Important headlines for October 25th:
Bottom Line: These are the stories you don't want to miss (but probably would if I didn't find them for you)…
Clinton Campaign and Democratic Party Helped Pay for Russia Dossier Kenneth Vogel, New York Times
Excerpt: The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee paid for research that was included in a dossier made public in January that contained salacious claims about connections between Donald J. Trump, his associates and Russia.
A spokesperson for a law firm said on Tuesday that it had hired Washington-based researchers last year to gather damaging information about Mr. Trump on numerous subjects — including possible ties to Russia — on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the D.N.C.
The revelation, which emerged from a letter filed in court on Tuesday, is likely to fuel new partisan attacks over federal and congressional investigations into Russia’s attempts to disrupt last year’s election and whether any of Mr. Trump’s associates assisted in the effort.
Going back to 2011 there's a link between the Obama administration and Russians as part of the "Uranium 1" deal that led to 20% of the US uranium supply being sold to Russia. Now we have evidence that the falsified Trump "golden shower" dossier was bought and paid for by the Clinton's and DNC (the dollar amount has now been revealed to by $12.4 million according to the legal filings). Perhaps just as alarming is that the paid efforts by the DNC/Obama administration continued after the election indicating that there was an effort to attempt to take out the President-elect.
Brady: Odds 'Very Good' for Tax Reform by Year's End James Arkin, RealClearPolitics
Excerpt: Rep. Kevin Brady, the chairman of the tax writing committee in the House, said Tuesday the odds are "very good" Congress will send tax legislation to President Trump's desk by the end of the year
I'll believe it when I see it, but the news despite the noise, continues to be positive. The Senate's budget passage was an important substantive step. It's easy to forget that it's only been nine months thus far. For a while I've used the dichotomy between President's Obama and Trump to illustrate hopefully instructive points. People, especially in the media, generally viewed President Obama favorably due to his approach and platitudes. Conversely, Americans generally disliked his major policy positions/reforms. Donald Trump thus far has literally been the inverse. Less liked personally due to style and approach but with an agenda evoking positive outcomes already and if tax reform were to pass this year - potentially significant achievement.
Nine months into the Obama administration his major policy wins were the $900 billion debt spending failure known as the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (remember the shovel ready jobs that never were?) and the bailout of car companies that went bankrupt anyway. Nine months in the media's narrative wasn't anywhere near critical however - perspective is key. If meaningful tax reform really does happen this year it would have been a highly successful 11 months despite the noise.
A Year Later, Elites Still Don't Get Why People Voted Trump John Davidson, Federalist
I talked about this point as recently as yesterday. Ironically enough it was none other than Bill Clinton who cited "the economy stupid". A phrase prophetic and drafted by James Carville. After eight years of higher taxes, more regulation and a pathetic 1.8% average growth economy - worst in US history for any President - people had enough. People in Washington and in the media care mostly about the bombast and spinning the latest soundbite or tweet into a controversy. The average American cares far more about having enough money to take care of their family and get ahead overtime.
It's been a week since I cited this but while the GSS media engages in their daily work this is what's going on in the real world.
Economic growth over 3%
Base unemployment rate is the lowest in 16 years
Real unemployment is the best in ten years
Wage growth is the best in ten years
Labor participation is the best in four years
Corporate profits are at all-time highs
The stock market is at all-time highs amid a record run since last November's election
Until tomorrow...