This is what happens when the sharpest deal maker in modern U.S. history, who happens to be the sharpest deal-maker in current Presidential Politics, sits down to discuss economics and business with the Park Row elite.

Donald Trump will probably make headlines for saying today that he “favors a 45% import tariff on a Chinese Imports”.   What the headlines will miss, is Trump moving from a primary election discussion toward a general election mandate.

The backdrop is a simple one, yet almost all will conveniently overlook it.

Donald Trump’s primary concern is the U.S. economy, U.S. jobs, and the welfare of the U.S. middle class.   Knowing the most substantial economic issue is the current Trans-Pacific Trade Deal (TPP), and knowing that China will use the intentionally designed “back door entry” into the trade pact, Trump positions the U.S. worker first and foremost. (more…)

A poll from Florida Overtime Politics (pdf below) shows a snapshot of Florida in January.  Donald Trump leads with 32%, Cruz 21% and Rubio 18%:

FLORIDA – Donald Trump sports a comfortable 11 point lead in the Sunshine State, besting Ted Cruz 32-21%. Marco Rubio, who is from Florida, picks up 18% of the vote.

While most states, especially the ones that vote before March 15th, are competitive for Cruz and Rubio in the sense that they can at least win some delegates, Florida issues all of theirs to the person with the most votes. Finishing 2nd or beyond gets you 0 delegates, while 1st place gets 99. Right now, in order for either of them to win anything in Florida, they would have to un-seat Trump from the driver’s chair. (more…)

Tonight’s Donald Trump rally in Burlington Vermont (we will live stream at 6:30pm for event beginning 7:00pm) has all the makings of a doozy political event.  Burlington Vermont is ground-zero for Democrat Bernie Sanders and both Trump supporters and Bernie’s political protesters have plans on attendance.

In essence Trump is quite popular and viewed very favorably by the general citizenry of Vermont.  However, the professional political apparatus in/around government enterprise is quite hostile (openly so) toward the Trump campaign.  Yes, Trump is walking in to Mordor to show his supporters what fearless campaigning looks like in person….

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Hours before Donald J. Trump was set to hold a rally in the Flynn Center here, a crowd of supporters, hecklers and curious observers braved freezing temperatures to get a glimpse of the Republican presidential candidate who dared to set foot on the traditionally liberal turf of Senator Bernie Sanders. (more…)

Senator Ted Cruz entire campaign is built around his projection as “the most consistent conservative”.  This video does not show consistency.  The topic is “birthright citizenship”:

Apparently the U.S. Constitution became much more flexible between 2011 and 2015.

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Oh My…  Cold Anger Consequences – It appears Macy’s decision to attack Donald Trump in July 2015 has left them in a very compromised position.  Macy’s has dropped their 2016 earnings forecast an additional 12%.  This is on top of the forecast drop from last November…

(Via LA Times) After a disappointing holiday season, Macy’s Inc. said Wednesday that it planned to cut about 4,800 jobs and close 40 stores as part of efforts to slash costs.

The department store chain, which is closely associated with the holiday season, said comparable sales for November and December 2015 dropped 4.7% compared with the previous year.   […]  Terry J. Lundgren, Macy’s chief executive, described the holiday season as “challenging.” (more…)

The cycle of abuse is:  “Tensions building”, then the “abusive action” then a “period of reconciliation and apology”, followed by a period of “peace and calm”. Then the tensions begin building again…..   Wash, rinse, repeat.

As the years inside the cycle of abuse continue, the abused look forward to the space between the beatings -and- simultaneously learn how to exit the beating phase as quickly as possible.

Yesterday our GOPe abusers entered the “reconciliation and apology” phase.  Cue the Paul Ryan Video:

If you have spent any significant amount of time here, you’ll note something brutally obvious.  Everything Speaker Paul Ryan is saying the GOPe are doing now, ie. “repeal ObamaCare” and “defunding Planned Parenthood” and “actually putting something on Obama’s desk”….. is something they could have done at any time throughout 2015.

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