Election2020-Joe Biden-Council-Bluffs-Bob Davis Podcast 899

Final Few Hours Before Caucus

These are the last few hours of the Iowa campaigns for the caucuses to be held February 3rd. First of all, I’m all over the state getting all the candidates before the big day. Joe Biden is featured in Election2020-Joe Biden-Council-Bluffs-Bob Davis Podcast 899.

I’ve covered a lot of political rallies and conventions over the years. Due to that experience I can say, few work a crowd better than the former Vice President.

Avoids The Podium

Maybe because of his experience he moves slow and walks around more than some candidates. Biden addresses people personally. He doesn’t always use the podium.

East Coast Style

Most noteworthy is his east coast style. Stories about his mother. Family. Personal thank yous to the firefighters for ‘saving my sons’ lives’, and so on. Jokes about his wife’s cat. Learn more in Election2020-Joe Biden-Council-Bluffs-Bob Davis Podcast 899.

All About Trump

For this democratic candidate like all the others though, it’s about President Trump.

Trump. Nazis. Fascism!

Trump’s treatment of the military. Trump’s tax cuts. Furthermore how he handles foreign policy. As with all of the democratic candidates I’ve seen so far, oblique or direct references to Nazi Germany.

Using Government For Good

Certainly there’s the long list of programs. The idea here is to use government to help people. In addition the explanations of tax policy, to ‘pay’ for those programs.

Sense Of Urgency

Even more creating a sense of urgency on Climate Change and finally on the need to unite and lead a country that’s in dire need of rebuilding.

Mix And Match Other Candidates Slogans And Programs

Above all the experience of seeing all the democratic candidates tends to gel in the observer’s mind. They steal each other’s slogans, mix and match programs and ideas.

Uniting The Country

Similarly every speaker is the one and only who can bind up the wounds and unite the country after the terrible scourge that is Trump. Joe Biden is no different on that score. But it’s really about winning.

Will Americans Agree?

In conclusion the real question is whether every day Americans who vote, see Trump as a scourge. More importantly for Joe Biden, whether they decide he’s the guy who can get the job done.

Time will tell.

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Election2020-Joe Biden-Council-Bluffs-Bob Davis Podcast 899

 

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

Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688

Both houses of congress have now passed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill. After four hours and near blindness, I finished all one thousand plus pages. Every citizen should read this bill. In Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688.

Big Little Reforms

Especially relevant is the public relations effort by republicans to convince voters this is a ‘sweeping’ reform of the US tax Code. In fact it is an amendment to a budget bill that further amends the 1987 Tax Reform Act.

Everyone Loves Or Hates

Moreover, if you read the bill, you should almost have a copy of the 1986 Tax Reform Act handy. Both sides of the so called political divide are touting how great this legislation is, or how it will end the world as we know it.  I’ll give you some details in Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688.

Please Hold For Your Tax Attorney

Truth is if you are in business you’re still going to need an accountant and tax attorney advise you. Some businesses will see their taxes increase. Some individuals will see their taxes increase. Sure, the standard deduction has been doubled and tax rates reduced…but…

It Might Be Good…Then Again

There will be fewer deductions and thus fewer ways to legally reduce exposure to taxation. Depending on your specific situation you might see an increase or decrease in your overall tax. I explain some of this in Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688. In addition, listen to my tax reform podcast to understand the political game going on under the guise of fixing the tax code.

Never Underestimate The Power of Free Beer

There are scores of pages concerning craft beer, wine and spirits. Guess all those receptions with free hootch for members must have worked! Finally there are lots and lots of new rules regarding businesses of all kinds.

Beware of Congressmen Bearing Cool Sounding Jargon

When congressmen and senators go out among the people and talk about all they have accomplished, you’re going to hear the words ‘pass-through’ and ‘average american will save’ such and such a lot. What does it all mean? Find out in Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688.

More Government Control

In conclusion my final reaction is the sadness I feel that our federal government controls so much of what we do as citizens through the mechanism of taxation. Republicans who campaigned on a tax cut have certainly paid off on that promise, at least until 2025, but at what price. That is the 1.2 trillion dollar question. President Trump signed the bill into law Friday afternoon.

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Read Entire 1097 Page GOP Tax Bill-Part 1-Raw Reactions-Bob Davis Podcast 688