BloggeRhythms

Yesterday, John Whitesides headlined his column @reuters.com: “Blue-collar Democrats to party: It's still the economy, stupid”

Mr. Whitesides writes: “David Betras could see trouble coming.

“The Democratic Party chairman in Youngstown, Ohio, wrote to Hillary Clinton's advisers in May warning she needed to put a jobs-focused message at the heart of her White House campaign or else watch blue-collar voters in states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania slip away to Republican Donald Trump. 

“Clinton never responded to Betras, and in the final weeks of her campaign she spent much of her time portraying Trump as unfit, rather than highlighting her economic plans. On Nov. 8, Election Day, Betras' warning proved prescient - she lost Ohio and Pennsylvania and, on Wednesday, Michigan, too, based on the latest unofficial ballot counts. 

“The surprising upset by Trump, a wealthy businessman who made his promises to renegotiate trade deals and restore jobs a centerpiece of his agenda, was fueled in part by support from white working-class voters in those vital Rust Belt states and elsewhere.” 

Then, this morning, Democrat Party Chairman Betras’ jobs focused premise was unquestionably confirmed by results of another type of voter reaction to Trump’s election victory. This time, they illustrated their pleasure with their pocketbooks.   

A story by a Dailymail.com Reporter @dailymail.com is headlined: “The biggest holiday splurge in HISTORY: Sales surge 13% as stores take a record $2BILLION on Thanksgiving and hope for $3.1billion on Black Friday amid post-election spending boom”

According to the text: “The National Retailers Foundation says online spending over the three-day bonanza will reach an eye-watering $8.4billion. The NRF's annual holiday shopping forecast expects $3.05billion on Black Friday and $3.36billion on Cyber Monday - which would mean it is the biggest shopping day of all time.

“Other forecasters project overall holiday spending will rise by 3.6 percent - which would be a bigger jump that the average seen over the past seven years. 

“If spending does increase by the predicted amount, 690,000 new seasonal jobs will be created, according to the NRF.  

“A staggering $1.15billion was spent online between midnight on Thursday and 5pm, according to Adobe Digital Insights. 

“It was an increase of more than 13 per cent on what was spent during the same time frame in 2015, and Adobe said it expected the Thanksgiving Day total to surge past $2billion in the next few hours.” 

The buying surge reflects the finding that: “Consumer confidence rose by 8.4 points from October to 85.2 in November - the biggest gain within a month since December 2011, according to the University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment for November.” 

Richard Curtin, University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers chief economist told Bloomberg: “The upsurge in favorable economic prospects is not surprising given Trump's populist policy views, and it was perhaps exaggerated by what most considered a surprising victory as well as by a widespread sense of relief that the election had finally ended.” 

“With increased confidence in job security, wage growth and soaring markets, shoppers are planning to spend, spend, spend over the holidays.  

“They also estimate that holiday sales will grow 3.6 percent on last year - bringing a $630.05 billion boon to the economy.” 

Reader comments following the article confirmed the positive change that most are feeling. With the following three illustrating the general reaction found throughout. 

Jason Biggs, Sabine, United States, wrote sarcastically: “Finally the Obama economic plan has kicked in."

mhatr, Philadelphia, United States, followed with: “But..but..but I am absolutely positive, beyond a shadow of a doubt , 100% sure that I read somewhere that Trump would be bad for the economy.”

Jimmie Jam Meeks, Raleigh, United States, added: “Amazing isn't it. Obama was so bad that just knowing Trump will have the reigns of power in 2 months has caused many things to already get better."

Then, D alen, Los Angeles, United States, posted a rather long but well-worthwhile reading encapsulation of the overwhelmingly positive consumer reaction: 

“It's called optimism! The Celebration of the end an oppressive 8 year rein of economic uncertainty, failures and destruction caused by the Obama administration. It is the anticipation of reversing all of his freedom destroying punitive regulations and policies. You might say the celebration of the end of Americas first experiment with Marxism by leftest radicals! All and all it is American's breathing again and the rush of the oxygen of freedom made many light headed. But as they get used to it again things will settle down and America can once again be free. Obama had a strangle hold on us that was unprecedented and our constitution finally allowed us to send he and his ideology packing....” 

All of which clearly indicates that most Americans seem to be anticipating a very, very merry Christmas, indeed. 

On another positive note, which concerns the nation’s security in the  future, Mark Landler @nytimes.com, reports that Trump has chosen K. T. McFarland for the critical job of deputy national security adviser. 

A former aide in three Republican White Houses and a Fox News commentator, she “has been highly critical of President Obama’s approach to combating terrorism — a view that aligns her with Mr. Trump’s choice for national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn.” 

“Ms. McFarland’s national security experience dates to the Nixon administration, when she was an aide to Henry A. Kissinger. She was a staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, a speechwriter for Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, and the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. 

A familiar presence on Fox News, she’s harshly criticized Obama over his handling of the Islamic State. “The president has stuck his head in the sand,” she said in September 2014 after the group had kidnapped and executed two American journalists."

“To me, it’s a dereliction of duty,” she added. “What was this president doing? Well, he was playing a lot of golf this summer, but he clearly was not attending to the defense of the United States.” 

All of which indicated the direction that the nation will now be taking towards rebuilding its position, capabilities and image regarding the Islamic State and terrorism.    

On another subject, the plentiful coverage regarding the passing of Fidel Castro, eliminates the need for extensive mention here. Something he said, though, as quoted in an article @FoxNews.com is of curious interest.  

The text says: “After graduation and now a revolutionary, he took up arms against the government of President Fulgencio Batista, leading a failed 1953 attack on a military barracks in hopes of triggering a popular revolt.

Instead he was captured and at his trial, where he led his own defense, famously predicted "history will absolve me."

Now according to the Free Dictionary by Farlex on-line, here’s the definition of “absolve.” 

1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.
2. To relieve of a requirement or obligation. 

a. To grant a remission of sin to.
b. To pardon or remit (a sin). 

Thus, Fidel's choice of verbiage is interesting because, if he was so certain that his actions were the best for his people and what he was doing was right and virtuous for everyone, why would he need absolving at all?

That's it for today folks.

Adios