The only thing I have confidence in is Trump's ability to throw a monkey wrench in some part of the economy that's working fine.
5
Even Heaven has a Gate/ Wall ....all these Politicians live behind Walls as well as most people.....without a Wall there is no Real Border....there is Chaos,and Criminal activity and a overwhelming Majority the People of this Nation want to be Safe and Secure and a end to Illegal Immigration and that IS What a Wall Stands for / Fund it -End this political charade-get on with more important things.
2
The shutdown is eroding faith in the ECONOMY? How about faith that our system of government can work??
Here we have Trump holding 800,000 workers without pay to bludgeon his whim through Congress, McConnell saying that’s fine, when Trump’s ready I’ll reopen the Senate floor to bills that Trump approves.
And the media wants to treat a bare-faced coup attempt by Trump to take over the House as a “squabble”, a “partisan debate”, an “impasse”.
Folks, an attempted coup is none of those things! Wake up!
10
Ego maniac demagogues like Trump will eventually ruin their country usually economically from the first one Alcibiades in Ancient Greece to one of the last Chavez in Venz.
The problem is it could take time before it happens.
While Newt Gringrich and Bill Clinton were not demagogues, only incompetents, it took from the early 90s to 2008 before the end came.
3
Wrong. Mafia Don is eroding America's faith in the economy by his actions. This story is another example of The Times' effort to blame equally, to have balance. Mafia Don and his terrorist enablers known as Republicans are causing more damage to America and the world than any terrorist organization ever has. The media needs to call out Trump and the Republicans and stop pretending that blame needs to be shared equally.
7
It is obvious to all that Trump is utterly incompetent and unfit to serve as President; the USA is closer to the iceberg than you may think...
5
Nancy Pelosi, open this government.
Nancy Pelosi, your refusal to allow ANY barrier at the border, even where warranted, is hurting 800,000 American Federal workers and hurting the economy.
Nancy Pelosi -- why do you care more about Central Americans who want to illegally enter the US than you care about Americans?
Congressman Lynch, how long are you going to care more about Central Americans than US citizens?
Congresswoman Trahan, how long are you going to care more about Central Americans than US citizens?
Congressman Moulton, how long are you going to care more about Central Americans than US citizens?
Senator Warren, how long are you going to care more about Central Americans than US citizens?
Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pressley, I know you will never care more about US citizens than Central Americans so I won't even bother asking you.
2
It really is a no-brainer thet Trump’s idiocy promises to culminate in yet another liquidity crisis.
2
Today I dropped off $100 worth of grocery cards at my local Coast Guard Station to show my support for our Coastie’s. These are the same Coast Guard men and women who protect our ports and patrol the intercostal waterway in front of Trumps Mar-a-Largo. They were very happy for my support and kindness.
I wanted to inform them that I am a Democrat. But I unlike the President believe our military should be non partisan so kept my strong feelings to myself!
5
The current show of concern for all government workers who are affected by the shutdown is admirable. These workers probably will eventually get paid and keep their jobs. Meanwhile they can quickly find work. But when Obama was President and we were heading for a depression, people lost jobs forever and did not receive back pay. Then we had a Democrat we loved and now we have a Republican we hate. Is that why those who lost their jobs 10 years ago were ignored or at best pitied? Where were the free meals and the help with expenses? Where were the human interest articles about the difficulty in finding employment and getting financial help?
4
The day before the shutdown began the DOW industrial average was 22,859. Yesterday the DOW was at 24,706. That is almost a 2000 point gain during the shutdown. Why are investors optimistically buying stocks if the economy is slowing down? What does the general public know that the author doesn’t?
5
Increase in debt, less revenue less government service.
Shutdown and million people out of work and millions more effected. Expect GDP to go down.
Dysfunctional unpredictable government actions create lots of panic
So called trade war effecting many businesses and spooking investment.
These are a few things two years post Repub administration.
3
Mr. President, do not fold. You campaigned on this issue and were elected by a majority of Americans. There are too many slackers with government jobs as it is.
4
On which sound reason did anyone think that Trump could properly manage anything?
4
Eroding faith in our economy and government—seems exactly what our enemies like Putin and the Russians would wish to happen. Why in the world would President Trump shut down the government over a ridiculous demand to foster that erosion? I wonder...hmmm
2
Faith in the economy?
The current American president is owner of four bankruptcies of his past businesses.
Just hope he’s not working on his fifth.
3
Trump’s sole claim to fame is his alleged capacity to out trash talk anyone.
4
Despite Trump’s obvious, buffoonery and criminality, the party of plutocrats the GOP supports him because he enriched their present with tax cuts and future with conservative judges to protect their ability to buy elections. However, Trump and his nefarious puppeteers of Murdoch and Putin may cause the beginning of the end of the concubines of their plutocrats when their collusion is exposed for all to see.
2
Like Pat Cafferata, I am a retiree who is not immediately affected by the shutdown. But I am worried that the US government is run by a lunatic who can't even remember what he said the previous week. How did "I am proud to own the shutdown" change to "It's Pelosi's fault" ?
4
Let’s trade 5.7 billion of a wall for both DACA and if the wall does not substantially reduce (by 30%) crime in and opiate entry into our country, the Trump tax break for wealthy and corporations would cease.
6
I'm more than a bit skeptical of this type of poll for this purpose (economic forecasting). The demographic of people who respond to such polls fails to capture a broad swath of economic conservatives who would never respond to an on-line poll from Survey Monkey because of privacy concerns (no matter what the company says about its privacy protections). For this reason, the conclusions are likely worse than presented.
4
Our sham government is demonstrating that it is willing to inflict unrelenting pain and destruction on us, the majority, for the benefit of the minority powers that be, until we give them just what they want.
8
If TSA workers call in “sick” the day of the SoU address, it will sink Trump and I suspect his team knows that - even though Trump believes he is invincible.
If there is an overwhelming majority of Americans who want Trump removed from office, why are they not constantly demonstrating in the streets for his removal from office?
Europeans are appalled by the election of Trump and consider we Americans as a laughing stock of the developed world!
11
@Michael Kittle
"If there is an overwhelming majority of Americans who want Trump removed from office, why are they not constantly demonstrating in the streets for his removal from office?"
Because they understand the law and know that "removal from office" requires a long legal tangle in which charges must be made and backed up. Unless you're talking about a coup d'etat ?
Actually people seemed to have learnt a lot since the protests in November 2016, when they thought Trump's election was the result of a takeover plot rather than a flawed Constitution.
1
The U.S. government which the President and his Freedom Caucus acolytes hate, is an important part of the U.S. economy.
Taking 800,000 people out of the purchasing stream, except for limited purchase of essentials, takes a significant chunk out of first quarter GDP. Duh!
Economic expansions end for a reason, usually having to do with bad government or central bank decisions. The Fed may back off on interest rate raises, recognizing the end of this expansion is near but the President's actions cannot be undone. He has kickstarted the business cycle.
6
Presidents have vetoed legislation because it had aspects they didn't like. Never before, to my knowledge, has a president threatened to veto legislation because it did NOT include something he DID want. The term for this is extortion.
9
We recently got statements on our children's 529 college savings accounts which mirrored the 4th quarter stock market decline. My guess is I'm not the only one stunned by those quarterly reports and spending less in 2019.
9
@Jean DJT took all of his money out of the stock market before taking the presidency. Anticipating the future?
No he followed the law in this case.
I, Individual-1 as a "like smart person, a stable genius" know more than any economist and, with the assistance of Larry Kudlow, I will keep former President Obama's economy expansion going forward...Not.
9
@njn_Eagle_Scout: Never fear, Jared Kushner will fiix everything.
It’s as if they are deliberately trying to slow the economy so the Fed does not raise rates. Or this is a strategy that Putin ordered Trump to follow.
19
Trump’s shutdown is bringing down the economy. It’s Trump’s “my way or the highway” approach to deal making, otherwise known as negotiating or compromising, that has brought us here. Trump deserves all of the credit.
15
Red alert! The Donald is giving ANOTHER statement on TV tomorrow afternoon. Unplug the TV set! Hide under the sofa! Who on earth asked him to go on TV again? There's nothing he will stop at to get people's attention, is there?
25
@Cassandra: Trump hopes that ISIS will make a terror attack across the Mexican border to legitimize his concerns.
The slow, but certain decline of US leadership of the world continues...
40
@Ravi: Only bullies need apply to govern the US.
@Ravi: Nothing is less persuasive to thinking people than bullying.
Too much power rests in the hands of the President. This is not democracy. It is dictatorship.
30
@mjb Canada, like most 1st world democracies, has a parliamentary system with no one equivalent to the overly powerful US President. Other advanced democracies saw the mistakes that our revered "founders" had made and avoided them.
5
@phil the president at it's founding was mainly an administrator. The Senate had most of the power. Only gradually has the president become something like an elected emperor.
5
@mjb
Until December, I never ever knew that the President had the power to shut down the government. Where did that come from? Once Trump is out of office, the legal system needs a huge overall. Starting with changing the rules by which the Electoral College operates.
1
That is what we need so the GOP and their like minded fake economists will never shut it down again. In 1932 Smoot and Hawley GOP voted for tariffs against our allies. They made a lot of enemies and were voted out of office the next year. Thats what needs to be done with Trump vote him out and jail him.
18
@D.j.j.k.: Economic product is measured in the flow of money, not the stagnation of it.
Good Ol Mitch probably fear his boss and it’s not DJT. Woe to Mitch if he goes against Trump, he”ll sleeping on the couch.
5
@Dave Martin: Mitch shows no signs that he doubts that his conduct will assure him an eternal post at the the Righthand of God.
Where's Mitch?
7
Don’t people get it?
Trump is ruining the country, & democracy....
Not just the economy.
But, for sure he’s ruined the economy...... that’s because he doesn’t care about you or me. He cares about himself & image. Do you know of the Greek Tale?
He’s simply a self centered narcissist who cares only about himself.
I know most people think they know what a narcissist is & does.
But..... most don’t know/experience the actual REALITY.
Please check out a book “ Why Is It Always About You”!
A straight forward & well explained identification of what occurs with such an individual.
Simply..... destruction of everything they involve themselves in. Everything.
Americans have lost their way evidently. If you don’t consider impeachment of Trump and most of the Republicans...... then you’ll loose this beautiful democracy we’ve had; along with your Freedom & Republic.
For sure you’re going to loose the best economy we’ve ever had.
Wake up, spend some time studying, reading, & thinking.
Then let’s impeach him and most of them.
10
@Mlk189: You forgot to mention, "try him and jail him"
@Mlk189 Ever an impeachment will not push Trump out of the WH...sad but it is too late.He will go in court to contest the decision and remain in power...Think about it! Best of luck with this one
If Russia did in fact help give us a case of the DTs, didn't they win the Cold War? Those wars, those lives, that hurt, and the national treasure spent, gone? All the former Soviets had to do was find the right Manchurian candidate. The Resident filled the bill.
Ok, enough about him. What about you? Here's an action plan: call your representative & senators and urge them intensify and protect the FBI's investigation of DT's alleged collusion, cover-up, and obstruction of Russiagate (not to mention emoluments and tax returns) and act to protect Muller and the FBI investigation. The congressional switchboard is (202) 224-3121 where you'll be asked your ZIP code and then forwarded to your representative's office. And you can get contact information for ALL Senators -- home state & DC offices, at https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Make your case; tell your representatives what you want done. Please do more than watch and wait. Exercise your 1A right of petition and redress. Your country will be grateful.
5
@MEH: Gerald Nadler repesents me in Congress. He appears to be as ineffectual as I am.
@MEH I have called my senators four times over the past week, leaving my message with staffers. I feel it is
utterly useless.
@MEH
"If Russia did in fact help give us a case of the DTs, didn't they win the Cold War? Those wars, those lives, that hurt, and the national treasure spent, gone? All the former Soviets had to do was find the right Manchurian candidate. The Resident filled the bill. "
It's like the slavetraders after the Civil War. They couldn't legally own the slaves anymore, but they could keep them poor, keep them from voting, continue running the state governments, and send tricksters to Washington to corrupt the federal government. There used to be a bitter joke that the South really won the Civil War.
Eroding faith? Born agains’ “faith” in the the ever crooked Trump got us here in the first place.
The GOP is finally going to bankrupt all but the wealthiest.
Trump must be running out off daddy’s money and so needs to steal yours.
The conservatives’ and Putin;s dream: no republic, no federal government, no Social Security, no Medicare, no healthcare, no pensions, no benefits, no minimum wage.
50 separate countries. Lindsay Graham, first President of South Carolina. Mitch McConnell first president of Kentucky. Return to plantation living for the .01%...
Trump will shovel all that he can into his pockets and those of his loyalists. Just like those corrupt Mexican presidents who smuggle drugs through the border checkpoints not through some crazy out of the way place where Trump wants to build his vanity wall. Trump is destroying the entire country to establish himself as a dictator. I can only hope that he fails.
5
@Sw: Faith is adherence to belief without any substantiation whatsoever.
@Sw The churches, which are supposedly the bastion of truth and moral authority, have bought and swallowed the Big Lie whole from the beginning of the DJT campaign. Just like depression era Germany, they never will get it until all around them is destroyed.
Who thought a multi-bankrupt casino wrecker constantly embroiled in non-payment legal proceedings and unable to get a high quality bank loan would have slaughtered a rising bull market and strong consumer economic sentiment? Oh, right, everyone with a sliver of independent thought. The only issue was how quickly and thoroughly the black market money launderer would get it done- high marks! Quite quickly indeed! And very, very thorough.
13
Trump being an idiot and a monster should shake faith in the economy and the nation.
I do not get the Democrats and others talking about Trump and his actions as if they were the actions of a half normal person.
The Democrats seem weak and spiritless as porridge to me. This is not politics it is the Twilight Zone.
2
@Mike R: one alparently needs to be an atheist to perceive the magnitude of Trump’s fakeness.
The President signed a bill in which all furloughed federal employees will receive back-pay after the end of the partial shutdown.
"All the News That's Fit to Print"
1
@Enarco: Yes, the sun is expected to rise tomorrow,
The Republicans are without a clue about the tme value of money.
3
@Enarco
That's like a boss saying "I will pay your wages when I feel like it".
This week Melania Trump flew to Florida on military aircraft, despite government shutdown. Last year her taxpayer paid military flights passed $600,000. In 2017, Steven Mnuchin flew on military aircraft to the tune of $800,000 taxpayer's money.
It seems the 1 % are still doing quite well if they are connected to Trump, polls be damned.
11
... Much like Russians always seemed to do well if they were connected to the Kremlin.
1
Losing faith in the government, definitely . Not so much the economy.
The largest erosion of our citizen's trust in government is rooted in decades of our so-called leaders (both Democrat and Republican) doing nothing at all effective about the very serious problems that have come from illegal immigration.
2
@Len
Is that what you consider the biggest problem? Or is it maybe more recent, say going back to Citizens United? I think the erosion of trust is mostly due to the fact that our representatives do not represent the interests of the majority, but rather the donor class
11
@Len
"the very serious problems that have come from illegal immigration. "
Like letting in the Trump family.
@gw:The US empowers plutocrats to purchase whatever they can afford,
.
The economy? How about eroding faith in government?
8
@The HouseDog: Faith is only hope that fantasy will be realized.
The Senate should step up.
They too, constitute the Congress.
Obtuse Mitch should do his job or forfeit his pay.
It’s not just Trump vs Pelosi. Senate leader Mitch McConnell must do his job by presenting the HR bills to the Senate for an up or down vote.
It is three way, not two way as constantly reported.
Just because Mitch is in hiding, doesn’t excuse him from his Senatorial responsibility, & coverage from the news.
26
If you think American optimism about the economy is slipping now, wait until the Mueller report comes out.
6
@W.A. Spitzer: The US suppresses all criticism from whatever sources, and triumphs by learning nothing at all.
I live in a red state highly reliant on government jobs to keep our economy going: the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Agriculture Department, BLM, etc. And that's not to mention the other offices that support economies around the country such as the IRS, Social Security, even the FBI.
My multi-millionaire Senator, Steve Daines, fund raises as he brags that he has refused to take a paycheck, as if that is some sort of hardship on him and his family, instead of standing up to McConnell and demanding that he bring a vote to the floor.
It's time that all those in the Senate do their job and represent their constituents: open the government. They can negotiate other differences once our employees are put back to work.
If they won't do their job to protect government workers, then maybe it's time we find others to replace them who will.
57
@avrds
This "red or blue state" concept is really stupid. In Georgia a Democratic black woman won nearly 50% of the vote this November. Many people believe that she won even more than that and that the election was rigged to favor the Republicans. Yet pundits keep referring to Georgia as a "red state".
1
When I hear the workers who aren't getting their checks talk about their stress and how their lives start to feel like a straitjacket, I can identify all too well. I've made many sobbing phone calls to credit card companies and utilities. And while a credit company or other lender may be willing to "make arrangements," you can bet your bottom dollar--and it just might be your bottom dollar--that these "arrangements" will still hurt your credit rating.
Trump's crowing that these families and hardworking individuals are willing to sacrifice for his miserable cause is not surprising, but it is nonetheless disgusting. And if this forced sacrifice ("I volunteer as tribute!") does contribute to any positive change in this country, it will be because a big chunk of Trump voters realize what this conman is all about: himself and his great big orange ego.
He doesn't love you, sweetie. You have got to get out of this relationship.
44
@C Wolfe
Back in the 1980s I worked for a company (private) where paychecks were delayed for a day because of a computer problem. Several people in my office panicked because they had bills coming due and no reserves. And yet the Trumpists ridicule government workers because they didn't save money in case of a lunatic president cutting off their salaries for weeks.
1
I am not loosing faith in the economy. I am loosing faith in a legislative branch that is unwilling to have meaningful talk and compromise.
5
I've long lost faith in the executive branch; it's utter inability...due to incapacitation, ignorance, greed, self-interests and abuse of power versus genuine service to the people. Demonstrably there is utter inability to have meaningful negotiations with the Legislative Branch. Yes this loss in faith began just over two years ago.
Talk to Mitch and Trump. Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise and now Mitch refuses to allow a vote on it.
Just wait until all of those Trump supporters and voters get their taxes done, and finally figure out that the Trump tax break is a huge joke on them. If you want to see an economy in turmoil, it is coming by April.
33
@Patrick Stevens The $10,000 limit on SALT tax deductions is designed to hit coastal taxpayers right beteen their eyes,
1
Democrats need to keep hammering home this message:
1) Congress and Trump have budget agreements and budget disagreements. Let's pass what we agree on (pay for 800,000 federal workers) and discuss border security separately. This is hurting the economy but worse, it is hurting millions of families - American families.
2) McConnell has abdicated his job responsibilities as a co-equal branch of the government by continually stating that he will do whatever Trump tells him to do. Keep telling him that he does not work for Trump but for the American people.
This shutdown needs to end. Mr. Mueller, I understand you may not have everything wrapped up with a bow, but this country cannot hold much longer. We need some indictments soon.
35
"Sustained drops in confidence often signal dampened consumer spending in the months ahead".
trump could have picked a better choice of health food using Arby's, Taco Bell, or Subway for his WH feast for Clemson. Instead ...well, moving on, trump has made me re-valuate my priories. No longer will I buy dollar and a half coffee, at a store that makes it for 5 cents. When I read about stories about federal employees, that are only a couple of weeks from homelessness, what does it say about the overall economy? In Kansas, energy rates are going up because somebody put their bet on coal, some years ago. And now trump wants to use "our money" to build a wall that he promised Mexico would pay for it?
14
This shutdown / standoff if embarrassing, damaging and frustrating. It is time to think outside of the box. Democrats should PUSH for a dreamers deal. Let the 3.6 million dreamers (those without criminal record who have paid taxes) become U.S. citizens (via a fast-track procedure), paying a $2,000 fee. This fee would total more than $5.7bn and could be spent for the wall. Not wanted by many, this wall then would still serve a good purpose: finally realizing the american dream for these 3.6 million dreamers. This would be the long overdue, the right thing and an american thing to do! It may even create a few jobs along the way. Handing a 'victory' to Trump at this point appears irrelevant. Also: this fee should be kept at that amount so that any potential cost overruns would not be borne by the dreamers. It really is time!
3
The president doesn't care. He wants his wall. He directs the powers of his presidency at the 35%-40% of the electorate.
He made a campaign promise and refuses to budge from it. He is a stranger to compassion and is an avowed enemy of the goddess Conscience, whose counsels he refuses. He is trying to make a draconian point, much like autocrats and dictators. That Americans are suffering under his hand is entirely beside the point.
I think, somewhere in the troubled waters of his soul (I use the word "soul" with the greatest license imaginable) that he understands that people are hurting but because he is so completely selfish and determined, the problems of others are far outweighed by the urgent necessities that he sees as the reason he won the presidency: his hatred of poor people; of immigrants; of (broadly) Democrats; of anyone who would cross him or put an obstacle in his path, however reasonable and logical.
This president will not be moved by polls that indicate an erosion of support for him. To him, they're "fake news." He also fears the acid retribution from Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity of Fox Snooze if he recants, weakens, is seen to climb out of his foxhole, one that is constructed of adamantine stubbornness. He will not relent. He would, I think, rather see the economy tank; the government fail, before he admits defeat. If he is forced to do that, the psychological and emotion damage to his fragile might be too much for him to overcome.
18
Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader, is married to Ms. E. Chao, a member of Trump's cabinet, and acts as a member of his White House group rather than as a senator representing the people of Kentucky. Just how compromised is McConnell? I don't expect Trump to tell the American people.
I have faith in the U,S, economy, but I do not trust Trump or McConnell to do what's right for the American people and the furloughed federal government workers.
The American voters represented by Republican senators must put pressure on their senators to come to the aid of the government workers and re-open the federal government.
Putting a wall around a non-functioning government makes as much sense as putting a full tank of gasoline into a car without an engine.
41
@John - How about we just put a wall around the White House? Protect America from a toxic president...
Yes, but will it finally erode the faith of the millions of members of the cult of Fearless Leader and Supreme High Commander Trump, who has chosen to hold the American people and Congress hostage, with the assistance of his henchman Mitch McConnell?
Why, pray tell, does Trump refuse to let the representatives of the people in Congress vote on the merits of his $5.7 billion demand? Might it be because he know darned well that the overwhelming majority of us are vehemently opposed - and if the members of Congress intend to be re-elected, they had darned well better listen to us, and not give in to Trump's $5.7 billion ransom demand?
31
@chambolle
Get real.
Representative Democracy has always been a lie. Every student of American history knows that only six-percent of adult "Male" citizens of the United States could vote when the Constitution was drafted.
We need to draft a new Constitution in which "We the People" control the affairs of our governemnt. We also need to change the asinine rules that allow a small Congressional major, e.g. 51%, can totally crush the other 40-plus % of Americans. Yes. substantial minorities of voters are American too, despite the power hungary party leaders who lean towards the extreme-right and the extreme-left. Most everyday Americans are far more reasonable and centrist than our Washington politicians and the national media would let us believe.
6
@Enarco Is "representative democracy" as currently constituted flawed? Yes, it is. Are there significant improvements that ought to be implemented to ensure that voters are better informed, less vulnerable to propaganda propounded by moneyed interests and foreign governments, and more likely to vote? Yes.
Is it a "lie"? No; but the Republican Party has labored mightily over the past three decades or so to distort and bend the system to its will so an outspoken, ill-informed minority - mostly older white people living in backward, insular rural communities - are able to dictate policy to the majority.
I'd be more than happy to see that reign of error draw to a close.
6
@Enarco extreme left? The Democratic party is center left to center right with a small left wing faction. There is no radical left party in the USA. Most Americans are to the left of the USA government
Everything that you say is true, but this is not the top story in the NYT today. There are people hurting out there; we must continue to make this the first news item. Their dire straits is in no way a fault of the government workers. The NYT must keep this tragedy front and centre.
30
We can't give Obama all of the credit for the strong economy we enjoyed over the past two years. Consumer and investor confidence was also very high thanks to the superstitious belief that the economy tends to prosper under Republican leadership. Republicans are the party of Business, after all.
This superstition is so powerful and pervasive that Americans continued to believe in it even when the GOP threw away everything that made them what they were, and adopted a profoundly anti-business, protectionist, federal-supremacist platform that reeks of Stalinism and Juche.
Americans voted for a tax cut. They got a ludicrously expensive corporate bailout that only benefits the largest, most monopolistic businesses and a handful of wealthy heirs.
Americans voted for infrastructure. What they got was a memo to the states that said "build it yourselves. We're keeping your tax money."
Americans voted for an aggressive foreign policy and forceful negotiations for the benefit of American citizens. What they got was a man who rolled over for North Korea and let them keep their nukes because their leader wrote him a pretty letter.
Americans are waking up to the realization that the Republican Party is no longer the party of business and capitalism. The Party's loyalists have hunkered down and accepted a doctrine that says we need to suffer and make willing sacrifices for the sake of our glorious leader. Just as Mao and Stalin's parties did for them.
62
@Ryan
"Consumer and investor confidence was also very high thanks to the superstitious belief that the economy tends to prosper under Republican leadership. Republicans are the party of Business, after all."
The great majority of financial depressions/recessions either began or were exacerbated during Republican administrations.
You can look it up...
18
New York Times, inform the people will ya? There WAS a budget which passed BOTH House and Senate before Trump, who was going to sign the bill decided....to shut the government down! The BLAME is squarely on the shoulders of Donald, who we have on video taking FULL blame for the shutdown! He is using 800,000 Americans to extort money from the NEWLY elected House! This is a political ploy, a distraction and a game for Donald!
Another fact, is that Republicans had two years to fund Donald's wall completely BUT...didn't ....why?! Now all of a sudden there's a "crisis"?! Come on, New York Times....infirm the People, clearly and precisely!
It is maddening that the venerable New York Times, doesn't explain the events and timeline that led to the Trump Shutdown better!
Think about it, Donald wants his base to see him as "tough"...especially now when the Russian Investigation is exploding, when his own lawyer testifies that Donald asked him to PERJUR himself before Congress!
Federal workers, YOU can end the Trump Shutdown by walking off your jobs and forcing Donald to his knees as air travel comes to a ....stop! Call his bluff .....strike!
57
NYT...
Yes, a timeline of events that led up to where we are now would be helpful to everyone. It would also be useful to news stations as they try to explain the shutdown and how we got here.
9
@Mari - You do know it's illegal for federal workers to strike, correct?
1
@e - But it's perfectly legal for a president to have a hissy fit and shut down the country ?!!??? What is wrong with this picture ??
2
The Trump trifecta of a perfect economic storm is upon us. The "Tariff Man" trade war with China is pushing it toward much lower growth and lowering profits for major American companies like Apple and GM; the partial government shutdown affecting 800,000 federal employees with its economic ripple effect is hitting across the nation; and the end of the tax cut bonus for the wealthy all spell a looming economic contraction (aka recession). And, now with Trump and his neocons, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, ramping up for a war against Iran, it may be 2008 all over again. But this time the U.S. Treasury is itself in deep deficit. And based on the latest news, "Winter is coming!" #MakeDemocracyWorkAgain
11
Remember the good old days ??? I truly, madly, deeply miss you, President Obama. Seriously.
71
I just read an excellent economics book that emphasizes the critical importance of "institutions" for economic growth. These include rule of law, for one thing. Since that is in a shambles in the U.S. now thanks to Trump and McConnell, it is no wonder we are headed for a slump. Who's going to want to invest in that? Nobody.
27
McConnell and his party-before-country lackeys in the Senate won’t budge until Trump’s approval ratings plummet. The hard-core base is beginning to crumble, exacerbated by the protracted shutdown, but not enough for the Republicans to do their job. Perhaps the latest revelations from Michael Cohen will speed up the process of removing Trump, and we can begin to restore sanity and faith in our government.
13
Whenever I read someone touting "the stock market's great!", "wages are up!", "the economy is booming!", I wonder... Who are they talking about?!?
I don't see this great recovery where I live. We have whole shopping centers and multi-story office buildings that are empty and falling apart. Businesses and homes that are still damaged from hurricane Irma.
I have a friends of mine that are completely buried under medical bills (one a neck surgery and the other a heart attack). I have another friend and her family living with me since she lost her home in June. She can't find a place to rent for what she makes and low income housing has a 2-year waiting list.
We are not uneducated or lazy. Three of us have completed our Bachelors and the other, her Masters. We work in medical, insurance and law. We all thought we had planned well, bought reasonably priced homes and cars, spent wisely, invested what we could. And yet, here we are in our 50's and 60's, caring for aging parents and wondering what the heck happened.
It's so frustrating.
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You must not live in NYC where all rich and poor do very well..It's the middle class that's loosing ground.
Yes, the shutdown has been going on for four weeks. And both individuals and the business community have showed their concerns by pushing up the stock market indices four straight weeks. Wait! That wasn’t supposed to happen in a slowing economy. All good Democrats should drive the averages down by selling all of their stocks and funds now.
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@Robert Winchester
" pushing up the stock market indices four straight weeks."
I just checked; your statement is not true. The market is down. For the year, it's down a bunch
4
If I were a politician I’d be more concerned about loosing faith in our “leaders” ability to solve even the most basic problems.
We need a reasonable third party, the current crop in Washington is a not so funny joke!
8
The stock market slump came well before Trump made his threat to shut down the government and then did it. The slump came partly from expectations of higher interest rates and partly from the fading sugar high of tax cuts. Both contribute: a ballooning federal deficit means more borrowing that sends interest rates and inflation up; spending by consumers in the short term also sends interest rates and inflation up (more money chasing the same goods). Trump's refusal to sign appropriations bills while continuing to negotiate just adds to the malaise that he and his Republican co-conspirators began back in 2017. Singular malfeasance by those with no understanding of basic economics.
16
When Donald Trump won the presidency there were three areas of support that made a huge difference. One was his base, made up mainly of white less well educated men. One was White suburban women, who made up a traditional Republican strength. The third were traditional Republicans, who see business and the economy as central to their support. We have already seen suburban woman lose faith, not just with Trump but with the Party also. Now the business oriented support is endangered. Their support for the big tax cuts are pretty strong, but not as much as had been hoped and their faith in it and Republican congressmen and women might be shook, if the deficit continues to bloom and the economy slows dramatically, due to the shutdown, trade wars and the general climate. Business oriented Republicans also do not have a big stake in Trumps immigration war, as many of them understand the need for immigrant labor and don't care much about the "Wall". Among this business class, you have to include agriculture and farming/ranching interests, as a huge number of immigrants make up their workers.
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@Michael...It wasn't the people who showed up to vote for Trump that made the difference. It was the people who didn't show up for Clinton. Romney got more votes in Wisconsin and lost to to Obama, than Trump got in beating Clinton.
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@W.A. Spitzer Clinton could have been a king maker, but the allure of being president was too much. Your point is sound.
1
@Michael
Another source of Trump votes were from religious fanatics who think that Trump is the reincarnation of an ancient Persian god-king.
1
The shutdown is the topic of the day (or week, or month, who knows?). However, how is the economic outlook positive when the massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy created $Trillion dollar deficits, adding to the already huge national debt. Given that, how are the rapidly increasing costs caused by the severe storms, wildfires, etc. attributable to Global Climate Change going to be paid for? Given the de-regulation of the Trump Administration, these events will likely be even more frequent and more intense. Insurance companies are already starting to go bankrupt, or withdraw from areas where these events are common. Who will pick up the additional costs? How will the government meet its obligations to retirees, and other services, when it is already so deeply in debt, and the Trump Administration is just making things worse? Yet, the stock market goes up. What does that tell us? It tells us that it is not the wealthy and corporations who will bear these costs, it is you and I.
22
It's obvious that much economic sentiment is simply political allegiance, although even that has some fact-based reasoning behind it. When Republicans harm Democratic-leaning states or focus on the industries of the Rust Belt, Democrats worry. Conversely, Republican worry when the newer industries common in Blue states are given prominence by Democrats.
That said, little that Trump has done is good for the long-term welfare of the country, and much of the short-term benefits are really long-term losses, specifically, the reductions in taxes which will likely entail future belt-tightening, loosening of corporate regulation will lead to future costs for healthcare, environmental cleanup, and consumer debt. Rather than play the safe hand of trying to bring down an inflated market, Republicans instead chose to 'put out the fire with gasoline'. Eventually, there will be pain, suffering, and loss, but who will suffer, and by how much, is yet to be seen. As for outright ignorant actions, the trade war stands out as a particularly strong one, as no educated person could reasonably assume this would end well.
21
@James Igoe The partisan split in confidence is definitely one of the most striking trends of the past several years. But it's notable that the recent decline in confidence cuts across partisan groups. It's the first time in the Trump era that we've seen a sustained decline in confidence among Republicans.
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@Benjamin Casselman - They just lost and election, so this the first time they do not control the entire government, and they are starting to feel the effects of Trump's idiocy, the trade war, the shutdown, the market, etc.
1
Viewed though a management lens the government's handling of this budget cycle is inept. The blame is on both parties for a lack of leadership and management. The government set up this process of a negotiated budget meaning the executive and legislative branch needs to compromise. Neither can get exactly what they want. That's how it is supposed to work.
What's worse is the money in dispute is small and there is general agreement about the need for a hybrid solution at the border. Instead both parties go to extremes, blame the other and the country suffers and the economy goes down.
What's amazing is the lack of revolt by the public at this totally inept government, because of the focus on which party is to blame. The fact is both parties are very much to blame and this needs to be fixed ASAP.
5
@Observer
" The blame is on both parties for a lack of leadership and management. "
Why? Until this month the Republican Party was completely in charge of the government.
1
It would appear that this administration is attempting to do exactly what the libertarian (Rand Paul) and far right (Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan) sectors of the Republican Party have always wanted - smaller federal government. Who knew that meant no federal government? Perhaps this is Trump's way of paying for the wall: withhold pay from 800,000 Americans for several months (yet force many of them to keep working), and the accumulated savings will pay for the wall! A great strategy to have 0.2% of Americans pay for this thing.
7
Eroding our faith in the economy? How about the erosion of faith in our government? Our values? Our very way of life!
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@Jon O One of the weakness' of Democrats is to undervalue the importance of the economy to regular working Americans, many of whom have been leaving the Democratic ranks for years.
2
@Michael
Are you serious?
Do you think Republicans value at all the "importance of the economy to regular working Americans?"
Do you think Republicans even think about "regular working Americans?"
Those who are "leaving the Democratic ranks" have been fooled into believing the propaganda.
They are the ones who have lost faith in Trump's economy - see the polls.
3
Dig in for a very long shutdown.
Neither side will budge.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are pawns in a giant chess game and at least one of the players never learned to play chess, never wanted to play chess and couldn't care less unless he wins.
13
@simon sez The House has already passed bills to re open the government. All McConnell has to do is allow them to be voted on in the Senate. Why do Trump and McConnell get to subvert the will of Congress?
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Denim’s pushing own solution not achieving a compromise any more than Trump. Both party’s leadership inept.
What Trump might be doing to the economy is bad enough. What should concern us all is what he's doing to our government.
Country before Party, and country before economy.
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Politicians: End the shutdown and its toll on government folks and its economic shocks by agreeing to a bipartisan Task Force on Border Security.
This would provide political cover to both sides. But no Task Force without re-opening.
There are leaders in both parties who have proposed common sense legislation in the past. Let them lead the way. If a certain amount of barrier construction is recommended by the Task Force, so be it. Let a vote be taken and then let's move on to other issues crying out for action.
5
But...Mitch won't allow the vote, he knows he doesn't have the votes to support Donald!
Also, for the last two years Republicans controlled Congress, why didn't they fund the "ever so crucial wall"?!
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@Michael Solow - "…agreeing to a bipartisan Task Force on Border Security."
Nice in theory, Michael. Useless in practice when the main player in this fiasco sends his lieutenants to "negotiate", then backstabs them by ignoring the deals they make, who publicly commits to plans then reverses himself in response to TV Bloviators.
A few years back, I had a customer who "negotiated" this way. I finally learned to stop wasting my time and told him, "Send me a signed, detailed contract, then we'll have a basis for discussion."
1
Hard to have faith in much of anything with people like Trump and McConnell calling the shots.
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Last quote says it all: Poor management indeed. You don't run a business this way, and to run a country this way is terrible. But the Russians are happy. And the Saudis. Same with Syrian and Turkish despots. Even North Korea is getting Trump's attention. But no such luck for federal workers, including those ordered back this week to work without pay. Now that is Trumpism!
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I hope that the Federal workers will walk off their jobs and strike! Believe me, the Trump Shutdown would end immediately!
10
The Trump/McConnell shutdown is destroying the lives of real, working Americans while they roll around in luxury. I'm sorry, Trumpists, that you're getting destroyed by the guy you voted for.
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The compromise is so obvious.
1. Illegal aliens:
They must be thoroughly prevented by a very large increase in personnel and 21st century technology at our borders, international airports, and other ports of entry. Visitors must be photographed, and their biometric readings recorded. All Employers must use universal background checks. And, yes, Trump's steel slotted "wall" across our Southern border must be built.
2. Legal immigration:
We must have amnesty, one more time. All residents, including undocumented immigrants, and legal international students when they graduate, must be offered green cards and a reasonable path to full citizenship. A minimum of our traditional one million new legal immigrants and asylum seekers must be admitted to our nation each year. Secure, decent housing, medical care, and education must be provided to all applicants seeking permanent admission to our nation. And, a sufficient number of immigration judges and supporting personnel and facilities must be available to process all applications in a timely manner and eliminate our backlog within a year. The burden of proof for the desperate, frightened, abused, people from known areas of crime, violence, war, chaos, and prejudice must be reduced to a reasonable enough level, such that the majority of these asylum seekers are accepted.
Let us return to valuing legal immigration and domestic security. Let us seek to end hateful divisions, and seek civility as we compromise on the issues of the day.
1
The biggest group of "illegal aliens" are those who overstay their visas! Many of which flew into the U.S., many which are white Eastern Europeans! Russians. Hmmmm....smells. This doesn't get talked about from you,Conservatives!
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@Mari
Your point about most illegal aliens overstaying their visas is exactly why "Visitors must be photographed, and their biometric readings recorded. All Employers must use universal background checks".
I believe Conservatives are wrong on every issue and the Left is always right! My comment is a plea for both sides to politely seek a win-win on this issue and attempt to heal our deep divisions.
1
Republicans always trash the economy...because their policies are universally awful.
Give Republicans time, and they destroy most of what they touch.
When Bush-Cheney left office in Jan 2009, their gift to America was 800,000 job losses per month.
TrumPence have matched those two right-wing nincompoops with his senseless government shutdown.
Perhaps the Trump Slump and bankruptcy will wake up the cognitively dissonant fans of Daycare Donnie and his Dirty Diaper Show.
Time to evict this disgraceful Impostor-In-Chief.
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@Socrates
Universally awful policies for the vast majority of Americans, but not quite everybody.
They work just fine for the oligarch patrons who benefit from every tax cut, every regulation eliminated that protected society at large but cost a little profit, every war of choice, and every job shipped off to somewhere wages are tiny and worker protections are even less than here.
15
The democrats' dream. They've been trying to sell a "bad" economy for years. They almost managed to stop those tax refunds that everyone isn't supposed to be receiving, but the IRS will be paying them despite the shutdown.
1
Inequality is the Democrats issue. Most Americans don’t have a spare $400 to cover an emergency.
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@AACNY
The Messiah-In-Chief and the Grand Old Phonies have controlled the federal government for the last two years.
This is a Trump Shutdown and a Trump Slump.
Try to face reality if you want to have any hope of recovering from alternate reality.
87
Was listening to a finance show on TeeVee this morning. They reported that the usual government statistics won't be available for folks making financial decisions because of the shutdown.
What better way to sow chaos than to ensure that there are no more facts. When I think about the last BLS report on the 312K new jobs, and how many lay-off stories I have seen lately and wonder if the non-payment of federal workers will lead to 800K new but unreported requests for unemployment insurance, I wonder why the market is going up. There's no data!
And one guy on the show this morning is doubting the official Chinese government stats. We knew those stats were suspect, but now our own US stats?????
Ugn. What is there to say? By guess and by gosh, we will make decisions.
15
@Johnny Comelately
An article in the Book Review a few months ago said a lot of government statistics suddenly stopped being published after Trump became president. Evidently he didn't want comparisons being made against previous leaders.
1
It certainly doesn’t show a lack of faith in the stock market. And who was polled?
1