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« on: February 13, 2019, 04:41:10 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 2-13-2019
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest
Feb. 13, 2019
https://patriotpost.us/digests/61142-mid-day-digest
THE FOUNDATION
“Industry is increased, commodities are multiplied, agriculture and manufacturers flourish: and herein consists the true wealth and prosperity of a state.” —Alexander Hamilton (1790)
https://patriotpost.us/fqd/61138-founders-quote-daily
IN TODAY’S EDITION
Trump called the U.S. economy “the envy of the world.” It is.1
California’s high-speed derail is bad news for the Green New Deal.2
This just in: There was no collusion between Trump and Russia.3
Daily Features: More Analysis4, Columnists5, Headlines6, Opinion in Brief7, Short Cuts8, Memes9, and Cartoons10.
IN BRIEF
MAGA: Quality of Life and Optimism Soaring to New Heights11
Jordan Candler
In his State of the Union Address last week, President Donald trump heralded12 the “thriving” U.S. economy, which he called “the envy of the world.” Some have called the president’s characterization of the economy hyperbole, but there’s a plethora of evidence proving he’s right: The economy is changing Americans’ quality of life and stimulating confidence.
The IBD/TIPP Quality of Life Index is one metric that backs the president. The index has been tabulated for 17 years now, and it “asks the public whether they think their quality of life will be better, worse or the same over the next six months,” as explained13 by Investor’s Business Daily. The full-span average is 56.2. By that measure, Barack Obama’s 53.7 rating was subpar. But the index balloons to 59.3 halfway through Trump’s first term. The most interesting variable is independents. According to IBD, “Their quality of life averaged 52 under Obama. It’s averaging 58.8 under Trump.”
This segues nicely into Gallup polling regarding Americans’ confidence. Gallup reports14 that “Americans’ optimism about their personal finances has climbed to levels not seen in more than 16 years, with 69% now saying they expect to be financially better off ‘at this time next year.’” This percentage is bested only by the 71% registered in March 1998. Moreover, “Fifty percent say they are better off today than they were a year ago.”
Clearly, the Trump economy isn’t limp like it was under Obama. And that’s due to a combination of heavy deregulation, impressive job creation, and tax reform. Amazingly, Democrats are trying to spin all of these — but especially tax reform — as detrimental. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris even asserted, “The average tax refund is down about $170 compared to last year. Let’s call the President’s tax cut what it is: a middle-class tax hike to line the pockets of already wealthy corporations and the 1%.”
Fortunately, most Americans are rejecting this snake oil because they understand15 more take-home pay as a result of less tax withholding means a lesser refund come tax filing. And their quality of life and optimism are the better for it.
https://patriotpost.us/articles/61117-maga-quality-of-life-and-optimism-soaring-to-new-heights
California’s High-Speed Derail16
Nate Jackson
Green New Deal17 proponents have some big dreams. One of them is “investing in … clean, affordable, and accessible transportation; and high-speed rail.” The FAQ section says the plan aims to “build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary.” Fortunately, we have a real-world example of high-speed rail in America to see how well it will work. Let’s go to the tape.
“The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long,” declared Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his State of the State Address this week.
Oh.
So, after current construction on one leg is done, Newsom laid the track for abandoning the boondoggle, though state Democrats rushed to insist he’s not killing the statewide plan.
Reason’s Scott Shackford writes of the California train18, “Voters approved a ballot initiative in 2008 that set aside a $10 billion bond to begin the project of building a high-speed rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco with the promise that more funding would come through from the feds or from private sources, that the train would not require subsidies to operate, and that it would help fight climate change.” Indeed, Barack Obama’s infamous “stimulus” redistributed $3.5 billion to California for the train. Gavin’s not entirely giving up primarily because he’s “not interested in sending” that money “back to Donald Trump.”
Not to be completed until at least 2033, the latest estimate for the train’s price tag was $77 billion after initial estimates pegged it at $33 billion. In reality, it would probably end up costing well over $100 billion.
Newsom’s lack of enthusiasm for his predecessor Jerry Brown’s beloved project isn’t new, but the timing of his comments couldn’t have been worse for Green New Deal proponents. Doubly so as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared (with a smirk) that the chamber will actually vote on the resolution to “give everybody an opportunity to go on record and see how they feel about the Green New Deal.”
Dan McLaughlin quips, “If something is too expensive to build once, why not build it everywhere in the country instead?” He’s obviously joking, but don’t be surprised if that’s exactly the argument trotted out by GND chief engineer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
https://patriotpost.us/articles/61136-californias-high-speed-derail
No Evidence of Trump/Russia Collusion, but MSM Still True Believer19
Thomas Gallatin
“If we write a report based upon the facts that we have, then we don’t have anything that would suggest there was collusion by the Trump campaign and Russia,” Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) stated recently. And it appears that is exactly what the Senate Intelligence Committee will do. Burr added on Tuesday, “There is no factual evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.”
So, after two years of an investigation that was instigated by Hillary Clinton’s opposition-research smear, the Senate has concluded — as President Donald Trump has steadfastly insisted the entire time and as the House concluded last year — there was no collusion20.
Meanwhile, the mainstream media has ignored newly released FBI emails obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that reveal former FBI Director James Comey sought to work a quid pro quo deal21 with Barack Obama’s State Department in exchange for going easy on Hillary Clinton with her private email server22.
Back in October 2016, Fox News first reported the allegations of a quid pro quo deal, which former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) called at the time “a flashing red light of potential criminality.” He further explained, “In return for altering the classification, the possibility of additional slots for the FBI at missions overseas was discussed.” It’s now clear that individuals within the FBI, including former FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, were involved in discussing a quid pro quo arrangement, though there is no indication it was ever implemented.
On top of this comes Tuesday’s revelation that the Federal Election Committee (FEC) has refused to investigate allegations of Clinton’s campaign-money laundering scheme. The Federalist’s Margot Cleveland explains23, “[The] complaint charged that, during the 2016 presidential election, Democrats illegally funneled approximately $84 million through the Hillary Victory Fund to the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which then illegally coordinated with the Hillary Clinton campaign.” Nothing to see here; move along, says the FEC.
Once again, with all the thick, steady smoke emanating from Clinton and the DNC, it’s almost laughable the lengths to which the MSM goes in ignoring or outright denying that there is any scandal there, while at the same time fixating on a fictional Trump/Russia collusion conspiracy that has yet to produce one iota of actual evidence.
https://patriotpost.us/articles/61137-no-evidence-of-trump-slash-russia-collusion-but-msm-still-true-believer
ON OUR WEBSITE TODAY
Featured Analysis: Anti-Trump Press Spins Bigger Paychecks as a Bad Thing15 — Tax refunds may be smaller, but that’s because we paid less in taxes all year.
Sexual-Abuse Scandal Rocks the SBC24 — A new exposé reveals decades of sexual abuse within America’s largest protestant denomination.
Humor Video: Bad Lip Reading the SOTU25 — Trump makes his way to the podium, while Pence and Pelosi wait patiently… |
