The Polls Are Crazy


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Nov 1, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

COMMENT: Marty: I received an email from Barack Obama today (subject line: “My promise to you”) letting me know that I have an opportunity to support the Democrats in the upcoming election. It also said, “You are receiving this email because you supported the DNC in the past.” I’m Canadian. I’ve always lived in Canada. And I have certainly never supported the DNC. Curious marketing strategy.

JH

REPLY: I get them too. I was wondering if they hacked the Republicans, T-Party, or whoever got my email. This is not going to be an election that will ever be accepted regardless of who wins. With the polls showing still that over 70% of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction under the Biden Administration, it is hard to see how the Democrats could win anything. So, with the computer should massive civil unrest into 2023, I do not think we are headed into peace and tranquility.

Not a Surprise, Neighbor to Pelosi Attacker Describes a Different David DePape Than National Media


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 30, 2022 | sundance

Alternative media outlets have begun to look a little deeper behind the narrative described by media about the attacker of Paul Pelosi, David DePape.  The results do not match the media narrative.

Michael Shellenberger outlines on his substack article: […] “DePape lived with a notorious local nudist in a Berkeley home, complete with a Black Lives Matter sign in the window and an LGBT rainbow flag, emblazoned with a marijuana symbol, hanging from a tree. A closer look reveals the characteristics of a homeless encampment, or what Europeans call “an open drug scene.” In the driveway, there is a broken-down camper van. On the street is a yellow school bus, which neighbors said DePape occasionally stayed in. Both are filled with garbage typical of such structures in homeless encampments. People come and go from the house and the vehicles, neighbors say, in part to partake in the use of a potent psychedelic drug, ibogaine.

Neighbors described DePape as a homeless addict with a politics that was, until recently, left-wing, but of secondary importance to his psychotic and paranoid behavior. “What I know about the family is that they’re very radical activists,” said one of DePape’s neighbors, a woman who only gave her first name, Trish. “They seem very left. They are all about the Black Lives Matter movement. Gay pride. But they’re very detached from reality. They have called the cops on several of the neighbors, including us, claiming that we are plotting against them. It’s really weird to see that they are willing to be so aggressive toward somebody else who is also a lefty.”  (more)

In the video below a neighbor named “Trish” describes the family household where DePape lived.  WATCH:

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Sunday Talks, National Media Use Assault on Paul Pelosi to Frame the Midterm Election


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 30, 2022 | sundance

It is particularly noteworthy how the intelligence outlet media, specifically the New York Times, Washinton Post and Politico, frame reaction to the story of Paul Pelosi being attacked in San Francisco by a hammer wielding man possibly in his underwear.

Essentially, if you do not believe the original media story about how police were doing a “welfare check” at 2am on Paul Pelosi only to discover a 42-year-old man named David DePape who had recently broken into the house, arguing with Mr. Pelosi and then striking the victim in the head with a hammer while police watched, they you are a “right-wing conspiracy theorist.”

The Washington Post is aghast that people are not necessarily buying the official storyline.  Questioning some other angle may exist to the story, is tantamount to not believing in global warming, or something:

(Washington Post) […] The skepticism didn’t stay in right-wing echo chambers but seeped also into the feeds of popular online personalities, including Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk.

“There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” he wrote Sunday morning, pointing his 112 million followers to a sensationalist account of the episode published by a site known for spreading right-wing misinformation. (read more)

Every Sunday talk show led off with the story that extreme right-wing fascists were now running amuck, and only by voting for Democrats could the crisis of society falling into anarchy be avoided.

As the national media narrative is promoted, apparently hordes of homosexual nudists clad only in MAGA hats and underwear while waving claw hammers are ready to storm Washington DC if the republicans win the election.  The only thing that can stop the pending mayhem is high voter turnout by 18- to 34-year-olds who vote for Democrats.

…And this same media wonder why they are no longer considered credible.  Go figure.

Joe Biden Claims Current Gas Prices Lower Than When He Took Office, States Falsely Gas Was Over $5/Gal When He Was Inaugurated


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance 

Will big tech and social media remove Joe Biden for violations of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation?  Considering his remarks today, they should.

Reading from a teleprompter loaded with lies about the economy, Joe Biden stunningly states that gas prices are lower today than when he took office. Further claiming that gasoline was $5/gal.  {Direct Rumble Link} Nothing about any of his economic claims is true.  WATCH (1 min):

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Allowing people to return to work after the pandemic lockdowns is not “creating jobs.”  And gasoline was not $5/gal when Joe Biden took office.

Davos in the Desert


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Oct 27, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Some of the biggest players have gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII). The conference is often referred to as “Davos in the Desert,” as they are competing with the World Economic Forum to be the largest economic conference of the year. Washington’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is at a standstill, but that is not preventing Wall Street’s chief names from attending.

“American companies will make their own decisions about their presence and where to invest, taking into account a range of factors including legal constraints, the business environment, and reputational concerns that can arise from public policy choices made by host countries,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary.

Former Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both run private funds backed by the Saudis, were in attendance. JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon and Goldman’s David Solomon spoke at the event along with Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman and investor Ray Dalio. FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried also spoke at the event. No one associated with the Biden Administration was in attendance as Washington is re-evaluating its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s economy is rapidly growing. The event is Prince Mohammed’s opportunity to show that the kingdom is ready to be seen as a financial powerhouse beyond its energy sector. The private sector is making it known that they are willing to invest in Saudi Arabia despite Washington’s reluctance.

Pfizer Price Hike


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Oct 27, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Our computer indicated that Pfizer was heading down. They’ve already convinced or coerced everyone eligible to take the vaccines. Those who have held out are unlikely ever to accept the vaccine at this point. Only 5% of those eligible in the US received a booster shot as skepticism is rising. Numerous studies have revealed the hidden dangers of the vaccine. Transmission and infection are still possible with the vaccination, eliminating the intended purpose. A Pfizer representative recently admitted that they never even tested the potion for transmission. Worse, new studies determined that the vaccine produces a negative effect and makes people more susceptible to COVID. There is no medical basis for taking them.

Still, there are those who will line up to receive another booster. To compensate for the lack of willing participants, Pfizer announced plans to quadruple the price of its COVID vaccine. Pfizer will now charge around $110 to $130 per dose, and this comes at a cost to governments who are willingly paying to distribute the poison to the public. The US government helped Pfizer create the vaccine under Operation Warpspeed by providing them with billions in funding.

“We are confident that the U.S. price point of the COVID-19 vaccine reflects its overall cost effectiveness and ensures the price will not be a barrier for access for patients,” Pfizer executive Angela Lukin said. The US was previously paying around $30 per jab. Coincidentally, once the COVID emergency order ends, private insurance companies will be forced to pay the increased price for a faulty product. Lukin believes the private sector will not take over the bill until Q1 2023 “at the earliest.” It will be interesting to see if insurance companies are willing to eat the cost of the vaccine. More than likely, they will expect some incentive from doing so, or Pfizer and others will offer some rebate program funded by the government that continues to support this agenda.

Bidenomics – Home Values Continue Dropping Quickly, Especially on West Coast – Meanwhile Rents Continue Increasing


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 25, 2022 | Sundance 

As inflation bites the working-class hard, U.S. household savings rates continue dropping fast.  When combined with drops in home values the loss in home equity compounds the issue.  American families are getting poorer much more quickly under Joe Biden’s economic policies.

According to the Wall Street Journal home values dropped in August at their highest monthly rate of decrease since 2011 {link}.  In part this is driven by higher mortgage rates which are pricing home buyers out of the market.  However, the regional impact is worse on the west coast than east or southeast.

[…] The housing market has slowed abruptly this year due to a rapid increase in mortgage rates, which has raised borrowing costs for home buyers and pushed many prospective buyers out of the market. Existing-home sales fell for eight straight months through September. (link)

As noted in The Daily Mail review of a similar analysis: “It’s Northern California that leads the way, with San Jose experiencing a drop of 10.8 percent since September, followed by San Francisco at 8.5 percent, then it’s Seattle at 8.2 percent, Denver at 5.8 percent, San Diego 5.2 percent, Portland 5.1 percent, Las Vegas 4.8 percent and Phoenix at 4.4 percent.” (link)

What we are seeing is a confluence of events, generally brought about by the outcomes of larger Biden administration policy.  Massive increases in energy costs are the result of energy policy; those increases are fueling inflation from the supply side on food, fuel, electricity, home heating etc.  Simultaneously, Fed monetary policy is driving consumer demand down.  The recession debate continues amid the economic think-tanks while Main Street outcomes show we have been in a recessionary period all year.

The majority of consumers have stopped purchasing nonessential goods and services. As a result, the only thing holding the economy together is employment.  Sooner or later, as the natural lags in the economy bite down, the lack of consumer spending (noted in increased inventories) is going to result in lay-offs and unemployment.  It’s almost a guarantee at this point once the boxcar impact of the prior supply chain shortages straightens out.

The third wave of food price increases is now here, and we are all likely starting to see those price increases in retail food stores.  Depending on how much higher energy prices go this winter (gasoline, natural gas, home heating oil etc.) the middle class will again be making tough checkbook decisions on spending.

On a MACRO level (nationwide averages) I would not be surprised to see home prices drop to where they were in the beginning of the second quarter of 2021.  Home sales have dropped quickly, and home inventories are now climbing.  Home buyers are now in the position to negotiate for much lower prices as fewer home buyers are in the market.

If you did not purchase a home in the past year, you likely have stable equity.  Depending on region, those who did purchase a home this year will have to wait quite a while before the price level returns.  Meanwhile rents continue increasing as middle-class workers are stuck between diminishing real wages (Biden inflation) and higher home borrowing costs (Biden monetary policy).

NBC Pushes Midterm Media Poll


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 23, 2022 | Sundance

NBC’s Mark Murray {Eyeroll} produces a midterm media poll {DATA HERE} to frame the 2022 election and claim a tight race for both Democrats and Republicans.  Despite collapsing economic numbers, widespread inflation and disapproval on every category, NBC finds the #1 issue for all voters is “The Threat to Democracy.”

NBC’s Chuck Todd gives the spin on the outcome:

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71% of the country say we are on the wrong track (20% approve).

57% of the country disapproves of the job Biden is doing with the economy (38% approve).

50% of the country says things will get worse (20% think will improve)….

…. But it’s a close election?…

…. And the #1 concern is “the threat to democracy?

It’s all propaganda.