LA Times (July 26)
“Washington’s biggest problem isn’t gridlock or wasted dollars—it’s men…. Men tried to pass a bill that only 13% of Americans supported, contributing to the (true) perception that the majority of Congress does not give a damn about what ordinary citizens think.” Their errant attempts were initially thwarted women who stood up for their beliefs, something they continue to do “even in the face of massive dissent” and political strong-arming.
Tags: Beliefs, Citizens, Congress, Dissent, Gridlock, Men, Strong-arming, Support, Washington, Waste
Reuters (March 22)
“The Trump Trade could start looking more like a Trump Tantrum if the new U.S. administration’s healthcare bill stalls in Congress, prompting worries on Wall Street about tax cuts and other measures aimed at promoting economic growth.” Investors are less optimistic “that U.S. President Donald Trump will swiftly enact his agenda, with a Thursday vote on a healthcare bill a litmus test which could give stock investors another reason to sell.”
Tags: Congress, Economic growth, Healthcare, Investors, Tax cuts, Trump Tantrum, U.S., Wall Street, Worries
Los Angeles Times (March 16)
With his proposed budget, President Trump “would slash education, research, foreign aid and many domestic programs to make room for one of the biggest military buildups in history.” The proposal is unlikely to gain traction. “It’s such a Draconian approach and would inflict so much pain on lawmakers’ constituents — especially in Red State America — that Congress is expected to ignore most of Trump’s proposal.”
Tags: Budget, Buildup, Congress, Draconian, Education, Foreign aid, Military, Pain, Research, Trump, U.S.
The Week (March 1)
Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress “was reasonably competent, at least by Trump standards. He didn’t sound obviously deranged, and he managed to adopt a somewhat dignified affect.” But his address was light on substance. He “neither gave a convincing account of how he might achieve any of his signature goals, nor did anything but paper over any of the ideological chasms in his party. Trump represents a party and a nation still totally confused about how to manage its affairs.”
Washington Post (November 13)
“Nobody, probably including Donald Trump himself, really knows what he will do in foreign affairs. The fear is he will drive the world deeper into chaos and start a global trade war, or maybe a real war. The hope is that he will be tamed, as outsiders promising radical change frequently are, by sane advisers, the bureaucracy, Congress and — just maybe — a sense of the responsibilities of office.”
Tags: Advisers, Bureaucracy, Chaos, Congress, Foreign affairs, Trade war, Trump, War
Wall Street Journal (September 3)
“All across American agriculture, production is up and prices are down.” With bumper crops expected, “corn prices have tanked, dropping to about $2.85 a bushel today from $6.50 three crop-seasons ago.” The Department of Agriculture is stepping in to help farmers with some subsidies and other programs, but what farmers really need is for Congress to “approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” which would boost demand overseas substantially.
Tags: Agriculture, Congress, Corn, Crops, Demand, DoA, Farmers, Overseas, Prices, Production, Subsidies, TPP
New York Times (June 3)
“If T.P.P. falls apart, China wins. It’s as simple as that. Nonratification would signal that Beijing gets to dictate policy in the region…. “Like the best trade accords, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is also a strategic boost to liberty and stability in the fastest-growing part of the globe. Congress should resist populist ranting and ratify it.”
Tags: China, Congress, Liberty, Nonratification, Policy, Populists, Ratify, Stability, Strategic, T.P.P., Trade accords
New York Times (January 19)
“China’s announcement last year that it would set up a national cap-and-trade system was hugely encouraging—the world’s largest emitter agreeing to tax itself to help solve a problem that, only a few years ago, it barely acknowledged.” This stands in stark contrast with the U.S. Congress where heads remain firmly planted in the sand of denial and falsehood. “Congress has refused to act even as it becomes clear that putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is the most direct and cost-effective way to address climate change.”
Tags: Cap and trade, China, Climate change, Congress, Cost-effective, Denial, Emissions, Greenhouse gas, Tax, U.S.
Los Angeles Times (January 6)
“With gun epidemic raging, Obama finally bypasses Congress.” The president detailed his “modest steps” in a sometimes tearful speech. Ultimately, further Congressional measures will be necessary to solve what has become “one of the most vexing political issues of our time.” The over 30,000 gun related deaths each year show the “grotesque human cost…. At some point, the American people need to inform their leaders that this price is just too high to pay.”
LA Times (November 8)
“So are we better off with or without the TPP? If Congress ratifies it, that won’t turbocharge the U.S. economy. If Congress blocks the deal, that won’t stop globalization. And like any trade agreement, it creates winners and losers.” The strongest argument for the agreement may be its geopolitical role, but the costs to many Americans have become “clearer than their benefits…. The president still has a lot of persuading to do.”
Tags: Benefits, Congress, Costs, Economy, Geopolitical, Globalization, Ratify, TPP, U.S.
