Finding Happiness-Bob Davis Podcast 814

Finding Happiness-Bob Davis Podcast 814

When it comes to politics these days, it’s hard to find happiness. Especially when it comes to how things really work and true believers. We’ll talk about it in Finding Happiness-Bob Davis Podcast 814.

Omar’s Tweet Storm

Minnesota’s 5th District Congressman Ilhan Omar started a firestorm  because of a tweet regarding a Vox story that questioned Israeli lobbying. At issue are democrat voters suddenly aghast because of Omar’s comments.

Dependable Democrats Put Omar In Office

Jewish voters in the 5th district are dependable democrat voters. Moreover they reached out to a growing Somali community in Minneapolis years ago. An effort that has been celebrated in the media here. Somalis as a community were encouraged to come to the Twin Cities through the US State Department, by Lutherns, Catholics and others.

Suddenly Surprise At Omar’s Criticism Of Israel

Consequently why is it surprising a Somali politician, elected by an active Somali community might have different views about Israel than a Jewish community smaller than her base? Especially since the president apparently had similar views during his 2016 campaign.

Surprise! Moderate Democrats Don’t Like Socialists

More importantly older and moderate democrats are balking at left wingers like Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Ocasio Cortez. When they voted, what did they expect?

The Final Insult? Light Rail

It doesn’t end there. Most noteworthy in Minnesota? Democrats have had control of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul for decades. More than 90 percent of democrats support Light Rail Transportation. A new rail project will run right through one of Minneapolis’ most democrat and richest district.

NIMBY’s

Democrats enthusiastically support Light Rail projects in other parts of the city. Now suddenly they’re upset because of proposed subsidized development and the path of the train through the inner city lakes district.

Republicans Hate Democrat Governor’s Tax Increases

Finally there are the republicans furious because a newly elected democrat governor wants to raise taxes. Where were they last November? Watching fox news in their La-Z-Boys.

What You Deserve

In conclusion, everyone wants what they want from politicians but…you can’t always get what you want.

Sometimes you get what you deserve.

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Finding Happiness-Bob Davis Podcast 814

 

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Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811

Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811

These days Trump cultists love to talk about the booming economy. Time for a reality check. Learn more in Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811.

Under 3 Percent

Especially relevant are Gross Domestic Product numbers from the 4th quarter of 2018. The average for the whole year is predicted to be under three percent.

Cherry Picking Numbers

Boosters like to cherry pick statistics. I like good old Gross Domestic Product numbers. They are released at the end of every quarter. GDP performance for each fiscal year is pretty hard to ignore. Especially when people say this president has ‘fixed’ the economy and worked miracles.

Just Because You Do Well Doesn’t Mean The Economy Is Doing Well

Moreover if I’ve heard it once I have heard it a thousand times. Saying your business is doing well does not mean the economy as a whole is doing any better than it has. The latest retail performance is a good example. This distinction is important only because the president wants us to believe he “blows Ronald Reagan Away”.

Objective Legislative Achievements On Economy

In Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811 I objectively list President Trump’s few legislative achievements when it comes to the economy as well as his executive orders concerning the economy.

Hardly A Boom

In 2017 the US Economy grew by 2.2 percent. First quarter of 2018 was 2.2 percent. Second quarter 4.2 percent. Third quarter 3.4 percent. Fourth quarter 2.6 percent. Hardly a boom.

Not Even As Good As Obama

In contrast, President Obama’s best year was 2015, at 2.9 percent. Obama also presided over one quarter of growth of 5.1 percent, followed by another quarter of 4.9 percent growth. Better than Trump’s best two quarters so far.

Actual GDP Numbers

First of all growth is growth and we’ll take it. However, because of republican claims of great economic success, it’s time for a reality check based on actual GDP numbers.

And Obama Wasn’t That Good Either

At issue are claims by the president and his supporters he has done a fantastic job. Truth is so far his numbers are still about the same as Obama’s, which weren’t very good either.

We Pale In Contrast To The Early 80’s, Mid and Early 1960’s and 1950’s

Even more, all the numbers in our time pale in contrast to performance above 7 percent in the 80’s, high six percent in the 60’s and above 8 percent in the 1950’s.

Contrast our time with the 1980’s, 1960’s, or 1950’s.

What we’re living through is not a boom.

Republican Doesn’t Mean Conservative Anymore

Finally a republican in the White House does not guarantee ‘conservative’ economic management. Pushing for a weak dollar. Borrowing to stimulate. Trade Protection. Adding trillions to the national debt. More debt and deficit spending for ‘infrastructure‘ don’t seem like ‘republican‘ ideas.

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Booming US Economy-Reality Check-Bob Davis Podcast 811

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United States-Emergency-Spectacle-Bob Davis Podcast 807

United States-Emergency-Spectacle-Bob Davis Podcast 807

I am so sick of the media speculating on what’s ‘about’ to happen and predicting the future these days. So when something actually happens it’s worth talking about. Learn more in United States-Emergency-Spectacle-Bob Davis Podcast 807.

Trump Loves Bombshells and So Does The Media

Moreover when it’s a bombshell that triggers uproar from all sides of the so called political spectrum, it’s news.

All About Trump

The president has been talking about declaring an emergency for weeks. In addition there have been rumors his unhappiness with a legislative compromise that netted only about one fifth of what he wanted for his ‘big beautiful wall’ on the southern US border. It’s been a spectacle. It’s about to become a most noteworthy example of a political dumpster fire.

Can He Really Do That?

Especially relevant is the question of whether the president can actually declare an emergency to build a border wall. Obviously the Administration thinks so. There are currently thirty states of emergency already declared by presidents going back to Jimmy Carter. This will be number 31. We’ll talk about in United States-Emergency-Spectacle-Bob Davis Podcast 807.

All About The Approval Rating

There will be court challenges and lots of and lots of news coverage. Here’s the thing. Immigration and the border wall is a good issue for the president. Already some polls have his approval rating over fifty percent. As to whether a wall will actually work? I guess that remains to be seen.

Big Spending Big Government Republicans

Lost in the shuffle is a new budget bill that substantially increases federal spending. With the national debt at 22 trillion and more than 100 percent of the nation’s GDP you could call Trump President Donald Baines Nixon. With this spending bill you could call him Donald Barack Trump. (Editor’s Note: I refer to the debt of the US as the Budget Deficit which is probably somewhere around half a trillion. The 22 trillion dollar figure is in actuality the total debt of the US, currently at about 105 percent of the country’s GDP).

So Long Suckas

Suddenly the guy many republicans thought was ‘conservative’ is taking fire from the right as well as the left.

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United States-Emergency-Spectacle-Bob Davis Podcast 807

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