The Era of rivalry, Biden vs. Trump and their respective parties

More good news about the economy.

ABC reports, "Shrugging off higher interest rates, America's consumers spent enough to help drive the economy to a brisk 5.2% annual pace from July through September, the government reported Wednesday in an upgrade from its previous estimate.

"The government had previously estimated that the economy grew at a 4.9% annual rate last quarter.

"Wednesday's second estimate of growth for the July-September quarter confirmed that the economy sharply accelerated from its 2.1% rate from April through June. It showed that the U.S. gross domestic product — the total output of goods and services — grew at its fastest quarterly rate in nearly two years.

"Consumer spending, the lifeblood of the economy, rose at a 3.6% annual rate from July through September — still healthy but a downgrade from the previous estimate of 4%. Private investment surged at a 10.5% annual pace, including a 6.2% increase in housing investment, which defied higher mortgage rates.

"The U.S. economy, the world's largest, has proved resilient even as the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate 11 times since March 2022 to fight the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Those higher interest rates have significantly increased consumer and business borrowing costs. But they have also helped ease inflationary pressures: Consumer prices rose 3.2% last month from 12 months earlier, a marked improvement from the 9.1% year-over-year inflation recorded in June 2022.

"The U.S. job market is cooling from the red-hot levels of the past two years. But it's still healthy by historical standards: Employers are adding an average of 239,000 jobs a month this year. And the unemployment rate has come in below 4% for 21 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s."

According to Gallup, only 32% of Americans approve of our President's handling of the economy. Beats me what they are complaining about.

 

Republican voters, mostly farmers and shopkeepers from the rural counties of America, have made Trump the favorite in the Republican primaries. For some reason these voters seem bent on doing serious harm to the Republican Party. Trump has no chance in the general election, and the down ballot will suffer greatly.

Here is just one reason why.

ABC reports, "Donald Trump has embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as patriots, vowed to pardon a large portion of them if he wins a second term and even collaborated on a song with a group of jailed defendants.

"Despite losing a bid to strike from the indictment references to that day's violence, defense attorneys have made clear their strategy involves distancing the former president from the horde of rioters, whom they describe as “independent actors at the Capitol.” At the same time, special counsel Jack Smith's team has signaled it will make the case that Trump is responsible for the chaos that unfolded, and point to Trump’s continued support of the Jan. 6 defendants to help establish his criminal intent.

"The competing arguments highlight the extent to which the riot serves as an inescapable backdrop in a landmark trial set to begin on March 4 in a courthouse just blocks away from the Capitol.

"It also reflects a point of separation between Trump and his legal team in the case accusing the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss. While Trump’s glorification of Jan. 6 defendants may boost him politically as he vies to retake the White House in 2024, his lawyers' approach lays bare a concern that arguments linking him to the rioters could harm him in front of a jury."

Just how stupid is Trump?

Is it true that grassroots Republican voters view the Jan. 6 rioters and far right extremists as heroes? Apparently they do. Nationally, 59% of Republicans support Trump. DeSantis is a poor second at 14%.

Should these people choose our next President?

Republican voters will not respond to this report. They never do.

 

Other Republican voters are fighting back. They are fighting against the destruction of their party. They have a way to go. The rural wing of the party has the advantage.

CNN reports, "Welcome to the new Never Trump.

"The 45th president’s enemies on the right are mustering for a final big money showdown designed to crush his hopes of a third consecutive Republican nomination less than 50 days before voting starts in the GOP primary race.

"Nikki Haley will be the lavishly funded vessel carrying the hopes of the influential network funded by billionaire Charles Koch and top industrial and corporate donors who think Donald Trump is a risk too far next November.

"Their bet is that the former South Carolina governor can succeed where busted 2016 $100 million front-runner Jeb Bush, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, two impeachments, old school Republicans like Mitt Romney, millions splashed by the Club for Growth and the Lincoln Project and allied groups, a 2020 election defeat, a pliant House GOP majority and several special counsels failed.

"At the very least, the decision of one of the premier networks in conservative politics to climb on board the accelerating Haley train could help create the only conditions under which Trump could be beaten in a GOP primary that he is currently leading massively, according to polls in early voting states and across the nation."

The rational view is that Trump is busily trying to beat himself. Unfortunately, his rural fans enjoy the part about using the army to control our largest cities, and how their candidate regards the rioters who sacked our capitol as heroes. Trump's 91 alleged felonies charges and four criminal indictments only adds to his popularity within Republican ranks.

I'm only speculating. Republican voters are unable to explain their support of Trump. So, I have to guess.

 

The pause in the fighting will continue one more day ... meaning today. All bets are of where tomorrow is concerned. Hamas is running out of women and children to return.

CBS reports, "Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to extend the temporary cease-fire in Gaza for a seventh day, the Qatari government announced early Thursday, not long before the previous two-day extension was set to expire. While the truce has held in Gaza, pausing the brutal war sparked by Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, violence in the other Palestinian territory, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and in Jerusalem was keeping tension high on Thursday."

 

Along with his 91 felony charges contained in four criminal indictments, Trump is trying desperately to lose his 2024 President bid.

He now wants to violate Posse Comitatus by using the army to quell crime in Democratically run cities like New York and Chicago.

ABC reports, "Campaigning in Iowa this year, Donald Trump said he was "Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens. The next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it and we’re going to show how bad a job they do. Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer.”

Next, he glorified the far right extremist groups who ransacked our capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

ABC reports, "Donald Trump has embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as patriots, vowed to pardon a large portion of them if he wins a second term and even collaborated on a song with a group of jailed defendants.

Now he is being told to keep his mouth shut in a gag order. Oh, by the way, he is also guilty of fraud. The ongoing trial is to determine how much he pays.

CNN reports, "A New York appellate court has reinstated a gag order prohibiting former President Donald Trump and attorneys from making public statements about the courtroom staff in the ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial.

"Judge Arthur Engoron originally issued the order barring Trump from making public statements about his court’s staff after Trump made numerous comments about a clerk, who Trump says is biased against him.

"Hundreds of threats against Engoron and the law clerk were made public last week. Engoron’s clerk has received 20 to 30 calls per day to her personal cell phone and 30 to 50 messages daily on social media platforms and two personal email addresses, according to court papers.

"The $250 million lawsuit was brought by the New York attorney general’s office and alleges that Trump and his co-defendants committed repeated fraud in inflating assets on financial statements to get better terms on commercial real estate loans and insurance policies. Engoron already ruled the former president is liable for fraud and he’s considering how much the Trumps will have to pay in damages."

Trump is the leading Republican candidate for the Presidency. His followers avoid discussing him.

 

Or, and, Trump is trying to take the Republican Party down with him. His supporters are more than willing to follow his lead. They just don't say much.

Trump blames the GOP for his election loss. In his mind, it certainly wasn't his fault.

CNN reports, "Former President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, has alarmed some Republicans scarred by the GOP’s failure to deliver on promises to dismantle the law and who view the issue as a political loser with the American people.

"Many on Trump’s team said they were surprised by the former president’s recent declaration on his social media website Truth Social that replacing Obamacare would be a priority of his administration, as Obamacare had not been a focal issue in ongoing policy conversations and the campaign has not yet drafted any kind of health care policy alternative. One Trump adviser told CNN the post came “completely came out of nowhere,” and said the team “has not been talking to him about health care.”

"Some Trump advisers who spoke with CNN also conceded that calling for the termination of a health care law that provides millions of Americans coverage and is largely viewed favorably by the public is a political loser going into 2024. Republicans have tried and failed for years to implement substantial changes to Obamacare and the party has largely abandoned efforts to campaign on the issue.

"The resurrection of the health care battle has given Democrats fresh political ammo, and the Biden campaign quickly seized on Trump’s threats."

Most Democrats are hoping and praying that Trump is the Republican nominee for President!

By their silence, even Trump's followers know he is a loser.

 

"Campaigning in Iowa this year, Donald Trump said he was "Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens. The next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it and we’re going to show how bad a job they do. Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer.”

"Donald Trump has embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as patriots, vowed to pardon a large portion of them if he wins a second term and even collaborated on a song with a group of jailed defendants."

"Former President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, has alarmed some Republicans scarred by the GOP’s failure to deliver on promises to dismantle the law and who view the issue as a political loser with the American people."

"A New York appellate court has reinstated a gag order prohibiting former President Donald Trump and attorneys from making public statements about the courtroom staff in the ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial."

"Trump renewed attacks on the wife of the judge in the New York civil fraud trial of his business empire, before and almost immediately after an appellate court on Thursday reinstated a gag order against him in the case."

To put it simply, Trump is not smart!

No wonder his backers avoid him. Their only purpose is to harm America.

 

Breaking news!

Trump lost in court. That happens about 99% of the time.

CNN reports, "Former President Donald Trump can be sued in civil lawsuits related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot in a long-awaited, consequential decision from the federal appeals court in Washington, DC.

"The decision will have significant implications for several cases against Trump in the Washington, DC, federal court related to the 2020 election. The decision arises out of lawsuits brought by Capitol Police officers and Democrats in Congress.

"The opinion, written by Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, states that not everything a president does or says while in office is protected from liability.

"The president “does not spend every minute of every day exercising official responsibilities,” the opinion said. “And when he acts outside the functions of his office, he does not continue to enjoy immunity. … When he acts in an unofficial, private capacity, he is subject to civil suits like any private citizen.”
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.”
“When you catch somebody in a fraud, you are allowed to go by very different rules."
“We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
"Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy. And after this, we’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you. We are going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”
*******************************************************************************************************************************************Donald J. Trump, Jan. 6, 2021

 

In the November elections the Republican Party wants to win the Oval Office and control of Congress.

The former Republican President has been charged with 91 felonies within four criminal indictments and has been found guilty of fraud in New York, his home state. Trump is the leading Republican candidate for President.

Former Republican rep, George Santos, was kicked out of the House today by his Republican colleagues with a little help from the Democrats.

Republican members of of this forum are silent. They can't even defend themselves, let alone defending their party.

ABC reports, "The House of Representatives on Friday voted to expel Republican Rep. George Santos, a historic move that hasn't happened in more than 20 years.

"Santos, scandal-ridden since arriving in Washington nearly a year ago, is just the sixth House member in history to be removed by his colleagues.

"The final vote to expel him was 311-114, with 112 Republicans voting with Democrats, far eclipsing the two-thirds majority threshold needed. Speaker Mike Johnson, who just before the vote announced his opposition, presided over the tally."

Note: Speaking of which, the Republican leadership in the House, including Speaker Johnson, supported Santos.

ABC continued, "His removal comes two weeks after a scathing House Ethics Committee report detailed what investigators said was Santos' use of campaign funds for his own personal benefit. Santos repeatedly criticized the report as political smear, though he did not refute specific allegations."

CNN adds, "The House Clerk informs the governor of New York that there is now a vacancy in the third district of New York. It is then up to Gov. Kathy Hochul to schedule a special election to replace him. New York State law stipulates that the governor make a proclamation of a special election within 10 days, with an election occurring “not less than seventy nor more than eighty days” following the proclamation. Hochul, a Democrat, said Friday she is prepared to fill the vacancy and slammed Santos, saying "he has not served" the people of New York."

 

The pause in fighting has ended.

Reuters reports, "Israel's warplanes pounded Gaza on Friday after talks to extend a week-old truce with Hamas collapsed, sending wounded and dead Palestinians into hospitals and forcing hundreds to flee in the streets.

"In the north of the enclave, previously the main war zone, huge plumes of smoke rose above the ruins, seen from across the fence in Israel. The rattle of gunfire and thud of explosions rang out above the sound of barking dogs.

"Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns. Hamas said it had targeted Tel Aviv, but there were no reports of casualties or damage there.

"Israel and Hamas accused each other of wrecking the negotiations and triggering the resumption of violence, though the White House singled out the Palestinian militant group, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release to enable an extension of the truce."

 

"President Trump famously declared during his 2016 campaign that he loved the “poorly educated” because voters with lower levels of schooling delivered an overwhelming share of votes to him," the conservative Washington Times."

Trump, who led an attempt to overthrow the elected government and end the peaceful transfer of power -- a mainstay of American democracy -- speaks only to his rural followers. He avoids those who have the background and experience to question his statements and behavior. He knows his followers avoid the realities of responsible news media.

Which explains their inability to respond to reports such as this one.

Trump as a threat to American democracy is self-evident from his own statements. His followers do not have the background to understand that. Instead, they cheer when Trump vows retribution against Democrats if elected President.

CNN reports, "Donald Trump is underscoring the profound choice that voters could face next year with expansive claims of unchecked presidential power alongside increasingly unapologetic anti-democratic rhetoric.

"Trump’s political career is built on an edifice of a spectacular falsehood that is nevertheless effective in motivating his voters. It’s also revealing of how Trump, who has pledged to use a new term to go after his opponents, sees no limits on his power if he wins next year.

Using a little know law passed shortly after the Revolutionary War, if elected President, Trump intends to use the military against cities controlled by Democrats.

Campaigning in Iowa, Trump said he was prevented during his presidency from using the military to quell violence in primarily Democratic cities and states. "Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens, the next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it and we’re going to show how bad a job they do,” he said. “Well, we did that. We don’t have to wait any longer.

Trump embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as patriots, vowed to pardon a large portion of them if he wins a second term and even collaborated on a song with a group of jailed defendants.
Trump and his allies have begun mapping out specific plans for using the federal government to punish critics and opponents should he win a second term, with the former president naming individuals he wants to investigate or prosecute, including his former chief of staff, John F. Kelly, and former attorney general William P. Barr, as well as his ex-attorney Ty Cobb and former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark A. Milley.

Trump is not very bright. Over and over again he uses bonafide charges against him as a basis to accuse his opponents of the very same charges.

“Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday. “Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy and … it’s him and his people. They’re the wreckers of the American dream. The American dream is dead with them in office, it’s sad.”

As is customary for Trump, he offered no specifics.

The Republican Party is responsible for this threat to our democracy. Trump is the leading Republican candidate for the Presidency.

The forum's Republicans will continue their silence on the issues.

 

"Using a little know law passed shortly after the Revolutionary War, if elected President, Trump intends to use the military against cities controlled by Democrats."

"Trump embraced the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as patriots, vowed to pardon a large portion of them if he wins a second term and even collaborated on a song with a group of jailed defendants."

Who else is not talking?

The Republican leadership!

 

Trump is an idiot.

Special counsel Jack Smith plans to present evidence at Donald Trump's trial next year that his continued support for US Capitol rioters helps to show he intended to inspire violence on January 6, 2021, as part of a conspiracy he led to overturn the 2020 election.

 

Two men represent the leadership of the Republican Party.

Donald Trump is charged with 91 felonies in four criminal indictments, and has been found guilty of fraud in a New York civil case. He is the leading Republican candidate for the Presidency.

Believe it or not, House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to protect the guilty. Over 1200 have been arrested in the ransacking of our capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. For reasons that defy common sense, Johnson promised the far right members of the House that he would release to the public countless hours of video of the capitol invasion.

CNN reports, "House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that before publicly releasing footage of the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, the faces of the mob will be blurred to protect them from the Justice Department.

"The Louisiana Republican said during a news conference that he wants to make sure rioters don’t get prosecuted.

“We’re going through a methodical process of releasing them as quickly as we can,” Johnson said. “As you know, we have to blur some of the faces of persons who participated in events of that day because we don’t want them to be retaliated against and to be charged by the DOJ and to have other, you know, concerns and problems.”

"According to the latest update from the Justice Department, 683 people have pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from their actions on January 6, and 127 individuals have been found guilty through trials in DC’s district court."

Unbelievable!

The Republican Party wants to pick our next President and our lawmakers in the 2024 elections. Their followers are incapable of dealing with the issues contained in this thread. Their silence will continue.

 

In another example of Republican leadership, Republicans are blocking critical assistance to a key ally over a problem that has plagued the last ten Presidents, Republican and Democrat alike. No wonder the forum's Republicans don't want to talk about their party. This is embarrassing.

ABC reports, "The White House on Monday issued a dire warning about the urgent need to approve aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, saying failure to act quickly will "kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield."

"In a letter to congressional leaders, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young said flat out the U.S. is "out of money -- and nearly out of time" to send assistance to Ukraine.

"I want to be clear: without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks," Young wrote. "There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money -- and nearly out of time."

"A halt in assistance will cause significant issues for Ukraine -- and potentially benefit Russia, Young said.

"But Senate Republicans have vowed that if Schumer tries to move forward with the President's urgent request, they'll deny it the 60 votes it needs to move forward unless they secure some major policy wins about security at the southern border."

CNN added, "Russian President Vladimir Putin’s grim bet that America and the West will tire of his brutal war before he does is looking better by the day.

"Nearly seven weeks after President Joe Biden asked Congress for $60 billion to top up Kyiv’s arms and ammunition lifeline — along with another $14 billion for Israel — nothing has happened. In a grave blow to its prospects, Ukraine aid has now been embroiled by Republicans in a separate imbroglio over immigration."

In another example of Republican leadership, Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville has blocked military promotions for over 10 months, weakening our military's preparedness and creating a national security threat. He held up the promotions because of the military's travel expenses for women's health.

It would appear that the Republican Party has become Putin's ally. The forum's Republicans will not dispute that contention.

Fortunately, the Republican's hold is partially over.

USA Today reports, "The Alabama lawmaker, who has been protesting a Pentagon policy on abortion since February, told reporters Tuesday he will be lifting holds on military promotions for nominees three-stars and below. The blockade has prevented more than 400 military jobs from being filled. Tuberville's release on the holds still requires four-star nominees – which currently number 11 – to be voted on individually on the Senate floor."

This is the Republican Party at work.

 

It would appear that the Republican Party has a key ally -- Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Republican leader has always enjoyed a cozy relationship with Putin. "President Donald Trump on Monday publicly sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence agencies, refusing to condemn the Kremlin for interference in the 2016 election," Politico, Helsinki, July 16, 2018.

ABC reports, "Biden called it "stunning" that Congress has taken as long as it has to pass his request for $61 billion in additional funding for Ukraine, laying out a stark warning of what could happen if more funds are not approved, and saying Republicans will give Russian President Vladimir Putin "the greatest gift he could hope for" if the U.S. ends its global leadership now.

"The Congress has to uphold the national security needs of the United States and quite frankly, of our partners as well," Biden said, speaking from the White House.

"This cannot wait," he said, saying lawmakers had to act before the holiday recess and money runs out at the end of the year.

"Republicans in Congress are willing to give [Russian President Vladimir] Putin the greatest gift he could hope for, and abandon our global leadership, not just Ukraine, but beyond that," he said.

CNN adds, "Senate Republicans blocked aid for Israel and Ukraine from advancing in a key vote on Wednesday in protest over a dispute about border security policy, a clash that threatens to derail passage of the foreign aid."

 

The Post reports, "A Nevada grand jury has charged six Republicans who claimed to be presidential electors in 2020 and submitted certificates to Congress falsely asserting that former president Donald Trump had won the election in their state.

"In all, Trump electors met in seven states that Biden had won that year, with investigations into electors also underway in Arizona and New Mexico. The electors sent official-looking, signed documents to the Senate and National Archives, and Trump’s allies used them to try to prevent the certification of the election on Jan. 6, 2021, before and after Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol that day.

"The felony charges facing each elector are offering a false instrument for filing, a Category C felony, and uttering a forged instrument, a Category D felony. The first carries a penalty of one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The penalty for the second is one to four years and a fine of up to $5,000.

"Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald is among those charged in the state. The other five are: Jim DeGraffenreid, Jesse Law, Durward James Hindle III, Shawn Meehan and Eileen Rice."

 

Following the GOP debate, Republican contenders for the job of President went back out on the campaign trail today.

The leading Republican contender for the job has a unique form of campaigning.

Donald Trump considers siting in a civil trial where he has been declared guilty of fraud a campaign event.

Why? Simple, his gullible followers pay for his legal expenses every time he sits in on a trial and gives campaign speeches during breaks.

Incidentally, Trump has been charged with 91 felonies in four criminal indictments. The criminal trials are likely to happen in 2024, hopefully before the election. Trump wants to be our next President.

CNN reports, "Former President Donald Trump was in court for his New York civil fraud trial on Thursday where an accounting expert sought to bolster the defense argument that company valuations are a highly subjective process.

"Trump cast the trial as “corrupt” in brief comments to reporters before entering the courtroom, criticizing the judge presiding over the trial, Arthur Engoron, and New York attorney general Letitia James, who brought the case against him.

"The former president’s appearance in court comes one day after the fourth GOP presidential debate, which Trump skipped. The former president, who is leading the Republican primary, declined to answer questions about the GOP race Thursday morning as he criticized the attorney general’s civil case against him. He later told reporters he attended court Thursday to make sure the public “gets the true story.”

"The high-stakes civil case strikes at the heart of Trump’s brand – his real estate empire. New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing Trump for $250 million and seeking to bar him from doing business in the state."

In an open venue Trump never answers questions from reporters. He makes his campaign speech and exits. Trump avoids all scenarios where he must answer questions from inquiring minds. That explains his absence from all four GOP debates.

Sans the speeches, his followers do the same. They are completely silent.

 

The media is severely distorting a problem by making public hundreds of political threats provided by the FBI, Congress, and social media sources.

The problem, for the most part, does not exist. If memory serves, the only threat I can recall that materialized was the nutcase who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband a year ago with a hammer, and he attacked the wrong target. Steve Scalise was attacked six years ago.

Despite hundreds of threats, no politician, judge, judge's clerk, prosecutor, or D.A. has been attacked. There has been no terrorist attack of any consequence since 9/11.

The two most recent shooters are a 67-year old college professor at UNLV and a former army nutcase in Texas who killed his parents and four others.

Going back to Columbine, the shooters have largely been twenty somethings and teenagers with severe mental problems.

The threats are written by unknown fools and cowards who will do nothing beyond writing a threatening note.

The threats will keep on coming as long as there are crazy people out there. However, so far, that is all there is, threats, which the media should keep to themselves.

Why do these people write threats? Because their threat will make the six-o-clock news, and the FBI director will be on television telling us how concerned he is.

That's why!

 

The above report is subject to my memory lapses.

 

Beyond looking like fools, what in the world are House Republicans doing? Most likely, they don't know, and, of course, the forum's Republicans will not explain it to us. They avoid what their party is doing ... as this thread shows.

ABC reports, "The House Rules Committee announced Thursday it will consider a resolution next week to formalize Republicans' ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

"The panel will mark up a resolution on Tuesday, Dec. 12 to direct the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees to continue their work investigating Biden."

What is this impeachment all about? House Republicans won't tell us, rather, they can't tell us.

What did our President do wrong? Republicans have no clue and they admit it.

Normally, a President does something wrong, as our Constitution says. "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Because he did something wrong, the impeachment process begins. Examples would include, using foreign aid to bribe a foreign official -- Trump. As President, attempting to overthrow the elected government -- Trump again.

But that is not what is happening here, according to the Republicans' own admission.

"Republicans concede the evidence is not there yet to draft articles of impeachment," ABC.

There is no evidence ... period. We still do not know what our President did wrong because Republicans are not able to tell us.

Forum Republicans, please feel free to challenge that statement.

 

These figures speak for themselves, but two-thirds of the American people are totally unaware of them and their impact. They think we are in a recession.

ABC reports, "U.S. employers added a healthy 199,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell, fresh signs that the economy could achieve an elusive “soft landing,” in which inflation would return to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target without causing a steep recession.

"Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the unemployment rate dropped from 3.9% to 3.7%, not far above a five-decade low of 3.4% in April. The jobless rate has now remained below 4% for nearly two years, the longest such streak since the late 1960s.

"The latest jobs report and other recent data portray an economy and a labor market that, while still sturdy, are downshifting back to pre-pandemic norms. Businesses are hiring but are less desperate to fill huge numbers of jobs. More Americans have come off the sidelines to look for work.

"As a result, employers are finding it easier to hire, with fewer complaints of worker shortages and less pressure to aggressively raise pay, which can fuel inflation."

The US Inflation Rate is at 3.24%, compared to 3.70% last month and 7.75% last year.

A recent CNN poll tells us "A 71% majority of Americans rate economic conditions in the country as poor, with 38% calling them very poor."

Go figure. I have written a number of reports informing people how well the economy is doing. Not one member of this forum has taken issue with that position.

 

CNN reports, "The pro-Trump lawyer who helped devise the 2020 fake electors plot and already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy in Georgia is now cooperating with Michigan and Wisconsin state investigators in hopes of avoiding more criminal charges, multiple sources told CNN.

"In a dramatic turnaround from 2020 – when the lawyer, Kenneth Chesebro, was at the center of efforts by former President Donald Trump to subvert the Electoral College and overturn his defeat – Chesebro is now helping investigators in at least four states who are looking into the scheme.

"Chesebro’s cooperation in Wisconsin is the first indication the state attorney general’s office has launched its own investigation into the false slates of pro-Trump electors.

"Chesebro also recently testified to a grand jury in Nevada, where indictments against six fake electors were announced Wednesday by state prosecutors. Additionally, Chesebro has been in contact with prosecutors in Arizona, where he plans to sit for an interview as part of that state’s ongoing investigation into fake electors.

"CNN has previously identified Chesebro as an unindicted co-conspirator in special counsel Jack Smith’s federal indictment against Trump, where the former president is charged with organizing the fake electors scheme “to disenfranchise millions of voters” and unlawfully remain in power. There is no indication Chesebro is cooperating in the federal probe, or that Smith has ruled out charges against him."

 

Just how stupid is Donald Trump?

Well, he is accusing our President for using the DOJ to persecute him.

“Crooked Joe Biden pressed deranged Jack Smith to do this fake indictment on me,” Trump said in a video posted to to Truth Social, alleging that the president is using the indictment as a distraction.

That is very interesting inasmuch as the DOJ has been after the President's son for the past several months.

Indeed, "Hunter Biden has been hit with new criminal charges in California accusing him of scheming to avoid paying his taxes while spending lavishly on everything from luxury hotels to escorts to exotic cars.

"The president’s son is also facing separate firearm charges in Delaware, raising the possibility he could be headed toward trial in two different cases as his father, President Joe Biden, campaigns for re-election." AP.

The back taxes have since been paid.

Because of his countless lies, Trump easily gets confused.

Against the advice of his lawyers, Trump is determined to testify Monday in his civil fraud trial. Prosecutors are drooling at the prospect.

 

The quote above was written on the seventh.

Unless forced to in a criminal trial, Trump will not willingly place himself in a position where his actions and statements can be questioned by professionals. Professionals would include prosecutors, Presidential rivals, and reporters.

ABC reports, "Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York in a $250 million civil lawsuit that could alter the personal fortune and real estate empire that helped propel Trump to the White House.

"Donald Trump's civil fraud trial will resume on Tuesday, following the announcement from the former president that he was canceling his plans to testify Monday in his own defense.

"The trial will continue Tuesday with the cross-examination of the defense's accounting expert Eli Bartov. Once Bartov concludes his testimony, Trump's defense case is expected to rest.

"Closing arguments in the case are scheduled for Jan. 11, and a written decision in the case may come in late January."