Trump's Bad Week

[Aseahawkfan]

You give presidents way too much credit beyond what they control. A lot of your list is fluff and pump BS. Basically garbage disguised as an "accomplishment." I'll answer them even though it's like responding to a drunk intoxicated on Trump Snake Oil.

Here's a few but not an exhaustive list:

Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court

Bret Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court

Once again this is a joint procedure. What long-term effect it will have I doubt will be as you think it will be.

Stock Market reached an all-time high

Consumer confidence at 17-year high

Not because of the president. And the market is falling? Did you notice?

More than 2 million jobs created

Not from Trump. And the unemployment rate was already low.

Mortgage applications for new homes rise to a 7-year high

Unemployment rate at 17-year low

Already were low. Housing market was already rising and is now falling, as expected. Not due to the president. Not sure why you are giving him credit for things he does not do.

Signed the Promoting Women In Entrepreneurship Act

is this a fluff bill? what does it do?

Gutted Obama-era regulations and on the verge of being totally overturned

Regulations that were bad or good?

Ended war on coal

War on coal needs to return. That industry is going to die or be reduced whether it wants to or not.

Weakened Dodd-Frank regulations

Is this necessarily a good thing? You enjoyed the banking collapse that helped throw us into a recession?

Promoted buying and hiring American

Which hasn't changed much. Still have a huge trade deficit, always will. Our businesses benefit from free trade. So not really a good thing.

Investment from major businesses (FoxConn, Toyota, Ford, Apple and others)

Are you really not paying attention? They were already heavily invested in this nation. Not his accomplishment. you juts don't pay attention unless your master is saying it.

Reduced illegal immigration

Maybe. Is there great proof of it?

Portions of border wall built and more coming

More wasted money as primary source of illegal immigration will not be prevented by a wall.

Fighting back against sanctuary cities

And are they gone? Nope. So can it really count as an accomplishment?

Created Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office

Our regular law enforcement couldn't handle it? We needed yet another department other than border patrol, ICE, and all the other organizations we have looking at this? Seems like more unnecessary departments to fluff up a resume.

Changed rules of engagement against ISIS

Drafted plans to defeat ISIS and defeated the caliphate

Until another head rises up. This is mostly because you don't know what's really going on over there that you don't understand this didn't really happen as the names just changed.

Worked to reduce F-35 cost

True.

5-year lobbying ban

What does this mean as lobbying is still happening? Did they just change the name?

Sanctioned Iran over missile program

True

Responded to Syria's use of chemical weapons

Not proven. A token bombing at best as more of hoodwinked public like yourself don't really understand what's going on over there.

Introduced and passed tax reform plan

True.

Renegotiated NAFTA

True. Fairly minor changes, but maybe improvements for certain segments of the economy. We hope.

Withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

True. I hope a good thing. These trade deals mostly benefit big business.

Removed The United States out of The Paris Accord

True. And I feel a good thing.

Created task force to reduce crime

Not sure why you think this is good as we have enough money spent on law enforcement that crime should be reduced. This is just another token government task force for politicians to please folks like me. As far as I'm concerned if all the current law enforcement agencies can't get it done, another one won't do much.

DOJ targeting MS-13 (thousands removed)

They were already targeted. New flavor of month gang getting press.

Signed an Executive Order to promote energy independence and economic growth (now a net exporter and the largest oil exporter in the world)

I don't believe this is true. Provide your evidence. We certainly don't provide it all domestically.

Signed Executive Order to protect police officers

More fluff. Cops are well protected by existing laws.

Signed Executive Order to target drug cartels

More fluff.

Signed Executive Order for religious freedom

More fluff.

Sending education back to The States

More fluff that will have no real effect.

Fixing the Department of Veterans Affairs

Still not fixed.

SCOTUS upheld parts of President Trump's temporary travel ban Executive Order

A travel ban implemented by Obama and Bush prior targeting nations that aren't a real danger to us. So a useless policy.

Authorized the construction of The Keystone Pipeline

Yet it is still having problems.

Created commission on opioid addiction

Would have happened without Trump.

Combating human trafficking (both EO and action)

Would have happened without Trump and was already happening.

Rollback of Obama's Cuba policy

Why is this good? Cuba is not a threat any longer and we should begin to repair relations with them.

Food Stamp use lowest level in 7 years

Goes in line with low unemployment.

Reduced White House payroll

Deficits are bigger than ever, so this matters why?

Donating Presidential Salary

Fluff.

Executive Order on Obamacare subsidies

True and good.

Would not certify the Iran Nuclear Deal

True and good.

Successful trip to Asia

Successful how? We have a trade war with China, he left the TPP, and our market is in a downturn since you like the stock market.

Signed trade deal with China and ongoing negotiations to remove tarrifs completly.

What trade deal? You have something on this? As far as I know negotiations are ongoing. There was only been some minor agreements that have not been confirmed.

Designated North Korea a terrorist state

This has been done before and isn't particularly effective.

Ending US involvement in Syria

We'll see how this goes. We weren't very involved there to begin with.

Recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital

True. I can get behind it considering the wishy washy talk was a waste of time.

Signed 130 bills into law

Really? Most presidents sign bills into law.

Made 136 Presidential Proclamations

Really? Most presidents sign bills into law.

Signed 64 Executive Orders

See above.

Appointed hundreds of Federal Judges

See above.

Bi-partisan agreement on prison reform

Nice job.

Lowest black unemployment in history

Lowest hispanic unemployment in history

Highest black homeownership in decades

Goes in line with the success of the economy. Not on him.

And all of this while being under a microscope by Mueller and over 90% negative press

For being a lying, cheating scumbag that cheated on his wife with multiple women, lied about his business dealings, and his contact with the Russians.

Your list is not impressive, filled with lies in the same way as the president you support, and proof that you have no interest in educating yourself on many of the items you list which are little more than token attempts to appease some small aspect of his base that will have no real effect.

If the president is based on the success of the stock market, get ready for more pain. The fluff and pump of tax cuts has run its course. Now you need real growth and the market is very saturated. Demand drives growth, not supply. We'll see if demand hasn't reached an exhaustion point. i'm doubtful you follow the economy other than an occasional article that you toss out for a talking point. Your 4% growth number was dubious. We're not going to reach that for a full year this year and likely not next year.

I love how you forgot to mention that our deficit reached an all time high as well. But pseudo-conservatives like yourself don't mind the deficit when it's your guy in office.

[Aseahawkfan]

Do you not think those were a success (although they should have been paired with a severe, by DC standards, cut in the ridiculous Fed spending)??

Personally, I like tax cuts. No. I don't consider it a personal success by Trump. I consider it more a Republican success.

Like you, I'm not sure how good they will be since we seem to be digging a much deeper hole with the deficit. I'm not much of a cut taxes without cutting spending. They have to go hand in hand or we get a continued rise in the deficit and it's rising at an even more ridiculous rate. Trump can't seem to push through tax cuts to cover his tax cuts. Do tax cuts help if they push us faster towards bankruptcy? Hard to be sure.

[Aseahawkfan]

Why do you attribute those solely to him? Explain that. Most of what you have on that list has existed before he took office. You seem to be attributing to Trump successes that are not his and certainly not his alone. This list is something only a superfan like you can attribute directly to Trump. Worker retraining programs? Really? Those have been place for ages. You post so much crap that has been done before or isn't necessary as some kind of "accomplishment." It's BS.

You included a bunch of material as though Trump did this directly himself. He did not and these agencies doing their jobs existed prior to his arrival. This is the type of worshipful garbage that I can't take seriously. You worship Trump like a cult member. It's sad and pathetic.

Here's a more comprehensive list as of October of this year. Remember, all of this is during a time when he's had a microscope up his sphincter, no Dem support (resist movement), 90+% negative media coverage, hold over leakers in his administration, a corrupt Intel community completely trying to overthrow him, etc.

Economic Growth
4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018.
For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.

Jobs
4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office.
More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history.
Jobless claims at lowest level in nearly five decades.
The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record.
Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record.
Unemployment claims at 50 year low
African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows.
African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018.
Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent.
Asian-American unemployment at record low of 2 percent.
Women’s unemployment recently at lowest rate in nearly 65 years.
Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953.
Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years.
July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966.
Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades.
July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001.
Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low.
Rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low.
Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades.
Poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.”
68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year.
Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job.
Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent.
Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election.
Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades.
100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.

American Income
Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high.
Wages up in August by their fastest rate since June 2009.
Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade.
Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year.
Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election.
Median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history.
Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

American Optimism
Small business optimism has hit historic highs.
NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35 year-old record in August.
SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high.
Manufacturers are more confident than ever.
95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever.
Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.
12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record.
Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.

American Business
Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts.
Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018.
Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017.
ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years.
Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years.
Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening.
Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs.
Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.

Deregulation
Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office.
Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks.
Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings.
Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.
Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.

Tax Cuts
Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law
Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families.
Increased the exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business.
Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families.
Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction.
Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family.
Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win.
Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.
Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closed loopholes for the wealthy.
9 in 10 American workers are expected see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department.
More than 6 million of American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts.
Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts.
Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.

Worker Development
Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries.
Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students.
Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.

Domestic Infrastructure
Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country.
Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects.
Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects.
Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.

Health Care
Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients.
Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone.
FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion.
Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases.
Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans.
Let more employers to form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees.
Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty.
Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.”
USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states
Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law.
Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry.
HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.
Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities.
Signed executive order to help ensure that religious organizations are not forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors.

Combating Opioids
Chaired meeting the 73rd General Session of the United Nations discussing the worldwide drug problem with international leaders.
Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.
$6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
DEA conducted a surge in April 2018 that arrested 28 medical professions and revoked 147 registrations for prescribing too many opioids.
Brought the “Prescribed to Death” memorial to President’s Park near the White House, helping raise awareness about the human toll of the opioid crisis.
Helped reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent in 2017.
Opioid Summit on the administration-wide efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
Launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction.
Created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which recommended a number of pathways to tackle the opioid crisis.
Led two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in 2017 and 2018, collecting a record number of expired and unneeded prescription drugs each time.
$485 million targeted grants in FY 2017 to help areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis.
Signed INTERDICT Act, strengthening efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids before they reach our communities.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Declared the opioid crisis a Nationwide Public Health Emergency in October 2017.

Law and Order
More U.S. Circuit Court judges confirmed in the first year in office than ever.
Confirmed more than two dozen U. S. Circuit Court judges.
Followed through on the promise to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will adhere to the Constitution
Nominated and confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who commit crimes against law enforcement officers.
Launched an evaluation of grant programs to make sure they prioritize the protection and safety of law enforcement officers.
Established a task force to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Violent crime decreased in 2017 according to FBI statistics.
$137 million in grants through the COPS Hiring Program to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities, and support crime prevention efforts.
Enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods to help reduce violent crime.
Signed legislation making it easier to target websites that enable sex trafficking and strengthened penalties for people who promote or facilitate prostitution.
Created an interagency task force working around the clock to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking.
Conducted Operation Cross Country XI to combat human trafficking, rescuing 84 children and arresting 120 human traffickers.
Encouraged federal prosecutors to use the death penalty when possible in the fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs.
New rule effectively banning bump stock sales in the United States.

Border Security and Immigration
Secured $1.6 billion for border wall construction in the March 2018 omnibus bill.
Construction of a 14-mile section of border wall began near San Diego.
Worked to protect American communities from the threat posed by the vile MS-13 gang.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division arrested 796 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.
Justice worked with partners in Central America to secure criminal charges against more than 4,000 MS-13 members.
Border Patrol agents arrested 228 illegal aliens affiliated with MS-13 in FY 2017.
Fighting to stop the scourge of illegal drugs at our border.
ICE HSI seized more than 980,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 2017, including 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin.
ICE HSI dedicated nearly 630,000 investigative hours towards halting the illegal import of fentanyl.
ICE HSI made 11,691 narcotics-related arrests in FY 2017.
Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand introduced new measures to keep dangerous drugs out the United States.
Signed the INTERDICT Act into law, enhancing efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
DOJ launched their Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Released an immigration framework that includes the resources required to secure our borders and close legal loopholes, and repeatedly called on Congress to fix our broken immigration laws.
Authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure the border.
Enhanced vetting of individuals entering the U.S. from countries that don’t meet security standards, helping to ensure individuals who pose a threat to our country are identified before they enter.
These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court hearing.
ICE removed over 226,000 illegal aliens from the United States in 2017.
ICE rescued or identified over 500 human trafficking victims and over 900 child exploitation victims in 2017 alone.
In 2017, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 127,000 aliens with criminal convictions or charges, responsible for
Over 76,000 with dangerous drug offenses.
More than 48,000 with assault offenses.
More than 11,000 with weapons offenses.
More than 5,000 with sexual assault offenses.
More than 2,000 with kidnapping offenses.
Over 1,800 with homicide offenses.
Created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office in order to support the victims and families affected by illegal alien crime.
More than doubled the number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which allows jails to detain criminal aliens until they are transferred to ICE custody.

Trade
Negotiating and renegotiating better trade deals, achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade for the United States.
Agreed to work with the European Union towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsides.
Deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
Litigated multiple WTO disputes targeting unfair trade practices and upholding our right to enact fair trade laws.
Finalized a revised trade agreement with South Korea, which includes provisions to increase American automobile exports.
Negotiated an historic U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to replace NAFTA.
Agreement to begin trade negotiations for a U.S.-Japan trade agreement.
Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
Established a Trade and Investment Working Group with the United Kingdom, laying the groundwork for post-Brexit trade.
Enacted steel and aluminum tariffs to protect our vital steel and aluminum producers and strengthen our national security.
Conducted 82 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations in 2017 alone.
Confronting China’s unfair trade practices after years of Washington looking the other way.
25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods imported from China and later imposed an additional 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods.
Conducted an investigation into Chinese forced technology transfers, unfair licensing practices, and intellectual property theft.
Imposed safeguard tariffs to protect domestic washing machines and solar products manufacturers hurt by China’s trade policies
Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Secured access to new markets for America’s farmers.
Recent deal with Mexico included new improvements enabling food and agriculture to trade more fairly.
Recent agreement with the E.U. will reduce barriers and increase trade of American soybeans to Europe.
Won a WTO dispute regarding Indonesia’s unfair restriction of U.S. agricultural exports.
Defended American Tuna fisherman and packagers before the WTO
Opened up Argentina to American pork experts for the first time in a quarter-century
American beef exports have returned to china for the first time in more than a decade
OK’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.

Energy
Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction.
Opened up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration.
Coal exports up over 60 percent in 2017.
Rolled back the “stream protection rule” to prevent it from harming America’s coal industry.
Cancelled Obama’s anti-coal Clean Power Plan and proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule as a replacement.
Withdrew from the job-killing Paris climate agreement, which would have cost the U.S. nearly $3 trillion and led to 6.5 million fewer industrial sector jobs by 2040.
U.S. oil production has achieved its highest level in American history
United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world.
U.S. has become a net natural gas exporter for the first time in six decades.
Action to expedite the identification and extraction of critical minerals that are vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity.
Took action to reform National Ambient Air Quality Standards, benefitting American manufacturers.
Rescinded Obama’s hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the industry $32 million per year.
Proposed an expansion of offshore drilling as part of an all-of-the above energy strategy
Held a lease sale for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2018.
Got EU to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
Issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Foreign Policy
Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Withdrew from Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.
Treasury has issued sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force
Since enacting sanctions, Iran’s crude exports have fallen off, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted, and international companies have pulled out of the country.
All nuclear-related sanctions will be back in full force by early November 2018.
Historic summit with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both sides have met resulting in tremendous progress.
North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests.
Negotiated the return of the remains of missing-in-action soldiers from the Korean War.
Imposed strong sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and his inner circle.
Executive order preventing those in the U.S. from carrying out certain transactions with the Venezuelan regime, including prohibiting the purchase of the regime’s debt.
Responded to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.
Rolled out sanctions targeting individuals and entities tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program.
Directed strikes in April 2017 against a Syrian airfield used in a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.
Joined allies in launching airstrikes in April 2018 against targets associated with Syria’s chemical weapons use.
New Cuba policy that enhanced compliance with U.S. law and held the Cuban regime accountable for political oppression and human rights abuses.
Treasury and State are working to channel economic activity away from the Cuban regime, particularly the military.
Changed the rules of engagement, empowering commanders to take the fight to ISIS.
ISIS has lost virtually all of its territory, more than half of which has been lost under Trump.
ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital city, Raqqah, was liberated in October 2017.
All Iraqi territory had been liberated from ISIS.
More than a dozen American hostages have been freed from captivity all of the world.
Action to combat Russia’s malign activities, including their efforts to undermine the sanctity of United States elections.
Expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, WA.
Banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers, due to the company’s ties to Russian intelligence.
Imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities.
Sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs, and 12 companies they own or control, who profit from Russia’s destabilizing activities.
Sanctioned 100 targets in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine.
Enhanced support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to help Ukraine better defend itself.
Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.

Defense
Executive order keeping the detention facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay open.
$700 billion in military funding for FY 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019.
Largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.
Ordered a Nuclear Posture Review to ensure America’s nuclear forces are up to date and serve as a credible deterrent.
Released America’s first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years.
New strategy on national biodefense, which better prepares the nation to defend against biological threats.
Administration has announced that it will use whatever means necessary to protect American citizens and servicemen from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
Released an America first National Security Strategy.
Put in motion the launch of a Space Force as a new branch of the military and relaunched the National Space Council.
Encouraged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to increase defense spending to their agree-upon levels.
In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending amongst NATO allies.
Every member state has increased defense spending.
Eight NATO allies will reach the 2 percent benchmark by the end of 2018 and 15 allies are on trade to do so by 2024.
NATO allies spent over $42 billion dollars more on defense since 2016.
Executive order to help military spouses find employment as their families deploy domestically and abroad.

Veterans affairs
Signed the VA Accountability Act and expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
Delivered more appeals decisions – 81,000 – to veterans in a single year than ever before.
Strengthened protections for individuals who come forward and identify programs occurring within the VA.
Signed legislation that provided $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA.
VA MISSION Act, enacting sweeping reform to the VA system that:
Consolidated and strengthened VA community care programs.
Funding for the Veterans Choice program.
Expanded eligibility for the Family Caregivers Program.
Gave veterans more access to walk-in care.
Strengthened the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality healthcare professionals.
Enabled the VA to modernize its assets and infrastructure.
Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act in 2017, which authorized $2.1 billion in addition funds for the Veterans Choice Program.
Worked to shift veterans’ electronic medical records to the same system used by the Department of Defense, a decades old priority.
Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
Increased transparency and accountability at the VA by launching an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with access to wait time and quality of care data.
Signed legislation to modernize the claims and appeal process at the VA.
Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, providing enhanced educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members.
Lifted a 15-year limit on veterans’ access to their educational benefits.
Created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.
VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
Signed the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, increasing the number of VA employees that can assist justice-involved veterans

[Aseahawkfan]

I noticed that no one pointed out the success with getting China to designate opioid manufacturing issues as a major crime there. It may not seem like much but it makes crimes in China around manufacturing Opioids a capital offense.

Here's a link to the agreement but it actually was added this week to their controlled substance list this week.

https://freebeacon.com/issues/xi-tells-trump-china-will-schedule-fentanyl/

Really? You do know how China deals with drug offenses? You are reading garbage sites that support your view at the cost of truth.

China has some of the harshest drug control laws in the world. This article you posted it makes it seem like China is slack? Really? Do you do any fact checking of your sources?

You and hawktawk are polar opposites. One hates Trump so much he can't see anything good about the man and the other worships him so completely he can't see anything wrong with the man. One attacks every accomplishment, the other lauds everything he does as an accomplishment. Watching the two sides go at each other is pathetic.

[RiverDog]

Really? You do know how China deals with drug offenses? You are reading garbage sites that support your view at the cost of truth.

China has some of the harshest drug control laws in the world. This article you posted it makes it seem like China is slack? Really? Do you do any fact checking of your sources?

You and hawktawk are polar opposites. One hates Trump so much he can't see anything good about the man and the other worships him so completely he can't see anything wrong with the man. One attacks every accomplishment, the other lauds everything he does as an accomplishment. Watching the two sides go at each other is pathetic.

You're exactly right about China and their drug laws. I'm not sure if this is a ranking or not, but here's a list of 20 countries with drug laws that makes ours look like spitting on the sidewalk:

https://drugabuse.com/the-20-countries- ... the-world/

Actually I find both Idahawk and Hawktalk's takes as quite entertaining.

[Hawktawk]

ASea you are correct in that there is not an iota of good in Trump which is WHY I utterly detest him and root for his demise by whatever means.


As for the accomplishments of the administration there have been many which as I’ve pointed out as a lifelong republican straight ticket voter one could anticipate from any decent republican conservative administration minus the ride down the Hershey highway s*** avalanche dumpster fire created by crazy orange witch.


Yeah I hate him. Despise him. There isn’t a single redeeming quality in his miserable existence . Proud to say I rejected him about 2 weeks into his candidacy and that was before we knew a tenth of what proved my instincts 100% correct .

[burrrton]

ASea you are correct in that there is not an iota of good in Trump which is WHY I utterly detest him and root for his demise by whatever means.

Not an iota of good? You root for his demise by any means?

Jesus tapdancing Christ. Are you too far gone to acknowledge this is a guy you don't even know personally, and who is the current POTUS?

You need to take a long, hard look in the mirror, you psycho. I tried, but I'm done reading your lunatic ravings.

[idhawkman]

I also notice no one mentioned anything about the Acting AG getting approval from the ethics committee to oversea Mueller's probe. This will water down his report as it first has to be given to the Acting AG before it is released from the DOJ, it doesn't come straight from Mueller.

So no, I don't see anything coming out of the Mueller probe at all and it will probably be wrapped up in the first quarter of 2019.

[Hawktawk]

[quote="burrrton"]

Not an iota of good? You root for his demise by any means?

Jesus tapdancing Christ. Are you too far gone to acknowledge this is a guy you don't even know personally, and who is the current POTUS?

You need to take a long, hard look in the mirror, you psycho. I tried, but I'm done reading your lunatic ravings.[/quote

No I do know him and so do you as does everyone. His life is a matter of public record , screwing everyone he’s ever come in contact with business wise while screwing their wives , admittedly bragging about sexually assaulting women because he’s a star. Using millions of donated money to his foundation as a personal checkbook. Walking away from a bankruptcy at trump taj mahal casino with a shiny new 727 while bankrupting dozens of hard working independent contractors buried in unpaid debts from his never ending change orders . Oh and by the way Burrton if you support this man as potus to any degree whatsoever as you clearly do it’s ridiculous and laughable for you to call me a psycho . This piece of mentally ill
Human excrement is so fundamentally unfit for office as to nullify any positive accomplishments by the good hires in his administration while he tweets his misspelled lunacy from the shitter at 1 am. If that’s too much for you to grasp whatever .

[RiverDog]

Hawktalk what you stepped in was your "by any means" comment, which could be interpreted as anything from revolution to assassination to a calamity that claims millions along with him. Indeed, as an American, you should hope that ANY president does well at least as it relates to the welfare of the country.

[Hawktawk]

Point taken rd. By any means I meant impeachment , indictment or defeat in 2020 which I doubt he will
make it to. I don’t wish him well personally . I’ve made it clear I think the country would be far better off with president pence . If that makes me a loony tune oh well glad to have the distinction.

[RiverDog]

Point taken rd. By any means I meant impeachment , indictment or defeat in 2020 which I doubt he will
make it to. I don’t wish him well personally . I’ve made it clear I think the country would be far better off with president pence . If that makes me a loony tune oh well glad to have the distinction.

Feeling that the country would be better off with a President Pence than our current occupant doesn't make you looney. As a matter of fact, you'd be in the majority if that were the only criteria as polls have consistently shown that most people disapprove of the job he's doing. There's two things that's leading others to believe that your hate for Trump over rides your otherwise commendable logic: The way you characterize Trump and the fact that no matter the issue, you take the opposite position, the most glaring example being that of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. You've lost your objectivity in much the same manner that Idahawkman has lost his.

Indictment for a crime won't remove Trump from office. There's only 4 ways he gets removed peacefully: Either via the 25th amendment, the impeachment process, resignation, or by failing in a re-election bid. You can pretty much throw out the 25th amendment as it would require action by his cabinet, which is now, more than ever, composed of a bunch of ass kissing boot lickers, and resignation, as Trump seems to have developed this ego defense mechanism that allows him to escape any sense of personal responsibility. That leaves impeachment and re-election.

[Hawktawk]

"

The way you characterize Trump and the fact that no matter the issue, you take the opposite position, the most glaring example being that of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. You've lost your objectivity in much the same manner that Idahawkman has lost his."

I characterise Trump spot on accurately RD. Hes a detestable POS, a complete waste of oxygen, mentally ill and a danger to the world. Polls would indicate more people than not share my view on that as well with mid 50% to low 60% "STRONGLY DISAPPROVE" of him while mid to high 20% "STRONGLY APPROVE" My characterization of him is what strong disapproval sounds like to me my voluminous vocabulary notwithstanding.

As for Kavanaugh i feel I've made it clear but Ill say it again. let me start by saying Neil Gorsuch is in my opinion an EXCELLENT jurist, one of the very few good things Trump has done although convincing McConnel to go with the "nuclear" option of making a simpler majority necessary to seat a SCOTUS nominee will bite he and the trump party in the @$$ someday.

I opposed Kavanaugh completely and initially was because his flip after writing articles impeaching Clinton for lying about a blow job under oath he suddenly decided that presidents are basically immune from investigation or impeachment and wrote essays detailing his newfound enlightened position.It was certainly why Trump picked him against the advice of Mcconnel etc. His demeanor during the early portion of the hearings was not appropriate and he refused to answer basic questions about subjects such as whether people could be banned from america strictly based on race or religion.

Then I find out he was a complete drunk preppie who at a very minimum definitely attempted to rape a 15 year old girl along with his buddy mark Judge and quite possibly participated in drugging and gang raping women at parties, something Mark Judges ex girlfriend said he had confessed to doing. My view is shared by nearly half the voters BTW regardless of the likes of Burrton, Id hawk and perhaps yourself who think its outlandish.

It wasn't a trial, it was a job interview and IMO he failed it with an F- grade but whatever, hes sitting in judgement of you and I for the rest of our lives.

"Indictment for a crime won't remove Trump from office. There's only 4 ways he gets removed peacefully: Either via the 25th amendment, the impeachment process, resignation, or by failing in a re-election bid. You can pretty much throw out the 25th amendment as it would require action by his cabinet, which is now, more than ever, composed of a bunch of ass kissing boot lickers, and resignation, as Trump seems to have developed this ego defense mechanism that allows him to escape any sense of personal responsibility. That leaves impeachment and re-election.

"

I understand all of this and agree with much of what you've said here but I will add this caveat. Its a long time to 2020 and this guy is sinking like a rock. And although we have glimpses we have really got no idea how much dirt Mueller has on him or how much proof he has that Trump's take home test is full of perjuring statements. His administration and now the top of his justice department is full of lackeys although Whittaker has not seemed to squash Mueller's filings the past few weeks which has led to Trump shouting at him on 2 separate occasions. I dont think its sustainable for 2 more years but then again I didn't think it would be sustainable this long.

As Corker said at the very beginning, its an adult day care. Not making America even slightly great.

And BTW trying to figure out this imbedded quote thing with limited success. F ed it up on this one and not sure how to fix it.

[RiverDog]

I characterise Trump spot on accurately RD. Hes a detestable POS, a complete waste of oxygen, mentally ill and a danger to the world. Polls would indicate more people than not share my view on that as well with mid 50% to low 60% "STRONGLY DISAPPROVE" of him while mid to high 20% "STRONGLY APPROVE" My characterization of him is what strong disapproval sounds like to me my voluminous vocabulary notwithstanding.

The fact that a majority of people disapprove of DJT in no way supports your characterizations of him. I, for one, strongly disapprove of him but do not engage in descriptions that you have chosen.

As for Kavanaugh i feel I've made it clear but Ill say it again. let me start by saying Neil Gorsuch is in my opinion an EXCELLENT jurist, one of the very few good things Trump has done although convincing McConnel to go with the "nuclear" option of making a simpler majority necessary to seat a SCOTUS nominee will bite he and the trump party in the @$$ someday.

I opposed Kavanaugh completely and initially was because his flip after writing articles impeaching Clinton for lying about a blow job under oath he suddenly decided that presidents are basically immune from investigation or impeachment and wrote essays detailing his newfound enlightened position.It was certainly why Trump picked him against the advice of Mcconnel etc. His demeanor during the early portion of the hearings was not appropriate and he refused to answer basic questions about subjects such as whether people could be banned from america strictly based on race or religion.

Then I find out he was a complete drunk preppie who at a very minimum definitely attempted to rape a 15 year old girl along with his buddy mark Judge and quite possibly participated in drugging and gang raping women at parties, something Mark Judges ex girlfriend said he had confessed to doing. My view is shared by nearly half the voters BTW regardless of the likes of Burrton, Id hawk and perhaps yourself who think its outlandish.

It wasn't a trial, it was a job interview and IMO he failed it with an F- grade but whatever, hes sitting in judgement of you and I for the rest of our lives.

I can buy your reasoning for his "flipping" regarding the Clinton impeachment, but bear in mind that was 20 years ago and like all human beings, he's entitled to change his mind. In addition, what he wrote as a lawyer paid by his client does not necessarily reflect his philosophy as a jurist. What's more relevant is his rulings he's made as a circuit court judge. He's been on the DC circuit court for 12 years. And if you're looking at his confirmation hearing as a job interview, how many go back 37 years into activities during high school years? For the life of me, I can't see how anyone, without the slightest bit of evidence other than random rumors and uncorroborated allegations, can wrap their arms around preposterous claims of drugging and gang raping women choosing to believe someone's ex girlfriend without knowing the slightest detail regarding what kind of individual she is.

I understand all of this and agree with much of what you've said here but I will add this caveat. Its a long time to 2020 and this guy is sinking like a rock. And although we have glimpses we have really got no idea how much dirt Mueller has on him or how much proof he has that Trump's take home test is full of perjuring statements. His administration and now the top of his justice department is full of lackeys although Whittaker has not seemed to squash Mueller's filings the past few weeks which has led to Trump shouting at him on 2 separate occasions. I dont think its sustainable for 2 more years but then again I didn't think it would be sustainable this long.

As Corker said at the very beginning, its an adult day care. Not making America even slightly great.

Well, he's not "sinking like a rock" in the polls. He's been holding steady in the high 30's-low 40's in the job approval polls for months. But I agree that he's acting even more erratic and irrationally even when measured against his own standards.

And BTW trying to figure out this imbedded quote thing with limited success. F ed it up on this one and not sure how to fix it.

LOL! You're obviously a baby boomer like me, but here's a tip...and I have to spell it out rather than demonstrate.

If you want to show a quotation, it has to be preceded by an open bracket, the word quote, closed bracket. At the end of the text you're wanting to show as a quote, use an open bracket, a back slash, the word quote, closed bracket.

If you want a person's name to appear, you start the quote with an open bracket, the word quote, the equals sign, quotation marks, the person's name, quotation marks, closed bracket.

A lot of times, I'll just hit reply, delete out my original text leaving the person I want to quote's text, then add my comments after the bracketed quote.

Hope that helps.

[c_hawkbob]

The fact that a majority of people disapprove of DJT in no way supports your characterizations of him. I, for one, strongly disapprove of him but do not engage in descriptions that you have chosen.

Other than the tendency to speak in absolutes, which I generally try to avoid, and a bit of over the top color commentary, I agree with HT's characterizations of Trump.

Not that I'm a majority either, but it's not like he's tilting at that particular windmill all by himself.

[RiverDog]

The fact that a majority of people disapprove of DJT in no way supports your characterizations of him. I, for one, strongly disapprove of him but do not engage in descriptions that you have chosen.

Other than the tendency to speak in absolutes, which I generally try to avoid, and a bit of over the top color commentary, I agree with HT's characterizations of Trump.

Not that I'm a majority either, but it's not like he's tilting at that particular windmill all by himself.

I agree with many of HT's characterizations as well. But some of the color commentary is so over the top that it has a "pot calling the kettle black" ring to it, which is what's causing guys like burrrton to lash out at him.

[burrrton]

You'll have to clarify. I don't understand that analogy at all..

I'm being a smart-@ss. The true believers always seem to characterize his missteps as part of a larger game the rest of us are either unaware of or unable to grasp.

But some of the color commentary is so over the top that it has a "pot calling the kettle black" ring to it, which is what's causing guys like burrrton to lash out at him.

That, and wishing death and calling EVIL LITERALLY HITLER someone they've never met over policy differences and a distaste for personality traits they apparently only became aware of on November 7, 2016.

It's literally a psychosis.

[Hawktawk]

Wrong burrton. I’ve been off the Trump bandwagon since about 2 weeks after he declared his candidacy. I pretty much knew what the free world would get from the man as potus which is chaos getting worse by the day. I write in stark colorful expressive ways.as I’ve said Infinitim this is THE place I go to vent . Vent I will but you do not know me. You’re the one who doesn’t get the joke mable. Lighten up burrton knows best. If you were sitting next to me in a bar you wouldn’t know I was HT. You would probably find me to be a highly intelligent outgoing funny person and I’m sure the likewise would be true as well. I’m bipolar but not crazy psycho. My best friend of 43 years refuses to even believe I’m bipolar.

That’s the potus tweeting up a storm as I write that fits your description of me to a T. At least I’m on meds

Merry Christmas
GO HAWKS

[RiverDog]

But some of the color commentary is so over the top that it has a "pot calling the kettle black" ring to it, which is what's causing guys like burrrton to lash out at him.

That, and wishing death and calling EVIL LITERALLY HITLER someone they've never met over policy differences and a distaste for personality traits they apparently only became aware of on November 7, 2016.

It's literally a psychosis.

Do you realize that you just contradicted yourself? You're criticizing HT for calling someone he's never met EVIL HITLER while you've never met Hawktalk yet have called him a psycho (along with a substantial list of other expletives). Some of your rants about HT aren't a lot better than his about Trump.

As Aaron Rodgers once said..."Relax."

And a sincere Merry Christmas to all

[burrrton]

Some of your rants about HT aren't a lot better than his about Trump.

Fair criticism.

In my defense, my 'diagnosis' is based on both demonstrated behavior and his description of his condition.

If he simply stuck to calling Trump an @sshole or a self-absorbed narcissist, behavior Trump demonstrates daily, it wouldn't be so tedious and tiresome. But when we go straight from detaining people illegally crossing our border (or whatever) to EVIL WITCH NEW HOLOCAUST (or whatever), it starts saying less about Trump and more about the person yelling it.

I'll take your advice and relax.

[edit]

And yeah, Merry Christmas to all, including Tawk if he's still reading my posts.

[Hawktawk]

Thanks Burrton. Back atcha.MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

I don't put anyone on ignore no matter how much I disagree with their opinion or style and have a lot of respect for your opinion political and otherwise.

Some of these words like HITLER and NEW HOLOCAUST you're putting in my mouth. My total tongue in cheek crazy orange satan was changed to crazy orange witch for 2 reasons. 1 he's too dense to be Satan. 2 he's always talking about this witch hunt that's right on his @$$.

It's obvious to any objective observer that he is orange and quite a large portion of america thinks he's mental.

I do believe hes a racist, a bigot and an abuser of women, utterly morally bankrupt and a lifelong grifting shyster. I believe he's not right between the ears, not drooling in a diaper crazy but mentally unstable enough to be disqualifying to be doing what he's doing.

I don't wish death on him. I actually hope he lives a long life in the federal penitentiary with a big friendly cellmate named Ramone

Ill try to keep my observations a little more hyperbole free in the interest of improving the "discourse". Have a great day.

[RiverDog]

In my defense, my 'diagnosis' is based on both demonstrated behavior and his description of his condition.

Understood. But let's not penalize HT by for his being candid about his condition. To the contrary, it's the faith in us as friends that has allowed him to confide in us that has compelled me to stick up for him.

If he simply stuck to calling Trump an @sshole or a self-absorbed narcissist, behavior Trump demonstrates daily, it wouldn't be so tedious and tiresome. But when we go straight from detaining people illegally crossing our border (or whatever) to EVIL WITCH NEW HOLOCAUST (or whatever), it starts saying less about Trump and more about the person yelling it.

Agreed.

I'll take your advice and relax.
[edit]

And yeah, Merry Christmas to all, including Tawk if he's still reading my posts.

Thanks, man! I enjoy the banter in here. Glad you didn't object to my intervention.

[burrrton]

Ill try to keep my observations a little more hyperbole free in the interest of improving the "discourse". Have a great day.

I'll do the same, HT- you, too, and Merry Christmas.

[idhawkman]

Very interesting volitility in the stock markets recently. Biggest Christmas eve decline in history followed by the biggest one day gain in history. Glad we have popcorn to keep us glued to what is happening.

[RiverDog]

Very interesting volitility in the stock markets recently. Biggest Christmas eve decline in history followed by the biggest one day gain in history. Glad we have popcorn to keep us glued to what is happening.

And today, the NYSE was at one point down 600 points before reversing course and posting a 260 point gain. That kind of volatility is rarely a good sign.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ket-bounce

Let's hope that we're eating popcorn and not drinking a whiskey sour.

[idhawkman]

And today, the NYSE was at one point down 600 points before reversing course and posting a 260 point gain. That kind of volatility is rarely a good sign.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ket-bounce

Let's hope that we're eating popcorn and not drinking a whiskey sour.

Ah, c'mon River, I'd raise a whiskey sour with you anytime. In fact, I still owe you a draft next time we see each other. Can't remember why but it was from back in the PI days.

[RiverDog]

Let's hope that we're eating popcorn and not drinking a whiskey sour.

Ah, c'mon River, I'd raise a whiskey sour with you anytime. In fact, I still owe you a draft next time we see each other. Can't remember why but it was from back in the PI days.

Well, my beverage of choice is a cold IPA, but if I do drink whiskey, it's always with water. Gotta taste the flavor of the whiskey, so I don't want to activate my sweet/sour taste buds.

Indeed, we will have to get together sometime. Perhaps we can round up a few posters for a Shack-up.

[Hawktawk]

Lol
We just have to stay off politics so nobody knocks anyone out

[Aseahawkfan]

Markets are not driven by the president. The year just ending will be a bear market more than likely. The tax cuts were always only going to be a temporary boost. Supply side economics works no better than Keynesian unless the specific problem both serve to fix applies. The tax cuts putting more money into corporate coffers will only matter if they find something to spend it on that will drive growth. We'll likely see a drop in organic demand going into the new year across most sectors. We also have mounting debt. This will reduce the credit spending that the easy money policy was meant to fuel to keep us from collapsing. Low interest rates is not something you want to sustain as it is a sign that your economy is not healthy or sustainable. Corporations should be able to grow with profits and not credit. You raise interest rates to ensure the cost of using credit does not encourage companies to borrow rather than spend profits.

I'm seeing a first quarter rise as the money managers make purchases based on holiday earnings and the electronic traders push the surges higher. By the second quarter if organic growth isn't strong, we will see a sideways market more than likely with volatility. I think growth will slow. We've reached the peak of a lot of sector cycles. Demand will wane this year, then maybe pick back up near the end of the year depending on healthy the economy remains and if political stability remains.

Should be interesting to watch. Lots of buying opportunities right now.

[The True Prophet]

Very interesting volitility in the stock markets recently. Biggest Christmas eve decline in history followed by the biggest one day gain in history. Glad we have popcorn to keep us glued to what is happening.

Sharpest Rallies Occurs during Bear Markets Unfortunately.

HE will be returning to the Hawk Schack..............Soon

[Hawktawk]

Markets are not driven by the president. The year just ending will be a bear market more than likely. The tax cuts were always only going to be a temporary boost. Supply side economics works no better than Keynesian unless the specific problem both serve to fix applies. The tax cuts putting more money into corporate coffers will only matter if they find something to spend it on that will drive growth. We'll likely see a drop in organic demand going into the new year across most sectors. We also have mounting debt. This will reduce the credit spending that the easy money policy was meant to fuel to keep us from collapsing. Low interest rates is not something you want to sustain as it is a sign that your economy is not healthy or sustainable. Corporations should be able to grow with profits and not credit. You raise interest rates to ensure the cost of using credit does not encourage companies to borrow rather than spend profits.

I'm seeing a first quarter rise as the money managers make purchases based on holiday earnings and the electronic traders push the surges higher. By the second quarter if organic growth isn't strong, we will see a sideways market more than likely with volatility. I think growth will slow. We've reached the peak of a lot of sector cycles. Demand will wane this year, then maybe pick back up near the end of the year depending on healthy the economy remains and if political stability remains.

Should be interesting to watch. Lots of buying opportunities right now.

I agree in general that markets aren’t driven my the president but the wild swings of the last week were certainly factors influenced by trump. Actively criticizing the fed chair publicly and privately inquiring about the legality of firing him had to have an impact . Screaming at Steve Mununchin prompting him to call major lending institutions and remind them they had proper liquidity and debt to asset ratio to lend didn’t help either and many pundits echoed that thought. markets don’t like uncertainty and that’s this administrations hallmark. He and his supporters can’t have it both ways beating their chest when it’s up and blaming others when it’s down.

[idhawkman]

Sharpest Rallies Occurs during Bear Markets Unfortunately.

HE will be returning to the Hawk Schack..............Soon

Well HE may be the first person I block with s*** posts like this whoever the hell "HE" is.

[Hawktawk]

Wow Id what was so wrong with that other than being a bit disjointed? If someone is joining or returning to the forum that’s a cause for celebration isn’t it? Lighten up man

[idhawkman]

Wow Id what was so wrong with that other than being a bit disjointed? If someone is joining or returning to the forum that’s a cause for celebration isn’t it? Lighten up man

Not sure HT, I just don't like the pumping of some mystery thing not only here but on the main forum, too.

[Hawktawk]

Fair enough. I’m kinda curious . Miss roach but probably not him

[idhawkman]

Fair enough. I’m kinda curious . Miss roach but probably not him

Probably someone who got banned for life but now has a new IP address to sign up again.

[The True Prophet]

Well HE may be the first person I block with s*** posts like this whoever the hell "HE" is.

HE will not appreciate your wrong headed conclusion.

However then only thing bigger than his brain is his giant heart - so even though you are starting off on the 'Wrong" foot - I believe that HE will forgive you.

HE will be returning Soon.

[Aseahawkfan]

I agree in general that markets aren’t driven my the president but the wild swings of the last week were certainly factors influenced by trump. Actively criticizing the fed chair publicly and privately inquiring about the legality of firing him had to have an impact . Screaming at Steve Mununchin prompting him to call major lending institutions and remind them they had proper liquidity and debt to asset ratio to lend didn’t help either and many pundits echoed that thought. markets don’t like uncertainty and that’s this administrations hallmark. He and his supporters can’t have it both ways beating their chest when it’s up and blaming others when it’s down.

His followers are wrong about it being up and his critics are wrong about it being down. Just more pablum by the peanut gallery that doesn't do much investing or have much of an understanding of economics. Not something I worry about. Right now there are bargains to be had for long-term investors with likely more short-term pain coming. If you have money to invest, I'd pick up some of the big names at a bargain. It' s unlikely a real recession is coming any time soon, but markets move with electronic trading thus the big swings until the big money adjusts setting a floor.

[idhawkman]

His followers are wrong about it being up and his critics are wrong about it being down. Just more pablum by the peanut gallery that doesn't do much investing or have much of an understanding of economics. Not something I worry about. Right now there are bargains to be had for long-term investors with likely more short-term pain coming. If you have money to invest, I'd pick up some of the big names at a bargain. It' s unlikely a real recession is coming any time soon, but markets move with electronic trading thus the big swings until the big money adjusts setting a floor.

There was an argument in the main forum between River and Anthony about stats and how they mattered. (I'm pretty sure it was those two but if not, please correct me). So the "followers" saying that it is up, is true but you have to include the time frame. Is it up since he took office? Yep! Up about 25%. The critics saying it is down is also correct if you say since the levels this past summer when the markets were making new highs.

Both are true and both are wrong - that's the nature of stats.

[RiverDog]

His followers are wrong about it being up and his critics are wrong about it being down. Just more pablum by the peanut gallery that doesn't do much investing or have much of an understanding of economics. Not something I worry about. Right now there are bargains to be had for long-term investors with likely more short-term pain coming. If you have money to invest, I'd pick up some of the big names at a bargain. It' s unlikely a real recession is coming any time soon, but markets move with electronic trading thus the big swings until the big money adjusts setting a floor.

There was an argument in the main forum between River and Anthony about stats and how they mattered. (I'm pretty sure it was those two but if not, please correct me). So the "followers" saying that it is up, is true but you have to include the time frame. Is it up since he took office? Yep! Up about 25%. The critics saying it is down is also correct if you say since the levels this past summer when the markets were making new highs.

Both are true and both are wrong - that's the nature of stats.

The market can be and very much has been affected at least to some degree by the POTUS. What all market analysts agree on is that the market does not like uncertainty, and the turmoil that has embroiled the WH lately has a lot of investors pulling their money back. Trump's trade war is another factor that has been mentioned as one of the causes of the current decline in the stock market.

But I agree that we're not heading for a recession. The economy is still basicly strong.

And Ida, I have no idea what you're referring to about my arguments with Anthony and his stats is about. We all agree that Anthony is a bit of a stats monkey and I've called him on it from time to time, but what does that has to do with the price of tea in China?