The only regrettable fact is maybe Trump didn’t actually hear the twitters of contempt behind his back as real billionaires took a drink to deride him in private.
They apparently are new to understand that Trump lies like he breathes. Whatever he says cannot ever be taken to the bank--pun intended.
6
This Gilde Age, stinks just as bad as the last one back in the 19th Century.
There's nothing as disgusting, as these NEW 'Plantation Masters' getting together to compare which ones treats their Slaves and Indentured Servants ...better!
4
Why would the sophisticated globalists at Davos be calmed by a speech that is full of easily revealed lies and misrepresentations? Your newspaper didn’t have any problems finding them. Maybe there was no foaming at the mouth?
3
"Mr. Trump dismissed the report [that he ordered Robert Mueller III to be fired] as 'fake news,' even though other news outlets confirmed it."
The press depresses me. As a lawyer, I am always suspicious of double hearsay. Any hearsay is unreliable -- double hearsay is doubly so. "Fake news" may not be the appellation reporters want to hear, but it's well deserved when as quoted above reporters seem to think that confirmation by other news outlets somehow cures the unreliability of secondhand news.
This constant carping dogs the president as he tries to do his job and thus makes a mockery of our representative democracy system. This "delegitimizing" and non-"normalizing" and salaciousness and venom may score political points, but it makes the whole country lose.
5
Whether anybody likes it or not, Trump was a rock star at Davos. Predictions abounded that he would be snubbed, particularly by African nations. None of that happened. World leaders greeted him with respect and acceptance.
Did they like him personally ? Irrelevant. He is the most powerful person in the democratic world and was treated as such.
Don't ever forget that the United States pours billions into foreign aid. The recipient nations know this. Don't fool yourself for a second and think that personal feelings will ever "trump" economic interests. The golden rule drives everything.
6
It seems the financial climate looks good. No mention of the state of the world. Lots of nationalism in play that’s politically scary in Eastern Europe. My question is while economic growth is important, Trump has alienated our allies and the rest of the world.
There is growth and nations are creating alliances without the U.S.
But what about the state of the planet and environment? Countless increasing disasters. Flooding in Paris, France today. Crop cultivation is threatened as deserts increase. The ocean is in bad shape. We can’t eat and breathe money. There’s no urgency. It’s a kind of what can we do, we will see, oh it can’t become worse attitude but that’s all wrong. It’s accelerating. Money and wealth it Trumping the future of civilization. Polar ice caps melting and the largest chunk broke off.
4
Trump presented an American tale at Davos. His "story" was based on the almost obsolete notion that if you work hard enough in America, you can achieve what you want. That it's a land of freedom and liberty for all. That, because corporations and wealthy individuals had their taxes reduced by 16%, that a "glorious shower of money" is raining down on the poor and middle class.
None of the above is true.
Like any good salesman, he pitched the widely believed "myth" of America. My French clients get stars in their eyes when I say I'm from the U.S. They do not realize how privileged they are to live here.
Few Americans received bonuses as a result of the tax break. No one has received a salary increase. Salaries are low. Decent jobs are scarce. Europe, Russia, China beat us in labor participation rate. Corporations have said
they will not invest in new jobs or wage increases.
To succeed, it's best to be white, male, with a college diploma. Being brown brings fear and prejudice.
The US has done great things, particularly during WWII. Their huge military makes them a threat, but, under Trump, they have insulted former allies and provoke North Korea. They diligently promote low wages and environmental harm. They are unstable, vaciliting with each new Trump tweet.
The US vision is not progressive. Under Trump, regulations for clean air, water, environmental protection, health care have been abolished. Laws and ethics mean nothing.
Investors, beware.
3
Another speech for his base, very depressing.
3
Mr. Trump's talk of fairness in trade rings hollow. What he means is, "the US wins bigger than anyone it trades with; 'win-win' is for suckers and wimps." His administration's outrageous demands, bullying and intransigence in the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation alone are evidence enough of that.
What the world sees is not a carefully thought-out strategy for re-balancing trade through reasonableness and negotiation, but a new bully entering the neighborhood and trying to enrich himself at his neighbors' expense. Or else.
Except, the bully is obviously a bit crazy, since his thoughtless vandalism will inadvertently harm his own family by depriving them of what they already have. And those on his block who seek to profit by riding on his coattails--as Boeing just did in leveraging Trump's protectionism to strangle Canada's Bombardier aircraft division--will find themselves getting burned--as Boeing just did today.
Mr. Trump is a loose cannon in trade as in everything else, and he really doesn't care about anyone but himself. He will find himself increasingly alone--at home as well as abroad.
4
Trump hit a home run with bases loaded at the WEF. Really proud of our president today. After 8 years of mushy, feely, goody nonsense, we have a president for America again.
13
But our country’s environment and the planet is in dire straits. The denial is toxic to our future.
3
That was the best impersonation of low energy Jeb I have ever seen. He nailed it.
2
Trump struck out with bases loaded at the WEF. Really disgusted of our president today. After 8 years of higher growth and lower crime, we have a Republican president failing America again.
4
President Trump is Leading, something that appears to cause
Fear in those who oppose him.
11
Why is job growth slowing ? Why is crime on the rise ?
Why is GDP growth slower than it was under Obama ?
Why is the trade deficit exploding ?
A: Because he's not leading, he's flailing. He's clinging desperately to the great gains made by his predecessor, and the crack are showing.
4
In my opinion, poor speach, a lost opportunity to lead; an evident neglect of main global problems, such as environment and migration. Davos is not the UN, but is certainly a powerfull fora, with many key business and political leaders present. A good opportunity to "educate" and lead for global progress, not just a few countries, was lost. Not consistent with what we should expect from the US leadership, which weather we like it or not, is and should be a reality. big mistake...the World is marching in the wrong diretion.
2
Donald Trump is despicable. He is a terrible person and a frightening president.
But on the issue of trade....he is dead right. America has gotten into some really bad trade deals with countries that refuse to open their markets to our products. Until now, most politicians and economists have accepted our trade imbalances and the resulting social costs. Trump demands that other countries open their markets if they want access to ours.
5
The world's businesses will come to America now that Trump has reduced taxes and a lot of overbearing regulation. That's a win for America and American workers as well as the foreign businesses. A win-win for all.
It's going to be interesting to see if foreign nations follow his lead in reducing their taxes and regulations too.
11
Trump's 23-minute long sales pitch in Davos was dissimulation at its best.
He said, "America's open for business" and invited foreign investment, based on the new 21% corporate tax.
He failed to note that the US tax reduction for the wealthy meant that the US government was being supported by the poor and middle class, and their taxes would rise in the next 10 years, while their health care and social security diminished.
He falsely claimed millions of Americans had received salary bonuses thanks to the tax plan.
He did not say that few US corporations paid bonuses to employees, and that salaries had not increased. Corporate tax reductions were invested, and investor dividends were increased enormously.
He said he was willing to be part of a multi-lateral negotiation, but only if it benefited the U.S.
He neglected to say that the U.S. has little to offer. Hormone and anti-bacteria laced meats. GMO grains and produce. Carcinogenic pesticides. High fructose corn syrup. Oil and coal. McDonald's. Anti-health, pro-global warming products.
President Macron presented a cogent and do-able plan for future global cooperation, a "world first", rather than a "Europe first", agenda. He stressed that profits and higher salaries were important, as well as equal wealth distribution, healthcare, science, education and green technology.
He said taxes should never be driven so low that these services and goals were abandoned, because the future of the world depends on them.
5
“the US tax reduction for the wealthy meant that the US government was being supported by the poor and middle class, ... “
Nonsense. The poor don’t pay income taxes, and except for the middle class in a few liberal-dominated, high tax states, the middle class got a cut in income taxes. And did you miss all of the pay increases and bonuses plenty of lower, middle-class employees are getting?
It’s great to finally have a POTUS who knows something about Economics 101.
3
Why would you think that his speech was reassuring? He basically said that he didn't mind making deals as long as he comes out on top of them. What business person would be drawn in by the idea of getting the short end of the stick in every negotiation?
8
Brilliant and practical message. About time!
10
Remember, Nixon went to China. But he was still Nixon.
2
Any talk of President Trump as a "changed man" based on a single teleprompted speech read dully in a flat, mindless monotone is just so much hooey. Seventy-plus years of self-indulgent, mendacious bombast can never be reversed by a few minutes of rote recitation st a swanky Swiss ski resort.
We know who President Trump is, and we've known for a very long time. Let's abandon all hope once and for all that Trump might suddenly some day turn "presidential." Let's instead focus on assuring that he occupies the Oval Office for the shortest time possible.
7
Contrasts in speech delivery styles...Davos speech was an address to members of an exclusive club to which he wants to make nice and aspires to join. A speech by Don the Con to his so-called base is a performance that includes wags of the head, shaking of hands in the air, insulting commentary, fear mongering and word usage like that of a mob boss. Neither performance gives me any faith that Don the Unfit knows how to negotiate anything. Ultimately, bullying tactics fail and, as he leaves his tenure as president, we will be left in worse shape from the experience.
4
The United States is fortunate to have a real executive as Chief Executive. (Yes, I understand … he’s an abysmal ‘politician’.)
9
Well, shouldn't this tells we do not want a world run by this set of thieves? Can we not connect the dots?
1
It is great to see an American President being a leader from in front after 8 years of pathetic "leading from behind".
World leaders may not like President Trump but they obviously respect his leadership ability in world economic and political affairs. They know that Trump will get things done.
This is good news for all Americans, particularly after 8 years of likable but impotent leadership.
7
Even when Trump has what is widely considered a very successful event, the NYT finds a way to write the story with a mixed tone and finish it on a negative note.
But, I get it; the media is the opposition party, right now, and rather than cheering on the success of America, they have put all of their eggs in the anti-Trump basket.
10
Oh boy, he read a speech without putting his foot up his bung hole. Not only has the bar been lowered, a ditch was dug and the bar was buried.
27
He has a bridge for sale in NYC to any of his "new friends" from Davos. He must have been on some medication to read that speech and not go off the reservation. Time will tell on this. In the meantime, China has an absolute green lights to make them greater than the US.
3
@Mark : Alexander Harrison believes that almost all of the criticisms of our c-in-c in DAVOS are motivated by envy, jealousy, resentment of his resounding victory last November. Trump was the star of the show in Davos, prompting 1 attendee to praise US under his guidance for his promotion of "growth momentum!" You can use crass, callous terms like "bunghole,"which strike me as "degoutant, tout a fait degoutant,"but overlooked by the EB because of your anti Trump message, but it does not change the fact that message "America is open for business" was a home run, words that delegates were waiting to hear.Last good Democrat I recall from your state was Mennen "Soapy "Williams, Democrat in the tradition of JFK and who became president's emissary to African states after JFK's election in 1960.Senators Levin and Durbin are too far to the left for Michigan voters and the country.Durbin is a snitch, and in the immortal words of George VI, no one likes a snitch. Why do commenters fear using their full names?
6
So much of this is scripted ahead of time,it is all planned.
2
It is true that speeches are usually planned, written, and practiced ahead of time.
2
I don't care how many Republicans, billionaires or white nationalists insist that the emperor is wearing clothes. My eyes tell me he's wearing nothing at all.
20
What the hey....
He didn't ask them to support his and his daughter's foreign made clothing lines, visit his holdings or contribute to his war chest.....or to live, work and invest in the US of A.
3
"America first does not mean America alone."
Trumpspeak Translator:
"My self interest is above all, except when I need help, then its your problem to clean up."
16
Please stop looking for deep meaning where there simply isn’t any. The puppet was directed to read some words from a piece of paper and just happened to do it without making a horse’s behind out of himself, probably because he was in a roomful of peers or better.
Just because he was able to pull off a one-step directive doesn’t make him any less evil than he truly is. This is a reality TV President, and he was simply reading his lines on a good day.
19
Translation: I got elected through wizardry and jingoism. But now I want you to believe I'm just a guy from Kansas.
8
Oh sure... he seemed "presidential". Are these people really that gullible?
12
I remember well Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress. The witless legislators in attendance along with much of the media were proclaiming that he was "presidential"-until the next day and he went back to his normal self.
2
For their sanity and delusions of security, yes.
3
Oh please. He's and a con man and he'll never change. Ever time he acts like an adult people heap praise on him or talk about him turning over a new leaf – until the next time he acts like the spoiled brat narcissist that he is and will always be.
17
Proves that anyone can be gullible, even the "elite."
11
Finally a president who doesn’t feel guilty about America’s success.
18
I really don't think anyone feels guilty about America's successes, nor does the rest of the world expect anyone to. It's kind of not even the point.
"America's success"? When the top one-tenth of 1% (many of them in that Davos audience) own or control almost as much wealth as the bottom 90%, you call that a successful nation? The measure of a nation's success is not how many millionaires and billionaires live there or how "hot" the stock market is, but how ALL the people live, day to day, paycheck to paycheck.
2
What success, electing a Russian agent?
2
Trump's deadpan delivery of a speech he did not write elicited an audible sigh of relief when he did not go off-script and threaten to blow up the world order in service to one of his campaign promises. I'm guessing his meds kicked in just in time for his flight back to DC. In any event, the Davosians all know he won't be back next year — they just don't allow orange jumpsuits and shackles at the conference.
9
Davos was seduced by the con man - that's hilarious. Trump has been making empty promises since his residence in the womb. He tells people what they want to hear, and then does whatever benefits him the most personally. Simple trick; consistent results.
20
"A Sober Trump Reassures the Davos Elite"
The consummate con man.
13
Oh the shock and awe. Trump was on script and selling. Oh boy, all is well.
9
OK. Enough mindless trump bashing. Maybe, just maybe his audacious fiscal policies can get our dinosaur economy humming along again. Maybe something is going right. He did a good job at Davos. No one threw any shoes at him. The evidence that his fiscal policies are working cannot be ignored. We know he’s racist but as far as davos is concerned, he did a good job. There, I said it.
8
The disparity of wealth created by the globalized economy is part of what gave us Trump. Why would anyone believe that more of the same is going to result ultimately in a healthy society and a healthy economy?
Many countries in Europe lost a decade (so far) thanks to the damage generated by the thieves at the top and in the financial industry. The Trump administration has pulled out the protections placed against the financial industry generating another crash and recession. The Trump administration has gutted the environmental regulations. Are all of these people at Davos too greedy to realize that some day the chickens are going to come home to roost?
2
I'm sorry, but Trump's "speech" reminded me of the bureaucrat's definition of a camel: "a horse designed by committee." All sorts of dog-whistle notes, flag-waving, anti-globalist tripe and ill-disguised threats.
Which "speech" he read (from his despised teleprompter) like a tired old man up long after his bedtime. Trump disgraces America, repeatedly.
But hey, all environmental & tax restrictions are off: so come defile our country, world, before Don's cronies beat you to it!
9
Just another con job by the grifter from Queens, only to a different audience from his home-grown salt of the earth supporters (who themselves have succumbed to the con).
Upon his return to his realm, it will be business as usual-tweet, insult, bully, repeat.
8
The globetrotting Trump put on quite the exhibition in Davos.
The billionaire set is the perfect foil for Trump, who is thigh-high deep in legal issues back home. (Not to mention the moral issues (divisive, porn stars, untruths, etc.)
Obstruction
Conspiracy
Financial crimes
Money laundering
The horsey set is going to go all in with the untrustworthy, unreasonable and mercurial Donald J Trump.
The top CEOs in America walked away from Trump's business advisory councils. That's not fake news ......it's part of a failed legacy.
9
Talking about legacy is a bit premature. Trump has seven years to go if you progressive folks do not start thinking but just keep venting. It always amazes me that in every comment section in NYT about Trump nobody is even trying to make sense of what happens, most comments could be reused independently from any context, it is just an expression of hate and wishful thinking.
2
With respect, the sincerity of President Trump at Davos today was no more than "fake sincerity", crafted by his wiley speechwriters, Gary Cohn and Robert Porter.
Trump stuck like glue to the teleprompters. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller is busy as a one-eyed dog in a sausage factory writing Trump's State of the Union address which we are all awaiting with bated breath.
4
what happened to all those "occupy Wall Street" people? or Bernie Bros? where are they?
4
Some of them will be at the Greenbrier next week.
Overheard at Davos; "At the end of the day, he’s not going to do anything to destroy his legacy.”
Would you like ketchup on the side with that?
4
"...the American business community had responded to his tax cuts and regulatory rollback with enthusiasm." Of course they are enthusiastic. Their bribes (oops, campaign contributions) have paid off 100 to 1. So they throw the workers a grand or so as a bonus. That is peanuts compared to what they will save. And the bonuses are a one time thing that doesn't raise base pay. Yet another con job.
6
Thnak you.
1
Sooner or later, the left will have to come to grips with Trumps success..Resistance is futile!
7
I heard a few clips of the speech on the pbs news tonite. I was struck by the monotone and complete lack of affect. Empty words, empty suit.
11
That flat affect sounds as if it could be chemically induced. Lots of entirely legal medications for anxiety could smooth out his emotions that way.
1
Were you able to find Trump supporters who still support him after a year in office?
2
Stick with me -- while Rome burns! (In a few weeks, when Trump starts to mentally unravel, none of this will matter.)
4
He must have been sedated this time - or on some kind of tranquilizer. Very unusual. Won't last....
4
At last he's become presidential. Only kidding. Trump's a predator. All predators do is exploit and lie. And predators all need camouflage. The end.
7
“He was the marketer-in-chief,” said Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit, a research and information company focused on energy. “He was selling America, he was selling the economic story and he was selling himself to an international business community who expected something else.”
I don't know why anybody should believe anything Trump says. He lies, takes back so-called commitments, and denies on-the-record statements on a daily basis. This is spin, nothing more, and anyone who thinks this is the "real" Trump is in for a rude awakening in the near future.
6
Trump got saudied. It was the Saudis who first figured out how to handle Trump. The Chinese quickly followed. And why not? It works. Last hour a tape of Trump showed him crowing that Paul Ryan had told him that he had never seen the Repub party as united as it was under Trump. So now we can add the Davos gang to that club. Shouldn't be a surprise.
3
It's no surprise and it tells us why we can't let them continue to buy our politicians in the USA and in Europe.
1
Secret Service, hold onto your hats: But wouldn't it be great if everyone at Davos––and I don't want to get in trouble for saying this because we have no Constitutional rights anymore––disappeared? Gee boy! Then the world would be free of the 1%. Bye-bye! Wait, no. I didn't mean it. Wait, no! They're here!
3
Donald J. Trump, the flunky, finally had his 20 seconds in Davos, sadly at American taxpayers' expenses. He never attended Davos as a private citizen because he was a third-rate "businessman" and could not hang with the super-wealthy at Davos, which is basically a vacation for self-important super-wealthy folks.
6
Of course he did. Trump plays to whatever crowd he is in front of. Spineless.
4
I like that " America's open for business" but with Trump as the storekeeper, is he going to picky on the people he is going to sell to?
1
I watched his speech LIVE on CNBC.
I disagree with the general tone here for faulting the POTUS for taking credit with out mentioning his predecessor.
Name me one president who has compared his record poorly with his predecessor.
The 44th spent the first year blaming everything or otherwise putting the 43rd in bad light - the greatest depression, the long wars, mess at Guantanamo - you name it.
Heck, even a mayor worth his salt will not put himself lower than a predecessor.
Mr. Yergin is absolutely right he was a marketer for America. I would even say marketr-in-chief.
One of his predecessor famously said, "business of America is business."
I live in India.
I dare say that it's PM of this country needs to do such an effective marketing jobs - and not give a lecture on globalization to elites of globalization.
Of course, what else could he do? His government throttles foreigners at home.
India's PM was playing to his indian audience who take great pride on lecturing others.
This POTUS was also effective in that small dinner with European companies. He had been briefed well - enough to quote a 3% of revenue of Nestle comes from candies.
Without fail, all these executives complimented him on tax cuts and largely supports his contention that when America succeeds, the world succeeds.
I would rather have a POTUS who sells my country abroad with facts than fiction. And, does not apologize for my country.
If you need an apologist, find a psychiatrist.
5
Say what you want about Donald Trump, but he's forced the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do elitist crowd to vacate their pc safe houses to answer to some very damning realities.
I am glad that Trump did not sign the Paris Climate Agreement. Furthermore, I cannot take these climate talks seriously so long as our beloved political and scientific leaders refuse to discuss the harmful social and ecological effects caused by the world’s rising population.
2
So, trump read his speech from a teleprompter. It was written by Gary Cohn who is comparatively sane, because Mr. Alt-right Stephen Miller has been busy writing another (hateful) speech for The State of the Union. And you really think that the Davos Elite is reassured by that? Looking at European papers, I really doubt that. These people did not get where they are by being gullible. Also, as soon as trump is alone he will start tweeting and insulting world leaders. He just can't help himself.
4
It's more nonsense...I don't care what he says from someone else's words on a teleprompter. The proof of his peoples' intentions will be in the next Executive Order...
2
It is amazing how much people like this can overlook, if they're making enough money off him. This president may (or may not) be improving the stock market's temporary value, but the long-term damage he is doing to American democracy is traitorous, and spreading that to leaders of the world in Davos who are suddenly able to excuse his "strong leadership" because it is now considered "open to misconceptions and biased interpretations" is damning. The only "biased interpretation" for this vile man is a developed sense of decency, which apparently the wealthy outside the U.S. are also incapable of demonstrating. Money is a useful tool, but it is very clear that the love of money will destroy this world.
6
Well put, and could we add the damage to the environment?
1
Another cringe worthy performance, where first he bellows about American first, and then weasels around trying to take it back without really taking it back.
2
The foundations of the US economic uptick was laid by Obama and Yellen. The tax plan helped but it did not initiate it. Typical Trump to claim credit where it is not due - to himself. Now that he has behaved himself at Davos, his normal frustrated self will explode in a number of lies, racist , insults in his early morning tweets. He just can't help being his true despicable self. His base hates his good behaviour and love his despicable one.
3
Trump bought his base, both the upper and lower socioeconomic parts of it by promising he would let them rob the treasury with his tax"reform". Are all those business leaders dumb enough to think this will end well?
1
Of course the Uber wealthy love him. He will make them vastly wealthier. You, sucker, not so much.
5
Bottomless greed is the driving force for Trump and his ilk
5
President Trump is trying to get back into the barn after he left and shut the door behind him.
2
This from an inveterate liar.
Someone should have read "The Boy Who Cried Wolf " to Trump. Many times...
1
They would do well to disbelieve anything he says.
2
How can Trump spent so much public $ to read a stupid text in front of people who are smart enough to remain polite during 20 minutes...Nobody care anymore about him.
1
I must be missing something. The media, including "liberal" media, are telling me that there was a sober Trump who reassured allies. I posit to you that the only commentator who got this right was Stephen Colbert. So far, I have seen a cringe-inducing public meeting with Theresa May and the strange spectacle of a meeting with Netanyahu where Trump repeats the same phrases so many times that I lost count. Netanyahu then proceeds to embarrass himself by calling the man who says nice things about Neo-Nazis a great leader, just because he knows what childish flattery can get him by now. We are all adults here, no need to try and tell us that things are not as bad as it seems. They are exactly as bad as it seems and possibly worse.
5
Please tell me that the great wealth of this planet see this man for what he is...a shady real estate salesman from the Queens...Come on, these are the richest, best educated, leaders/CEO's in the world..we are talking real money, not Trump money, real money...and they see a ray of hope in this buffoon?
2
As if Switzerland and China don't have agendas which prioritize their own interests over everyone else's.
4
Trump is still the mercurial, irresponsible, grotesque, inchoate leadership we have seen for the last 13 months regardless of the false premises of his Davos act. Anyone who sees differences in his program is full of wishful listening.
2
Everybody should put their own country first. What will emerge is a true consensus. If you act on what you think is best for everybody what you get is a consensus of a consensus.
3
"A Sober Trump"???
An attempt to arrive at a conclusion - ANY conclusion - through a logical analysis of Trump's behavior will be a fool's errand. Trump being excitable, chaotic, untruthful, random, indecisive, dishonest, insensitive, bombastic, arrogant, any thought that he has mellowed - even by the slightest degree - will CERTAINLY be met with disappointment!
A leopard CANNOT change its spots.
3
Mean while back at ranch rumours are afoot largely and appropriately about and for the First Lady.
Mrs Trump exemplifies dignity without disclosure.
I have growing respect for Mrs Trump and her privacy.
President Trump kindly treat your wife with respect.
Gentlemen have certain standards not necessarily reflected by membership of a particular golf, lodge or country club.
An assertion of infidelity would be defended with virility by a gentleman.
CNN reports Ms Stormy's fellow professional colleague statement today is in my view tacky and unproven.
The biggest button is no excuse to nuke the basis of society, marriage and commitment.
Overwhelmingly Australians voted for marriage commitment.
Marriage, according to law in Australia, is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
Homosexual people are now welcome to make the vows.
Vows for life to the exclusion of all others are routinely made by monks and nuns.
Gentlemen take vows seriously and may lead to some degree of business or sexual opportunities lost.
Mr Trump is not to be trusted and is not a gentleman.
Me too.
I am a father of a daughter and never divorced.
Although legally separated I choose to care for my ill dear friend for the rest of her life and and our daughter.
I don't play golf.
The CNN reports by Ms Stormy's fellow professional colleague today are tacky and unproven.
Would have been great if Drumpf took questions from actual businesspeople at the speech. Get him off his monosyllabic, ghost-written speech and he crashes in an embarrassment of a simpleton’s wreckage. Case in point: The State of the Union Speech next week will be too bizarre and ugly to watch. Shield the children lest they think this is the country we’re giving them.
2
Imagine if he wasn't sober.
I recall the controversy over President George HW Bush's appointment of Texas Senator John Tower as Secretary of Defense in 1989. A concern was Senator Tower's interest in alcohol. There was a fantasy questioning of him in the Senate Confirmation that never happened. "Senator, as Secretary of Defense, what would you do if you saw a defense contractor asking for $1000 for a screwdriver?" "I'd order a vodka tonic!" Senator Tower was not confirmed by a vote of 47-53. Sadly he died in a commuter airplane flying into Brunswick, GA, the home of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in 1991. I was a frequent visitor to FLETC but after his death, I always flew into Jacksonville, FL and drove to FLETC.
"...a rough consensus emerged over Mr. Trump’s two-day visit that his administration had shown itself to be more pragmatic than advertised...
More pragmatic than reported, actually...
3
All who attended would agree...money can't buy class!
3
Trump rocked Davos. They loved him. Jim Acosta from CNN was busy throwing up in a corner somewhere but the Davos crowd loved Trump so much. He was so natural with the CEOs of big name corporations like Siemens, Bayer, Volvo etc talking about how much they will contribute to America because of the tax reform.
2
Pigs to the trough.
2
China has stolen most of the West’s technology and conterfitted to the point of the largest economic problem every while closing their markets to the West. It it time for that to change. Time for the world to invest in American innovation and clean industry and leave polluting China and India slave labor behind. If it takes one as corse as Trump to turn things around. More power to him. The transfer of power will occur as always.
1
We deserve Trump, his selfishness and self-centeredness and self-absorption reflect our own — our current US society has grown divided, as Piketty pointed out, and polarized, into the Red State / Blue State extremes Obama at first denied and then lamented, we must work on these and other problems of which Trump simply is a political result. Our slide from our 1950s postwar Global Imperium was inevitable: we can congratulate ourselves and some others on how peaceful that adjustment has been, and on much of our role in that — now though we must keep from sliding further, and repairing the errors and damage which brought forth Trump is part of that. We can do it: we’ve been isolated, and isolationist before — let us clean house, in DC and some places elsewhere, and find our new role in this Asian Century.
Well the meeting of these ultra wealthy power brokers better address the inertia of climate change which accelerating faster than anyone could dream. Before I get reactive replies wake up. There will be nothing and no where for the ultra rich to enjoy their wealth if the planet, yes the planet is in peril. Parts of California will be desert in a short time. Weather disasters will increase. Hurricanes and polar storms will be the norm. The healthy diet you figured out is wonderful won’t be sustained. Fish will diminish. Water will be more d more scarce and no you can’t just desalinate. Air will be worse and most oxygen is from the ocean. It’s speeding up. All the money in the world won’t buy your way out. Crops and the off season fruit from Mexico and Chile will be gone. While the wealthy ponder this be aware that Russia and Chinese have total backup for GPS but the U.S. doesn’t.
If the wealthy don’t know that’s everything. Power, air planes, defense and the satellite and system is vulnerable to hackers. Raising the stock markets and wealthy investments aren’t doing it for the threats we face. It’s scary and real.
3
As much as I despise the president's behavior, attitudes, and arrogance, he performed well at Davos. Then he spoke about "fake news" with which he feeds his political base at home.
He is a con man for his base. He is a serious wealth and power builder for his fellow oligarchs and elites, and most especially, himself.
Though my 401K now increases under his presidency (I have my doubts about 3 years from now), I would be willing to forsake it for a president who truly cares about the citizens than for himself. For long after he is voted out of office the nation will find itself trying to put the pieces together of a wrecked and diminished nation and democracy.
3
Part of Trump's menace is that he'll appear to become more moderate, therefore, mainstream as time progresses, the selective hearing of the wealthy filtering out the racism, treachery, and general tawdriness of the man and his administration. Eventually, as he says enough to be liked, he'll be seen as a maverick visionary. However, his message is far from moderate because he is an inveterate liar preaching to a congregation of Davos elite who, he knows, can make or break him a lot faster than the democratic will of the American people. At Davos, he watches his P's & Q's because he knows that those capable people are the class in which he hankers to reside. Among the masses, he can afford a great deal less veneer.
The Russia inquiry should sink him, but, if it fails to indict, Mueller will be the making of Trump. The grotesqueness of the individual will be dispelled in lieu of a manufactured impression of the genius he espouses. I have a nagging feeling that Mueller will indulge Trump while using underlings as fall guys in order to insulate a tyrant. This might be pessimism blended with cynicism, and I'd love to be wrong, but time will tell.
The tone of his voice was not reassuring, it was just plain weird. He sounded like a deflating balloon. Just a lot of jibba jabba written by Stephen Miller or one of the other sad sacks. Look at him standing there. He doesn't even know where he is.
2
What's bothering me most is Mr. Schwab's eager praise of Trump's tactics and his terrible tax system (we all know Trump's words mean nothing so I don't see the sense in dissecting them to search for some deeper meaning or policy intentions).
The WEF presents itself as a neutral space to convene public, private and civil society actors but Schwab gladly showed off a biased hand with his effusive praise and unprecedented military style welcome (thankfully, to a smattering of well deserved booing). Everyone knows by now that Trump is easily manipulated through flattery but it's disappointing to see Schwab publicly discredit the WEF by confirming a partisan agenda that it's critics warned us about all along.
Does this reflect what the business community is saying to and about Trump behind closed doors? How disgusting.
I haven't seen many critiques of Schwab's words. I assume not many participants want to risk their invitation being lost in the mail come next January...
1
Businessman??? He's no businessman, he's a grifter who runs a con game. He doesn't run a company with any kind of significant payroll (outside of his family) or operations, he runs a corporate shell game transferring money - debt - from one "legal entity" to another, all the while paying himself huge fees. It's a common trick in the real estate world, the difference is he can somehow spin the outcome to get himself off the hook.
I remember clearly when he had analyst Marvin Roffman fired for warning - correctly - that the cold October winds would blow away any chance of his casinos making good on their debt. (I also remember an excellent cartoon of "Commodore Trump" marching a blindfolded Mr. Roffman off a gangplank.)
What puzzles me is how many otherwise sane and intelligent investors kept buying his junk bonds when there was no realistic chance of redemption. (I know some of the answer...) Here is a direct (re)quote from a NYT piece:
“People underestimated Donald Trump’s ability to pillage the company,” said .... a private investor who at one time held stock in the Trump casinos worth more than $500,000. “He drove these companies into bankruptcy by his mismanagement, the debt and his pillaging.”
Will we let him do the same to the USA? With respects to Abe Lincoln, I'm afraid we are about to test how many can be fooled all of the time.
And Carol, Harry Truman was a haberdasher who lost his own money. Trump makes money for himself when all others lose.
2
I do not think anyone believes Mr. Trump is sincere, when he plays "globalist" or expresses interest in joining TTP. The fact is Mr. Trump is dismantling NAFTA; a free trade agreement that has helped the economy of all three countries involved. It is the state governors who are now worried about losing NAFTA, not "the job president". They say pulling out of NAFTA will result in losing many thousands of jobs in their states.
Given the Trump approach to NAFTA, one may wonder what could be his real reasons for showing up at Davos. Many would speculate that he went there either to satisfy his narcissistic impulses, or he is thinking of starting a war and his generals have convinced him that making nice with the Brits and others is a prerequisite for that.
1
Why use the word sober to describe Trump, who is teetotal. Impressing others as not unhinged is not the same thing.
2
I am surprised that there is so much attention paid to Trump's irrelevant remarks to a group of people who themselves are at best irrelevant, at worst harmful. This "elite" crowd has not offered either a vision or path for solving the most pressing economic problems facing us: overpopulation, climate warming, and preparation for the inevitable steady-state, non-growth economies in our future. Instead they concentrate on policies to stretch out growth for a yet one more round of CEO bonus raises.
3
It truly seems to me that readers disdain for Trump is blinding their judgement and logic. Maybe the same was the same for Conservatives and Obama but you can't ignore his results so far.
5
"The economy has improved." A brief sentence, noted at a special annual economic conference, which being but descriptive implied an explanation.
President Trump, unconstrained by humility, indicated that his economic policies were the cause.Perhaps it is time for all of us to receive some much needed help to better know and to understand what is happening in economic areas all around us, and what is not.That is, for those who are not feeling it daily in their economic straits."Caused by," directly or indirectly, linear A-B, or not linear is only one process which occurs when known necessary, measurable, controllable,conditions operate.Much of the time there are gaps in needed information, understanding and technology.Things can, and do operate as associations-correlations- one not "causing" the other.Good folk, family, friends, colleagues, even strangers, who pray, make a place for their God in their daily life, can be complacent about...willfully blind, deaf, silent and ignorant about...A third category for creating meaning, in each of our daily efforts to deal in a good enough way with experienced reality of uncertainty, unpredictability, randomness and lack of total control is to acknowledge that something exists which we can't explain for NOW. It wasn't /isn't caused by, as best as we can understand and while it may be due to a third as yet undocumented factor, there is just some relationship going on.Consider the current, daily, violating, WE-THEY ummenschlich culture
1
Quid Pro Quo. Those business elites in Davos praising Trump and blowing off his offensive Twitters and statements clearly did so because they were rewarded from his tax cuts. What a bunch of hypocrites!
2
It did my heart good to hear the boos and hisses from the audience and European journos when Trump called the American media "fake news".
4
What is this "America first". Does it means that China or Rssia or other countries are "seconds", or "thirds", if not shitholes;
And if means like he lastly claims that what he meant was that american interests will be the first on his mind, does he then pretends that his predecessors were not of the same mind, and that they choose to protect foreign interests to the detriment of americans?
And does he thinks then that the other countries will simply accept that american interests comme first world wide to the detriment of their own??
Does he think that stating that he is the smartest man who ever lived makes him so?
3
And just how many back room meetings were tried to be held to promote TrumpWorld? Notably, in years past, he has been shunned by this very group of real billionaires and business leaders.
He has no interests other than promoting his floundering empire of cheezy hotels,resorts, and daughter dearest's slave wage shoe factories where not one Trump brand product is manufactured in this country.
3
I will be reassured when he resigns or is indicted.
1
It's pretty obvious that Trump didn't write his speech because it was rational, contained no grammatical errors and sounded like it was written by an adult.
Once, again, Trump is shown to be an ignorant and selfish liar by denying what he has said previously. It is time to flush the White House and get an ethical and honest person to represent us.
3
I listened to most of Trump's speech today, and his impromptu Q&A. He sounded like a 5th grader pretending to be the president. And considering this is a global audience his content was so off-putting they must have all retired to the bar for a good laugh at his expense. He really positioned the USA as a place that can be ignored for a few years while the rest of the world moves on without us, or our opinion.
3
He boasted about America (and himself) as it it were a company instead of a country of citizens.
2
With restraint?
You mean like when he called the press "mean," "nasty," and "fake" and (rightly) got booed for it in front of the entire international gathering.
Restraint. Please.
3
A known grifter puts on a show. Why anyone would believe it is beyond me.
2
Why did Trump use a script and act all reasonable and "presidential" in front of the "global elites" but speaks from his gut, using profanity, insults, and violent rhetoric, when the audience is his Fox News base back home. Don't the masters of the universe deserve to hear the real Donald J. Trump
3
Report on some substance the American people can get behind. Hope not hate please. I have huge problems with our government, but am hopeful for realistic solutions. Give us some background in options NYT, please.
1
Danish Brian Mikkelsen took a positive view of Trump's slashing of corporate tax rates but may change his tune when Trump learns what Danish Babcock & Wilcox has built in West Palm Beach FL, a 15 minute drive from Trump's Mar a Largo.
There is the only 21st century solid-waste to energy facility in America, perhaps one of the 3 most advanced in the world, the other two being Gärstad in my home city, Linköping SE and CopenHill in Copenhagen.
Perhaps a helicopter fly over would be best. Looking down he will see no piles of coal and no oil tanks. Instead he will simply see solid-waste transport trucks leaving a renewable energy fuel that is used there to produce electricity 24/7/365 sufficient for 44,000 homes.
If he is able to grasp the implications of what he looks down upon, he will realize that any American city that wants to move into the 21st century had better invite Babcock & Wilcox to builed a plant in that city, preferably with the architectural flair of the Swedish and Danish plants.
No more coal? What will Trump do, ban a Danish-Swedish invasion or slap a 25% tax on imported technology?
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com (pics there)
Dual citizen - US SE
2
I am shaken....how can Trump fool all the leaders of the countries of our world and the rest of the ‘world elite’. It makes me sick to my stomach. Now we have not only trump the imbecile spouting off with no real thoughts in his head, the rest of the world seems to be taking it in stride; nay, to,heart even.
I’m going to bury my head in the sand....can’t take no more.
2
No don't do that, that's what Trump wants, to batter you into submission.
I can see that liberales and democrats are very frustrared; they were hoping that their fellows globalists at Davos would reject Trump! This goes a long way to show how naive these people are and how little they understand about capitalism. For the Davos' crowd their profits are de fundamentals, their "worries" about social issues, racism, inequality, climate chages, etc. are just poses. They really do not buy those fairy tells, Democrats are the ones that swallow the idea that they care about those issues.
1
The New Yorker has a lovely piece about how George Soros upstaged Trump:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-george-soros-upstaged-...
There's nothing reassuring about Trump, though.
19
As a European, I can tell you that George Soros is much more disliked than Trump and that Soros can't upstage anyone. Trump is seen as an amusing extravagance and people in Europe have a wait and see reaction to him. Soros is seen as a calamity - the eminence grise behind ruining Europe and flooding with Africans and other non-European migrants just when life in Europe was starting to be good. Many Europeans quietly wish Soros's speedy death in their private chats, though Soros may harm Europe even post-mortem with all the billions he had already funneled into his open-borders organizations. The only entities who prefer Soros are the non-profits who hope to get money from him.
5
Hope these other countries Understand that You can NEVER trust a CON MAN or a SNAKE or a LIAR ,,,,and our President is all three
2
These people are the most likely people in the world to support Trump. They are the beneficiaries of his plans. Moral compass? Non-existent in many - but not all, thank goodness.
19
If it came out of Trump's mouth, it's irrelevant, and if world leaders haven't figured that out by now then they deserve our condolences.
47
This article attributes far, far too much agency to what Trump has said before on the campaign trail and since in office. He said what sold. He will always say what sells. "Economic nationalist"??
Trump is a delusional narcissist who is easily manipulated by advisors and has zero core belief, other than he must always "win."
I am sure that the participants at Davos realize this, and as we speak are plying him with flattery. But for real policy discussions, I guarantee you they know the last person to actually confer with is Trump. Trump is the boy from the Twilight Zone episode who you have to please or he sends you to the cornfields.
But soon enough, I suspect, he will be unperched. This will be his last Davos. And then the world can get back to doing business, hopefully with an adult US president.
25
What is the business of the world?
2
It's a canned speech: it means NOTHING!
It's just the move of the day. Trump doesn't really stand for anything, since he knows nothing, and cares about nothing but himself.
All Presidents before him actually believed in something... even if we all didn't agree with it. Trump's yawning ignorance and incompetence make him a blank cypher. There's not a thing behind it: it's just some words to get the world off his back.
I guess it worked...
33
Would someone please give a logical argument why a President of the United States should not put America's interests first? We must base all of our policies on a win-win basis, whether it be external or internal issues. Globalism rewards only the very wealthy, something I thought liberals were against.
12
Well, John, a country's putting itself first above all others has often led to warfare - military and economic. Trumplet has often complained about China keeping its currency artificially low so as to stimulate exports, but it was simply putting itself first. He complains about America getting the short end of the stick with NAFTA (sure, sure, the USA never wins), yet the two other signatories are simply putting themselves first. He complained about Syria's Assad, but he was simply putting both his regime and his government first. There are many other examples, so trumplet is rather a hypocrite in this regard, don't you think?
1
The problem many of us have with Trump is that he has a very superficial perspective. Your win win statement is correct - that should always be our aspiration, and we should have the discipline to refrain from actions that fall short. Trump's problem is he only sees "wins" when the apply to him, and also, more worriedly, he sees the other party's "win" as a threat or challenge. He really jut prefers a one sided win, as long as it is his win. That goes to his insecurity and lack of self esteem. The crowd size farce is a perfect example. And just like all of us know the truth, so do all the other people in Davos.
2
Every time he manages to give a speech without sounding like a maniac people start to act like he is somehow acceptable. He is not. He needs to resign.
37
So, for 370 days he lies, is shameful, bullying and worse than one could really imagine, and then for one day he acts like a grown up and on that basis we are supposed to give him the gravitas that he cannot earn?? NO!!
28
”I’m aware that your strong leadership is open to misconceptions and biased interpretations,” Mr. Schwab said. Some in the audience felt that went too far, and booed.
And they were absolutely RIGHT had I been there, I would have joined in their assessment. He has no leadership abilities whatsoever and has NEVER been a leader of anything. I can't believe Mr. Schwab has been so utterly fooled by Trump. I guess P.T. Barnum was absolutely correct, a sucker is born every . . . Mr. Schwab.
15
Trump read the script that was given to him. Since bannon is gone it didn't contain any mention of how the world is coming apart. or the parts of Paris and London that are lawless terrorist zones. Once he goes off script again it'll be a completely different story.
13
As P.T. Barnum once said, "There's a sucker born every minute." They should also take note what W.C. Fields said, "Never give a sucker an even break." Take note world leaders.
14
Wise words. It takes a genius to put them to work.
"You can't cheat an honest man. Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump." W.C. Fields.
1
Participants at Davos should ignore Trump, as we (U.S. Citizens, not Trump's "subjects") do. Ignore him and he will go away (or die).
7
Class, let’s thank Donald for that nice, simple, well-read speech. Donald, you may return to your seat.
16
Glory be! Another reset. How many are there now?
3
In another article the New York Times writes in regards to the current record stock market and booming economy:
"2008 financial crisis has finally run its course. A surge of cash delivered by the Federal Reserve has stimulated commercial activity."
How can one be so blind? The hyper-50%-rise of an already high stock market (when Trump took office) is due to a quasi government sanctioned greed and pillaging of a country - yes, America - your country.
Every common sense regulation is repealed, weakened or not enforced - resulting in dirty air, dirty water and sub-standard food safety - not to mention that bank regulations are eroded and drilling is allowed on federal lands - but hey - money rules and we worry about anything else later.
If one would have to express it in black & white: Yes, Trump will destroy this country - but at least he pays for it (through the stock market). Many are cheering this success loudly - some keep eerily quite despite all that is going on and that is wrong.
Well, America - you might sit on piles of money after Trump is done - but you will also have lost your country. Is that a good deal?
25
it's so discouraging to even know he exists, much less to think about the damage he is doing to our country.
25
Whenever I see this fraudulent, vile person on television, I cringe - bard, if truth be told.
1
I am sure that the world economic and business leaders can see through this con act, unfortunately, the United States electorate could not. Trump is a master waffler and what he says today will be in direct opposite to tomorrow’s drivel.
14
The poor band members standing behind Trump and the other stiff in the photograph look like they're wearing the very uniform that Trump would have designed for his own private Trump Army if he had one.
I'm sure he enjoyed their ceremonial presence attesting to his greatness.
9
Money talks, morals and ethics walk. No doubt a $1.5 trillion, unfunded tax cut, along with regulatory roll-backs, soothed concerns of the Davos crowd about President Trump, his administration, and investing in the U.S. In the immortal words of Gordon Gecko, "Greed is good."
8
"never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States" Unless you are a Trump who opts to manufacture outside the US for import into the US. If it is such a good time to hire and build in the US, why doesn't he and his daughter manufacture their goods here?
20
Name this Executive:
Has control of all three branches of government.
Can railroad whatever legislation he wants but still pretends to do so bravely.
Cutting regulations nilly willy with no thought of the environment.
Incredibly polarizing by design, employing "divide and conquer" politics.
Tries to attract foreign companies by saying his land is "Open for Business."
Is dumb as a rock.
Guessed it yet?
Well, it's Scott Walker, of course.
It's only taken about 8 years for Wisconsin to recover enough from Scooter's hateful, divisive, regressive policy that people no longer bother wasting their breath to volunteer how much they hate him on a regular basis.
And though we're loath to admit it, most of us secretly wish we responded to the Great Recession like Minnesota did.
11
Do not forget to vote.
Vultures of a feather flock together. And this being Switzerland it was only appropriate that Trump play the role of the cuckoo in the clock although he was entirely unaware of it. If Fate is on our side by this time next year Donald will be a jail bird.
8
"Sober". Interesting choice of words. Would that it were true that Mr. Trumps had a drinking problem. At least that is potentially fixable.
2
Davos, right.
What Trump says is always meaningless.
Follow the web of Trump money, Trump dealings, Trump bankruptcies.
Follow the money throughout US, Russia, beyond.
Can we get back to what's real: follow the money. Trumps money.
7
Thanks for the access journalism and for falling yet again for a few moments of staged normalcy.
3
So, once again Trump displayed a persona what was inconsistent with the persona offered at other times. What a surprise! What a FAKE!
3
President Trump is beginning to get things under control. He spoke to a “jam packed auditorium” and presented the way that the United States is proceeding when it comes to global trade. Every nation state must indeed put its own interests first. What is so unreasonable about that? Contrast the audience for Prime Minister May, which the Times reported as “sparse”. Finally the British will invite him to London.
The two Koreas are talking, the US stock market is thriving, unemployment is at an all time low, and liberal Democrats are doing what they do best, which is to register their disapproval of him in these comments sections.
8
You, like most everyone else, see and laud only that which you wish to see and laud. It is impossible that one person, even the President of the USA, could have such an impact on domestic and world affairs in one year. IMPOSSIBLE. Causes as agents of change take ages to take root and blossom. He alone is not responsible for all that has transpired since January 21 2017. The present state of economic affairs in the USA was put in motion, slowly and inexorably, by the Obama administration. The Dept of Commerce attests to this. But nope. Ideologues see what they wish to see and commend what they wish to commend. PS When everything unravels (which is the law of the universe) will you blame trumplet??? No, hmmm. You'll be at Hillary Clinton's throat again and so will donald.
1
In reply to Robert T Montreal
You state "It is impossible that one person can have such an impact on domestic and world affairs in one year".
May I suggest you read about the following individuals?
Gavrilo Princip, who assassinated Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, which precipitated World War One beginning in August 1914. A six week period.
Winston Churchill, who became British Prime Minister in May 1940, rallied the British, and defeated the German attack on Britain in the Battle of Britain, July 1940 to October 1940. A five month period.
General George Patton, who arrived in France in July 1944 and led the Third Army until the German defeat in May 1945. An eleven month period.
As you can see, quite a lot can be accomplished in less than a year, let alone one year.
In response to RoberT Montreal
You state "When everything unravels (which is the law of the universe)" I assume you are referring to the Third Law of Thermodynamics, namely deltaS>0. This postulates that chaos always ensues in any system left to itself. This is only true when there are no intelligent beings around to intervene. In the case of the United States, there are plenty of intelligent beings around to intervene and chaos will not ensue. Luckily, you live in Montreal, so you will not be able to interfere.
True to form, Trump tells his audience whatever it is they want to hear. He doesnt care if he believes it or not. But, we know by now, his words are worthless and often, untrue. Non factual. Incorrect. Misleading. Or just plain wrong. (Is Mexico paying for that wall yet? Or are American taxpayers being forced to pay for it, in exchange for taking a gun away from the heads of a group of young American kids, raised here their whole lives, but not born here. Hmm.) Let's just wait and see what Trump does. That's what counts. What the President says, unfortunately, is meaningless. Sad!
5
Well, I’m glad that he took his meds and stayed on script. That spared us a dose of daily embarrassment, but does not change some fundamental truths.
He is uniquely unqualified to opine about global (or even national) macroeconomics.
His own business record is been checkered with bankruptcies, questionable business ethics, and multiple lawsuits. We may soon learn that money laundering was in play, as well.
He cannot claim credit for economic recovery set in motion by President Obama.
He will never accept responsibility for any negative economic outcome that may result from his administration’s loosening of credit and banking practices.
He will never take responsibility for the human suffering that may result from reckless changes to the Affordable Care Act and immigration policies.
He will never acknowledge his short-sightedness when yet another trickle-down tax reform strategy fails to achieve an “incredible” outcome, or take responsibility if it actually damages the financial situation for those not in the top 2% of our country.
But I am glad that he took his meds today.
7
“If you are telling me they’re horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize, if you’d like me to do that,” Mr. Trump told Britain’s ITV.
Trump has had weeks in which he could have identified the source of the anti-Muslim propaganda he spread, and should have long since apologized. Moreover, since Trump claimed that there were very fine people among the horrible, racist groups in the US, it more than strains credulity to accept the offer.
And if Trump really were sorry for fanning the flames, he would think twice before furthering any other racist ideologies. Fat chance of that.
Trump exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Kagame, calling him a friend. Those are empty gestures when Trump disparaged African countries, immigrants from them, and African-Americans. The problem is not any perception of Trump's racism, the problem is Trump's racism.
1
Who in their right mind would make a deal with Trump? He stiffed his contractors and conned his students at Trump University. Remember the recent comment 'like negotiating with Jello?"
His words are worthless.
9
It's nice to have a president who acts "presidential" somewhere. He was speaking to the individuals who actually run the world for their own personal gain, the powerful, elite group Donald J. Trump wants most to impress and the club he wants to join. I take it no protesters were allowed in the room so he didn't have to threaten anybody present with bodily harm. Did he say anything to them about Mexico paying his wall? Maybe he lined up some "investment" for that project on the sidelines so that American workers working overtime tp save a down payment on their first home or pay their health insurance premiums or pay off their student loans with interest won't have to cough up the taxes for it. Did he challenge them to invest in green energy and energy-conserving manufacturing technology so that the whole planet will be "open for business" when our great-grandchildren are born? Did he ask them to withdraw their investment from the global arms trade that keeps global terrorists in business slaughtering innocents and creating waves of refugees all nations have to deal with? Probably not. This was about helping the richest get richer. I'm sure he had a good time.
6
We all know Trump doesn’t think great thoughts, and could not possibly have written even one paragraph of his speech(es). So the question is: who in the White House has been doing the thinking for him on trade and economic issues? And can you imagine what Trump would have been saying in Davos if Steve Bannon was still his top strategic advisor?
2
One thing for certain is that Trump understands business. When he talks, CEOs listen.
4
You should qualify: he certainly understands how to fatten his wallet and that of other CEOs.
2
Sounds like he behaved like a big boy. But with toddlers, and this man, beliefs, demeanor and presentation change quickly.
1
Big business invests more in themselves and hiding money offshore than in job creation. This is what happened in when the stock market fell off a cliff after tax cuts by the Bush administration. It did not work in Kansas or Louisiana when their governors blew huge holes in their state budgets from corporate tax giveaways.
Mr. Trump claims his tax cuts are allowing big business to give bonuses to their employees but in reality they are also laying off workers (AT&T, Wal-Mart, and Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Kleenex). Trickle Down economics works very well for the few but not so much for the many.
Mr. Trump is not our first businessman president. His name was Herbert Hoover and this did not end well for America; his business sense led to the Great Depression. America is not a company.
Finally, "“If you are telling me they’re horrible people (they are), horrible, racist people (they are), I would certainly apologize, if you’d like me to do that,” is not an apology.
4
Two things are missing here.
From the report: any mention of backroom meetings between trump and members of the Russian delegation. Can't believe that no such thing happened.
From trump's speech: "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage"- (cf. Herbert Hoover, 1928)
4
Even with his U-Turn on anti-globalisation rhetoric and expressed desire for being open to international cooperation Trump can't help resisting his basic impulses of seeking engagement with the world only on his own personal whims and convenience, hence his shifted stance to be more accommodative to others would still suggest that he will be guided only by his own brand of selective engagement cherry picking the suitable aspects of globalisation that fit well with his America First, meaning Trump first conditions.
2
Did Trump identify any of his Davos, Switzerland, political and financial leaders as being worthy targets of a punch in the face? Or is that Trump style just for domestic consumption?
2
Trump’s warm reception by the Davos elite is merely a reflection of the fact that what is in the economic interests of that class is divergent from economic and social well-being of the great majority of humanity.
15
The Davos elite are afraid that the existing global order is failing. It is, but it’s not because of President Trump.
The relative decline has been ongoing since the rise of China and Russia since 2000 and it will continue long after our current president is gone. The U.S. simply cannot afford the military and economic costs of maintaining the current structure.
Our choice, and the choice of the Davos elite, is not between success and failure of the current system. It is merely a choice of the failure mode. The worst case failure mode is that the U.S. continues to accumulate massive debt to maintain the current global order, which will eventually lead to economic and even military crisis that will bring sudden, chaotic change.
The best case failure mode isn’t actually so bad. It involves a greater sharing of power among like-minded allies in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. The U.S. will lose influence, of course, but at least the liberal economic, democratic global architecture will continue and perhaps be even stronger.
The book “Restraint” by Barry Posen of M.I.T. provides a reasonable framework to think about the changing world order. I hope it is on the reading list of everyone at Davos.
1
It was striking how crass Trump was, his entire speech a sales pitch. I've never heard anything like it from a President before. Yet, his audience were business leaders, and though ugly to an outsider, it was probably effective for accomplishing his purpose: inviting investment in the United States. Say what you will about his style, but he is incredibly earnest when it comes to his desire to make a deal.
3
What Trump and his supporters don’t realize, is that their behavior has alienated the world from the United States. Like an abusive partner, no one wants to be a part of ongoing haggling and cynicism, in the wake of the wealthy pillaging our nation’s wealth, destroying the environment, while touting lies and decrying facts.
Sorry, Donald. No one likes a bully
4
Especially a not particularly bright bully.
Why wouldn't the elite be reassured by someone who just chose the Goldman Sachs guys to handle the economy of America, gave a massive tax cut to the corporations, and the super rich. Someone who made it that much easier for the likes of himself to transfer his inherited wealth to his children. All the while trying to dismantle every safety net for the poor and disadvantaged.
The whole "America First" is just a charade to gain votes from his supporters who think that everything wrong with this nation is the fault of "Non-Americans" and "Un-Americans"
8
I've heard that Trump was not invited to any of the sidebar meetings that are the primary part of the Davos experience, where deals are proposed, negotiated and closed. In short, he was shunned. Yet we have heard no mainstream media reporting of this. Why not?
2
Maybe because it’s just a rumor without even a smidgeon of factual basis...
3
Well, since 11 Pacific Rim countries just agreed to save the TPP without Trump's participation or even awareness, I suspect the story might be true.
While we got accustomed to elites glomming on to our globalist politicians, Bill Clinton was the most recent American prez to go to this. Trump was THE one to be hearing and we will probably see a real increase of foreign enterprises coming here to make & sell things.
Limbaugh suggested that the media types were not just their usual assigned hate-level of Trump but seethed that they were not seen as important as they had thought they were at Davos. People must have walked past them to be sure to be in the room when Elvis Trump spoke.
While our media wished we'd see this as a disaster, Trump and those watching his saw it as another American celebration of deregulated people making money without gov't nannies getting in the way.
That happens when the stocks go up over a quarter after Paul Krugman said that they'd crash.
9
Trump like a good salesman plays to his audience. Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen. Don’t like America First, well it means the world together. Then like a bad salesman disappoints.
2
Deliberately conjuring the 1930's? I can't believe this. The term "America First" has a long and dishonorable history.
Reassuring this is not.
5
Trump: Give America your money and tell your people to stay at home. The greed of the assemble billionaires and CEO's will overcome any worries about Trump's bigotry.
What I want to know is how many deals did Jared Kushner try to make while his father-in-law was in front of the cameras? He needs money for the Kushner business badly.
1
It is rather interesting to note the Danish businessmans comments about how he was favorable towards the Trump tax cuts to potentially help boost business. Americans should be very aware, however, of the rather significant difference with how the businesses in Scandanavia and Europe deal with the tax issue in their respective countries compared to America.
In order to pay for those tax cuts, the Trump administration and Republicans in general have made it clear right from the outset they are prepared to essentially "throw a hand grenade" into what is left of the social safety net and health care system in America. The businessmen and governments in all the other afforementioned countries would, "NOT FOR A SECOND", attempt that same approach.
4
At a business school reunion I attended, everyone was talking to everyone, looking for deals. Davos sounds a lot like that. The only problem for us is that Trump is the absolute dumbest deal maker who ever was, and the real deal makers at this conference understand that perfectly. We will end up with the short end of the stick, paying higher prices and getting less return for our money. They are happy to glad-hand Trump and then take us to the cleaners.
1
I am a staunch critic of much of what Trump represents, and I think he is preposterously unfit for the job and is generally taking the country - and world - in a terribly direction. That said, if his administration continues to pivot toward a pragmatic center, I will support those moves. If he can make what policy changes are necessary to cobble together a bare minimum of support to remain in office, so be it, it will represent improvement.
1
Trump really isn't sure what to do. His tepid and weak voice betrays a lack of understanding on how the globe really works, and how the US used to be and can be a primary driving cog in the works.
He clearly is realizing his spastic and immediate withdrawal from TPP was more emotional than pragmatic. Now that the TPP players have organized themselves with the US on the outside, we're at a distinct negotiating disadvantage. Xi played and pawned Trump beautifully (for China).
We're open for business all right. As Krugman has laid out, the tax plan is awesome for foreign business - at our expense. But global oligarchs are really state-less beings. They care about their money, countries are hosts of convenience. What's Trump's personal angle in all this? Because it really is about him, nothing else.
3
"Mr. Trump was largely well received by the billionaire investors, corporate executives and heads of state who a year ago were fretting that his election would mean the demise of the global order they had built, but today were celebrating his tax cuts and regulatory rollback."
Yes, that says it all. The plutocrat billionaire crowd celebrates one of their own.
4
Why is it so hard for people to see that Trump is like most people, a mix of good and bad. Maybe he is an experienced businessman and understands the motivations (ie, tax cuts) to bring capital back to the US. Maybe there are actual benefits to clamping down on illegal immigration and reforming legal immigration. He went to Davos, where the world's most influential businessmen and politicians meet, and gave a balanced message. That's good news for your country. Dear liberals, why is it so hard to see? I am far from being a Trump cheerleader, but one should have some fairness. Does he have not a single redeeming quality?
4
Well, if you had bothered spending the time studying his history and how Trump conducted his business over the years and how he treated people, especially smaller contractors whom he regular "stiffed" out of their money he owed them, then you would understand why. This is a man whose company whom no bank in America will lend money to, only Deutschbank and that is because he is rumoured to have an outstanding loan with them in excess of $300 million. These are just a few examples and it is all in the public record, no one can claim it is "fake news".
By the way, his biographer, David Cay Johnson has stated "Donald Trump has absolutely no moral compass whatsoever" so as a result, your last statement is quite accurate, he has NOT a single redeeming quality.
No
1
That one does not think very highly of President Trump should not be taken as an endorsement of the Davos elite. The liberal world order that made them so obscenely wealthy is starting to fall apart. Either they start to favor some redistributionist policies or it will collapse entirely. There are way too many people on this planet, so many in fact, that no matter how efficient production becomes we are going to start running out of resources. Unless the wealth is spread around it will become impossible to arrest this crisis. We stand on the precipice of an automated age that will make millions, perhaps even billions redundant unless more is done to guarantee work for them. Mass unemployment combined with exploding population, dwindling resources, and a proliferation of nuclear weapons is a recipe for disaster and the global elite at Davos can either start to do something about these issues or risk the total collapse of the very institutions and societies that have allowed them to accumulate their wealth.
Trump is bad for so many reasons, but compared to the others at Davos he is relatively benign.
2
So, the con is now global. I would have thought that it would be a little harder to pull the wool over a group that bills themselves as "elite". Turns out that as long as the money continues to flow to the 1% they, too, will pretend that there is a pot of gold at the end of the orange rainbow. I held out hope that these, intuitive, business people would see through the lies, canned speeches and contradictions but they are no better than Congressional Republicans and the right wing media who saw "carnage" during the first 7 years of the recovery and good economic news but can't stop talking about how things have turned around now. The only thing that has changed is the rhetoric. I thought they would see that, but I forgot the first rule of politics and business. "It is hard to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.".
5
Trump's explicit mention of intellectual property laws and state backed investment was a reference to Chinese policies. Thus, its not accurate to say that he avoided discussing China. It may be more accurate to say that he discussed "the elephant in the room" in an indirect way, and instead focused on his main goal: selling big business on the United States.
3
To the casual observer, Trump was treated as an Emperor by the world's so called elite at Davos, fawning over expected bumps in growth that may or may not ever come. And despite all the fanfare and the moon shot of financial markets with global central banks collusion ... US 2017 GDP growth comes in at a steady 2.3 percent. But no matter... Wall Street all time highs. Let me take you higher.
1
President Trump, a corporate businessman, president of the most powerful capitalist country, making a sales pitch to attract investment for America -- This is America at its finest.
3
Trump's rise to power is an embarrassment to the United States. It's revealed, once again, to the world that our Democracy is subject to a faulty voting process where a minority of Americans can elect a president through the electoral college.
I hope the rest of the world can still see that the MAJORITY of Americans do not support this traitor and fool. We are also the metaphorical equivalent of riders in a car holding up "help us" signs on the windows.
We do have one thing to thank Trump for, he has shaken the apathy out of a lot of good Americans and, barring any major voter disenfranchisement or gerrymandering this November, the GOP is going to be escorted to the door in mass.
With their exodus, I suspect we will see several GOP congressmen and women resigning shortly after it's revealed that, they too, played a part in obstructing justice and protecting this horrible man and his corrupt family.
9
Unfortunately, even though his handlers are able to make him appear rational from time to time, Trump is mentally unstable and nothing he says under any circumstance can be relied upon to survive his next episode of rage, insecurity or lust.
6
No one who listens or reads his statements should count on them as his real belief. He changes his mind with little warning, has no loyalty to the truth, is cowardly in his refusal to take responsibility, and disingenuous in his belief that failure is always someone else's fault. He said he would run the country like a business and now we know how the Trump Casino felt.
3
I join with those who don't believe the fairy tales DT has rrelated to the folks at Davos. We in the US are the ones who pay for his short-sighted policies, his mis-guided repeals, his rants & tweets, his mean-hearted appointments. I despair when I think about those world leaders who do not recognize the sweet talkin' con man that he is.
4
If he read it off a script, don't believe it. It's his tweets that are "honestly him"
2
Sober Trump?
Trump is a nasty child, it seems
Not beloved in his Nanny’s dreams,
Spoiled quirky tweeter
Offense repeater,
With self all thoughts always teems.
His concept of POTUS is scary
AG is his Consigliere
And Don is the DON
And waited upon
Of investigators most wary.
50
The workers - whom you once pretended that your party cared for - are celebrating as the entire middle class will see a boost in family incomes and black and Latino unemployment are at their lowest levels EVER.
2
I don't believe a word he said at Davos. And if the other people attending are smart they won't either. As soon as he's back in the country he'll start the same things again. Trump's number one concern is Trump. His number two concern is Trump. And his final concern is, TRUMP!!!!! Nothing trumps Trump.
88
President Trump is a lousy, failed businessman, who oversaw 4 bankrupt casinos, failed Trump Mortgage-Trump Steaks-Trump beverages-Trump magazine-Trump travel site-Trump Vodka-Trump University.
By the time 2004 rolled around, his casinos had a debt of $1.8 billion.
Why would anyone take financial advice from this failure of a businessman?
Because of all his business failures, Trump’s strategy—honed during his terrible financial struggles with lenders during the 1990s—“was to turn it back on the banks…. I figured it was the bank’s problem, not mine,” Molo quoted him as saying, in connection with unpaid debt.
As a result of these maneuvers, by the mid-2000s, U.S. financial institutions had stopped lending to Trump for his building projects.
http://www.newsweek.com/2017/12/29/donald-trump-russia-secret-deutsche-b...
This is why special counsel Mueller has hired lawyers who possess a vast array of experience investigating financial fraud, corruption, money laundering, foreign bribery, and organized crime.
President Trump is a walking, breathing, talking embodiment of the P.T. Barnum quote, "There's a sucker born every minute."
207
And yet you repeat and repeat. But guess what? He’s still the President.
2
Maybe he did not get memo from the Clintons on how to get rich through “public service” The fact is that Trump invested in speculative real estate deals some made money and some did not. At the end of the day given all the attention the Obama administration gave him I m sure if he did something illegal it would have been leaked or rumored by now
1
Who are these people? What Trump is doing the planet is horrific. His rhetoric about refugees and immigrants is disgusting. How can there be this many people with absolutely no moral compass?
132
I’m asking the DACA and Dreamers the same thing. Why are they not self-deporting? The answer, they have no moral compass. They think they are entitled to the fruits of their parents crimes.
3
There's an old adage about action: how it speaks and all the rest walks. Not Trump; he who is in great shape rides in electric cars; at least he did in the G7 in Italy, when he was the only world leader unable/unwilling to walk to the conference center, up a hill.
A quick review of his action highlights begins with a travel ban twice shutdown by the courts, with the non-appearance of 1000s of terrorists streaming in. The ban caught graduate students at airports, grandparents at ticket counters, homeland security agents confused, and has led to visitor travel being reduced by 4 percent, with the lost of 100,000s in related jobs. That's America last!
Paul Krugman reported new coal jobs totaled 500. Meanwhile, Houston has 10,000 healthcare positions open. Trump is silent on the powerful justice movement that set firm boundaries on a woman's body, the movement at odds with his own admitted crotch grabbing and verbal insults to demean women. He has not congratulated Prince Harry on his American bride. In manners, civility, and morality, America last.
Add school shootings on his watch, as he assigns death by immigrants to his opposition. No action or leadership on school safety. Where else are youth shooting their class mates? America last.
Disclosing state secrets, the Russians running security at the Moscow embassy, Mexico paying for the wall, his ogling the French President's wife? Ignoring real problems for fakes and constant fights, threatening allies? America. Last.
113
The main stream media is not showing footage of Mr. Trump running a meeting in Davos with CEOs of Bayer, Siemens, Volvo, Nestle and many others all thanking him for his tax reduction and talking about the billions that they will invest in America. Find it on line. Notice in the video how at ease Mr. Trump is after 50 years of high stakes meetings and overcoming obstacles. Very cordial, very well read, A natural act for a successful American businessman but not for a community organizer. Mr. Obama could never have done this meeting in Davos as he had zero experience in deal making.
27
I am sure CEO's were thanking Trump for the tax cut. Hey, if someone just gave me 1.5 trillion I would be falling all over them. Con men are always at ease...that is part of the con.
130
Of course they are fawning over the tweeter over the tax cuts. Those corporations, all European, stand to gain the most in comparison to you and others who believe Trump is working for you more than Mr. Obama.
Those high stakes meetings were in all likelihood with bankruptcy attorneys, civil attorneys and his "mainstream" lenders (until they got wise to the con).
Yes, he is at ease-but not due to 50 years of successful business making.
7
"Overcoming obstacles" - I take it mean declaring bankruptcy over and over. But thanks for pointing out the other people in attendance (although you forgot to mention Stormy Daniels).
9
To the elite at Davos Trump continues to take credit for the stock market surge which is unfounded. It is equally untrue and outrageous to state that if Hillary Clinton got elected there would have been an economic depression, One thing is clear the evidence for obstruction of justice grows against Trump stronger each passing day along with his denials, deceit and lies.
90
The UN Human Rights Chief was alarmed by Trump's Davos speech, stating that Trump's "me first" attitude was what precipitated World War One.
Trump also elicited "boos" with his references to "fake news" and portrayal of the media as "nasty" and "vicious." Talk about backwards!
Other global figures know how important a free press and international cooperation are. The person who should theoretically be the preeminent leader of the free world embarrassed this nation in Switzerland, even with a script, just as he is an embarrassment at home, left to his own devices.
118
"Other global figures know how important a free press and international cooperation are".
I agree. The other global figures are, in the case of the corporate figures, astute enough to profit within that arena and the the national leaders are able to function (for the most part) ethically inside that sphere of understanding.
The real Trump is the Tweet Trump, the unscripted Trump. Remember, if he reads it, it was written for him, word for word. If he reads it, don't believe it. If he says, "believe me" don't. If he says that person was wonderful and we get along just fine, he hates that person.
144
I do hope Davos attendees recognize that when President Trump reads a speech from the teleprompter that he neither believes the words or fully comprehends the import of them. If not...soon enough, they will.
4
Trump is surely very aware of China's endeavor to control the South Pacific while it continues to subsidize exports to the U.S. with the interest payments it receives for holding U.S. debt. So, the best thing that Trump could do for his "America First" propaganda is join the Trans-Pacific Partnership AS IT IS, which was many years in the making for EVERYONE in the TPP to get the best possible deal.
Google is building a massive trunk from Chile to the U.S. west coast, and a massive cable from Guam to Southeast Asia, which needs the TPP to thrive.
U.S. globalism has ALWAYS been about U.S. leadership. Trump has a lot to learn.
24
Once more, DT took the pulse of the room, and delivered an effective speech.
The elites looked skeptical, but warm to Trump. How many of the world elites will be conned?
It looks like you don't have to be poorly educated to be conned by the Don.
45
Who cares what Trump said at Davos? It is a certainty that he will contradict whatever he said, probably within hours. Put him in front of a crowd of his xenophobic core, and he will be throwing them chunks of isolationist red meat in exchange for their cheers. He has no core, no soul, and cares about nothing but himself.
253
By unfair behavior, Trump means an imbalance of trade with the US importing much more that in exports. That, in reality, is a domestic problem. What we need is to grant our exporters $ trade credits that importers must buy before releasing equivalent $ to pay for imports. If our importers are required to subsidize our exporters in that way, trade balance might be achieved without demanding change from any other country.
5
Do you understand how much this policy would increase the price levels to consumers? Nice in theory but terrible in practice.
1
“If you are telling me they’re horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize, if you’d like me to do that,” Mr. Trump told Britain’s ITV.
Trump has had weeks in which he could have apologized for spreading the anti-Muslim propaganda. The source is not new information.
Moreover, considering that Trump has said there were very fine people among horrible, racist groups in the US, it more than strains credulity to think Trump is suddenly offended by that ideology. Fat chance that Trump will decline to spread hateful ideology going forward, either.
It means nothing for Trump to recite that he is "the least racist person" you could know. The problem is not any perception of Trump's racism, the problem is Trump's racism.
49
Every attendee there knows Trump will change his mind or deny what he said tomorrow.
That's why he was never invited before.
70
Wait, Trump completely changed his message to suit his audience? I'm shocked and astounded! He's a veritable (if predictable) chameleon, this gilded president of ours.
Man, remember when Kerry lost the presidency because he was a "flip-flopper"? My how times have changed.
187
Bush came in after the surplus and gave tax cuts. Republicans roared with praised. The financial sector raved and the Dow soared higher and higher.
Then POP goes the weasel! You never know when. However, we know from history, it seems to start with tax cuts, a boorish market, then sudden instability and then it is too late for the rest of us. And Bush's tax cuts were small ones.
All of the big cheeses will have already divested somehow. I am scared for my 401K and my retirement. History says that we are headed for an even bigger crash, than 2008. History also predicts that a Democrat will dig us out only to later be scorned by the corporations and financial sector that they/we bailed out.
72
That is one of the greatest phrases of all times.
"America first, but not America alone"
Some of our past presidents had forgotten that they represented the American people, not the entire population of the planet.
More of that, please. Less of the silly divisive stuff.
14
It is all talk. His actions say it is him and his financial worth first, his friends and financial supporters including Russia second, and America only as long as it serves his needs and wants.
6
America first but not alone doesn't make sense.
1
So we should have elected the person who wrote that, not the person who read it? 45 doesn’t even know what it means.
3
Trump almost always says thing that would give an instant gratification to whoever is in front of him, then does things that are not in line of, if not downright opposite to, what he said. On top of that he quite often does not seem to know what he is doing. Pity on us.
19
“He was selling America, he was selling the economic story and he was selling himself to an international business community who expected something else.”
The Art of the Con was a big hit in 0.1% Davos.
"Stephen Miller, the immigration hard-liner who often crafts the president’s more provocative speeches, was busy working on next week’s State of the Union address."
Looking forward to seeing the Racist-In-Chief back in his deplorable white supremacist glory next week.
173
I'm trying to recall Obama's total added jobs count, including he 90% that were minimum wage & 29-hours-per-week.
I believe your American President and mine has ALREADY met that net jobs increase, and these include lots of full-time manufacturing jobs.
We feel your pain.
4
I object to your image of the Buddha and your reference to Socrates.
Kindly post opinion with references.
Your assertions may be truthful but lack evidence and are therefore self negating.
Rational argument based on evidence is the way to go.
Feigned comments do no good.
Ask yourself if you voted.
You have the privilege to write to your Senator.
Australians are some what peeved by the hand wringing and overt melodrama of US politics.
Frankly we don't give a dam about the perpetual internecine war in DC.
Perhaps Trump got caught in a honey trap.
Sadly the US Navy according to Reuters is under manned in the Western Pacific and underfunded according to US Generals.
Perhaps vote in future.
Your call you egregious little man.
The Buddha and Socrates may agree with , arguably, your superlative ignorance and object to identifying their names associated with crass stupidity.
Just an opinion.
2
I'm going to the movies Tuesday night
When I read the bit about Trump's mischaracterizing himself as the only businessman to be elected President I had to chuckle to myself; there was another businessman who had his business go bankrupt who was (re)elected - Harry S. Truman.
48
I recall George W. Bush being characterized at the time as a businessman too.
2
George W was marketed as the MBA President.
And George W. Bush, I think.
Trump speaks out of both sides of his mouth. He lets the words of a Democrat soothe the elite and the words of hard-line Republicans rile the anger of working people. Sowing division has always been Trump's form of entertainment. Buyer beware.
191
Trump was trying to have it both ways when in Davos he called Mr. Kagame a friend, on the heels of disparaging African nations and immigrants from their countries. He exchanges empty pleasantries in public and indulges his prejudices behind closed doors. We should see through such a flimsy facade.
40
This was a missed opportunity to hold Trump to account. It was not in the least bit inspiring.
25
They just want even more money, money they can't possibly spend in 17 lifetimes. Nothing much can be expected from them.
3