Headlines

Trump’s bluster and millions haven’t stopped universal mail-in voting plans

‘Pandemic fatigue’ leads to resurgence of coronavirus in Europe where France and Spain hit records

White House to announce $11.6 billion in disaster relief for Puerto Rico

POTUS to stop downloads of TIKTOK by Sunday

Outgoing China ambassador: Trump ‘believed the Chinese’ early in pandemic

The next wave of the global recovery could send commodity prices soaring

Pennsylvania Supreme Court sides with Dems — allows mailed ballots to be counted 3 days after Election Day

Rasmussen: Trump highest approval rating since impeachment launch

Poll: Biden up 9 points in Arizona, tied with Trump in North Carolina

Coronavirus live updates: U.S., Canada and Mexico extend border closures through October

Most voters now believe there is a ‘war on police’ — back ‘blue lives matter’ laws

Trump ‘putting a lot of pressure’ on CDC and FDA, I’d trust Fauci on vaccine


STAND UP FOR AMERICA!

Headlines

‘We all néed to come together’: Ernst distances herself from Trump’s rhetoric

‘The growth is exponential’ — Florida and Texas report surge in coronavirus cases over Fourth of July

A ‘President Biden’ would be exactly what Russia and China would want

Baltimore: Black Lives Matter destroy Columbus statue dedicated by Reagan

Duckworth declines to say Biden should select black woman as running mate

Coronavirus on track to overwhelm Houston hospitals in two weeks, mayor says

Armed member of Canada’s military crashes into gate of PM Trudeau’s home

Joe Biden : ‘I’m Joe Biden’s husband, Joe Biden’

Kayne West says he’s running for president

As Black buying power grows, racial profiling by retailers remains persistent problem

German Economic Minister predicting economic recovery starting in October

1 of 2 protesters hit by car on closed Seattle highway dies

Headlines

North Korea says it has no plans for talks with U.S.

Loans in coronavirus bailouts see largest weekly decline yet — but there are still red flags

Michael Cohen spotted dining at NYC restaurant — may land him back in prison

Khan’s London: Police retreat as rioters throw bricks and bottles

Trudeau: Canada to restrict sensitive exports, suspend extraditions to Hong Kong

Trump signs extension of PPP small business coronavirus relief fund

New guidance in California bans singing in church

Duckworth to block promotion of 1.1k military officers for Vindman’s promotion

Washington Redskins to review team’s name

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, test positive for coronavirus

Biden campaign won’t release his cognitive test results

Swalwell: Trump ‘makes us look like geniuses every day for impeaching him’

Headlines

Fringe groups point finger back at Trump, Democrats

GDP is now projected to fall nearly 53% in the second quarter, according to Fed gauge

Police chief: I knelt to show black lives matter ...

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer: Trump ‘cowardly, weak anddangerous’

Episcopal bishop says Trump’s message is ‘antithetical to the teachings of Jesus’

Coronavirus: Tokyo issues stay-home alert, Canada film industry seeks government support

Cops drop to knee before protesters ... Troops gather around DC ...

St. Louis police: 4 officers shot in overnight riots

FoxNews’ Tucker Carlson goes after Trump and Kushner over protests

Civil rights leaders say they’re are ‘disappointed and stunned’ after call with Facebook’s Zuckerberg

Cop shot in the head on Vegas strip ...

Left rips New York Times over front page: ‘Endorsement of fascism’

Want vs. Need

Trump says we have the most coronavirus testing in the world and anyone who “wants” a test can get one ... whereas his medical experts say anyone who “needs” a test can get one. Of course the media Trump-haters (and they are rife) jump on these semantic differences and argue:

- Even if we are doing by far the most absolute testing globally, on a per capita basis, we are not the leaders in the world since a number of countries  ... Canada, Italy, Germany, etc. ... lead us. Both assertions are relevant but Trump is again a liar because the second assertion is not true. Isn’t this called “moving the goal posts?” We are a wide country with many areas devoid of this virus ... however, in our hot spots like New York,New Jersey and Massachusetts testing leads every country in the world ... on a per capita basis.

- Insofar as the difference between those who “want” or “need” a test. This is again an indication of the media putting Trump in a lose-lose situation. Clearly, everyone in America may want a test every other day. This creates an impossible metric that could never be met ... ever. So, there must be a filter on who gets tested ... and this is where the word “need” comes in. As far as I am concerned, when Trump says “want,” he really understands that there must be a smudged or “need” in this semantic.

Bottom line: if you can’t defeat Trump with logic, try demagogery!

The Basics

Although I was quite young, I think living today is becoming a lot like it was during World War II. And, by that, I mean that life then was just getting through the day without screwing anything up badly ... keeping body and soul together..

During those tough times we struggled to keep our houses warm in the winter without too much concern about all that coal smoke we produced. In the summer, air conditioning was accomplished with lots of ice and a fan. Movies were simpler yet more wistful. Racial tensions and gender politics were not top of mind. Life was just the basics ... food, clothing, shelter, religion.

Oh yes, we now have the internet to replace the morning paper ... and can watch Joe Scarborough froth at the mouth while we sip our coffee. But lots of diversions have now disappeared out of our lives ... at least for a while. No sports ... no going to the movies ... or out to dinner ... more complications in grocery shopping.

I have a feeling that, once this Wuhan virus thing has gone away, our lives will be completely different. We will be far less dependent on China for our manufacturing. Much more of our lives will be on-line. We will have a closer relation with Canada, Mexico, Great Britain ... maybe even Russia. We will have much more effective virus treatments. Unfortunately, many businesses will have disappeared. A lot of people will have new jobs. Carbon dioxide won’t be quite the bugaboo it recently was ... even if our climate actually changes a bit.

We, as a nation, might even start getting behind our president.

Headlines

Coronavirus consumes Trump’s re-election bid

Trump plans to declare national emergency over coronavirus pandemic

CDC nightmare scenario: 1.7 million [coronavirus] deaths ...

Biden’s coronavirus proposal cribs heavily from Trump  administration

Mnuchin calls the coronavirus pandemic ‘a great investment opportunity’

Coronavirus live update: Europe is now the ‘epicenter,’ The Masters is postponed

Mexico frets about U.S. coronavirus spread, could restrict border ...

AOC: Biden is winning because of rampant voter suppression

Canadian government to suspend parliament

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says White House and Congress close getting coronavirus bill done

Noonan: ‘Don’t panic’ is rotten advice ...

Consumer sentiment holds up better than expected

Headlines

Iran official says Israeli cities can be revenge targets

Iraqi parliament calls for US troops to be expelled — coalition suspends operations against ISIS

CARR: Trump ordered the strike, and came down to dinner cool, collected ...

Carlson: ‘Washington has wanted war with Iran for decades’

Flush with cash Yang wrestles with where to spend it

Trump threatens to hit 52 Iranian targets if Tehran retaliates over top general’s death

Patriots eliminated ...

Britain backs Trump on Iran, deploys Royal Navy to Persian Gulf

Britain orders navy to protect ships after Soleiman's killing

Graham wants to start Trump impeachment trial in days: ‘We need to take matters into our own hands’

Netanyahu, in apparent stumble, calls Israel ‘nuclear power’ ...

Iranian ex-pats in Canada celebrate [Soleimani’s] death ...

reddit Pic

Quebec, Canada

Headlines

After backlash, Trump says his Doral resort won’t host G-7 summit

Amazon is shipping expired baby formula and granola, putting customers and food brands at risk

Hong Kong descends into chaos again as rioters defy ban ...

Canadian oil, gas workers protest Greta Thunberg: Don't kill our jobs

‘It’s not like she hates lobbyists’: Warren’s Senate record doesn’t match her campaign rhetoric

Brexit could cause a broad ‘investor strike.’ UBS chairman warns

Romney downloads on Trump again: May vote to remove

173 House Republicans back move to condemn Adam Schiff

Defense chief: Troops leaving Syria going to western Iraq

Stocks will likely hit new records in the week ahead if earnings keep bearing expectations

Australian papers unite in protest against media restrictions ...

Study Latino-owned businesses growing at record pace in Trump economy

Headlines

Jim Jordan: Trump not serious in calls for China to investigate Biden

UAW says GM labor talks ‘have taken a turn for the worse’

IMPEACHMENT 2019: ‘Never Trump coalition’ decides he’s fine ...

Exclusive — Kevin McCarthy: Pelosi must sideline Schiff

Macron: We’ll know soon on Brexit deal

There is now a second whistleblower in the Trump Ukraine case

4 killed, 5 injured in Kansas City bar shooting ... Hunt for killer ...

‘Depressed’ Willie Brown: Only Hillary Clinton can beat Donald Trump

Boris Johnson: ‘We’re packing our bag and walking out’ in 25 days

US small businesses fight an uphill battle against counterfeiters in China: ‘Its a wack-a-mole’

Pope opens debate on celibacy requirement for Catholic priests ...

Canada: Mass migration drives pop[ulation] growth

Headlines

Unlike U.S., Canada plans coordinated attack on foreign election interference

Alan Greenspan says it’s ‘only a matter of time’ until negative rates spread to the US ...

Social credit score to determine who can buy guns?

Obama, Biden briefed on private Trump meeting fed to FBI by Comey

Google’s YouTube hit with $120m fine over children’s privacy

Trump rolls back regulations on energy-saving light bulbs ...

Marianne Williamson: ‘I didn’t think the left was so mean’ ...

Iran offers to honor nuclear deal in return for $15 billion

Hong Kong formally withdraws controversial bill after weeks of unrest

‘Hundreds of other people could be implicated’ in Jeffery Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell court documents

[Bahamas] Island 70% underwater ...

Swedish king concerned over spate of explosions and shootings

Looming Recession?

A recession is the Democrats’ wet dream. They know that an economic swoon would help their chances in the presidential election next year. So what might cause a recession? Certainly the U.S.-China trade war could be a significant factor. In fact, it is clear now that the Chinese now are not going to agree to what day of the week it is until after November, 2020 ... hoping that Trump will be bounced and a squishy Democrat will be then sitting across the negotiating table. Trump clearly knows this and is reducing expectations.

Another possibility is the trade deal with Mexico and Canada ... not as big as China, but still important. Nancy Pelosi is sitting on the USMCA like it is a hard-boiled egg. She will not give Trump a win this close to the next election even if it damages our country. How patriotic!

And, of course, the Fed has a potentially huge roll in how well our economy does. It really screwed the pooch last December when it continued raising interest rates when much of the rest of the developed world had negative rates to stimulate their economies. There then was over a three percentage point differential in rates which strengthen the dollar and hurt exports. Trump’s jawboning has caused Powell to reverse himself and start to lower rates once again ... and to halt quantitative tightening (reducing the money supply). Is the Fed doing too little, too late?

And I am sure that there are other schemes being concocted inside the DNC to shoot our economy in the head ... or at least in the leg. Even though many of the poobahs on Wall Street are liberals, they still like money better ... and there have been times where a falling stock market led the economy down. So if they can nudge the economy down by shorting the stock market, they might just do it. However, they also need to worry about a low-probability whiplash caused by a breakthrough in the trade war. There is a limit to this type of economic manipulation.

We’re all in for an exciting 15-month roller coaster ride. Stay buckled in!

VAT

VAT stands for value-added tax ... a federal consumption tax raised in steps from corporations and the ultimate end users ... and implemented in most of America’s trading partners. The United States does not use such a tax and, as will be demonstrated, this puts us at a distance trading disadvantage.

Let me explain ... most of Europe, Mexico, Canada and Asia have a VAT ... an effective sales tax that is applied at each stage in the manufacturing process as a product passes up the supply chain. In effect, a VAT is a tax applied against a finished products’ Cost of Goods ... less such taxes already paid ... up and down the supply chain, effectively a regressive sales tax on the final sales price. For a fuller explanation, see: Investopedia Explanation.

However, here is the rub ... in countries with VATs, when a product is exported, the VAT taxes paid by the seller is remitted. An example of this would be that US travelers to Europe can apply for a rebate any VAT taxes paid in their travels for goods that they are returning home with. (they seldom do however.)

What does this mean? It effectively means that countries with VATs are subsidizing their exports by the cumulative amount of the VAT taxes that had been paid during their manufacture. This, combined with any import tariffs into these countries establishes their mercantilism. This edge puts the U.S., with no VAT, at a very distinct disadvantage trading-wise. However, Trump’s tariffs have begun to close this gap in some places.

Why doesn’t America have a VAT, or national sales tax in order to level the playing field? For a number of reasons, but primarily because of the fear that we will end up with this national sales tax AND a corporate income tax. Not a happy thought.

Headlines

It’s open season on Joe Biden

Trump says US has ‘indefinitely suspended’ planned tariffs against Mexico after reaching a deal

Tariffs already wiped out tax savings for average Americans ...

Trump deal with Mexico likely ends catch-and-release, defund cartels

White House tried to block Kris Kobach from testifying about census

‘We’re at an impass’ with China, says Canadian Finance Minister Morneau

Space Station open for tourists!  $50 million trip

Blue state blues: Trump has improved relations with every U.S. ally

Administration officials pushing to strip convicted terrorists of citizenship

Xi calls Trump his friend and says US won’t disconnect with China

Big tech unfazed by antitrust threat ...

Bloomberg has pledged $50 million to get rid of coal, slow natural gas production

Headlines

Trump’s tariff war leaves allies fretting about losing strong economy

Justice Department reportedly preparing antitrust probe of Google

13 dead; shooting in VA Beach, disgruntled city employee

Trump celebrates LGBT pride, urges world decriminalize homosexuality

Nunes demands release of Mueller’s ‘backup and source documentation’

Acting US Defense Secretary calls for Asian allies to boost arms spending

Mysterious flashes of light observed on moon ...

Bernie Sanders blasts NRA, calls for gun laws after VA Beach shooting

Judge blocks Missouri from closing lone abortion clinic

Business groups are considering legal action against the White House over Mexican tariffs

Impeachment headcount reaches 51 in House ...

Canadian prime minister deems USMCA ‘win-win-win’

Headlines

Trump’s ‘truly bizzare’ visit to Mt. Vernon

OPEC’s oil production plunges to four-year low in March as Saudis slash output

Bibi survives!  Historic 5th term

Bernie admits he’s a millionaire, will release tax returns Monday

Nadler holds fire on Mueller report subpoena

Mortgage refinance boom goes bust as rates shift higher

Mayor Pete attracting praise — from conservatives ...

Ilhan Omar claims  Jewish ‘Stephen Miller is a white nationalist’

Texas Tech medical school will end use of race in admissions

Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin battles with Democrats over Trump’s tax returns

Canada to reject refugees at USA border ...

Barr says he’s reviewing the conduct of FBI probe into Trump

Headlines

GOP meddles in Democrat nomination with takedown of O’Rourke

China and Indonesia ground all 737MAX-8s after Ethiopian crash

Shock poll: Half of young Americans want to live in a Socialist nation ...

Washington Post Fact Check: Democrats have ‘become anti-Jewish’

Kudlow staying ‘bullish’ on US-China trade deal

Fed Chair Powell: ‘The Law is clear,’ Trump can’t fire me

Global economy weakest since financial crisis ...

Foreign workers outpace native-born Americans in job growth for six months

Poll: Republicans see equality for women. Democrats don’t

The bond market is signaling a major buy sign for stocks, says Jim Paulsen

Border crossings from Canada on rise ...

AOC sez capitalism ‘irredeemable’ 

Headlines

Forget Mexico, Democrats turn focus to porous Canadian border

Saudi oil minister: Russia moving 'slower than I'd like' on oil cuts

White House sought options for striking Iran ...

Netanyahu confirms latest Syrian strike

Democrat governors steer party to left for universal health care

Julian Castro announces bid for 2020 Democrat presidential bid

Dems party in Puerto Rico during shutdown, fun and sun!

Tehran warns Poland: Don't side with U.S. against Iran

Theresa May: Brexit deal rejection may lead to democratic 'catastropy'

Huawei reportedly fires employee in Poland after charges of espionage

Poll: President, Republicans blamed for shutdown ...

Michael Avenati: Stormy Daniels to attend Cohen hearing

Headlines

'Months or even years': Both sides brace for a lengthy shutdown

Stock market comeback is now in the hands of China-US trade talks

First openly bisexual Senator sworn n ... Doesn't take oath on Bible ...

Virginia's Democrat gov. proposes gun confiscation orders

Existing Mueller grand jury gets extension

The Fred may have just set the Trump rally back on track, says Jim Cramer

Poll: Immigration among top concerns in 2019

House Democrats to introduce boll criminalizing private gun sales ...

Trump says he would consider declaring a national emergency to force border wall funding

Job growth surges by 312,000 in December

New Dem bill requires 10 years of presidential tax returns ...

Canada: China has detained 13 Canadians since Huawei CFO arrested