[detbuch]

Originally Posted by spence

It's sad.

It's funny that some are giddy over this sad book.

Country was already doing very well.

It's doing better now.

Even the WSJ blasted the MX plan as political and lacking in any economic thought. If the trade agreements were so bad before how did the country end up doing very well today?

Tax cuts and cuts in regulations made it better, and it will be even better with new trade agreements. Wall Street Journal blasted the sluggish previous economy. WSJ blasts a lot of things. Then it changes its mind. And goes back the other way. Depends on the spin factor, the mood, whose ox is being gored, and who the writer is. But it's always right . . . when you agree with it.

This just isn't true. NATO members reaffirmed their existing commitments. Fail...

Well they could renege (not unusual)--Stoltenberg (Secretary General of NATO) said that NATO "made conclusions at this summit which confirms our support for NATO, the importance of investing more and all our allies agreed that we need to deliver on our commitments. There is a new sense of urgency. And all allies agreed to redouble their efforts.”

Stoltenberg noted a change from previous commitments “Initiated by President Trump, last year, we agreed to develop national plans. We have clearly stated this year that we need credible national plans, and I expect all allies to follow up on their national plans. And the national plans are a very valuable tool to make sure that we deliver, and that we increase defense spending substantially.”

From CNN: "While other US Presidents have complained that other NATO members have not paid their fair share, Trump has made boosting allied defense spending a central plank of his engagement with the transatlantic alliance.

But now for the first time in years, a sixth country, Romania, has joined the ranks of NATO members who spend 2% of their country's GDP on defense. Romania now joins the US, Greece, the UK, Estonia and Poland in meeting that NATO defense spending target.

Canada pledges big boost to defense spending amid criticism
Several other countries have also made major jumps in defense spending, with Latvia and Lithuania now projected to increase what they spend from about 1.4% of GDP in 2016 to over 1.7% in 2017. Both Baltic nations are expected to reach the 2% target by 2018 . . .

Experts see concerns about Russia as the principle driving factor behind increasing defense budgets. The allies unanimously pledged to meet the 2% target by 2024 at the NATO summit in Wales in 2014 shortly after Russia's military invasion of Crimea.

But NATO officials have also credited Trump with drawing attention to the issue. "I welcome the focus of the President on increased defense spending" Stollenberg said at a news conference."


Legislation from the bench.

There will be less of that now.

Actually we're wasting money to deport immigrants that are contributing to our country and damaging kids and families just to look tough for the base. It's revolting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=JcZfjIS9HgI

It's another marker that this is a deeply flawed administration and the lack of Congressional oversight is evidence our government isn't working very well right now.

Spin, spin, spin . . .