Another indication that the "flare up" of the economy due to dumping "lighter fluid" (2017 short-term tax cuts) on a BBQ that was already lit is dying out.

"No one will ever know the REAL reason I'm called goatman"

RE: #7

Looks like Wall Street wasn't taken in by the supposed significance of the tariff delay either.

Are they "proggies"?

LOL!

"Not a single proggie who whined about the tariffs saying, "good". TDS takes its toll.
#7 | Posted by goatman at 2019-10-13 09:36 PM"

I can appreciate that there's not much enthusiasm for giving kudos to someone who issues a threat when they don't actually follow through.

How often does one congratulate a bully when they don't take your lunch money?

Expecting an acknowledgement for that action (or rather in this case, inaction) on new tariffs, seems like one is requesting a "participation trophy".

Besides, the threat of implementing new tariffs is only "on hold" for now.

"I thought North Dakota was the "Peace Garden" state?
#1 | Posted by docnjo at 2019-10-08 05:53 AM"

Maybe an autocorrect failure for " Piece Guardin' "?

RE #46:

Socialism and Capitalism are economic systems.
While Communism has some similarities to Socialism, it is important to be aware that it is, foremost, a political system. The definitions you submitted are lacking in that they don't emphasize that critical difference. However, this might just be a consequence of trying to come up with a simplistic definition of these three terms.

That said (and acknowledging that these definitions were provided for the purpose of argument), what's your point?

FWIW, Rasmussen polling has shown a consistent drop in President Trump's total approval (from 53% to 47%) since September 24 (the day the impeachment inquiry was officially begun).

It seems that a listing of Socialist countries would depend upon how one would define a Socialist country, since there are no countries which are entirely Socialist (or Capitalist, for that matter).

With that said, there are quite a few countries which are governed by Socialist parties and/or Socialist policies.

Here's one such listing:

FTA:

"President Trump's approval ticked up to 49 percent " its highest mark this year, according to a new Hill-HarrisX survey released on Wednesday.
The figure marks a 2-point increase from a Sept. 11-12 poll, but a 2-point decrease from its previous peak of 51 percent in August 2018.
Trump's disapproval rating, meanwhile, dropped to 51 percent, which marks his lowest level so far this year."

"HarrisX researchers surveyed 1,000 registered voters. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points."

This will be news when/if it becomes statistically significant.

"Yep, thanks to nature's speed limit of almost 300 km/sec"

Almost 300,000 km/sec

"Thank you for taking the time to reply and your response makes sense except for one thing: That is your claim that consumers are tightening their belts and buying less. This simply isn't true.
"US consumer spending increases solidly"
www.cnbc.com
#21 | Posted by goatman at 2019-10-01 10:27 PM"

That might have been true when the link you provided was written (August 30, 2019) which was based on information through July 2019. Even so, that link included a cautionary note:

"The economy is largely losing speed as the stimulus from the White House's $1.5 trillion tax-cut package and a government spending blitz fades. The U.S.-China trade conflict has weighed heavily on manufacturing and business investment, which contracted in the second quarter."

Gone now, but his words/music will live on.

Guess what day it is...

"Weird. There was a thread two or three weeks ago about how not one mile of the wall had been built yet.
Man, it went up fast!
#5 | Posted by goatman at 2019-09-22 10:27 PM"

This might help explain the rapidity of the installation:

"The administration has awarded $2.8 billion in contracts for barriers covering 247 mile, with ALL BUT 17 MILES OF THAT TO REPLACE EXISTING BARRIERS INSTEAD OF EXPANDING COVERAGE.

Various forms of barriers already exist along 654 miles " about a third " of the border."

Beyond the immediate difficulties that a tariff war creates, there is the issue (as was mentioned by several at the time of the initial tariffs being implemented) that China will shop for other sources to supply their agricultural grocery list. The result is the pain of the tariffs will linger beyond the time when this tariff business all gets sorted out. The US might have an incredible produce supermarket, but it is not the only game in town.

BTW, the Russian soybean supply begins NOW. It might not double for five years, but it it ludicrous to think no Russian soybeans will be sent to China for five years!

Meanwhile, Russia is not the only game in town to supply soybeans to China either! This could end up being a very bad gambit for US farmers.

Meanwhile, here's Denver's Best Gas prices (using the same, Gas Buddy, source).

FWIW: I noticed quite a few gas stations on my route into work had raised their gas prices 20-25 cents since this morning. Unknown what the 'lag time' is for San Antonio, but it seems it's about 36-48 hours for Denver.

RE: #75 | Posted by goatman at 2019-09-17 06:46 PM

Nice info on what the gas prices in San Antonio are for the last 24 hours.

Not sure how it defines how the prices have (or have not) "soared" in San Antonio since there's no info on what they were before the events is UAE.

More grist for the mill:

As long as folks seem to be posting favorites, here's mine:

"There was a time where if a ME sheik sneezed, the price of oil went up. But since the US has become a major oil producer, those days are over.

Recent major events like Iran siezing tankers, shooting at ships in the Straits of Hormuz didn't make gas prices rise a penny. If that didn't do it, a few drone strikes won't. Don't believe me? Look at petroleum futures when the markets open on Monday. I'll be back to say, I told you so.'
#4 | POSTED BY GOATMAN AT 2019-09-14 06:57 PM"

Well, it's now Monday on the world market, so here's your chance to say I told you so.'

"NATO Alliance
#42 | Posted by YAV at 2019-09-10 03:10 PM

Its a Military Alliance.
#43 | Posted by Rightocenter at 2019-09-10 11:34 PM"

NATO is MUCH more than simply a Military Alliance:

"Gen. Mattis, ever the gentleman, schools Andrea Matthews in this interview.
Semper Fi
#1 | Posted by Rightocenter at 2019-09-09 07:21 PM"

Who is Andrea Matthews?

Yeah, OK.

The more pertinent error is that this is less of a schooling in being "gentlemanly" than an illustration of the extent that Gen. Mattis will avoid any attempts to be drawn into a political discussion, even though his recent actions are the epitome of a political statement.

"Oh well that's different.
Gilda rossana Danna Radner
#9 | Posted by bruceaz at 2019-09-05 08:11 PM"

"Could it be...

SATAN?"

" 'that there shirt needs some more holes in it'....
#5 | Posted by kudzu at 2019-09-05 12:45 PM "

The shirt wasn't "holy enough"?