Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

These days we content creators have to post advisories and disclaimers. This podcast is not a list of reasons to ‘build the wall’. It does not include 5 reasons to impeach Trump. Learn more in Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794.

Trump Blew It In 2018

Especially relevant is the fact that less than a month ago the so called conservative base was furious at the president and the republican party for taking a ‘shellacking’ in the midterm elections.

It Is Trump’s Fault

Furthermore I did several podcasts on the midterms explaining polling showed the GOP did not have to lose congress.

Raise The Stakes To Win

Therefore it is most noteworthy that the president opened the new year by raising the stakes. First a government shut down. Then threats to declare an national emergency.

What’s the issue?

A campaign promise by Donald Trump to solve what he has described as a crisis on the border.

Consequently, the solution he hit upon? ‘Build A Wall‘.

First of all. the president failed to get a republican congress to fund a wall. Now he has redoubled his efforts to get a democrat house to fund the wall, which they say they won’t. Enter the shut down. Enter the specter of a ‘National Emergency‘.

Outrage Controversy and Emotional Outpouring

If outrage and controversy over the shut down wasn’t enough, Trump is raising the stakes with threats to declare a national emergency. Under an emergency the military can build what is now described as a steel barrier by the president. Or at least he thinks so. Is he right? Find out in Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794.

The Sushi Shutdown

After a late evening sushi happy hour, I came to my studio to tell the truth about this whole episode. It’s not about the shut down or even a national emergency. Trump is doing what Roy Cohn taught him to do many years ago. Make threats. Throw tantrums. Demand. Raise the stakes until the other guy gives you what he wants. Above all force the opposition to talk about what you want to talk about. Control the media battle space. Use the ‘bully pulpit‘.

Throwing Blood In The Water To Shore Up The Base

In conclusion, Trump does this again and again. And everyone takes the bait, hook line and sinker.

Every time.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and WhiteTail Builders

Sushi-Shutdown-Emergency-Bully-Pulpit-Bob Davis Podcast 794

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Kafkaesque-Route 66-Bob Davis Podcast 793

Kafkaesque-Route 66-Bob Davis Podcast 793

What if you’d gone to sleep in 1980 and woke up in 2019? I think Jessie Pinkman’s Breaking Bad “Kafkaesque” line would describe these days pretty well. Learn more in Kafkaesque-Route 66-Bob Davis Podcast 793.

Time Off

I planned to take some time off around the new year. One day stretched into 3, then 5. I came back to bizarre claims from the president, silly questions from reporters, and more talking heads telling us what we already know. You know, Kafkaesque.

Streaming TV Drama

What did I do? Like everyone else I retreated to streaming television drama. Moreover after exhausting the supply of shows to watch, I ended up finding four seasons of the old TV show “Route 66” on Amazon Prime.

1960 Corvette

What’s most noteworthy about this 1960 black and white drama? Two guys driving across the country on backroads in a 1960 Corvette getting into situations.

Route 66 Remake

First of all, while watching the show, I googled all the places the show’s characters drive through. Yes, I have been to many of them. In addition to providing an excellent escape from our current nonsense, I decided someone should remake Route 66. (Editor’s note: If you follow the links you’ll see that someone actually did remake the show, but it was horrible. I am thinking what David Simon, Matt Weiner or Ann Biderman could do with it.)

We All Think It Is Absurd

I don’t think I am out of line to suggest that the current news and political situation is theater of the absurd. Also I think many people feel the same way.

Resolution Please

Certainly this is why I have suggested many times the best way for me to contribute is to be strong enough to wait for a conclusion. Even more a resolution. With some kind of ‘way point’ there is less confusion. Pointing out options and ideas is less likely to trigger listener’s emotional reactions.

Where Are We Headed? Somewhere.

In conclusion, like the guys in Route 66, we’re headed somewhere. We just don’t know where yet.

Sponsored by WhiteTail Builders and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Kafkaesque-Route 66-Bob Davis Podcast 793

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Chaos-Confusion-Shut Down-Merry Trumpmas-Bob Davis Podcast 788

Chaos-Confusion-Shut Down-Merry Trumpmas-Bob Davis Podcast 788

I love talking about current events. These days it gets harder and harder because of a volatile President Trump. Learn more in Chaos-Confusion-Shut Down-Merry Trumpmas-Bob Davis Podcast 788.

Genius Or Idiot

Moreover all this talk of political polarity isn’t republican or democrat. Either you think the president is a genius or an idiot. There’s no in between.

Especially relevant is the question of whether we are able to take a step back and look at recent key events with some perspective.

Economics and Diplomacy Nobody Wants To Discuss

Not too long ago I asked listeners and subscribers to think about what US economic and foreign policy should be. A presidential election and midterm election have taken place since then.

Suddenly foreign policy and economic policy are front and center. We’ll talk about it fireside in Chaos-Confusion-Shut Down-Merry Trumpmas-Bob Davis Podcast 788.

Syria and Turkey

First of all, the president made a snap decision to withdraw US Troops from Syria while on the phone with the Turkish president. In the aftermath the defense secretary resigned, as well as a senior diplomat managing the alliances to fight ISIS. Now the president is talking about withdraws from Afghanistan and Iraq. Is he right?

Combined with Trump’s executive order ban of Bump-Stocks the Syria Withdraw has usually fawning talk show hosts apoplectic.

Government Shutdown

In addition the ongoing struggle between the White House and Congress has resulted in a government ‘shutdown‘. What’s more the struggle appears to be between a Republican president and his Republican majority in the House and Senate.

Firing The Fed Head

On top off all this the president wants to fire the Federal Reserve Chairman. Concerns about economic performance are rising and finally financial analysts are writing about government spending accounting for most of the so called ‘boom’ in the US economy over the last two quarters. This is conservative republican economics?

End Of Conservative GOP

Finally there’s talk of a big split within the republican party. Moderate Republicans fighting Trumpers. Trump fighting with all of them to get a wall built along the US Mexican border. Through all of this there’s been no legislation on key matters like immigration even with republican control of the Legislative and Executive branches of the government. It sure seems like the lack of principles and republican populism is tearing the so called ‘conservative’ coalition apart.

Merry Trumpmas

In conclusion the question of whether people thought about policy during both elections is key. New ideas, and international structures are coming. If we the people don’t start thinking about what kind of country we want, and how will the next America function? Trumpmas will look like child’s play. All of this has me aching to hit the open road!

Sponsored by John D Scott Personal Injury Lawyer, Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul, and Reliafund Payment Processors

Chaos-Confusion-Shut Down-Merry Trumpmas-Bob Davis Podcast 788

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