Firstly, (and I’m sure you wouldn’t necessarily disagree) not all tariffs are “dumb”. Some must be used strategically to protect important domestic industries that have national security implications such as steel production, microchips, and a variety of others. With regards to elections, in the era of mail-in ballots and anonymous uncheckable ballot harvesting, it’s all a moot point unless the Republicans embrace the following tactic: they must spend many millions, perhaps billions, on armies of people with stacks of ballots that go door to door offering to fill out ballots for people and getting their signatures. If they don’t do this, it won’t matter how good the Republican candidate or how compelling the message is. As Democrats have amply demonstrated in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona. Adapt or kiss the country goodbye. And I don’t care what anyone says, Mitch McConnell has got to go. He has worn out his welcome and his actions are deeply damaging to the Republican Party in particular and the nation’s future in general. Any given Republican would have done what he did or better on judges, so I fail to see what benefit he brings to the table anymore, that outweighs the damage he’s done.
figure out other ways. tax them less. regulate them less. tariffs make them less competitive. the only disagreement on McConnell is holding out against Obama....I don't know another Republican that could have pulled it off.
On McConnell holding out. It was also the obvious thing to do. Everyone only thought it was nothing but a delay until Hillary would get to do her pick as president. (She probably asked him too!). They never thought trump would actually win and get to choose the replacement. I’m not going to applaud a Republican just for doing what they should do, and not caving to the Dem mob. It’s the very least we should expect of them!
Tariffs are not good but sometimes are the only way to combat predatory dumping by foreign companies. It's hard to compete with imports subsidized by a foreign government to undercut domestic US prices. It's one thing to compete with UK or France, another CCP/China.
If he were a smarter chap, he would figure out to be the kingmaker and anoint the next Republican POTUS candidate, but, alas, that is a bridge way, way too far right now.
Trump assembled an excellent Cabinet and forced them to do good work.
He and Wilbur Ross created the best economy since 1776 and ran it steadfastly until the arrival of COVID. Then, he did the impossible - launched a vaccine in less than a year. In my mind, the vaccine is a bit dubious, but the effort was Manhattan Project worthy.
Tariffs are good when used correctly. That is:
1. To protect nascent technology and emerging businesses in the US during their infancy:
2. To protect strategic industries -- this is absolutely critical as evidenced by shortages during the early COVID pandemic;
3. To generate revenue; and,
3. To punish bad actor trade malfeasors -- talking to you, China.
The biggest trade benefit on Mother Earth is access to the US market and Trump understood that very well and acted accordingly. What is interesting is that American tariffs did not trigger a response in most instances -- Canadian softwood timber, as an example.
Nobody gave Donald J Trump a chance when he rode down the escalator in Trump Tower, but he showed them wrong.
Today, nobody seriously gives Donald J Trump a chance, but he will surprise all of us.
In the next two years, I think DJT will soften his rhetoric and talk issues and his track record both of which are favorable.
The Dems will indict Trump. They cannot help themselves. That will either be his winning trigger or they will neutralize him.
The Dems could actually stifle Trump thereby ensuring they face a Pompeo or DeSantis or another on the strong Republican bench. The Dems could turn Trump into the king maker.
Again, I think Trump should pass the baton, but he will be a formidable candidate and will rally a substantial number of Republicans to his cause.
Peace in the world and immigration will be important talking points.
He might have declared to stay relevant the next two years. And to be a sort of kingmaker or spoiler. That could be good or bad. Another theory is that by declaring he protects himself in some ways from even more invasive non-stop Democrat investigations.
Trump wants to win. He will be indicted and probably jailed. But that won’t legally stop him from running for president. He may even win. I think DeSantis could win too and I prefer him. As long as Republicans embrace ballot harvesting, they both have a chance to win. If they don’t, Trump can’t win the presidency. Nor can any other Republican.
Firstly, (and I’m sure you wouldn’t necessarily disagree) not all tariffs are “dumb”. Some must be used strategically to protect important domestic industries that have national security implications such as steel production, microchips, and a variety of others. With regards to elections, in the era of mail-in ballots and anonymous uncheckable ballot harvesting, it’s all a moot point unless the Republicans embrace the following tactic: they must spend many millions, perhaps billions, on armies of people with stacks of ballots that go door to door offering to fill out ballots for people and getting their signatures. If they don’t do this, it won’t matter how good the Republican candidate or how compelling the message is. As Democrats have amply demonstrated in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona. Adapt or kiss the country goodbye. And I don’t care what anyone says, Mitch McConnell has got to go. He has worn out his welcome and his actions are deeply damaging to the Republican Party in particular and the nation’s future in general. Any given Republican would have done what he did or better on judges, so I fail to see what benefit he brings to the table anymore, that outweighs the damage he’s done.
figure out other ways. tax them less. regulate them less. tariffs make them less competitive. the only disagreement on McConnell is holding out against Obama....I don't know another Republican that could have pulled it off.
On McConnell holding out. It was also the obvious thing to do. Everyone only thought it was nothing but a delay until Hillary would get to do her pick as president. (She probably asked him too!). They never thought trump would actually win and get to choose the replacement. I’m not going to applaud a Republican just for doing what they should do, and not caving to the Dem mob. It’s the very least we should expect of them!
Tariffs are not good but sometimes are the only way to combat predatory dumping by foreign companies. It's hard to compete with imports subsidized by a foreign government to undercut domestic US prices. It's one thing to compete with UK or France, another CCP/China.
I believe that Trump's "sell by date" has arrived. I wrote as much here:
https://themusingsofthebigredcar.com/trump-sell-by-date-arrives/
If he were a smarter chap, he would figure out to be the kingmaker and anoint the next Republican POTUS candidate, but, alas, that is a bridge way, way too far right now.
Trump assembled an excellent Cabinet and forced them to do good work.
He and Wilbur Ross created the best economy since 1776 and ran it steadfastly until the arrival of COVID. Then, he did the impossible - launched a vaccine in less than a year. In my mind, the vaccine is a bit dubious, but the effort was Manhattan Project worthy.
Tariffs are good when used correctly. That is:
1. To protect nascent technology and emerging businesses in the US during their infancy:
2. To protect strategic industries -- this is absolutely critical as evidenced by shortages during the early COVID pandemic;
3. To generate revenue; and,
3. To punish bad actor trade malfeasors -- talking to you, China.
The biggest trade benefit on Mother Earth is access to the US market and Trump understood that very well and acted accordingly. What is interesting is that American tariffs did not trigger a response in most instances -- Canadian softwood timber, as an example.
Nobody gave Donald J Trump a chance when he rode down the escalator in Trump Tower, but he showed them wrong.
Today, nobody seriously gives Donald J Trump a chance, but he will surprise all of us.
In the next two years, I think DJT will soften his rhetoric and talk issues and his track record both of which are favorable.
The Dems will indict Trump. They cannot help themselves. That will either be his winning trigger or they will neutralize him.
The Dems could actually stifle Trump thereby ensuring they face a Pompeo or DeSantis or another on the strong Republican bench. The Dems could turn Trump into the king maker.
Again, I think Trump should pass the baton, but he will be a formidable candidate and will rally a substantial number of Republicans to his cause.
Peace in the world and immigration will be important talking points.
JLM
www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
He might have declared to stay relevant the next two years. And to be a sort of kingmaker or spoiler. That could be good or bad. Another theory is that by declaring he protects himself in some ways from even more invasive non-stop Democrat investigations.
Trump wants to win. He will be indicted and probably jailed. But that won’t legally stop him from running for president. He may even win. I think DeSantis could win too and I prefer him. As long as Republicans embrace ballot harvesting, they both have a chance to win. If they don’t, Trump can’t win the presidency. Nor can any other Republican.