Get Shopping!

The traditional "Shouldn't you be out shopping frantically?" open thread.

MEANWHILE... Flynn and Sullivan at loggerheads during what was expected to be a routine sentencing hearing.

Comments

[hrtshpdbox]

On my way now to pick up a gift card for my son from the local ski slope. Just about done with shopping!

[henry]

"out shopping"?

don't you just tell Echo "send presents to people in my list", then get another beer?

shopping is so 20th Century.

[MissMarple2]

I am going to pick up gift cards for my grandkids while I am at Kroger later today. I don't know what they need and a VISA gift card will let them buy whatever they want after Christmas, when the sales start.

I am also giving them some heirlooms.

[MissMarple2]

Ryan Saavedra
‏Verified account @RealSaavedra
2m2 minutes ago

CNN notes Trump has succeeded in criminal justice reform after other administrations have repeatedly failed: “So many people & administrations have pushed for [criminal justice reform] and it's the Trump administration that got it.”
================================
It must have killed them to admit that.

[henry]

Criminal Justice Reform... sounds great. Anyone know what is in it? (serious question).

[henry]

Oh boy. more popcorn:

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
3m

JUST IN: Senior White House official declines to say for sure that President Trump will sign the government spending bill if passed.

[Captain Hate]

Speaking of shopping, it looks like All Commies Love Us found Emmet "Clowmcar" Sullivan to gift wrap a decision.

[Tom R]

From the last thread:

I believe in Rosenstein; the leaks from that lying creep McCabe about him joking about wearing a wire was the final confirmation that the Swamp hates and fears him.

On that note, do you believe RG may be correct when he pointed out recently one reason Rosenstein appointed Mueller as SC was to take the Russian collusion case away from McCabe?

[GUS]

I asked Echo if my ass looked fat.

She said "I'm sure you look fine".

I asked her if she was wearing glasses.

NOT KIDDING.

[MissMarple2]

Just because I know you all were breathlessly waiting for an update:

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller
9m9 minutes ago

In speech at the Library of Congress, @SpeakerRyan says "all the noise" and political battles are exhausting. "It saps meaning from our politics. And it discourages good people from pursuing public service." Says it doesn't have to be this way.

[henry]

Did Ryan say we should lay back and enjoy it?

[Captain Hate]

On that note, do you believe RG may be correct when he pointed out recently one reason Rosenstein appointed Mueller as SC was to take the Russian collusion case away from McCabe?

Maybe, I'm not sure. I know he wanted it away from McCabe but anything beyond that is unknown to me.

[GUS]

Poor Paulie no nuts, he's exhausted. Well, he'll get plenty of rest now.

[Captain Hate]

Ryan, a self serving knob until the end. Just STFU & GTFO.

[Tom R]

Senior White House official declines to say for sure that President Trump will sign the government spending bill if passed.

I hope Trump stands his ground and refuses to sign the CR because he told Congress last year he wouldn't ever sign another one (or something to that effect). When you combine this with the stance on the wall he took in his televised meeting with Pelosi and Schumer then its going to make it look like he caved in if he signs the CR.

I've got some skin in this game. In a few days I'm going on a family vacation in Hawaii for the holidays. We planned to spend 3-4 days on the Big Island at the military campground in Kilaeua National Park. The park will be closed down if there is a government shutdown in place. I've already spent over $800 in nonrefundable plane tickets from Oahu to the Big Island. If the national park is closed I'm screwed.

[henry]

Merry Christmas:

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
43s

BREAKING: Federal Reserve raises rates

[Tom R]

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/12/19/president-trump-is-not-the-issue-its-those-who-oppose-him/

[henry]

Tom, did you check on whether the roads are open? they did have a bit of a lava flow earlier this year. (Not sure where in the park the military campground is). Hope the vacation works out for you.

[Extraneus]

"True National Emergency?"

Says who? Much of Congress - all of one party and a not insignificant portion of the other one - and many Americans think no such thing.

I'm pretty sure that only the president can declare a national state of emergency. It ain't up to the Congress.

Governors do it all the time during hurricanes, fires, etc. Never heard of a state legislature having the authority, for example.

And those "many Americans" who are against border security are a small minority.

[Old Lurker]

Won't give an inch, will you Ext? Even if you have to focus on the tiniest of trees to avoid seeing the forest.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

I listen to part of the first hour of Rush on my way home this morning and Rush sounded much more like Henry then he did you MM. Rush pointed out that giving money away to countries never work. As an example he pointed out that we gave money to Honduras to help them fix their southern border and how did that work out? Personally I am very disappointed in Trump right now especially if he signs this new budget. It will be a clear won for the dems and a big loss for Trump and the Republicans in my opinion I’m hoping that the report that Trump may not sign the budget is true

[Old Lurker]

Dow dropped 350 points in the fifteen minutes since the Fed raised rates.

So far.

[Texas Liberty Gal]

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
3m

JUST IN: Senior White House official declines to say for sure that President Trump will sign the government spending bill if passed.

If this is true it may be that Trump was listening to Rush I’ve never heard Rush so disgusted with what was going on and the fact that Trump might sign that spending bill

[Old Lurker]

OK, -400.

[henry]

markets sinking faster that the Sea Cuck?

[Tom R]

Won't give an inch, will you Ext? Even if you have to focus on the tiniest of trees to avoid seeing the forest.

Will someone copy/paste this from the last thread for OL's benefit? Lets have some fun and not tell him it's from me.

Trump has $69 billion at his disposal in the 2019 DoD budget for overseas contingency operations and national emergencies (aka the Pentagon slush fund). $15 billion of that is for operations in Iraq and Syria. There will be a significant amount of that not spent if combat operations in Syria end due to the defeat of ISIS. That allows Trump to shift that over to spend on other OCOs or national emergencies. FYI the illegal immigration crisis at the border qualifies as a national emergency.

Trump also has $8 billion at his disposal in the 2019 DoD budget for "Other Defense Related" discretionary spending.

[Extraneus]

The wall is the forest.

[Old Lurker]

It's a race, Henry.

Mkt was way up for the day until the Fed acted against the advice of Trump's tweets.

[Extraneus]

Dow still up around 100.

[Extraneus]

Wild swings. Now only up 40.

[Old Lurker]

...A federal judge on Wednesday took the extraordinary step of ordering that asylum seekers who sued after their deportation be returned to the U.S. to have their claims heard anew, ruling against the Trump administration's revised asylum policies.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington came a day after the same judge presided over a contentious sentencing hearing for former national security adviser Michael Flynn -- in which he questioned whether the ex-White House official committed “treason” and accused him of selling out the United States to foreign interests. He later delayed Flynn’s sentencing until 2019, as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

In his sweeping ruling Wednesday against the Trump administration's immigration policies, Sullivan said recent changes violated federal law.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

I thought Echo was the WJOM request line.

[johns]

MissMarple, I hope you have not picked up those gift cards at Kroger yet. you pay extra for those, like $25 for $20 worth of merchandise.
instead, if for example you go to Starbucks, a $25 gift card costs $25

[Old Lurker]

Ext "Wild swings. Now only up 40."

And we both know that by the end of the day it might be back up 400 or down the same. Which is why I hate stocks.

[henry]

Pin, it might be... I don't have fuyll time listening devices at home, so I don't know.

[Captain Hate]

Rush can fuck off too; I never voted for someone to take marching orders from that deaf blowhard.

[Old Lurker]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/the-wall-is-now-steel-slats-and-trump-has-screwed-his-supporters

[James D.]

BREAKING: Federal Reserve raises rates

There's a shock. Slam the markets and drive the economy into recession. Wonderful.

[Buckeye]

Schumer has been begging Trump to bitch slap him again.

I think he may get his wish.

[Tom R]

Whoever wrote that oped that OL linked at 2:29 is a dumbass.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

Full Time Listening Device?

I bet you do.

[James D.]

Just a reminder: paperback books make excellent gifts. And Amazon ships them really quickly, even if they are print-on-demand books from independent, self-published authors.

Like our own rse and sbw, for example. Or others. I'm just saying.

[Pinandpuller]

Right now I'm somewhere between "The Floor Is Lava" and Rev Wright "No, no, no GD Amarica!"

The chickens are coming home to roost.

[Old Lurker]

Cap'n, but I know you know that about one third of Trump's base care a lot what the deaf blowhard has to say about national politics.

[henry]

Pin, sure. The land line is wired that way, and the phone. tablet and desktop probably all listen full time in spite of any settings I made. But arguably, warrants are required* because all my phone and internet arrive via copper wire.

*secret parts of patriot act, and general lack of respect in law enforcement for things like warrants aside.

[Old Lurker]

Henry "things like warrants"

Those old things?

[henry]

OL, they still use rubber stamps and ink pads for them. Just like the 302s. ;)

[Old Lurker]

And they still use bell wire and alligator clips to tap your phone, right Henry?

[henry]

yep. that would help.

[Pinandpuller]

Here's a book you should pick up for Christmas:

Out of the Ashes-William W Johnstone

[Extraneus]

I'm no expert, but who cares if the wall is made of concrete or steel slats at the bottom? Rabbits and turtles and rattlesnakes can get through the slats, but I'm sure they're designed so that people can't. Plus, with slats, the Border Patrol can see what's going on without watching camera feeds from the tops of the walls.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

One off book use of 'personal massagers' would be to tape them to your glass doors to fool the laser.

[henry]

Pin... I don't have to tape my bass to the glass doors to accomplish that.

[Old Lurker]

BREAKING NEWS: FED DEFIES Trump and hikes interest rates despite the president's unceasing attacks on chair Jerome Powell and his plea to 'feel the market' and freeze increases.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6513257/FED-DEFIES-Trump-hikes-rates-despite-presidents-unceasing-attacks.html

Sort of like insisting the cameras stay on to roll tape of him lecturing Nancy & Chuck that without $5B for the wall, he will be proud to shut the government down.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

You need to update Adobe before you can load a warrant.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

You said you're sink was running because of a leak!

[henry]

Adobe listens without a warrant already.

[henry]

Pin, the sink... well there is a leak. I haven't fixed it yet because...did I say I didn't have the right parts? yeah. that's the ticket.

[Old Lurker]

OK, down 700 since lunch and 400 for the day.

[Extraneus]

Hey, you were right, OL. Dow down 400 now.

[Tom R]

I finally agree with Kasich on something.

https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2018/12/john-kasich-says-he-couldnt-beat-president-donald-trump-in-a-gop-primary.html

[Extraneus]

475

[Extraneus]

-500

We should have taken your advice before the election.

[JimNorCal]

kk posted a link to an article about MAGA economics, which I haven't read yet but assume will be about how America is doing better and "others" are perhaps doing worse now that Trump is calling the tune.

This triggers a thought: remember how Trump cut through our enemies like a hot knife through butter when those enemies were the MSM, Dems and GOPe? Now that China has been taken down a notch, now that Canada, Iran, Europe and some others have been slapped around a bit ... well, suddenly we see some hard blows landing on Trump, his Admin and by extension America and us Deplorables.

Maybe a coincidence. Or maybe Trump is now battling with an "A" team instead of JV's. Maybe the key opponents are not all in the Swamp.

[Old Lurker]

Jim, I think you are dead right about that. ChiLurker has been reminding us of that for a long time.

[Account Deleted]

"but assume will be about how America is doing better and "others" are perhaps doing worse now that Trump is calling the tune."

this is the link. it addresses the forces Trump is counterattacking and how the FED is directing the multinationalist economic order to undercut American economic sovereignty by market manips.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/12/19/president-trump-is-not-the-issue-its-those-who-oppose-him/#more-157937

[Captain Hate]

It's hard to get more Deep State than the Fed.

[JimNorCal]

Never mind, Tom R posted the same article and it's not about what I surmised :) :)

[matt - deplore me if you must]

I look at it as a long game. Trump is getting a lot of legislation through and the establishment is resisting with all of its might.

We will be into year 3 of Mueller and he's got shit. The Flynn case is now officially a mockery of a sham of a debacle. Cohen's bleats have all been heard before and they media are recycling the old news as new.

In the meantime by hook or by crook, the Wall will happen. Sullivan just stepped on his Johnson and will be overturned. The president has every right to make administrative changes and catch and release is in and of itself criminal. Let's take that to the Supremes. Would the travel ban decision impact Sullivan's, I wonder?

And we haven't even reached peak crazy yet. Ocasio Maduro is just warming up and it will be a sight to behold, as will Nancy having to get up and speak even more often now as she faces Alzheimer's. She's sot of like a robot whose software is all f'd up.

Cuba is a sloo train wreck and now that Venezuela is in its final stages of collapse they must be scared to death that the oil tap closes. Putin wants to use a Venezuelan base for his bombers, but has no infrastructure to support them. Curacao also claims the island, so I am sure the USN can do plenty of drivebys.

The Communists are now officially persecuting Christians in China and that will go over like a lead balloon in much of the rest of the world. Xi is revealing himself for what he is. Funny, I had a Clancy book on the kindle during our recent trip, and it was The Bear and the Dragon. An interesting scenario on Chinese aggression.

Maybe boycotting Chinese goods is a strategy.

All in all, I think that we will see a slight recession here, but ROW will take it harder. A 2.5% Fed rate is still very moderate and it is going to put pressure on the ROW economies.

The Chinese have been selling their Treasuries, but where else will they get a decent return? If we don't buy their goods who will and where does that leave them?

Xi seems determined to be a mercantilist Mao, but I wonder how much he understands about markets and choices.

Our military is recovering, our economy is still the best in the world, and I think with the idiocy we will see in the House, perhaps the Dems will do themselves in. Perpetual outrage is no formula for governance.

[MissMarple2]

johns,

That isn't true here in Indiana. $25 gets you $25. I bought 3 for the grandkids.

With those one granddaughter is getting some of my jewelry, one granddaughter is getting some dog figurines, and grandson is getting a Scottish clan badge plus maybe something else, I haven't decided yet.

[Ralph L]

The DM headline says the hike was 2.5 percent! Let's panic!
I don't see why they'd get so worked up over an inevitable quarter point increase, but that is proportionally higher--and the Dow swing lower--that what we're used to.

[MissMarple2]

I love my Kroger. Today they had Christmas music playing, a vote on an employee gingerbread house competition, a guy loading the dairy area with a Christmas sweater to which he had attached Christmas ornaments, and where they sign in there were signs up about how employees should smile, help customers, and be positive.

It is really run like a local store, which places like Wal-Mart should emulate. Not all of the local Krogers are like this, but whoever manages this one is a real super manager.

[henry]

The time to panic is when we get Carter level interest rates.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

If the wall is steel slats what keeps somebody from toting a smallish oxy-acetylene setup out there and cutting a slat out?

[Neo]

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyer on Wednesday said Trump had signed an October 2015 letter of intent to develop a real estate project in Russia during his presidential campaign, after earlier denying it in a weekend television interview.

Rudy Giuliani had told CNN on Sunday that "no one signed" the letter of intent to go forward with the Moscow project, although he acknowledged talks about the development had extended through November 2016 when Trump won the U.S. presidential election.

Giuliani reversed course in comments to Reuters on Wednesday, however, after CNN reported late on Tuesday that it had obtained a copy of the Oct. 28, 2015, letter signed by Trump, who had announced his White House bid in June that year.

"If I said it, I made a mistake," Giuliani said of his previous denial about Trump having signed the letter.

"There's nothing wrong with his signing it. When he did it, he wasn't president yet."

[MissMarple2]

henry,

Boy do I remember that. I was working as a geologist for a coal company. IIf you remember, Carter talked about a $50 tax refund over and above what we were to get. It got cancelled.

As a single mother I was pretty disappointed about that. One of my co-geologists was Dick Murdoch, who ran for senator or governor (cannot remember which) several years ago and lost. GOP.

I still remember him sneering "What are you going to do with that $50 - buy a dress?" It is sort of the way I felt about Bill Kristol.

Those were hard times. Our office thermoststs were turned way down and it was a VERY cold winter. On top of that I had to wear wide-legged pants which werre made of polyester and not only made me look short and dumpy but were cold!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Jesus H...[shakes head];
George Soros Selected As Financial Times Person Of The Year.

The Financial Times has selected liberal activist and investor George Soros as its Person of the Year for 2018, citing the prominent billionaire as a "standard bearer of liberal democracy and open society."
"The Financial Times’s choice of Person of the Year is usually a reflection of their achievements," the London-based newspaper's editorial board wrote of their choice. "In the case of Mr. Soros this year, his selection is also about the values he represents."

FT goes on to say that Soros's ideas are "under siege from all sides" including from "Vladimir Putin’s Russia to Donald Trump’s America" while attracting "the wrath of authoritarian regimes." -The Hill
"For more than three decades, Mr. Soros has used philanthropy to battle against authoritarianism, racism and intolerance," the editorial reads. "Through his long commitment to openness, media freedom and human rights, he has attracted the wrath of authoritarian regimes and, increasingly, the national populists who continue to gain ground, particularly in Europe."

Only a prog could call a self-loathing, Nazi-collaborating jew and generally abhorrent toad a liberal and in favor of "open societies".

[Old Lurker]

Under Jimmy Carter, Henry, I was borrowing construction money from banks at Prime + 3% when the Prime got to 20%. Home mortgages got to 18% and when they got back to 12% we all thought we were in heaven.

I made my first million in that environment.

Once you know the rules, you can play the game. Change the rules, and you change the game.

[jimmyk]

"Open societies" means open borders, open access of governments to your bank account, and open access to your personal information by SJW tech moguls.

[Pinandpuller]

PDJT is under siege on all sides by racists as well. No awards incoming.

[Buckeye]

It is really run like a local store, which places like Wal-Mart should emulate. Not all of the local Krogers are like this, but whoever manages this one is a real super manager.

My Wal-Mart is staffed by Muzzies....be a cold day in Hell before you hear one of them say "Merry Christmas".

[Neo]

Unlike WikiLeaks in 2010 or the Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic Party leaders in 2016, the cyberattack on the European Union made no effort to publish the stolen material. Instead, it was a matter of pure espionage, said one former senior intelligence official familiar with the issue who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/us/politics/european-diplomats-cables-hacked.html

[clarice]

I assumed my mortgage at 9.25 % in that time and thought I'd gone to heaven..Other big houses in my neighborhood without assumable mortgages sold only after the owners took a big haircut. DC is full of young two earner families and not only were interest rates very high but lenders demanded %20 down. (I think I paid $50 to assume my mortgage.) The seller picked a crap R.E. agent to sell her house and among his errors was advertising it in the wrong place and not noting the assumable mortgage which was for 90% of the house (the owners had just bought it the year before). The only other thing I remember about the Carter fiasco was the dollar was so strong and European currencies so weak that there were real bargains to be had abroad..including lakeside rooms at the Lake Como's Villa D'este.(Then a mere $150 per night , including breakfast)

[Account Deleted]

Many Walmarts are run like local stores too....supporting local teams & events.

I had someone holler at me today..."Hey, I like your key chain!"
I have a pretty big Trump MAGA patch dangling from my key chain.
Anyway, it turned out to be the Salvation Army bell ringer guy. Hah! He said he had voted for Trump.

[Old Lurker]

Clarice, when I spent the summer of 1969 in Europe on a EuroRail Pass, the book we all carried was "Europe on $5 per day". I still have mine so my kids can laugh at me.

[Pinandpuller]

henry

Having a leaky sink in the winter isn't the worst thing as long as the drain doesn't freeze.

[Neo]

Baltimore Woman Says She'll Use Gun Buyback Cash to Pay for an Even Bigger Gun
This might not be what lawmakers had in mind when they created this program.

[Ralph L]

Mortgage rates were still over 12% as late as 1985, yet the economy boomed.

[Buckeye]

Speaking of leaky sinks, I spent a week looking for an obscure bonnet nut for a Delta faucet.

Found one on Amazon after pestering Delta to give me a replacement part number for a discontinued item.

Finally able to turn the hot water on at my sink in the master bath.

Mrs. Buckeye was losing patience with me shaving at her sink:)

[Neo]

Days too short ?

2018 Winter Solstice: Friday, December 21 at 5:23 PM ET

[Pinandpuller]

Buckeye

There's a Bodega in West Nashville staffed by a single Arabic speaking fella. I'm happy to report he wished me a Merry Christmas and a Happy Easter or Thanksgiving last year but I suppose he could be Druze.

My Hindi friends wished me Merry Christmas an FBI these local Subways seem to close on Christian holidays.

[johns]

MM, sorry I gave you bad info. i swear that when i last bought a gift card at the grocery it cost more than the face value.

[henry]

OL, my mortgage on my Bryn Mawr condo was 18%. I put every penny I had into paying that sucker off early (which I did in 5 years). I do not like debt to this day.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Plus Kroger awards double points on gift cards. I just filled up yesterday for $1.21 after 80 cents off.

[johns]

When i built a new house in 1981, i was forced to get a 14% mortgage (henry has me beat). I refinanced less than a year later. On the other hand, my house in Chapel Hill was a beautiful 3000sf on 40,000sf lot for $173,000. Today I have a 4% mortgage but could not afford to buy the house i live in here in the LA area.

[henry]

Johns, I bought the condo in 81. Made good cash when I sold it in 87, which I then lost back in the RE downturn on my Chicago house in 90. Still don’t like Chicago.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Yeah, the FATG don't sweep up data... I'm now getting ads from realtors and refis from all after y'all started posting about houses/rates/mortgages.

Just dayum they are fast!

[henry]

LOL... I’m getting gift card and suburban Chicago re ads. TyphusPad ad sales must use FB algos.

[Buckeye]

Coming home from the grocery store this afternoon, I found myself beside a yellow Lamborghini Aventador.

I gave him a nod and we raced to the next stoplight. I got spanked bad, but it was worth it.

Nothing like the sound of a V12 at full song:)

[Jim Eagle]

Boy, does it take time to read through these threads.

Back from MCO where I picke up Momma and Frederick. 75F in Orlando, but down to 64F on the beach. Better now that the wind has died down.

In 1979 I was transferred from Marquette, Michigan to Midland, Michigan for the Nuke project. In Marquette, I built my first home, a 2 story A-Frame with basment. Cost me $25K and 2 years later sold it for $40 on a land contract. No one could get a mortgage they could afford. So, for about 3 years I was getting monthly payments just like rent.

In Midland, moved up a little and bought a nice 5 br, 4bath, ,house in a neigberhood of senior Dow managers. Bought it for $70K but even with a VA loan the interest rate was 18%. Then along came Reagan, and after 3 years I was able to sell it for $125K with the interest rate around 9% by then. A guy assumed the mortgage and I have no idea if he found a way to lower the payments but I hadn't refinance it at yet and assume he must of.

When I tell people in their 40's about the late 70's early 80's housing and mortgage market they truly do not understand how anyone could survive with 18% mortgages. Then I remind them of inflation. What did we call it under Carter - the misery index. Interest rate of 18% plus Inflation of 6-8% plus cost of fuel that went from 40-50cents to $2 and rationing.

At least we had CB radios to keep us from shouting, "I can't take this anymore".