Initial claims are widely covered in the media as a proxy for the number of jobs lost during a particular week, as newly fired or laid-off  workers apply for unemployment compensation.  But the huge number of employees swept out of work in the Year of Obama suggests the cumulative jobs problem is far worse than conveyed by small dribs of "official" data.

While some of the 29 million may have found new or part-time positions, others could have become discouraged and quit looking, at least temporarily.  Estimates of the number actually unemployed vary widely, from 15- to as high as 30-million.  If Obama wants to help these struggling Americans, it's getting late:

"THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD". . ."Obama should have concentrated on creating jobs in the first day that he took office.  This economy disaster is his failure as being a president." -- Jan. 22 comments on ABC-TV news website.

The 650,728 claims filed during the week ending Jan. 16 added to what many saw as a "bad week" for the President.  There were worries Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke would not be reconfirmed.  The apparent demise of ObamaScare and loss of the Democrats' filibuster-proof Senate majority with the victory of Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R-MA) couldn't have added to presidential cheer.  Nor could mutterings that the President's endorsement now was the "kiss of death" for Democratic candidates, as previously exemplified by gubernatorial losses in Virginia and New Jersey.

Unless there's a dramatic reversal of the giant jobs drain, the current "Great Recession" could result in lasting comparisons of President Obama with former GOP President Herbert Hoover, who's often blamed by Democrats with causing the "Great Depression".

The President's jobs efforts to date have been failures at best and destructive at worst.  Early in his administration he rammed a $787 billion "stimulus" package through Congress, with the stated goal of creating employment.  Most of the money turned out to be pork and slush-funding for political pandering.  By December, only $159 billion had been spent, with questionable results.  The White House said more than 640,000 jobs had been "created or saved", but on close examination the claim was smoke and mirrors.  Clintonesque re-definitions of "job" ensued, the most recent so self-serving it drew more laughs than Rodney Dangerfield, for whom lack of respect was a comic shtick.

To appear concerned, Obama showcased a December Jobs Summit featuring more than 100 hand-picked business leaders, union chiefs, academics, mayor and officials from nonprofit groups.  This followed a health care pinnacle at which doctor suits were handed out to attendees, for benefit of news cameras.  Maybe "Obama Creates Jobs" T-shirts were needed at the staged employment event.  "Nobody buys it anymore," said a viewer.

A lot of wind circulated in the White House but in the end, few new jobs were evident.  Most recent hiring has been in the public sector, or make-work created by borrowing enormous amounts of money.  It's been a fun ride in the Washington, D.C., area, but the rest of the nation has to pay.  Congress recently increased the national debt limit by trillions of dollars -- a jobs killer in the hinterlands, where suffering taxpayers dwell.

Last year's maneuverings were mostly for show, but when Democrats started losing elections big-time in liberal bastions, Obama got serious -- in his own way.  He hitched-up his teleprompters and ventured into fly-over territory, where he made a speech.  No more Mister Nice Guy, a new sheriff was in town.  He was all fired-up with newfound determination to make jobs.  Again, mere talk didn't seem to work.  Said one poster on the TV website, "Why doesn't Jimmy Obama stay in DC and try to be President instead of going on the road and campaigning!"

One problem: Obama's verbal thunder was delivered in Lorain, Ohio, which he last visited two years ago.   Then, he toured the National Gypsum Co., a drywall factory that was operating seven days a week, supposedly as a result of his wise economic policies.  Unfortunately, within two months the factory closed indefinitely.  "WOW, I sure hope Obama does not come and tour my business," one viewer responded.  

But for Obama, no failure is his own fault.  In his election-year swing, he resurrected traditional Bush-bashing:  the economic mess he inherited was too severe to be solved in one year, the former President was responsible for virtually all the nation's ills, etc.  And, by the way, Congress must re-appoint the Fed's Bernanke, a Bush holdover whose unique expertise is desperately needed to solve the financial crisis.  (Translation: he's been a good partner for Obama, and can be relied-on to take the President's marching orders.)   

After escaping the unemployment-ridden provinces, Obama crept back into his friendlier White House cave, where he dismissed a new threat bin Laden issued from his.  The lawyers would handle it.  He also noted Scott Brown voters of Massachusetts actually hadn't rejected his health takeover plan, a fact that escaped nearly everyone else.  Thank goodness we have such a sage President to point out our follies.  Don't think, just follow.  Tomorrow is another day, and another speech.  And, America burns.