FedEx will be cutting jobs in the next year, a result they say of the fallout from the trade policies.  Their CEO is directly pointing the finger at Trump.

 

This is a stunning quote from FedEx's CEO, Fred Smith:

“Most of the issues that we’re dealing with today are induced by bad political choices,” Smith said, including “the tariffs that the United States put in unilaterally.”https://t.co/Pcv74d4m2J

— Shawn Donnan (@sdonnan) December 19, 2018

Italy compromised on a budget. It looks as if they are backing away from any possible confrontation with the E.U. at this point.  Perhaps the contentious Brexit talks are having an effect on how member countries approach the E.U.

 

Italy and the European Commission reach a Christmas budget truce https://t.co/JtUeW8dVPd

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) December 20, 2018

On 12/19/2018 at 9:44 AM, Juliajms said:

This is the kind of thing we don't need. Find a Republican to go after ffs.

 

 she hasn't even been sworn in and she's worried about re-election?!

10 minutes ago, Roman said:

 she hasn't even been sworn in and she's worried about re-election?!

And worse she's trying to ruin the chance of other Democratic incumbents because they are not liberal enough for her.  What?? I want to like her because I agree with many of her positions, but I can't get onboard with anyone who doesn't see defeating Republicans has to be the immediate goal. You don't do that with infighting. Look where that got us in 2016 for pity's sake.

 

I know a lot of people think Democrats can't lose in 2020, but we can if we continue to be divided by the far left. I agree with many of their opinions, but not their insane, self defeating tactics.

Edited December 20, 20186 yr by Juliajms

1 hour ago, Juliajms said:

And worse she's trying to ruin the chance of other Democratic incumbents because they are not liberal enough for her.  What?? I want to like her because I agree with many of her positions, but I can't get onboard with anyone who doesn't see defeating Republicans has to be the immediate goal. You don't do that with infighting. Look where that got us in 2016 for pity's sake.

 

I know a lot of people think Democrats can't lose in 2020, but we can if we continue to be divided by the far left. I agree with many of their opinions, but not their insane, self defeating tactics.

 

Democrats weren't supposed to lose in 2016 either. 

 

The media and the money men would love to see them lose, and I imagine that "activists" like AOC would as well. She craves media attention and validation - like her pal Bernie, she's an opportunist. Sadly many liberals are more than happy to use her as their avatar, likely because most of them also hate the party and hate actually doing real work to change it. 

Nothing like a stock market plunge a few days before Christmas. 

????????

 

 

seems to be seriously losing it https://t.co/LttLPPZPSZ

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 20, 2018

This is turning into an enormous scandal. Ethics officials told Whitaker they would recommend recusal, so he set up a different group of officials (probably political appointees, but unclear) to make a different recommendation. What in the hell is going on at DOJ? https://t.co/gYBeY3RoGP

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 20, 2018

This is what it's come to: While House Republican leaders try to figure out if they have the votes for a dead-end CR w $5B for the wall that would not pass the Senate, Pelosi is using procedural moves to try to force a clean vote to fund the government. Rs vote NO.

— Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) December 20, 2018

pic.twitter.com/x9EcJiQvXs

— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) December 20, 2018

This is why all the stuff about how Trump was going to give up on the border wall never meant anything to me - he was never going to give up. He just needed a push to go back to his basest instincts. And he knows the media and the GOP and their money machine will push this as brave and why are Democrats helping illegals and so on and so forth. 

They aren't pushing that.

 

He has no way of getting the wall. But he was infuriated by Coulter, Fox, etc. criticism of his failure and is trying to throw a tantrum. He doesn't know what else to do. And every media outlet except Fox is calling this an embarrassing disaster for him and the GOP.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about Trump and Megan Mullally's performance at that Emmys ceremony or the effect it had on Americans.  Seriously.

Edited December 20, 20186 yr by Khan

At this point, it appears that the only way to avert a government shutdown is for Congress to override any presidential veto.  The unpredictability and hubris of Trump is what will likely send the U.S. back into an economic recession.  

Why I avoid listening to NPR when driving my kids (tho I work for an NPR station: Ohio voter to reporter @asmamk “You’re probably a Muslim and I don’t care for that... I want you to be an American. Do we what we do. We were here first. You’re second.” https://t.co/ur8cLatwXC

— Umbreen Bhatti (@ub14) December 20, 2018

 

 

Quote

KHALID: Michael Tesler is a researcher at the University of California, Irvine.

 

TESLER: This idea of white grievance and white identity, that whites are the ones who have it worst in society, was a really powerful resource for Trump to tap into in a way that other politicians haven't.

 

KHALID: Tesler studies voters over time and has noticed that their attitudes on immigration, race and Muslims are essentially predictors for how they'll vote. But here in Ohio, sometimes those feelings are mixed in with a nostalgia for when this area was prosperous. That's how it is for Connie Kessler, the 78-year-old former hairdresser who volunteers every day at the local GOP headquarters.

 

CONNIE KESSLER: You go to Youngstown, you have boarded-up houses, sidewalks that haven't been changed since I was going to school. It's ridiculous.

 

KHALID: We talked for almost an hour about the economy, immigration, her frustration that people don't want to play the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" anymore. And eventually, our conversation took a personal turn.

 

KESSLER: You're probably a Muslim. I don't care for them. I'm sorry.

 

KHALID: I am a Muslim from the Midwest. I've interviewed Kessler twice before, so maybe she felt she could be more open with me. I asked her why she doesn't care for Muslims.

 

KESSLER: Because they want to take over America. Why can't they just come here and live like us? I want you to be an American, do what we do. We were here first. OK? You're second.

 

Edited December 20, 20186 yr by Vee

I heard that piece this morning and was utterly livid. It's the first time I ever considered sending someone hate mail.

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Nothing like a stock market plunge a few days before Christmas. 

The only ones I feel sorry for are retired people who are living off their 401ks.  Everyone else with a 401k will be fine if they don't panic, although I saw many do so during the financial crisis. Sadly one lady I knew was close to retirement and was still working to support her grandson. I hope she landed ok.  I know this is petty, but I enjoy seeing the tech CEO's lose a few billion, even though I suspect it's short term. I hope it hurts while it lasts.

21 minutes ago, marceline said:

I heard that piece this morning and was utterly livid. It's the first time I ever considered sending someone hate mail.

KESSLER: Because they want to take over America. Why can't they just come here and live like us? I want you to be an American, do what we do. We were here first. OK? You're second.

 

This comment is gross, but also sadly ignorant.  Immigrants still largely integrate by the time they are second and third generation.  They may not become Christians, but they will speak English 🙄 and be culturally American,  for better or worse. Pew research shows this every year, if people would just get their heads out of their asses. Also, someone needs to tell that bitch that we don't have degrees of citizenship. She is not first.

KESSLER: Because they want to take over America. Why can't they just come here and live like us? I want you to be an American, do what we do. We were here first. OK? You're second.

 

I think the Native Americans would disagree with this....