Tag Archives: Inflation

Apr 30 2023

The Press Called Out To Their Face – Refuse to Answer They Are Just Propaganda Agents Today


Armstrong Economics Blog/Press Re-Posted Apr 30, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Apr 30 2023

U.K. Business Leaders Unimpressed With Ron DeSantis Visit and London Leg of Book Tour


Posted originally on the CTH on April 29, 2023 | Sundance 

As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finishes up his long-scheduled foreign policy tour, he finishes the trip on a down note in London, England.  Apparently, the political and business leaders were unimpressed by the diminutive stature of the Top-Gov and had lots of uncomplimentary things to say about him.

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the most recent Trump -vs- DeSantis poll shows another slip for the DeSantis brand managers, despite the considerable lifts they put in his shoes to assist the optics.  President Trump now leads Ron DeSantis 62% to 16% in polling, a 46-point advantage {link}.

Governor DeSantis is scheduled to arrive back in Florida this week as the consultants organize bill signing ceremonies for legislation completed during his absence.  The bills will include a change to the Florida election laws permitting Ron to start officially campaigning for president instead of pretending not to run.  The ‘official’ announcement, which appears to have been planned for several years, is scheduled for mid-May next month.

LONDON — He hopes to win the hearts and minds of devoted Donald Trump supporters ahead of next year’s U.S. election.

But Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis failed to impress British business chiefs at a high-profile London event Friday, in a tired performance described variously as “horrendous,” “low-wattage” and “like the end of an overseas trip.”

The Florida governor, expected to launch his bid next month to challenge Trump as the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential race, met with more than 50 representatives of major U.K. firms and business lobbying groups as a part of a four-country “trade mission” ending in London Friday.

For several of those present, however, the statesmanship was lacking.

One U.K. business figure said DeSantis “looked bored” and “stared at his feet” as he met with titans of British industry in an event co-hosted by Lloyd’s of London — the world’s largest insurance marketplace.

“He had been to five different countries in five days and he definitely looked spent, but his message wasn’t presidential,” they told POLITICO. “He was horrendous.”

A second business figure who was in the room said it was a “low-wattage” performance and that “nobody in the room was left thinking, ‘this man’s going places’.”

They said: “It felt really a bit like we were watching a state-level politician. I wouldn’t be surprised if [people in attendance] came out thinking ‘that’s not the guy’.” “There wasn’t any stardust.” (Read More)

Please clap…

Apr 28 2023

Collapsing at Home, DeSantis Travels to Israel and Proclaims He Moved U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Not President Trump


Posted originally on the CTH on April 27, 2023 | Sundance 

This should be embarrassing, even for a seriously self-centered politician so filled with hubris and visions of grandeur that he cannot see anything except his own magnanimity.  Alas, for the Narcissus Top Gov and the branding organization behind him, no scale of hubris exclaimed is excessive enough.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in Israel Thursday, doing the obligatory indulgency tour all Republican presidential candidates must undertake before they officially announce.  During his pre-planned events, DeSantis took credit for moving the U.S-Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

[…] DeSantis presented the Trump administration’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as his own achievement, saying he worked to “cajole” the former president to make the move. He didn’t mention former President Trump by name. (link)

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had no independent source of wealth, prior to this 2024 endeavor and collaborative operation.  Together with the multinational financing operation around him, in combination with the Murdoch book deal and advance payment, the $300k Governor is now worth millions.  Funny how that happens.  It’s no wonder Casey is tiara shopping while Florida residents are crushed by skyrocketing housing, insurance, taxes, energy and other unavoidable costs of living.

“Bumped into”…. 

January 6, 2022

Apr 28 2023

First Quarter GDP +1.1% Reflects Military Spending on Ukraine War, and Drop in Domestic Investment Along with Inventories


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on April 27, 2023 | Sundance

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released their first quarter estimate of economic growth [DATA HERE] and the result of 1.1% growth shows how the U.S. economy has become dependent on government spending money we don’t have. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculation is a valuation of all goods and services created within the U.S. economy, minus the value of goods and services imported.

Keep in mind that all calculations are in dollar terms. Personal consumption expenditure (PCE) prices increased 4.2% in the first quarter after increasing 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Excluding food and energy, the PCE “core” price index increased 4.9% after increasing 4.4%.   Two-thirds of the increased spending on goods was driven by higher prices, only one third by consumers purchasing more stuff.

Looking at Table 2 (the percentage change by sector) the increase in prices provided 2.48% lift to the GDP but the actual purchasing of goods only delivered 1.45%.  Meanwhile the decline in inventories subtracted 2.26% from the GDP, a major factor, and domestic investment has dropped subtracting 2.34%.

Government expenditures (+0.81) drove more than 70% of the total GDP growth as national defense spending (Ukraine War) was a major federal component.  The local and state government spending increase was driven by higher wage rates.   Don’t forget there’s $2.2 trillion in Inflation Reduction Act (Green New Deal) spending that is also within the economy.

Overall, this is a dark picture.  Inflation is still raging. Inventories are dropping as consumer purchasing is squeezed, and replacements goods are not being manufactured. Companies are tightening their belts.  The federal government is spending to try and assist the economy, but the private sector is contracting economic activity.

When households evaluate their checkbooks, a Biden administration claim of a growing economy falls flat – because the only part of the economy that is growing is the part that fuels the energy and security needs of Europe.  Main Street USA is suffering through the massive inflation that Joe Biden has created, and purchases of anything other than necessities have come to a near halt.

Apr 27 2023

Judge Questions Laptop From Hell in Biden Child Support Case


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Apr 27, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The Bidens could appear on an episode of Jerry Springer with their distasteful actions. Hunter Biden is one of the most unethical and despicable individuals affiliated with American politics. Lunden Roberts, a former stripper, fought Hunter for years to obtain his DNA to confirm that he fathered a secret child with her. All of this was hush-hush since it was happening during dad’s presidential election. Their daughter was born in August 2018, but Hunter has had no involvement in her life. Biden refuses to allow his daughter to use his last name and has been in and out of court with Roberts because he is a deadbeat dad who refuses to pay child support.

“I attest that I am unemployed and have had no monthly income since May 2019,” Hunter claims. Cathay Bank just revealed the millions funneled to Hunter through his shell companies. The New York City gallery held art auctions for his paintings that sold for up to $75,000 each. He also made millions on his book, “Beautiful Things.” Best of all, his business dealings and tax records were allegedly leaked from his laptop from hell. The judge is now requesting that Hunter appear in court on May 1 to discuss the truth behind his financial situation.

“From now on … I want both of your clients at every hearing I conduct,” the judge said. “I will no longer allow us to excuse clients … because it is interfering with the progress of litigation, which is taking way too long to get over simple points,” Judge Holly Meyer ruled. Meyer pressed Brent Landon, one of Hunter’s lawyers, on the validity of the laptop:

"There has never been, to my knowledge, an acknowledgment that this so-called laptop — he continuously calls it Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop ..." Langdon began.

"Well, let's clear that issue up right now," said Meyer. "Is it your client's laptop or not?"

"Your honor, I'm not involved in all of that stuff," said Langdon. "It's not my client's laptop as far as I know."

"Is it your client's position, you're representing to this court, that it is not his laptop?" the judge asked.

"Your honor, I am not in a position to even begin to answer that question," Langdon said.

The judge should be provided with the contents of the laptop to use as evidence. All of the current evidence suggests that Hunter is far from broke. He is simply a deadbeat loser raised by an unethical father. Our commander-in-chief does not acknowledge his 4-year-old granddaughter either. The poor little girl would be better off not taking his last name as “Biden” is synonymous with shame.

Apr 27 2023

Florida Senate Pass Bill 28-12 Allowing DeSantis to Run Without Resigning, NBC Reports Announcement Coming Mid-May


Posted originally on the CTH on April 26, 2023 | Sundance 

As expected, the Florida Senate has passed the Ron DeSantis is a liar law, permitting the Florida Governor to run without resigning, by a vote of 28-12.

The previously created Ron DeSantis media group, Florida’s Voice, celebrates the news:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida Senate approved an election overhaul bill Wednesday 28-12, which included a clarification to the “resign-to-run” law. The change would exempt officeholders seeking the position of U.S. president or vice president from the state’s “resign-to-run” law. (read more)

Florida’s Voice was proactively created and funded by billionaire donors, during their prior planning phase.  The Florida media outlet was created at the same time the ‘social media influencer’ program was put into the DeSantis plan.  This is all part of one very long continuum over multiple years.  The people who put the plan together simply followed the advice of Johnathan Gruber and “relied upon the stupidity of the Florida voter” not to notice it.

Meanwhile, NBC is breaking exclusive news the Ron DeSantis team plan to launch the official announcement mid-May.  Several weeks ago, after one of the official campaign contractors was hired, CTH shared what NBC is now confirming.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is poised to jump into the presidential fray as soon as mid-May, four GOP operatives familiar with the conversations told NBC News.

One of the sources emphasized that it would be an exploratory committee, with the official launch coming soon after.

Some of his backers are urging him to declare as early as May 11, in an effort to counter the creeping national narrative that former President Donald Trump is the overwhelming front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination. Others in the governor’s orbit, however, have argued that that date would be too soon, according to two of those sources. All emphasized, however, that mid-May is the target.

[…] In a clear sign of movement on the campaign front, national political vendors descended on Tallahassee this week, vying for work on DeSantis’ forthcoming campaign.

“There has been an influx of national firms in town over the last few days,” said one of the Florida Republican operatives familiar with the meetings. “It feels like a team that is staffing up, not scaling down.”

A second operative said they signal a likely presidential launch sooner than some expect, even as DeSantis has increasingly faced headwinds and fledgling poll numbers in recent months.  “Large campaigns require in-house planning, and this has been ‘vendors: assemble’ week in Tallahassee,” said a third source familiar with the meetings. (read more)

Ron DeSantis is not a nice person. Actually, he is very shallow and not liked by the people in his orbit.  It will be very easy to get information from the campaign folks, because they are only in it for the money.  The RdS campaign will leak like the Cruz team did in 2016, same dynamic.  The discovery of this is why many of the Sea Island billionaires are now pulling back from their full-throated support.d

[…]Republican megadonor Ken Griffin is reportedly hedging his bets on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ potential 2024 presidential campaign. […]  Ken Griffin has since privately expressed concerns over some of DeSantis’ positions, including his quiet signing into law of the state’s strict, six-week abortion ban and his comments downplaying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to The Times.

Griffin, the Citadel CEO with a reported fortune of almost $30 billion, has met in private with DeSantis and will “still likely” donate to him once the governor officially launches his campaign, one source predicted to the newspaper. But he may also “give to other candidates” who appear able to beat Trump, the source added. (link)

Another report:

[…] John Catsimatidis, CEO of Gristedes, knocked DeSantis’s communication skills, telling the Washington Examiner that DeSantis does not even return his phone calls. “Why would I support somebody to become president of the United States that doesn’t return phone calls?” he asked.

[…] Top Republican donor billionaire Thomas Peterffy is among mega donors who has openly put support for DeSantis “on hold” as well.

“Because of his stance on abortion and book banning . . . myself, and a bunch of friends, are holding our powder dry,” he said, adding that other donors are “waiting to see who among the primary candidates is most likely to be able to win the general, and then put all of our firepower behind them.”

Republican megadonor Ken Langone has also voiced concerns about backing DeSantis. (link)

As more voters get to see the inauthentic nature of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is generally not a very astute person and likely more driven by the tiara dreams of his wife Casey, we can expect to see his current status of around 20 to 25% remain his floor and ceiling.   Additionally, as the Florida voters feel the economic crisis that DeSantis has left unattended in his quest for aggrandizement, he will likely lose his home state.

With Ron DeSantis playing the role of Ted Cruz, Mike Pence will play the role of John Kasich and Nikki Haley will play the role of Carly Fiorina as the 2016 history rhymes.

Keep in mind, the SuperPACs are fat with cash, they will drag this DeSantis run out until the coffers are empty.  The consultants will all be paid from the RdS funding mechanisms, and with the RNC pumping money into stupid indulgency stuff, DeSantis represents the only campaign that can facilitate the scale of the consultant grift at the national level they demand.

The variable this time is the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) who show every indication this time around of manipulating all their state voting systems to undermine Trump and support the DNC nominee if needed.

Apr 27 2023

Congress Hears Testimony of 85,000 Missing Illegal Alien Children and U.S. Govt Sponsored Sex Trafficking Operations


Posted originally on the CTH on April 26, 2023 | Sundance | 211 Comments

It is challenging for most of us who have done deep research in the business of human trafficking and smuggling, a process supported by both Democrats and Republicans in DC, to hear them claim they were not aware of the issue until recently.  CTH Archive Here and TLDR; version HERE.

According to testimony as delivered today, 85,000 illegal alien children, who were trafficked across the southern U.S. border and sold into slavery and the sex trade, are missing.  The number is considerably higher than that, but the congressional record will exist with that number today. {Direct Rumble Link} WATCH:

[ SEE SUMMARY OF RESEARCH HERE ]

Apr 27 2023

Chrysler Cutting 3,500 Union Auto Jobs


Posted originally on the CTH on April 26, 2023 | Sundance | 187 Comments

Earlier GM cut 5,000 salaried workers and several hundred hourly jobs. Ford previously announced it would cut a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs, mostly in North America and India.  Now, today, Chrysler parent company Stellantis announces 3,500 auto sector job cuts.

Stellantis owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands. Apparently, there is something in the U.S. economy that’s happening despite the great pretending….

Biden in Michigan, speaking to auto-workers, 2020

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) – Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI) wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs and is offering voluntary exit packages, according to a United Auto Workers union letter made public Tuesday.

The automaker is looking to reduce its hourly workforce offering incentive packages that include $50,000 payments for workers hired before 2007, UAW Local 1264 said in a letter dated Monday posted on its Facebook page.

Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson declined to comment. A person briefed on the matter said the figure might be lower than the figure cited in the UAW letter.

In late February, Stellantis indefinitely halted operations at an assembly plant in Illinois, citing rising costs of electric vehicle production.

The action impacted about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere, Illinois, plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. The automaker has warned it may not resume operations as it considers other options. (read more)

The Investment Recovery Act (IRA), aka “the green new deal” multitrillion spending bill, was supposed to enhance autoworkers.  Funny how the exact opposite happens.

The incentive packages outlined in the UAW Local 1264 letter included the following details:

  • Incentive Package for Retirement: $50,000 for seniority members hired prior to the 2007 agreement.
  • Voluntary Termination of Employment Program: guaranteed lumpsum benefit payment and is applicable to employees with at least 1 year seniority.

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Overall govt spending and regulatory controls drove inflation for these past two years.  The ‘demand side’ was blamed, despite the lack of demand. I will be proven right when history is concluded with this.  Interest rates were raised by central banks in an effort to support the policies that are driving ‘supply side’ inflation, not demand side.

Energy policy was/is crushing the consumer by driving up the cost of all goods and services.  To support the overall goal of changing global energy resource and development (a false and controlled global operation), central banks raised interest rates.  Various western economies, including our own, have been pushed deeper into a state of contraction by central banks crushing consumer demand, and eliminating investment via increased borrowing costs.

In short, the goal was/is to lower energy consumption by shrinking the economic activity.  This, according to the BBB plan, was needed at the same time as energy development was reduced.

These economic outcomes are not organic, they are all being controlled by collective western government agreement.

Apr 27 2023

Ronna McDaniel Reveals the 2024 Secret Weapon the RNC Constructed to Defeat the Ballot Harvesting Process


Posted originally on the CTH on April 26, 2023 | Sundance | 305 Comments

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, appears with freshly enhanced duck lips on Fox News this morning to unveil the secret weapon the RNC has been constructing to defeat the national ballot harvesting efforts of the DNC.

A new Fact Checking website that will solve all the RNC challenges for 2024. Seriously…. THIS is what they have put money, time and effort into, and Ronna is so proud.  WATCH:

The DNC is ideologically motivated.  The RNC is financially motivated.  The DNC uses money to get power, the RNC uses power to get money.  The ideology of the DNC drives their donor activity, while the donor activity of the RNC drives their political ideology.   This is the primary difference between the two corporations.

Everything the RNC does, and that includes everything within the apparatus of the professional Republican establishment, is created to facilitate access to the maximum amount of money possible.  The RNC doesn’t have ideological goals or objectives – their quest, and the objective of the donors who control it, is the assembly of money.

From that position, everything else takes on a dimension of clarity.   The multinational corporations who weaponize the Republican political apparatus, do so in the quest for coin, bigger and bigger vaults of wealth.   Because the goal of money drives their ideology, the RNC carries no social, economic, or cultural platform that is not in alignment with the assembly of finance, and they don’t care about ballot collection/harvesting.

Any questions?

Apr 26 2023

The Scheme Unfolds – Florida Senate Creates Amendment Nullifying “Resign to Run” Law Specifically for DeSantis


Posted originally on the CTH on April 25, 2023 | Sundance 

The depth of effort to manipulate the American electorate, to continue the Big Club objective & illusion of choice, is remarkable when you stand back and look at the totality of it.

It is not surprising when you understand how committed the power centers are; in fact, it’s just another step in a predictable sequence of events.  However, for those who cling to disbelief out of their mistaken need to bury acceptance, the reality of the constructs become empirical data points in the awakening.

As predicted, the Florida Senate has introduced a change to the vote and candidate laws in Florida [Bill #7050, Amendment text line #1030 to 1038] specifically constructed so that Ron DeSantis can announce his 2024 presidential candidacy without resigning from office. The language will exempt anyone who is pursuing the office of President or Vice President of the United States from statutory requirements to resign-to-run.

“The amendments made to s. 99.012, Florida Statutes, by this act are intended to clarify existing law,” the new language stipulates.

“Any person seeking the office of President or Vice President of the United States is not subject to the requirements of chapter 99, Florida Statutes, which govern candidate qualifying, specifically those which require the submission of certain documents, full and public disclosures of financial interests, petition signatures, or the payment of filing fees. This section shall take effect upon this act becoming a law.” [Amendment line #1030 to 1038]

The intent of the ‘resign to run’ law, is exactly to address the issue of divided loyalties within the framework of what is happening right now.  Ron DeSantis has not been focused on the issues of Florida and has instead been focused on his own personal political and career advancement.  Changing the law is how the professional political club within Florida politics is trying to assist the group behind him.

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Posted in Big Government, Big Stupid Government, Conspiracy ?, Decepticons, Deep State, DHS, Donald Trump, Election 2024, Joe Biden, Legislation, media bias, Notorious Liars, Patriotism, President Trump, propaganda, RNC 2024 Wisconsin, Ron DeSantis, Typical Prog Behavior, Uncategorized, USA, Wall Street

In the Political Battle, Seeing Through the Illusion of Choice Becomes Critical

April 25, 2023 | Sundance | 415 Comments

As I said yesterday when discussing the Tucker Carlson firing, “Talking about what happens behind the false front of the DC village is always a threat.   It is in the research and acceptance of the darkest pretending constructs that you realize how the illusions of choice are presented.” {more}

You have heard me say three phrases repeatedly: (1) There are trillions of dollars at stake; (2) live your best life; and (3) always trust your instincts.

The first element is the baseline.  The economics of the thing is always the structural reason for the outcome of anything and everything connected to the thing.  In simpler times we said, ‘follow the money,’ the core essence of that phrase still exists; however, in recent times the people who are controlling the outcomes have been more subversive at hiding the mechanics of their finance.

The second element is the outcome of acceptance.  No one is coming to save you, us, or anything.  We are in this battle together, a diversity of humanity that just wants to be left alone an live in freedom; but we are also in this battle alone.  No one in a position of institutional power is in alignment with our desire for freedom.  Rather than despair at the reality, embrace life and live it as fully and completely as possible – while simultaneously not giving power to the dark imaginings that facilitate the goals of those in power.  Throw sand in their machinery when possible.

The last point speaks to the inherent strength that exists within the human species.  Turn off the noise, turn away from voices that push the illusions into view, and trust your natural instincts that were provided by a loving God.  Into this concept remember there is no such thing as misinformation, disinformation or malinformation; there is only information.  That information may take the form of truth or lies. Use your God given skills to decipher the difference, and when in doubt pause and pray for assistance and clarity.

Take all that you instinctually and intellectually know, overlay the goals and objectives of those you understand seek to control your perspectives, and watch this video below.  Form your own opinion:

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Posted in 1st Amendment, Big Government, Big Stupid Government, Big Tech, Cultural Marxism, Decepticons, Deep State, Dept Of Justice, DHS, Donald Trump, Election 2024, media bias, Professional Idiots, propaganda, Ron DeSantis, Typical Prog Behavior, Uncategorized

April 25th – 2023 Presidential Politics – Resistance Day 826

April 25, 2023 | Sundance | 851 Comments

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the JoeBama Administration and Presidency.

“This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can’t be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won’t be done. The Founders’ Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.”

“But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.”