That Pesky Stock Market (Don't Credit Trump!)

Just imagine how different the tone of The Resistance would be if the stock market were in hideous retreat, as per Nobel Laureate Krugman's infamous early prediction in response to Trump's election.

But that pesky stock market keeps going up! So the Times explains why, doing their Very Bestest to keep Trump out of it. Spoiler Alert: They nearly succeed.

Wall Street, Climbing Sharply, Skips Washington’s ‘Soap Opera’

By Nelson D. Schwartz  Aug 2, 2017

Despite the disorder in Washington — with a revolving door at the White House and roadblocks on Capitol Hill — Wall Street and corporate America are booming.

The disconnect was evident Wednesday, as the Dow Jones industrial average passed the 22,000 mark, a new high. At the same time, blue chips like Apple, Caterpillar and U.S. Steel have all reported strong earnings in recent weeks that surpassed analysts’ forecasts.

“None of the soap opera in Washington matters,” said Frank Sullivan, chief executive of RPM International, a Cleveland-based maker of specialty coatings and sealants like Rust-Oleum. “Nobody in business cares about who talked to who in Russia.”

Washington makes a positive appearance in paragraph four. Blink and you'll miss it:

What does matter, Mr. Sullivan said, is stronger global demand in heavy industries like mining and oil and gas, a weaker dollar that helps exporters, and a lighter regulatory touch by the new administration.

After that it's back to broader economic trends:

The initial stock market rally that followed Mr. Trump’s victory in November — the so-called Trump bump — was fueled by optimism among investors that long-sought action on tax reform and infrastructure spending might finally be at hand.

Few analysts are so sanguine now, especially after Republicans could not agree last month on how to repeal the Affordable Care Act, after years of promising to do so. If anything, simplifying the tax code or investing in new roads and bridges seems farther out of reach than ever.

But a market surge based on political hopes has been replaced by one more firmly grounded in the financial realm.

Besides steady economic growth or less regulation, investors also have been encouraged by the loose reins of central banks like the Federal Reserve, which have helped keep interest rates not far above their historic lows. Inflation, too, remains tame, with price increases in recent months actually falling short of the Fed’s targets.

To which I would add: there is always the possibility of "productive" tax reform, where an enterprise-stifling tax is reduced or repealed. The corporate tax rate might be a broad example. For illustrative purposes, a high tax on the use of the internet would be incredibly stupid, and if something like that were on the books we could boost growth by repealing it. But suppose the Fed doesn't believe the tax cuts on the table will enhance productivity. Then it is arguable that what the Treasury giveth the Fed will taketh away - lower taxes will prompt higher interest rates, leaving us marching in place.

Similarly, "smart" infrastructure - e.g., a better airport, bridge or rail hub that saves us more than it costs after appropriate discounting is applied - can boost growth. "Dumb" infrastructure, or to be less judgmental, "non-smart" infrastructure, might be offset by the Fed.

Regulatory reform could be subject to the same dynamics. For example, the Fed could raise rates to slow the economy if they think the new Administration is "over-heating" the economy by encouraging fracking, or bank lending. But IMHO the Fed would be inclined to wait for the cause and effect to become apparent. With taxes or spending, the amounts and dates are somewhat predictable. Increased confidence by frackers and bank lenders? Harder to measure and attribute, since confidence can be enhanced or diminished for many reasons.

Well. Presidents often get more credit for the economy than they deserve, but I think Trump deserves some credit for being Trump and a lot of credit for not being Hillary.

Comments

[Michael (fpa Patriot4Freedom)]

New thread already ? ? ?

Too far behind to know if anyone posted this in the past two days . . .

Read a wonderful eulogy / tribute by Patti Smith for Sam Shepard, the playwright, actor and director.
Didn't know that they had once been lovers, or that she stayed a lifelong friend and confidant of his.

It is one of the most touching things I have read in years.

Be warned though, it may bring more than a little 'cloudiness' to your vision.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/my-buddy-sam-shepard

[Captain Hate]

A caller to Levin pointed out that the Canucks have a points based immigration system similar to what's being proposed. Where are all the libs who admire their terrible health care system?

[Captain Hate]

Thanks for linking that, Michael; I doubt that I'll read anything more touching today or probably for a long time.

[Comanche Voter]

Actually aside from "Trump being Trump--and the possibility of useful reform and lifting of the regulatory burden, there are two other reasons for the market bump.

1. Obama is gone.
2. Hillary is not POTUSA--and more importantly never will be.

[JimNorCal]

OK, let me bring this fwd from last thread too.

Got an email from the twitter alternate: gab.
They are rolling out new features, and soliciting funding. They are selling hats with the slogan "Make Speech Free Again". It's a first challenge to Leftie domination of social media.

Wouldn't it be great if the President posted to gab?

Is it any wonder NPR hates gab?
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/05/21/529005840/feeling-sidelined-by-mainstream-social-media-far-right-users-jump-to-gab

[Miss Marple]

Rats. Internet is out and will be for several hours. I guess I am going to be forced to do some cleaning. Posted from my phone

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Seems to me the Special Counsel protection act gives Trump the perfect out.
He sits down at his desk, signs the order to fire Mueller and then signs the law and tells his DOJ the next guy that appoints a goddamned SC is going to be neutered.
Then he takes the whole mess to the SCOTUS on separation of powers.

[Jim Eagle]

Jane,

You may want to share this with Dr. Major Mary! Could she be in the "Weirdo" category:)

http://taskandpurpose.com/6-types-majors-meet-military/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tp-today&utm_content=button

As a AFIT grad, I recognize her, too often. Makes CalTech seem like a spring break destination.

[Dave (in MA)]

While the MA AG can't be bothered because she's too busy making it safe for men to visit girls' locker rooms, the DOJ cracks down on MA government employees collaborating with illegal aliens in a criminal enterprise.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/six-arrested-registry-motor-vehicles-identity-theft-scheme

[Old Lurker]

Hey RG, I told you I have a room for you on the Ledge when you come to your senses!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jobless-claims-drop-to-240000-to-maintain-hottest-streak-in-43-years/article/2630503

Whew! I was afraid I would have no internet for the rally this evening!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://nypost.com/2017/08/03/2-tons-of-seized-ivory-to-be-crushed-in-central-park/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow&sr_share=twitter

This is insane. Many of these items appear to be antiques.

They are doing it to "send a signal." Yes, I am sure poachers in Botswana are on their internet watching. And you know, all this is going to do is drive up black market prices, particularly in Asia where ivory is often used in folk medicine.

I have an antique ivory bracelet which I bought years ago. I rarely wear it but I told my daughter NOT to sell it at auction because she would probably end up arrested.

I often came across ivory items at the auction, but never sold them on eBay. I have two small penguins carved from ivory and painted. Those also just sit on a shelf.

I do not approve of the killing of elephants or new items made from ivory, but I don't think crushing antiques is a solution to this problem.

[Old Lurker]

MM, next thing you know religious zealots will be blowing up statues thousands of years old.

[henry]

Erasing history is all the progs have left

[JimNorCal]

Last thread, Clarice said "the 1963 Act spearheaded by Teddy Kennedy was certainly an effort to re-engineer the racial and ethnic flow of people into this country following the Dems' design--if they won't vote for us, we'll just get different voters."

I feel sure I remember a (Bill) Clinton operative crowing about this back in that Admin. It was quite a conscious policy. I think it was a black female, perhaps Brazile or possibly Shalala. Anyone else remember this?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

From the last thread;
--Ig, I urge you to read both Gary Taubes and Steve Gundry before you again type "these guys know nothing", because there are plenty of guys who know nothing about this, but it's not either of them.--

Problem is anonamom, every few years we finally get the one guy who has completely and forever figured out just exactly what's going on and what we need to do.
Why should I have any more confidence this Gundry cat is really the last word instead of the last straw like the last, last word was?
The science is never settled and I don't believe anything anyone says, including me. If most or all highly competent [not crazy or political] people in a field believe the same thing I'll look into it with a less skeptical mind, but when a few competent people say this or that and a few other competent people say the opposite or 'hold your horses; maybe' then I figure none of them actually know what they're talking about and I keep my powder dry.
Until then I do what I know works for me. Whether it works in the long term is another question that I try to find the best evidence for but doubt I'll find it in one or even two places.
Like climate science we don't seem to know enough to say anything particularly definitive beyond some basics and I try to stick to those.

As an aside, regardless of the merits of the theory of evolution, the idea that we evolved this perfect symbiosis with what we ate and our bodies lived in a state of perfect balance as the Grok and other paleo guys say seems to me a fact not in evidence.

[henry]

Yes indeed. Time to investigate the John Doe investigators.

Swamps aren't easy to clean. I say put them 100 yds downrange and I'll loose my trebuchet on them. Then we can tar & feather them, install them on rails, and travel the state looking for lampposts (non available here).

[henry]

Note, the first commenter in that article (Deb Jordahl) was a no knock raid victim of the Kennedy / Chisolm brownshirts.

[henry]

A nutrition study I can relate to, beer prevents dementia.

[James D.]

MM @ 12:11

It's more than insane. It's evil. But what else would you expect from the environmental lobby and a state run by corrupt Democrats (but I repeat myself).

[lyle]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/02/dems-suddenly-scrambling-to-come-up-with-obamacare-fix.html

If by "scrambling" they mean "sitting back and waiting for the Repukes to rush in and save it," I agree.

[Tom Maguire]

The science is never settled and I don't believe anything anyone says, including me. If most or all highly competent [not crazy or political] people in a field believe the same thing I'll look into it with a less skeptical mind, but when a few competent people say this or that and a few other competent people say the opposite or 'hold your horses; maybe' then I figure none of them actually know what they're talking about and I keep my powder dry.

Plausible, but...

As an occasional experiment in Anecdotal Science I will peruse the latest news on how the Hollywood stars maintain their fine shapes. The answers vary as to exercise and diet, but the same common themes emerge - you DO have to exercise and the diet needs to include very little sugar or carbs. Reading about how the male stars buff up for their shirtless scenes tells the same story - lots of chicken, fish and salad.

Or from a different perspective - one reason we have a hard time getting to a national consensus on "the right diet" is illustrated in the comments section of the NY Times on any article related to health and diet. The holy wars that erupt between the Paleos and the vegans make the Sunni-Shiite schism seem minor by comparison.

Yet it would be trivial to lay out a buffet where vegans and Paleos alike could eat happily and find plenty of common ground in the vegetable/salad area. And no one would be railing about the absence of hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, fired chicken, cakes, pies, doughnuts, bagels, ice cream, or the many other staples of the typical diet.

This Gundry "Lectin will kill you" diet has maybe a 90% overlap with a diet Taubes would endorse. The Paleos would quibble with his de-emphasis on meat but again, would be in broad agreement as to the value of vegetables and healthy fats. And the Paleo exclusion list looks a lot like Gundry's list.

This lectins thing strikes me as yet another re-packaging of the low-carbs, good fats advice that is becoming mainstream. But no one gets paid righting a diet book that looks like every other book other there.

And to be fair - people differ in their sensitivity to different lectins, so this Gundry diet is highly likely to work for some people.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

.@JeffFlake: To be conservative, one you have to adhere to conservative policy. But it also means something in terms of comportment&demeanor
0 replies 0 retweets 6 likes

------------------

This is Andrea Mitchell quoting Jeff Flake, whom she interviewed this morning.

So, you had better ACT right according to Flake. You can help the country, do all sorts of great stuff, but if you don't ACT the way he thinks is "conservative", then you are unacceptable.

Do not get me started on Flake. I hope his rear is primaried as soon as possible.

[lyle]

But no one gets paid righting a diet book that looks like every other book other there.

Right-winger!! ;)

[matt, deplore me if you must]

So when does the hammer come down on the leakers in the White House. Someone violated every and all protocols and national security by tendering the Donald's transcripts to the enemy.

They need to find these people, try them, and put them away for a very long time.

That should be a top priority.

This shit is endangering our national security.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I managed to throw a wedding buffet for my daughter's reception that catered both to vegans (lots of them from the art school) and at that time followers of the high protein Atkins diet.

It was quite a challenge, but the caterer was very helpful.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

matt,

0Hour says the transcripts had White House redactions on them, so they didn't come from the State Department. (I am only reporting what he said, as I haven't read that.)

What is the law on possessing classified information? I do not understand why the press escapes with no punishment. I swear some of these people would publish D-Day plans.

[Captain Hate]

I swear some of these people would publish D-Day plans

In fairness to the Jabberin' Jim Acostas of the country, at least half think that means Dunkirk.

[glenda]

Just catching up...my, God --there are idjits in DC government, media--that are more threatening to the "American Dream" (our rights via our citizenship and hard work, accountability) ..than "muh-Russia" boogeyman, asinine white privilege, and McCain's ego!!!

We have to shame the Acosta's, Shumer's and their evil paymasters like Soros, Bildegerger's Stalinist behaviors---out of business, especially, the people's business. Where is that fiend Obama? Why are criminals like Clinton, Comey, Sally Yates, Eric Holder, Bakerfbi, McCabefbi, Rice, Powers, Mrs.Bernie, Wasserman-Shultz, Brennan, Clapper, deepstate Benedict Arnold's at State, IRS, Justice, Congress, K street..???? allowed to continue their harmful, illegal actions against we peasants?(who serve, have no access to be heard, saved or bailed-out because we can't or won't buy their attention or honor)???

We need to march on DC, with paper bags on our heads---the "unknown deplorables"--left behind, abandoned, over-burdened by taxes, regulations, and sold-out by cowards who leak to destroy us, because we will not submit to big brother terrorism!!!

Jane--please tell Mary how grateful I am for her service and strength of character and wish her great success!!!

So, the transcript leaked today ( edited by a teenaged brain) ..was Priebus, or McMaster , via McCain ..right?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

glenda,

Also could have been Bannon in an effort to make McMaster look bad.

I make no judgements, although that leak happened in March.

I don't know what to think.

[James D.]

@JeffFlake: To be conservative, one you have to adhere to conservative policy. But it also means something in terms of comportment&demeanor

Comportment and demeanor? Like soliciting funds and campaigning on a promise to repeal Obamacare that you never had the slightest intention of honoring, Senator Flake?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Anecdotal Science? That's why I'm a skeptic.

No doubt eating lot's of protein helps when "buffing up". And I'm pretty sure I didn't say exercise is bad.
In fact the bad effect of lots of carbs especially refined ones and lots of sugar are two of those basic tenets I mentioned almost everyone agrees on.

--Yet it would be trivial to lay out a buffet where vegans and Paleos alike could eat happily and find plenty of common ground in the vegetable/salad area.--

Not too sure what that means. I think it means if one laid out everything two groups like they would both find stuff they like and there would be some overlap, despite their basic and totally opposite beliefs.
Are there two groups of anything for which that isn't true?

--so this Gundry diet is highly likely to work for some people--

And hence my Missourian attitude; exists there a diet that can't say it works for some people?
And so we finish the cycle; the science is incomplete and so we go to anecdotal evidence, which is the opposite of science.

[DrJ]

Iggy,

Don't you know that the plural of "anecdote" is data?

:)

[cboldt]

Just checking -- if I get dementia from tequila, beer will cure it?

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

I'll forward it JIB.

[Threadkiller]

Maybe the other party to the conversation leaked it.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

Michael,

That was a lovely eulogy. Thanks for posting it.

[henry]

Cboldt, that's my plan. :)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

TK,

But then it wouldn't have had the White House redactions.

You know what else it could be? Tapped phones and/or bugs, put in before Obama left. Then they drop this stuff every few days to sow mistrust and dissent within the White House.

I wonder if heating and air conditioning is all that's going to be replaced when the President leaves to stay at his golf club.

[Captain Hate]

I think it was a black female, perhaps Brazile or possibly Shalala

Shalala's ethnicity is Middle Eastern.

[cboldt]

#SongAJimAcosta

I'd like to teach illegal aliens to sing in perfect English harmony...
Fool for the Sanctuary City
Its my press conference and I can cry if I want too!!
I'm So Vain
I Like Big Boats
Grandstand By Me

And many others ...

[Jim Eagle]

Forbes top College rankings in case you're interesed.

https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/#tab:rank

daddy's girls are doing pretty good with CalTech and Darmouth but Pitzer ahead of Cooper-Union? One reason to question the rankings.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

I hope Trump's announcement tonite is that he is putting every member of Congress on Obamacare at the full price.

[Jim Eagle]

If he does, Jane, you can bet they will pass a veto proof legislation making their exception a law of the land. They proved that with the overwhelming support of the ill-advised sanctions legislation.

FEMALL

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I need a break. I am sick of the sudden hysteria about McMaster.

Internet wannabee's like Mike Cernovich have been ramping up hysteria like the guy is some sort of Dr. Evil.

So, I am going to run to the store.

[clara]

Try Netflix, MM. It works wonders.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy: the IRS has been found guilty of misleading people of the cost of JEFCare. She says they should stop using weasel words like "misleading" and just say they LIED.

[anonamom]

Michael, than you for the link to Patti Smith's remembrance of Sam Shepard.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/my-buddy-sam-shepard

[Clarice Feldman]

B.S. or memorex?https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/3/16084246/mueller-obstruction-case-stronger-trump-surrogates

Is Mueller actually going to investigate the Comey firing, or did he just imagine that?

[Clarice Feldman]

It was the 1965 immigration law as I corrected it on the other thread.

[narciso]

Qatari pelf demands a lot of attention, doesn't it.

They have one upped the kingdom in their support of jihadist and salafis

[cboldt]

That name, Murray Waas, seems familiar.

The article is pure speculation dabbled with truisms.

[James D.]

You're brave to venture into Vox territory, clarice. I refuse to read anything from there, or by anyone who works there.

[Clarice Feldman]

As for diet--I think one cannot ignore genetics. Feed Plains Indians on game meat and squash and things they used to grow and the rate of obesity and diabetes goes way down. I think many people in the US are descendants of people who rarely ate white flour, white rice or sugar,.or meat, for that matter. I think my grandfather who was born in Poland existed largely on groats and veggies with an occasional bit of meat or chicken. By BIT I mean BIT. As for fruit, except for apples,plums, grapes and apricots, I think there was little of that and it was seasonal or dried.

[anonamom]

Gundry didn't write a diet book. He's summarized current scientific knowledge about human nutrition.

If you want to lose weight, just stop eating.

[Clarice Feldman]

I;m steaming angry--going for a swim after reading this:http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/08/breaking-leaked-document-reveals-mcmaster-granted-susan-rice-unfettered-access-classified-information/

[cboldt]

I though goats were mad of meat.
Oh, gRoats. Nevermind.

[Clarice Feldman]

anonymom, pardon me for saying that science and nutrition seem not to go together in my mind. BTW my mother is 98 and as far as I can tell ate mostly cheetos and cheap candy. She has a strong heart and low blood pressure. I think she has a lot of hidden tartar blood in her background.

[Miss Marple]

Clarice,

Could it be that she has to be able to answer questions about stuff she did? It's only past documents as I read it.

[Clarice Feldman]

tatar blood, that is.

[Tom Maguire]

Re "Gundry didn't write a diet book":

Hmm. I would not draw that conclusion from his website. Gundry also sells supplements and a newsletter.

None of that invalidates his work, of course.

Taubes, on the other hand, emphatically did not write a diet book, as he explained in the forwards. No recipes, no diet plans.

[Captain Hate]

Somehow in the era of the JEF, whether from Jethro Bodine Stedman double naught Attorney General harassing them with scam charges or not, everything with Toyota went to bloody hell instead of just providing safe reliable transportation. I need to get caller ID for my landline so I can ignore everything from them even if it means dying in a fiery crash. LEAVE ME ALONE!

[Clarice Feldman]

Could be. Vox is Vox.

[daddy]

Qatari pelf demands a lot of attention

Thought it of note that yesterday Qatar Airways ended its bid to buy a 10% stake in American Airlines

The Sam Shepard eulogy by Patty Smith was touching and well written. I had to look up:

---Yves Klein's canvases:

---the Emeralds of Cortez:

---the Cobblestone Pub in Dublin:

---and I didn't know that Gogol was Ukranian:

I did know about The Lion of Lucerne, because someone (probably Frau) posted about it here at JOM 6 months back:

I saw one of Sam Shepard's Plays 32 years back in a small repertory venue in Seattle on a first date with a girl named 'Ginger'and enjoyed it. Like the Dow, we "flirted" afterward with 20,000:)

So he sounds like an excellent guy and tho' it sounds as about a good a passing as one could wish for I am sorry he passed since I admire any actor who has not hammered the snot out us with his/her political views.

[Davod]

Clarice. The more I see this stuff, the more it reminds me of the Brits and the old school tie mentality.

They are not serious about this. McMasters probably worked with Rice so it's AOK.

[Davod]

PS. Just like he kept Obama holdovers in the NSC and bounced Trump newcomers. New leader old policies stay.

[Captain Hate]

Either McMaster is being lied about by a lot of people or he has to go.

[Buckeye]

I will keep an open mind about Gundry's advice, but so far anonamom is batting 1.000 with me.

Unless you have lived with someone suffering from IBS-D, hard to appreciate how tough it is.

I am sure Mrs. Buckeye won't mind trying a diet change. She has made many changes already and it probably only means a variation on what she already does.

[henry]

Given the sources are Hoft and Cernovich, I will follow Wictor and assume Trump knows what McMaster is doing. All the Mideast realignment (including the end of guns for ISIS that McCain and Egg depend on) happened with McMaster in place. While Hoft, Cernovich et al are half baked on their best days. YMMV

[Ralph L]

Sorry, but you're misreading what the letter says. It says her clearance will be maintained and she can access old material from her tenure. This is probably common for top level national security people. It does not excuse any past malfeasance, nor does it excuse any Berger pants thievery.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/08/03/propaganda-reports-of-hr-mcmasters-letter-to-susan-rice-presented-to-deceive/comment-page-1/#comment-4219561

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

Fox reporting Mueller has empaneled a grand jury.

[Old Lurker]

Ya'll know I stand with JiB's post last night about there not being enough ass whupping going on.

Seriously, if you were a Prog plant in DC, why would you be afraid of anything based on the nine months since the election?

Somebody should invent a wise saying about not being liked by your friends or feared by your enemies.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

Does anyone know what is going on with McMaster?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

As I said (and Sundance agrees) it's for access of old information that she produced.

She has to be able to access stuff in order to explain why something was done.

She also needs to access it with a clearance if she has turned state's evidence, although that is only speculation, although Wictor seems to think this is likely.

Cernovich is nuts. I think he likes the spotlight way too much and has a lot of dubious reports. Jim Hoft, while a nice man, is easily stampeded.

[cboldt]

It does distress me slightly to put Sara Carter toward the Hoft/Cernovich end of the spectrum, but it is what it is.

[henry]

On the diet stuff, all foods have lectins of some sort. Cooking eliminates most of them. Are we supposed to eat raw foods (i.e. Proteolytic diets)? one point of confusion for me: are these lectins different from proteolytic enzymes? (The first is bad, the second good). Don't get me started on fermented foods (yeasts have their own undiscovered country of lectins).

Until we sort out good from bad enzymes, and their sources (also cooked vs raw), any conclusions are muddled at best. For me, fewer carbs (grains & sugar) / more vegetables makes sense. Plus beer, for quality of life purposes.

[cboldt]

Special Counsel Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe - WSJ

Mnay reports on the subject. CNBC, DailyBeast, MarketWatch, FNN, and so on.

President Trump's lawyer Ty Cobb said in a statement: "Grand jury matters are typically secret. The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly....The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller."

[henry]

Latest I saw on Twitter was Kushner getting a look see over investment for immigration activities. If he did it, nail him. The grab McAwful & friends and throw away the key.

[Jane (Stand against the Coup)]

Clarice,

We need you to get on that grand jury.

[cboldt]

Why Mueller Is Taking Over the Michael Flynn Grand Jury - The Atlantic

From early June. I would think that GJ either never existed (under Mueller that is) or ran its course.

This will probably bump Acosta off the news, and that's a good thing.

[henry]

Scalise out of the hospital. Has lots of PT ahead.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SteveScalise/status/890237223181922304

[Jim Eagle]

The "F" Word

When is @#$% Acceptable?

There are only 11 times in history where the "F" word has been considered acceptable for use.

They are as follows:

11. "What the @#$% do you mean, we are sinking?"
-- Capt. E.J. Smith of RMS Titanic, 1912

10. "What the @#$% was that?"
-- Mayor Of Hiroshima, 1945

9. "Where did all those @#$%ing Indians come from?"
-- George Custer, 1877

8. "Any @#$%ing idiot could understand that."
-- Albert Einstein, 1938

7. "It does so @#$%ing look like her!"
-- Picasso, 1926

6. "How the @#$% did you work that out?"
-- Pythagoras, 126 BC

5. "You want WHAT on the @#$%ing ceiling?"
-- Michelangelo, 1566

4. "Where the @#$% are we?"
-- Amelia Earhart, 1937

3. "Scattered @#$%ing showers, my ass!"
-- Noah, 4314 BC

2. "Aw c’mon Monica. Who the @#$% is going to find out?"
-- Bill Clinton, 1998

1. "There is no @#$%ing way Trump will ever become President"
-- Hilary Clinton 2016

[daddy]

Haven't read the story yet but the reason I automatically think the Mueller Grand Jury empanelment will be a bad thing for Trump is that as far as I know there have been no leaks beforehand telling us there was movement ongoing to impanel a Grand Jury. The Deep State is incapable of keeping it's mouth shut when they have info that can be utilized to harm Trump. Given the track record of DC leakers logic tells us that if leakers were non-partisan we should have known about this for weeks if not longer, yet suddenly up it pops as a fait accompli today.

I think that all the noise we saw about Lindsay and the Dem's colluding to whip up a new Bill to prevent Trump from having the authority to fire Mueller is evidence that they knew beforehand this was coming down the line, and they were putting their pieces on the board to screw Trump ahead of Mueller's revelation.. So the info was available to be leaked, but was not leaked, because the folks who had the info are enemies of Trump.

Oh well. "Let the funeral games begin," and if anyone wants to "rob" Lindsay Graham or Schumer or Mueller, be my guest.

[cboldt]

This is strange for a few reasons ...

The grand jury, which began its work in recent weeks, is a sign that Mr. Mueller's inquiry is ramping up and that it will likely continue for months.

Did it begin its work before it was empaneled? Or was empaneled weeks ago and not "new" news today?

Ramping up? I hope so. Mueller has been on the job for months with nothing to show for it except a bloated staff of partisan hacks.

Continue for months? What is the basis for that assertion?

WSJ reporters Del Quentin Wilber and Byron Tau

[Jim Eagle]

I have never heard of a politically motivated witchhunt in DC no matter the offended or defended party that didn't produce at least something. Its like the scorpion - its their nature and can't help themselves.

If not Trump, you can bet its one of his family. I go with Kushner.

[Clarice Feldman]

Captured ISIS thugs forced to wear bikinis and brashttps://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20627085_2362940043931158_6390728127384321512_o.jpg?oh=9fc1c67df43034079c71b116103e082c&oe=59EB830C

[Buckeye]

Jack

That was @#$%ing funny:)

[matt, deplore me if you must]

That was a beautiful eulogy. I think Smith, Shepard, Collins and Jim Harrison have a wonderful connection with the American psyche, especially as the country was undergoing some wrenching changes.

Smith came a long way. When she started, she was desperate for fame, and then when she found it I think she realized that it was pretty hollow.

Her first few gigs were pretty bad but she had an urgent quality and a couple of good songs.

Her writing has progressed beautifully. My first Shepard play was at Fordham, where Denzel Washington was a part of the theater department and our crowd. They did Mad Dog Blues which was very interesting to a kid from the Philly suburbs.

When you think about it, the mythologies of Springsteen and Shepard have some commonality and New York at that time was mythic.

[cboldt]

daddy - patience. Trump's lawyers are primed to react to news reports that Mueller has strayed from his jurisdiction. This report exists to feed the same "Trump is guilty but we can't say that outright" reporting that has been going on since the election.

[bunky]

Grand Jury..... Aren't we all happy that Prez is playing by DC rules? Pathetic.

[Clarice Feldman]

good decisionhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/08/02/court-okays-lawsuit-for-damages-based-on-allegedly-excessive-airport-checkpoint-search/?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_term=.b39dc8cf7dc6

[cboldt]

West Virginia's Democratic Gov. Jim Justice will announce he is switching parties at a rally with President Trump on Thursday.

[cboldt]

The grand jury, located in Washington, D.C., follows a separate grand jury previously convened in Alexandria, Va., by federal prosecutors investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Sounds like nothing more than a continuation of the same old structure that was there before. "News out of nothing!" Ty Cobb said he wasn't aware of the event.

The Hill's breathless version linked for your convenience.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Whoever suggested it, Netflix is in order for me. I will be back after while.

[JimNorCal]

Captain Hate | August 03, 2017 at 01:37 PM

thanks for the correction, CH

[Clarice Feldman]

NYT reporting WV Gov Justice to switch parties tonight at Ttump rally in WV

[Marlene]

Good afternoon! cboldt,did you see that George Mitchell is defending Collins and King from the big bully LePage?
We're off to a wedding in the western Maine mountains tomorrow. I won't be listening to any news. The family dynamics will take all of my energy. :)

[centralcal]

Robert Costa‏Verified account @costareports

RT @Reuters BREAKING: Grand jury subpoenas have been issued related to June 2016 mtg. between Donald Trump Jr., Russian lawyers and others

[daddy]

NEW THREAD!!!