BloggeRhythms

The presidential election only 5 days away, scanning news items encompassing the current state of the nation, one has to wonder why anyone not linked to a special interest group would extend the term of the incumbent POTUS by voting Democrat.

Beginning with the economy, Jeff Cox @cnbc.com titled today’s article: “US nonfarm payrolls total 161,000 in Oct, vs 175,000 jobs expected”

“The U.S. economy added a less-than-expected 161,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent as investors got to digest the final payrolls report before Tuesday's presidential election. 

“Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected nonfarm payrolls to grow by 175,000 and the jobless rate to tick down to 4.9 percent.”

While those who’ve stopped looking for jobs and those working part-time for economic reasons fell to 9.5 percent, the lowest level since April 2008, the number of workers counted as out of the labor force was the second highest on record, surging 425,000 to 94.6 million. 

The labor-force participation rate also edged lower to 62.8 percent, but “remains mired around levels last seen in the late-1970s.”

Further indicators of employment woes were found as retail positions fell by 1,100 heading into the holiday season, while manufacturing lost 9,000 and mining and logging dropped 2,000. 

Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.com said: "Unfortunately, manufacturing job growth remains virtually non-existent. Many of those separated from this sector for a long time, perhaps lacking sufficient meaningful skills to get back into the workforce, feel like their government has forgotten them." 

Susan Jones @cnsnews.com, added comparative data, writing: “When George W. Bush took office in January 2000, 69,142,000 people were not in the labor force, and when his two terms ended, the number had grown to 80,380,000. 

“When President Obama took office in January 2009, 80,529,000 Americans were not in the labor force, and that number has steadily risen during his two terms to its current 94-million level. The number reached a record 94,708, 000 this past May.” 

Reflecting the broader economy, an article @usatoday.com from The Associated Press states: “Stocks shifted into malaise mode Thursday afternoon with the looming election, sending the S&P 500 down for an eighth straight day. 

“That's the longest losing streak for the broad market index since 2008, CNBC reported. 

“All three major indexes fell for the day after holding onto gains for at least much of the morning. The S&P 500's loss was 0.4%, while the Dow Jones industrial average and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2% and 0.9%, respectively.” 

At the same time, negative foreign policy ramifications continue to mount as reported by Lisa Daftari @foreigndesknews.com. 

“A lieutenant commander within Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps is celebrating the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran by threatening that if the United States does not keep its end of the nuclear deal, Iran will render the deal void, or “send the deal to (the) Museum,” according to Iranian media sources. 

"The Iranian nation is bound to its nuclear commitments, but this commitment is not a one-way street," Brigadier General Hossein Salami said at a commemoration of the Embassy takeover and subsequent hostage crisis in Tehran. 

Speaking at a large-scale demonstration Thursday, Salami stated that if the U.S. fails to keep its word regarding the Iran nuclear deal, they will be forced to return to “square one” regarding negotiations. 

“Meanwhile, Germany's domestic intelligence agency reported that the Iranian regime has plans to follow a “clandestine” road to obtaining nuclear technology and paraphernalia from German companies in what the report called “a quantitatively high level,” even by international standards. 

“The Associated Press discovered a secret agreement revealing that the nuclear deal would undoubtedly lift limits on Iran’s weapons program long before the deal expires in 10 years. During this time they could install thousands of centrifuges, five times more than what the regime currently has, in addition to enriching uranium faster than its current capability.” 

Thus, as suspected by many, the deal’s been absolutely worthless from the start. 

And then, a short couple of paragraphs from cbsnews.com indicate that the FBI had merit in pursuing the Weiner email case. 

“The FBI has found emails related to Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state on the laptop belonging to the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, Anthony Weiner, according to a U.S. official. 

“These emails, CBS News’ Andres Triay reports, are not duplicates of emails found on Secretary Clinton’s private server.” 

While at this point, “it remains to be seen whether these emails are significant to the FBI’s investigation into Clinton,” and it’s also not known how many relevant emails there are, there certainly seem to be indications of additional irregularities. 

Coming back to the status of the upcoming election, it’s continually surprising how the MSM, including Fox News, couch probable truths via the slant of their reportage.

Fox opines: “The FBI’s October surprise appears to have improved Donald Trump’s overall standing in the electoral map, with the latest Fox News Electoral Scorecard showing several states shifting in his favor since last week.

“The Fox News Decision Team announced updates to the scorecard Thursday afternoon, reflecting the following changes based on recent polling and other factors:

• New Hampshire moves from “lean Democrat” to “toss-up”
• Ohio moves from “toss-up” to “lean Republican”
• Indiana moves from “lean Republican” to “solid Republican”
• Missouri moves from “lean Republican” to “solid Republican”

The article then says: “Despite the changes, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton maintains the clear advantage, and Trump’s path to victory remains a tight one. 

“But the latest ratings show Clinton’s advantage diminishing.” 

Yet, as a practical matter: “If Trump were to win all the states leaning toward or solidly in the GOP column, he’d be short at 192 electoral votes. But winning all the toss-up states would put him just 15 electoral votes shy of 270. 

“One more win in North Carolina, Michigan or Pennsylvania could get him to victory.”

Consequently, since Trump should certainly be presumed to win where he’s gained sufficient support, and has the same kind of probability as his opponent elsewhere, why is he treated as if his winning would be unexpected?

Yet, if his rival wins, this morning a friend sent something to consider.

 

Bringing us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife.

This one comes from K.T. McFarland @FoxNews.com: “Ronald Reagan had it.  Both Roosevelts – Teddy and Franklin – had it.  The next president will have it too -- a unique historic opportunity that comes along once every generation or so.  It is the chance to break loose from the stale and stagnant status quo and fix the economy, rethink American foreign policy, and restore our sense of national purpose.

“Will the next president seize the moment?  Only by first turning the economy around with a pro-growth program to cut personal and corporate taxes, streamline regulations, and embrace the American energy revolution. If so, he or she will unleash an economic renaissance that is poised at the starting gate, ready to take off. 

“There are a dozen new technologies and products that were invented in America, ready to be mass produced in America and sold not only here at home to all over the world.  Things like 3D printing, driverless cars, wearable medical devices, robotics, DNA-based medicines, nanotechnology, bioengineering, and the internet of things.  But this burst of new manufactures will only happen if the next president gets government out of the way of the free market.” 

After next providing readers with significant background of both current presidential candidates, Ms McFarland brilliantly presents guidance for those unable to grasp the magnitude of what’s at stake for the nation’s future, as follows: 

“And, as we have seen in recent days, a Hillary Clinton administration is likely to be haunted by investigations, corruption, indictments and even a constitutional crisis. 

“I worked in the West Wing during Watergate and saw firsthand what how such a crisis can destroy a president, the administration and test the mettle of the country. 

“I think the choice is simple.  It’s the same question Ronald Reagan asked the American people in 1980.  If you think everything is just fine, and you’re better off than you were eight years ago, if you think the world is a safer place, then you should vote for the status quo candidate, Hillary Clinton, who will continue things just as they are. 

“But if you, like me, think we need to throw the bums out, drain the swamp, revitalize our economy and reclaim the mantle of global leadership, then by all means vote for the one candidate who has shown time and again that he’s not afraid of challenging the conventional wisdom and rejecting the status quo. 

“Only one of the candidates can seize this unique historic moment to Make America Great Again. 

“That’s why I’ll be pulling the lever for Donald Trump on Tuesday.” 

Along the very same lines, another well thought out piece came from Liz Peek also @FoxNews.com, who writes”  

“It's time to ask Hillary's supporters: How could you?

“Indeed, the liberal media, exposed through numerous leaked emails as colluding with the Hillary Clinton campaign, has done a terrific job of turning Trump backers into pariahs. 

“But shouldn’t we question those who are putting their money behind Hilary Clinton, the first person to run for the presidency while subject of a criminal investigation? Whose natural instincts are to lie, about matters serious and inconsequential? Whose greed outweighs incandescent ambition?   

“Despite decades of scandal, Wall Street tycoons and Hollywood eminences gather to promote the Good Ship Hillary, happy to sail with the progressive tides. Even as cranky investigators expose icebergs in their path. And no one calls them to account.” 

Ms Peeks well-researched. well-written thesis is well-worth reading. Here’s a link http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/11/04/its-time-to-ask-hillarys-supporters-how-could.html

 

Which brings up once again, even so close to election day, the continuing question: Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Jerry Brown, and Starbucks chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you guys are reading this?   

That's it for today folks.  

   

Adios