That slow grinding creak you hear in the background; that’s the U.S. economic engine running without oil and beginning that slowdown phase just before it stutters and stalls completely.  Alas, the pretending continues…

As noted by the Wall Street Journal, an economic gaslighting institution with a central mission to maintain pretenses, “business surveys show U.S. factory activity declined in December, the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global both said this week. Separately, S&P Global said Thursday that U.S. services-sector businesses reported a decline in output for the third month running in December.” This comes as “U.S. imports dropped more, by 6.4% on the month, as Americans cut back on holiday-related purchases, including items from other countries such as computers and autos.”

Keep in mind, November retail sales—which included consumer spending at stores, online and at restaurants—fell 0.6% from the prior month for their biggest decline of 2022, according to the Commerce Department. Manufacturing output declined in November as well, the Fed reported, while U.S. home sales fell for a record 10th straight month.

Into this mix of economic metrics, driven by a collapse in disposable consumer income and high energy prices, now we begin to see the number one business expense being curtailed.

(Market Watch) […] Amazon.com Inc layoffs will affect more than 18,000 employees, the highest reduction tally revealed in the past year at a major technology company as the industry pares back amid economic uncertainty.

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The tenth round of ballot counting continues in the House chamber. However, it looks like an 11th ballot will be necessary as Kevin McCarthy has failed, yet again, to gain the support of 21 House Republican holdouts.

Inside the beltway rumors have surfaced that after the 9th failed attempt, groundhog McCarthy exited the chambers, stepped outside, saw his shadow and thus predicted another six weeks of ballot counting was likely.  As noted by Politico, “the California Republican fell short in his bid for the speaker’s gavel in seventh, eighth, ninth, and now tenth ballots — a history-making stalemate that has paralyzed the party’s new majority.”

WASHINGTON DC – […] The next steps for McCarthy are unclear. GOP leadership is mulling trying to adjourn the chamber to give McCarthy more time to hold meetings and solidify a deal that they hope will win him the speaker’s gavel. But such a move would require help from Democrats or near unimity from Republicans, who only narrowly won an unruly vote Wednesday to adjourn for the night.

And Republicans are still trying to figure out if the glimmers of hope over the potential deal are just a mirage. McCarthy met nearly every one of the holdouts’ demands, but it’s not clear it will be enough to get him across the finish line. And in a slim majority, he can’t afford to alienate the other side of his conference, where centrists and institutionalists already have heartburn over the offered deal. (read more)

Voting continues.  Meme creators continue working overtime.

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Interesting timing here as the North American Summit is scheduled to take place in Mexico City, Mexico, on January 10th.  Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador (AMLO) are scheduled to have several meetings to discuss trade, economic and energy policies.

President Trump releases a video {Direct Rumble Link} and outline for a proposal to eliminate drug Cartels.

Mar-a-Lago, FL – As Joe Biden prepares to make his first-ever trip to the southern border that he deliberately erased, President Trump announced that when he is president again, it will be the official policy of the United States to take down the drug cartels just as we took down ISIS.

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With the extradition process completed, law enforcement officials in Idaho have released the arrest warrant and criminal affidavit against murder suspect Bryan Kohberger.

[Criminal Complaint, 3-Pages Here] – [Affidavit Outlining Charges, 19-pages Here]

Within the probable cause affidavit outlining the evidence against Bryan Kohberger, the investigators release a lot of very specific new evidence against the suspect, including an eyewitness within the house.

The affidavit states a woman who lived at home told investigators she was woken up around 4 a.m. by what sounded like Kaylee Goncalves (21) playing with her dog in a bedroom on the third floor.

A short time later, the roommate said she thought she heard Goncalves say “something to the effect of ‘there’s someone here,’” according to court documents. Forensic information from victim Xana Kernodle’s phone shows the noise could’ve come from Kernodle’s cellphone as it indicated she was “likely awake and using the TikTok app” around 4:12 a.m.

The witness told investigators she looked out of her bedroom but didn’t see anything after hearing about something being in the house.

Documents say the woman opened her door again after hearing what she thought was crying from victim Xana Kernodle’s room. The woman told investigators she then heard a man say, “something to effect of ‘it’s OK, I’m going to help you,’” as outlined in the affidavit.

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Most people are unaware that outside lobbyist groups hold the power over the internal dynamic.  In addition to internal financial systems, each congressperson is aligned with a lobbyist group that pays for their political election efforts, sort of like a corporate sponsor in a professional sports team.  Ultimately the sponsors determine what issues the politician supports.  This is the business end of DC politics.

According to Politico, the Congressional Leadership Fund (team McCarthy) has come to an agreement with the Club for Growth Fund (team not McCarthy) and worked out a deal the representatives may be permitted to support.  The deal “includes a vote on term limits for members, more seats for Freedom Caucus members on the powerful House Rules Committee and allowing a single member to force a vote on ousting the speaker.”  The voting continues today.

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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.”

~ Mike Vanderboegh

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

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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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Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is one of the primary voices against Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for the House speaker role. Gaetz appeared on Fox News to discuss the background issues with Kevin McCarthy and the lack of trust held by the group opposing him.

Additionally, Gaetz refuses to accept the criticism from former House republicans who created the crisis of confidence within the American electorate.  When challenged about the specific criticism, Gaetz does a good job putting context to the failed republican efforts over the past 15 years.  The video is a good encapsulation of the current status.  WATCH (prompted to 02:29):

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The House will reconvene at Noon Thursday to continue the process of trying to nominate a speaker.

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The previously insufferable Hannitus Interruptus has been on a downward spiral ever since his wife caught him in an affair with Ainsley Earhardt and divorced him.  Immediately thereafter, with Fox News holding leverage over his ability to pay the support needed, he has been unwatchable in the extreme.   However, that said, even at the lowest possible threshold of credibility, Hannity finds a way to go even deeper into the hole of irrelevance with this interview.

Sean Hannity invites Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert onto his television show so that she can listen to him tell her what her position is regarding his good friend Kevin McCarthy.  This is peak moonbattery from the ridiculous pundit.  {Direct Rumble Link} – WATCH (if possible):

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During a floor speech earlier today, Pennsylvania Republican Representative Scott Perry nominates Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds to become Speaker of the House.  WATCH:

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Meanwhile, Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) mounted his one-eyed high horse to slam the 20 House Republicans who oppose Kevin McCarthy’s bid for the speakership.

“I’m tired of your stupid platitudes that some consultant told you to say on the campaign trail, alright. Behind closed doors tell us what you actually want, or shut the f*** up,” he said of the holdouts, according to the Washington Post’s Dylan Wells. (link)

Crenshaw’s comments come after McCarthy failed to win the House speakership in a fourth, fifth and sixth vote. Representative Victoria Spartz (R-Indiana) voted “present,” moving her support of McCarthy away from her position in prior ballots.

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