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Presidents Donald Trump, left, and Ronald Reagan, right, graphic concept.
Presidents Donald Trump, left, and Ronald Reagan, right, graphic concept.

State of the Union Addresses are Shakespearean stage productions on the widest and grandest scale possible. Every player had their moment.

From Mike Pence to Nancy Pelosi to Chuck Schumer to First Lady Melania Trump to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, they are simply theatre.

None of the theatre the various actors put on had any relation whatsoever to the content in the State of the Union Address. It was purely for their constituency, and their future ambitions.

But overriding all of the secondary actors was the leading man, the impresario, President Donald J. Trump. He held center stage while all buzzed around him like courtiers and plotters.

The master actor — that is what a president is for these occasions — rose to the occasion and produced a masterclass. The message of reconciliation for the current and future progress of the economy, immigration and other key matters, was important not so much for the content itself but for the tone.

In a CBS insta-poll just after President Trump’s address, 76% approved of the speech itself and 72% approved of his ideas on immigration.

The Democrat’s must be disappointed a combative Donald Trump — off whom they have fed for two years and used to rile up their base — did not deliver the State of the Union.

It will be difficult to keep the 2018 midterm level of energy among their base. It might have just exhausted itself last November.

This may have become apparent in the coincidental Minnesota State Senator election held the same night, which saw a 16-point swing to the GOP in a seat held by the Democrat’s (and in one family) for over twenty years.

This change in the zeitgeist did not commence with the State of the Union.

President Trump’s support in the polls, which dipped sharply during the early stages of the government shutdown, has been slowly increasing among registered and likely voters.

Rasmussen Reports, one of the most accurate pollsters in 2016, had President Trump at 48% on the day of the State of the Union, a 3-point jump in one day and a 5-point increase from his low during the shutdown. 

The aggregate of approval polls currently stands just above 44%, which is less than 2 points below his 2026 popular vote. Any increase from his current aggregate, which is likely to follow his address — unless there is another shutdown — could see him start a new plateau.

He would be well-placed for 2020.

These changes in public mood are not only fickle but their inflection points are sometimes hard to discern and can seem oddly contradictory. It appears that the shutdown and its close seemed to draw some strange residual poison from the body politic. A mood of “it’s time to move on” seems to have commenced.

Even the “Trump’s caved” leftist crowing was half-hearted and brief.

Perhaps people have had enough of two years of the endless Mueller/Russia circus — which, apart from snagging a few miscreants who had nothing to do with “collusion” and the new Trumpian image of a Reaganesque, friendly statesman — is the balm people were looking for.

If the mainstream media takes note of this and starts doing their job of somewhat even-handed journalism over the next two years, we may see what eventuated in the last two years of President Ronald Reagan’s first term.

President Reagan’s approval rating sat at 35% on the same day of his presidency. An America absorbed with their daily lives, enjoying the fruits of a strong economy, an America at peace and disengaging from disastrous foreign wars and ignoring the DC/Media circus.

The more things change the more they stay the same — hopefully.

Though it didn't begin with President Donald

A collage graphic concept for industry and labor. (Photo: AdobeStock)
A collage graphic concept for industry and labor. (Photo: AdobeStock)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported manufacturing sector labor productivity rose 1.3% during the fourth quarter (Q4) 2018. Output rose 2.3% and hours worked by 1.0%.

From Q4 2017 to Q4 2018, manufacturing productivity rose 0.7%, driven by a 2.8% gain in output and a 2.1% gain in hours worked. Annual average productivity rose 0.6% from 2017 to 2018.

The BLS data for Productivity and Costs in Q4 was only available for the manufacturing sector given the partial government shutdown.

Durable manufacturing labor productivity gained 2.6%, with output increasing 5.7% and hours by 3.0%. Labor productivity in the nondurable manufacturing sector increased 1.2% and hours fell 2.4%.

About Labor Productivity and Costs Report

Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked by all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported

Import, Export, Logistics concept - Map global partner connection of Container Cargo freight ship for Logistic Import Export background (Photo: AdobeStock/Elements of this image furnished by NASA)
Import, Export, Logistics concept – Map global partner connection of Container Cargo freight ship for Logistic Import Export background (Photo: AdobeStock/Elements of this image furnished by NASA)

The U.S. trade deficit fell $6.4 billion to $49.3 billion in November, down sharply from $55.7 billion and easily beating the consensus forecast. It was the first decline in the U.S. trade deficit after 5 straight months of increases.

Forecasts ranged from $-55 billion to $-51.8 billion, with a $-54 billion consensus. The report is a net positive for fourth-quarter (Q4) gross domestic product (GDP).

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said in the joint report the decrease in the goods and services deficit was fueled by a decrease in the goods deficit of $6.7 billion to $71.6 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $0.3 billion to $22.3 billion.

Exports were $209.9 billion, $1.3 billion less than in October. Imports came in at $259.2 billion, a decline of $7.7 billion from October.

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit rose $51.9 billion, or 10.4%. Exports rose $157.1 billion or 7.3%, while imports gained $208.9 billion or 7.9% (year-to-date).

The politically-sensitive U.S. trade deficit with China fell $2.8 billion to $35.4 billion in November. Exports fell $0.1 billion to $7.4 billion and imports declined $2.9 billion to $42.8 billion.

The closing of the gap with Beijing comes as the March 2 deadline for trade negotiations approaches. The Trump Administration has made the renegotiation of decades-old trade deals top priority.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC in an interview Wednesday morning that those talks have been “very productive.”

The report showed surpluses (in billions )with South and Central America ($4.8), Hong Kong ($2.6), United Kingdom ($0.9), Singapore ($0.8), and Brazil ($0.7).

Trade deficits were recorded (in billions) with the European Union ($13.8), Mexico ($6.8), Japan ($5.7), Germany ($5.6), Italy ($2.7), South Korea ($1.9), India ($1.7), Taiwan ($1.6), Saudi Arabia ($1.5), France ($1.3), OPEC ($1.2), and Canada ($0.8).

The deficit with Canada decreased $1.3 billion to $0.8 billion. Exports fell $0.4 billion to $24.5 billion, while imports declined $1.7 billion to $25.3 billion.

The U.S. trade deficit fell $6.4 billion

Watch: President Donald J. Trump delivered his second State of the Union Address to the nation on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 9:00 p.m. EST.

Who Did President Trump Invite to His Second State of the Union Address?

A transcript of the State of the Union Address is below.

Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States — and my fellow Americans. We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential.

As we begin a new Congress, I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans. Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now gathered in this great chamber hoping that we will govern not as two parties but as one nation.

The agenda I will layout this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda, it’s the agenda of the American people. Many of us have campaigned on the same core promises to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers.

To rebuild and revitalize our nation’s infrastructure, to reduce the price of health care and prescription drugs, to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern, and secure and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America’s interests first. There is a new opportunity in American politics if only we have the courage together to seize it.

Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country.

This year America will recognize two important anniversaries that show us the majesty of America’s mission and the power of American pride. In June, we mark 75 years since the start of what General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the great crusade, the allied liberation of Europe in World War II.

On D-Day, June 6th, 1944, 15,000 young American men jumped from the sky and 60,000 more stormed in from the sea to save our civilization from tyranny. Here with us tonight are three of those incredible heros. Private First Class Joseph Reilly, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, and Sergeant Herman Zeitchik.

Gentlemen, we salute you. In 2019, we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew a quarter of a million miles through space to plant the American flag on the face of the moon. Half a century later, we are joined by one of the Apollo 11 astronauts who planted that flag,Buzz Aldrin.

Thank you, Buzz. This year, American astronauts will go back to space on American rockets.

In the 20th century, America saved freedom, transformed science, redefined the middle class, and when you get down to it, there’s nothing anywhere in the world that can compete with America.

Now we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great American adventure, and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century. An amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within reach. We can make our community safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger and more prosperous than ever before.

But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good.

Together we can break decades of political stalemate.We can bridge all divisions,

We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future. The decision is ours to make.

We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness.

Over the last two years, my administration has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades. In just over two years since the election, we have launched an unprecedented economic boom — a boom that has rarely been seen before. We have created 5.3 million new jobs and importantly added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs — something which almost everyone said was impossible to do, but the fact is, we are just getting started.

Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades, and growing for blue collar workers, who I promised to fight for, they’re growing faster than anyone thought possible.Nearly 5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world.

Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century. African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded. Unemployment for Americans with disabilities has also reached an all-time low. More people are working now than at any time in our history — 157 million people at work.

We passed a massive tax cut for working families and doubled the child tax credit. We virtually ended the estate tax, or death tax as it has been often called, on small businesses, ranches, and family farms. We eliminated the very unpopular Obamacare individual mandate penalty — and to give critically ill patients access to life-saving cures,we passed, very importantly, “Right to Try.”

My administration has cut more regulations in a short period of time than any other administration during its entire tenure. Companies are coming back to our country in large numbers thanks to our historic reductions in taxes and regulations. And we have unleashed a revolution in American energy — the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. And now, for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy.

After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on earth, by far, and America is again winning each and every day. Members of Congress: the State of our Union is strong.

(‘U.S.A’ chant from audience)

That sounds so good.

Our country is vibrant and our economy is thriving like never before. On Friday, it was announced that we added another 304,000 jobs last month alone — almost double the number expected. An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way!

We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad. This new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate — in some cases years and years of waiting, not right. The Senate has failed to act on these nominations, which is unfair to the nominees and very unfair to our country. Now is the time for bipartisan action. Believe it or not, we have already proven that that’s possible.

In the last Congress, both parties came together to pass unprecedented legislation to confront the opioid crisis, a sweeping new Farm Bill, historic V.A. reforms, and after four decades of rejection, we passed V.A. accountability so that we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans. And just weeks ago, both parties united for groundbreaking criminal justice reform. They said it couldn’t be done.

Last year, I heard through friends the story of Alice Johnson. I was deeply moved. In 1997, Alice was sentenced to life in prison as a first-time non-violent drug offender. Over the next 22 years, she became a prison minister, inspiring others to choose a better path. She had a big impact on that prison population — and far beyond. Alice’s story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing — and the need to remedy this total injustice. She served almost that 22 years and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life.

In June, I commuted Alice’s sentence — when I saw Alice’s beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did something right — Alice is here with us tonight and she is a terrific woman. Terrific. Alice please. Alice, thank you for reminding us that we always have the power to shape our own destiny. Thank you very much, Alice. Thank you very much. Inspired by stories like Alice’s, my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the First Step Act into law. Big deal, it’s a big deal.

This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community. The First Step Act gives non-violent offenders the chance to re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now, states across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption.

We are also joined tonight by Matthew Charles from Tennessee. In 1996, at the age of 30, Matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses. Over the next two decades, he completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, and mentored many of his fellow inmates. Now, Matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act. Matthew please. Thank you Matthew. Welcome home.

Now, Republicans and Democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis. Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our government, protect our homeland, and secure our very dangerous southern border.

Now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers out of business. As we speak, large, organized caravans are on the march to the United States.

We have just heard that Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our southern border to prepare for the tremendous onslaught.

This is a moral issue. The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security and financial well-being of all America. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today, who followed the rules and respected our laws.

Legal immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country, in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally. Tonight, I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of love and devotion to our fellow citizens and to our country.

No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s working class and America’s political class than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards.

Meanwhile, working class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal immigration — reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools, hospitals that are so crowded you can’t get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net.

Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate — it is actually very cruel. One in three women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north. Smugglers use migrant children as human pawns to exploit our laws and gain access to our country. Human traffickers and sex traffickers take advantage of the wide open areas between our ports of entry to smuggle thousands of young girls and women into the United States and to sell them into prostitution and modern-day slavery.

Tens of thousands of innocent Americans are killed by lethal drugs that cross our border and flood into our cities — including meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. The savage gang, MS-13, now operates in at least 20 different American states, and they almost all come through our southern border. Just yesterday, an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York City. We are removing these gang members by the thousands, but until we secure our border they’re going to keep streaming right back in.

Year after year, countless Americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens. I’ve gotten to know many wonderful angel moms, and dads and families — no one should ever have to suffer the horrible heartache that they have had to endure.

Here tonight is Debra Bissell. Just three weeks ago, Debra’s parents, Gerald and Sharon, were burglarized and shot to death in their Reno, Nevada home by an illegal alien. They were in their eighties and are survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Also here tonight are Gerald and Sharon’s granddaughter, Heather, and great-granddaughter Madison.

To Debra, Heather, Madison, please stand. Few can understand your pain. Thank you for being here. Thank you very much. I will never forget, and I will fight for the memory of Gerald and Sharon, that it should never happen again. Not one more American life should be lost because our nation failed to control its very dangerous border.

In the last two years, our brave ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens, including those charged or convicted of nearly 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 killings or murders. We are joined tonight by one of those law enforcement heroes: ICE Special Agent Elvin Hernandez. When Elvin was a boy, he and his family legally immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. At the age of eight, Elvin told his dad he wanted to become a Special Agent.

Today, he leads investigations into the scourge of international sex trafficking. Elvin says: “If I can make sure these young girls get their justice, I’ve really done my job.” Thanks to his work and that of his incredible colleagues,more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from the horror of this terrible situation and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars.

Special Agent Hernandez please stand. We will always support the brave men and women of law enforcement — and I pledge to you tonight that we will never abolish our heroes from ICE.

My administration has sent to Congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on the Southern Border.

It includes humanitarian assistance, more law enforcement, drug detection at our ports, closing loopholes that enable child smuggling, and plans for a new physical barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry. In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall. But the proper wall was never built. I will get it built.

This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier — not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by border agents as having the greatest need, and these agents will tell you, where walls go up, illegal crossings go way way down.

San Diego used to have the most illegal border crossings in our country. In response, a strong security wall was put in place. This powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings.

The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime — one of the highest in the entire country, and considered one of our nation’s most dangerous cities. Now, immediately upon its building, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of the safest cities in our country. Simply put, walls work and walls save lives. So let’s work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.

As we work to defend our people’s safety, we must also ensure our economic resurgence continues at a rapid pace. No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the newly created jobs last year.

(Women cheering in the crowd)

You weren’t supposed to do that. Thank you very much.

All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before

(More women cheering and standing)

Don’t sit yet, you’re going to like this. And exactly one century after Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before. That’s great. Really great. And congratulations.

As part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere, this Thursday we are launching the first ever government-wide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries. To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount — reversing decades of calamitous trade policies. So bad.

We are now making it clear to China that after years of targeting our industries, and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end. Therefore, we recently imposed tariffs on $250 billion dollars of Chinese goods — and now our Treasury is receiving billions and billions of dollars.

But I don’t blame China for taking advantage of us — I blame our leaders and representatives for allowing this travesty to happen. I have great respect for President Xi, and we are now working on a new trade deal with China. But it must include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs.

Another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA. I have met the men and women ofMichigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, and many other states whose dreams were shattered by the signing of NAFTA. For years, politicians promised them they would negotiate for a better deal. But no one ever tried — until now.

Our new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — the U.S.M.C.A. — will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers like they haven’t had delivered to in a long time. I hope you can pass the U.S.M.C.A. into law, so we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in even greater numbers, expanding American agriculture, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring that more cars are proudly stamped with the four beautiful words: Made in the USA.

Tonight, I am also asking you to pass the United States Reciprocal Trade Act, so that if another country places an unfair tariff on an American product, we can charge them the exact same tariff on the exact same product that they sell to us.

Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America’s crumbling infrastructure. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill — and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment, including investments in the cutting edge industries of the future. This is not an option. This is a necessity.

The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs — and to protect patients with pre-existing conditions.Already, as a result of my administration’s efforts, in 2018 drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years.

But we must do more. It’s unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, this is unfair, and together we will stop it. And we will stop it fast. I am asking Congress to pass legislation that finally takes on the problem of global freeloading and delivers fairness and price transparency for American patients. Finally.

We should also require drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals to disclose real prices to foster competition and bring costs way down. No force in history has done more to advance the human condition than American freedom.

In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. We have made incredible strides. Incredible.Together, we will defeat AIDS in America and beyond.

Tonight I am also asking you to join me in another fight that all Americans can get behind: the fight against childhood cancer. Joining Melania in the gallery this evening is a very brave 10 year old girl, Grace Eline. Hi Grace.

Every birthday since she was 4, Grace asked her friends to donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She did not know that one day she might be a patient herself. That’s what happened. Last year, Grace was diagnosed with brain cancer. Immediately, she began radiation treatment. At the same time, she rallied her community and raised more than $40,000 dollars for the fight against cancer.

When Grace completed treatment last fall, her doctors and nurses cheered, they love her, they still love her, with tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read: “Last day of chemo.” Thank you very much, Grace. You are a great inspiration to everyone in this room.

Many childhood cancers have not seen new therapies in decades. My budget will ask Congress for $500 million dollars over the next 10 years to fund this critical life-saving research.

To help support working parents, the time has come to pass school choice for America’s children. I am also proud to be the first President to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave — so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child. There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days.

Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments from birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful, babies who will never get the chance to share their love and their dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth.

To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.

The final part of my agenda is to protect American security. Over the last two years, we have begun to fully rebuild the United States Military — with $700 billion dollars last year and $716 billion dollars this year. We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share. Finally.

For years, the United States was being treated very unfairly by friends of ours. Members of NATO. But now we have secured more than $100 billion of increase in defense spending from NATO allies. They said it couldn’t be done. As part of our military build-up, the United States is developing a state-of-the-art missile defense system.

Under my Administration, we will never apologize for advancing America’s interests. For example, decades ago the United States entered into a treaty with Russia in which we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capability. While we followed the agreement to the letter, Russia repeatedly violated its terms. It’s been going on for many years. That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or I.N.F. Treaty. We really have no choice.

Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others, or perhaps we can’t — in which case, we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far. As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our hostages have come home, nuclear testing has stopped, and there has not been a missile launch in more than 15 months.

If I had not been elected president of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong-un is a good one. Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27th and 28th in Vietnam.

Two weeks ago, the United States officially recognized the legitimate government of Venezuela, and its new interim president, Juan Guaido. We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom — and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair.

Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — and not government coercion, domination and control. We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country.

One of the most complex set of challenges we face, and have for many years, is in the Middle East. Our approach is based on principled realism — not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress. For this reason, my Administration recognized the true capital of Israel — and proudly opened the American embassy in Jerusalem.

Our brave troops have now been fighting in the Middle East for almost 19 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 7,000 American heroes have given their lives. More than 52,000 Americans have been badly wounded. We have spent more than seven trillion dollars in the Middle East.

As a candidate for president, I loudly pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars. When I took office, ISIS controlled more than 20,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria. Just two years ago. Today, we have liberated virtually all of the territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty monsters. Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home.

I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. The opposing side is also very happy to be negotiating. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor — and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a possible political solution to this long and bloody conflict. In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban.

As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troops presence and focus on counter-terrorism. And we will indeed focus on counter-terrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement — but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace. And the other side would like to do the same thing. It’s time.

Above all, friend and foe alike must never doubt this nation’s power and will to defend our people. 18 years ago, violent terrorists attacked the USS Cole — and last month American forces killed one of the leaders of that attack. We are honored to be joined tonight by Tom Wibberley, whose son, Navy Seaman Craig Wibberley, was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost. Tom, we vow to always remember the heroes of the USS Cole.

My administration has acted decisively to confront the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, the radical regime in Iran. It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things.

To ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons, I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. And last fall, we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a country. We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants “death to America” and threatens genocide against the Jewish people.

We must never ignore the vile poison of anti-semitism, or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs. Just months ago, 11 Jewish-Americans were viciously murdered in an anti-semitic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

SWAT Officer Timothy Matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer. And he was very successful. Timothy has just had his 12th surgery — and he’s going in for many more — but he made the trip to be here with us tonight. Officer Matson, please. Thank you. We are forever grateful.

Tonight we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began. But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall — more than 7 decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps. Today is Judah’s 81st birthday.

(Crowd sings “Happy Birthday”)

They wouldn’t do that for me, Judah.

Judah says he can still remember the exact moment, nearly 75 years ago, after 10 months in a concentration camp, when he and his family were put on a train, and told they were going to another camp. Suddenly the train screeched to a very strong halt. A soldier appeared. Judah’s family braced for the worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: “It’s the Americans. It’s the Americans.”

A second Holocaust survivor who is here tonight, Joshua Kaufman, was a prisoner at Dachau concentration camp. He remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as American soldiers rolled in with tanks. “To me,” Joshua recalls, “the American soldiers were proof that God exists, and they came down from the sky. They came down from heaven.”

I began this evening by honoring three soldiers who fought on D-Day in the second World War. One of them was Herman Zeitchik. But there is more to Herman’s story.

A year after he stormed the beaches of Normandy, Herman was one of those American Soldiers who helped liberate Dachau. He was one of the Americans who helped rescue Joshua from that hell on earth. Almost 75 years later, Herman and Joshua are both together in the gallery tonight — seated side-by-side, here in the home of American freedom.

Herman and Joshua: your presence this evening is very much appreciated, thank you very much. Thank you.

When American soldiers set out beneath the dark skies over the English Channel in the early hours of D-Day, 1944, they were just young men of 18 and 19, hurtling on fragile landing craft toward the most momentous battle in the history of war. They did not know if they would survive the hour. They did not know if they would grow old. But they knew that America had to prevail. Their cause was this nation, and generations yet unborn.

Why did they do it? They did it for America — they did it for us.

Everything that has come since — our triumph over communism, our giant leaps of science and discovery, our unrivaled progress toward equality and justice — all of it is possible thanks to the blood and tears and courage and vision of the Americans who came before.

Think of this Capitol — think of this very chamber, where lawmakers before you voted to end slavery, to build the railroads and the highways, and defeat fascism, to secure civil rights, and to face down evil empires.

Here tonight we have legislators from across this magnificent republic. You have come from the rocky shores of Maine and the volcanic peaks of Hawaii. From the snowy woods of Wisconsin and the red deserts of Arizona. From the green farms of Kentucky and the golden beaches of California.

Together, we represent the most extraordinary nation in all of history. What will we do with this moment? How will we be remembered?

I ask the men and women of this Congress: Look at the opportunities before us. Our most thrilling achievements are still ahead. Our most exciting journeys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet begun to dream.

We must choose whether we are defined by our differences — or whether we dare to transcend them. We must choose whether we squander our inheritance — or whether we proudly declare that we are Americans: We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown.

This is the time to re-ignite the American imagination. This is the time to search for the tallest summit, and set our sights on the brightest star. This is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens, as neighbors, as patriots. This is our future — our fate — and our choice to make.

I am asking you to choose greatness. No matter the trials we face, no matter the challenges to come, we must go forward together.

We must keep America first in our hearts. We must keep freedom alive in our souls. And we must always keep faith in America’s destiny — that one nation, under God, must be the hope and the promise and the light and the glory among all the nations of the world.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.Thank you very much.

President Donald J. Trump delivered his second

Howard Schultz, the former head of Starbucks Corporation, an American coffee company and coffeehouse chain founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971.
Howard Schultz, the former head of Starbucks Corporation, an American coffee company and coffeehouse chain founded in Seattle, Washington in 1971.

The astounding barrage of Democratic-friendly media hit pieces in response to a potential independent run by Howard Schultz is worthy of its own name: “Schultz Derangement Syndrome.”

It is unprecedented in its scope and venom.

Certainly, Ross Perot, the only recent equivalent independent candidate, also received a massive amount of initial attention.

But much of the coverage was of puzzlement, even an often jocular nature.

In terms of actual political pushback, the Bush campaign came into play.

Since the billionaire entrepreneur and former head of Starbucks indicated he was considering an independent presidential bid, an utter dam of hate, sarcasm and vituperation has burst upon this seemingly mild-mannered gentleman.

Here’s a small sampling;

Washington Post: ‘Howard Schultz’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week’

Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown: “Howard Schultz is a total idiot”

Amanda Marcotte at Salon: “Howard Schultz built a driveway through a park: This is why he shouldn’t be president” 

MSNBC: “Howard Schultz wants less for America than for Starbucks

That is just a media sampling. The Twitter comments are often too vile for wider publication. It is noticeable that none of the negativity has come from the right. The obvious exception was a clearly psych-op tweet from President Donald Trump.

“Howard Schultz doesn’t have the ‘guts’ to run for President!” the current president and fellow-former businessman tweeted.

Obviously, President Trump would welcome Mr. Schultz’s run, as conventional wisdom holds it would damage the Democratic nominee more so than him.

But, just which party an independent Schultz run would hurt most has been a matter of considerable conjecture. The overwhelming consensus was that it would hurt the Democratic candidate the most, particularly if they are a progressive.

The progressive element of the Democratic Party feels as if it is their turn. Of course, them being the most vocal cadres with the most vocal element of the media/Twittersphere/blogosphere supporting them, they are clearly up in arms, and alarmed.

Just why the reaction should have been so strident — without anything but conjecture in the light of no polling — had been somewhat a puzzle — until the other day.

Five Thirty Eight published an analysis by Chance Media estimating how President Trump would fare against various Democratic candidates. The results show exactly what has caused all this leftist angst against a most unlikely target.

They also indicate that Democratic internal polling must have shown Schultz gaining traction even before officially declaring, if he eventually does so.

In all instances of Trump versus a progressive, he trails in the head-to-head. But when Schultz is included in the mix Trump leads every challenger.

What is most striking is that Schultz, who essentially is a political unknown, polls at 6-7%. It’s an astonishing figure because it shows the nature of the threat a centrist Democrat — which Schultz has always been — poses to the left.

To make matters more infuriating for progressives, it is only against centrist former vice president Joe Biden who President Trump comes off second best, either in the head-to-head or with Mr. Schultz included.

Unfortunately, for the Democratic Party, either the hierarchy decides a centrist like Mr. Biden would be the best opponent against President Trump, or the left stages a McGovern-type coup.

Regardless, as a self-financed billionaire, Schultz would be impervious to party rule.

Clarity, at least amongst the chaos, has come into view and it is not a pretty picture for a party now up to 13 declared candidates with many more to come.

To have an independent force who can’t be dealt with through the usual political means, raises the potential for 18 months of utter turmoil for the Democratic Party while the Republicans watch in amusement.

The astounding barrage of hit pieces in

A Walmart employee who serves as a "customer host," walks in front of the customer service desk at a Walmart super-center location in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo: Laura Baris/People's Pundit Daily/PPD)
A Walmart employee who serves as a “customer host,” walks in front of the customer service desk at a Walmart super-center location in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo: Laura Baris/People’s Pundit Daily/PPD)

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Non-Manufacturing Index (NMI) eased to a still solid 56.7% in January, slightly missing the consensus.

Forecasts ranged from 56.0% to 58.0%, with a consensus of 57.1.

“According to the NMI, 11 non-manufacturing industries reported growth,” Anthony Nieves, Chair of the ISM NMI Survey Committee said. “The non-manufacturing sector’s growth rate cooled off in January. Respondents are concerned about the impacts of the government shutdown but remain mostly optimistic about overall business conditions.”

The headline still reflects service sector growth for the 114th consecutive month, albeit at a slower rate.

The New Orders Index came in at 5 points lower at 57.7%. The Employment Index rose 1.2 percentage points in January to 57.8% from the December reading of 56.6 percent.

The Prices Index, which fell for the first time in 3 years in the ISM Manufacturing Index (PMI) for January, rose 1.4 percentage points from the December reading of 58% to 59.4%.

That suggests prices rose in January for the 20th consecutive month. 

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Non-Manufacturing

President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

President Donald Trump will call on lawmakers to unify for the sake of the American people in his second State of the Union address. Here are his special guests.

Debra Bissell, Heather Armstrong, and Madison Armstrong

Photo: White House

Last month, Gerald and Sharon David of Reno, Nevada, were murdered in their home in Nevada by an illegal immigrant. They will be represented at the State of the Union by Davids’ daughter Debra, granddaughter Heather, and great-granddaughter Madison.

Matthew Charles

Photo: White House

In 1996, Matthew Charles was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine, and other related offenses. On January 3, he was the first prisoner to be released as a result of the First Step Act.

The bipartisan criminal justice reform bill was pushed for and signed by President Trump. In prison, Matthew found God and completed more than 30 bible studies, became a law clerk, taught GED classes and mentored other inmates.

Grace Eline

Photo: White House

At 9 years old, Grace Eline was diagnosed with Germinoma, a germ-cell brain tumor. In May 2018, she began and has now finished chemotherapy.

Now, with doctors unable to find evidence of the disease, Grace wants to help other children who are fighting cancer, something First Lady Melania Trump has also made her cause.

Ashley Evans

Photo: White House

On February 9, 2019, Ashley Evans will celebrate 1 year and 1 month in recovery. She long struggled with opioid and substance abuse. The president made the opioid epidemic a central campaign issue, championed the cause in office and signed the Opioid Crisis Response Act.

On February 15, 2019, Ashley will be reunited with her daughter.

Elvin Hernandez

Photo: White House

Special Agent Elvin Hernandez is with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trafficking in Persons Unit, and has more than 18 years of federal law enforcement experience in narcotics, gangs, and human trafficking.

During his current 7-year assignment, Special Agent Hernandez has conducted numerous successful international human trafficking investigations involving transnational organized crime groups such as those reported by People’s Pundit Daily (PPD).

Roy James

Photo: White House

Roy James is the Plant Manager of the Vicksburg Forest Products lumber facility. After 26 years at the sawmill and working his way up to Vice President of Operations, the company told him the facility would close.

Last year, Vicksburg was designated an Opportunity Zone through provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the first overhaul to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years.

The plant was reopened and Mr. James was hired to oversee the entire facility.

Timothy Matson

Photo: White House

In 2005, Timothy Matson joined the Pittsburgh Police Department and, in 2016, made the SWAT team. In October 2018, Tim responded to the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, which killed 11 and injured 7.

Mr. Matson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is credited with saving countless lives in an anti-Semitic attack carried out by 46-year-old Robert Gregory Bowers.

The sole shooter was arrested and charged with 29 federal crimes and 36 state crimes.

Judah Samet

Photo: White House

Judah Samet is a member of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and a survivor of the mass shooting. But he is also a survivor of the Holocaust who immigrated to Israel after World War II.

He served as a paratrooper and radio man in the Israeli Defense Forces and moved to the United States in the 1960s.

Joshua Trump

Photo: White House

Joshua Trump is a 6th grade student in Wilmington, Delaware, who was unfortunate enough to share a last name with the president in an era that has seen violence against his supporters.

Though unrelated to the president, Joshua has been bullied in school due only to his last name.

Tom Wibberley

Photo: White House

Tom Wibberley is the father of Navy Seaman Craig Wibberley, who along with 16 other crew members was killed on the attack on the U.S.S. Cole on October 12, 2000.

He was only 19.

After Craig’s death, a scholarship fund was created that gives out four $1,000 scholarships each year to students studying computer science.

Alice Johnson

President Donald J. Trump, left, hands a pen to Isaac Newton Farris Jr., a nephew of slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after signing a proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Alice Marie Johnson, right. (Photos: White House/CAN-DO Clemency Project)
President Donald J. Trump, left, hands a pen to Isaac Newton Farris Jr., a nephew of slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after signing a proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Alice Marie Johnson, right. (Photos: White House/CAN-DO Clemency Project)

On June 6, 2018, President Trump granted Alice Johnson clemency as she was serving a mandatory life sentence without parole for nonviolent drug-related charges.

The then-63-year-old great-grandmother served nearly 22 years in federal prison for a first-time offense. For months, Kim Kardashian West had been discussing the case with Jared Kushner, the president’s advisor and son-in-law.

President Trump will call on lawmakers to

On this episode of Liberty Never Sleeps, Tom delves into the thinking behind liberals’ attempts to create utopia through government, or any means necessary.

*AOC At it Again
*On Corporate Buybacks
*But ISIS Will Claim Victory
*Liam’s Violent History
*SOTU Tonight

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Senator Paul: War in Afghanistan “Nothing to Do With 911. It Has to Do With Nation-Building”

Senator Rand Paul, R-Kty., took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to argue against a resolution calling for continued U.S. involvement in Afghanistan on Monday, February 4, 2019.

“Today, there is no one living who attacked us on 911 that is free. There is no one living who aided or abetted the people who attacked us on 911,” Senator Paul said.

“Is Afghanistan a mess? Sure it’s a mess. It’s always been a mess, and always will be a mess. But now our mission has changed to nation-building.”

The U.S. Senate voted Monday 68-23 to rebuff President Donald Trump for deciding to keep his promise to the American people to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

Transcript

I want to compliment President Trump for being bold enough and strong enough to do something no American president has contemplated in decades, Republican or Democrat, and that is to end the war in Afghanistan.

We’ve been there for 17 years. We voted on a resolution initially that said we would go after the people that attacked us on 911 and anyone who aided and abetted them.

We did that.

Today, there is no one living who attacked us on 911 that is free. There is no one living who aided or abetted the people who attacked us on 911. By any measurement, we are victorious. We’ve killed bin Laden. We’ve disrupted the terror camps in Afghanistan.

Is Afghanistan a mess? Sure it’s a mess. It’s always been a mess, and always will be a mess. But now our mission has changed to nation-building.

I want to compliment President Trump for being bold and brave enough for saying enough is enough. Let’s spend that money at home. We spend $51 billion a year in Afghanistan. That money can be spent at home. I’ve got three members of my family in the military. I don’t want them to go to Afghanistan.

Everyone of our political and military leaders — Republican, Democrat and Independent — will tell you there is no military mission in Afghanistan and yet we stay. Some of the very same people who say we have no mission, in the next breath say we need to send more troops there.

We sent 100,000 and we completely had victory. As our troops came down, we’re going to send 100,000 there and keep them forever? This resolution is an insult to the President and I will oppose it. This resolution is put forward by Republicans, who say to President Trump that you are leaving precipitously from Afghanistan.

How do you leave precipitously after 17 years? 17 years, we are no longer fighting anyone who attacked us on 911. The people we are fighting were not even born when 911 happened. The war there has nothing to do with 911. It has to do with nation-building.

Senator Rand Paul, R-Kty., took to the

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