Biden Presidency

[Irish#1]

It's like he picked up the Trump Presidential Playbook Lack of legitimacy in the upcoming election? We were told the last election was the most secure in the history of the universe. This from the party that rigged the previous primary for Hillary.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

 

[RDU Irish]

I’m sure our Allies in Europe are nervous as hell. As is everyone in Taiwan.

This will be a slow siege, why go to war when you can fleece them of their wealth and own their supply of essential food and energy. Ukraine is the breadbasket - 16% of global wheat exports and 12% of global corn exports. Russia is not increasing gas supply with Nordstream, just rerouting from Ukraine to starve them of fees and bolster Russian profits. Germany gets the benefit of being less screwed than Europe and rationing out what supply they don't keep for themselves. European industry is shutting down due to high energy prices - US needs to get aggressive with onshoring industry not just to protect from China but to compensate for Europe's self castration. Tremendous economic opportunity but we also self nut-flick bowing to ESG mania and convincing ourselves that energy independence is bad.

Cuddle your pets and hope the wind blows Gunter and Pierre. The good news is Europe doesn't want this war so they will gladly secede Ukraine to Vlad at the disdain of DC sabre rattlers

 

[NorthDakota]

If we don't go to war over Ukraine it'll be so embarrassing

 

[Armyirish47]

If we don't go to war over Ukraine it'll be so embarrassing

Why?

 

[Irish#1]

Joe doesn't realize it, but every day he becomes a little more like Trump.

"How do you plan to win back moderates and independents who cast a ballot for you in 2020 but, polls indicate, aren't happy with the way you're doing your job now?" The President responded this way: "I don't believe the polls."

If you heard echoes of former President Donald Trump in that answer, you're not alone."If it's bad, I say it's fake," Trump said last year. "If it's good, I say that's the most accurate poll ever."

 

[Rogue219]

The idea that Secretaries of State and or State legislatures can decide they don't like the total vote count of an election and declare whoever they want as the winner seems like a pretty serious and dangerous step backward for the Republic.

That and the level of gerrymandering being done everywhere at every level by both parties is absolutely bonkers.

My polling place was less than a mile from my house in 2020 and for the spring 2021 local elections. I now go clear across town 4 miles away for no reason other than they redrew the maps and my district looks like some kind of amoeba drawn by an Ann Arbor undergrad.

Vote by mail is still an option, so I'm doing that.

 

[Irish#1]

If we don't go to war over Ukraine it'll be so embarrassing

The United States accused Russia of recruiting current and former Ukrainian government officials to attempt to take control of Ukraine's government as it unveiled new sanctions on Thursday.

"Russia has directed its intelligence services to recruit current and former Ukrainian government officials to prepare to take over the government of Ukraine and to control Ukraine's critical infrastructure with an occupying Russian force," the Treasury Department said in a statement, as it rolled out sanctions against four current and former Ukrainian officials it said were involved in Kremlin-directed influence activities to destabilize Ukraine.
The Treasury said the four individuals -- two of whom are current members of Ukraine's Parliament --- were acting under the direction of a Russian intelligence service sanctioned by the US and played "various roles" in Russia's "global influence campaign to destabilize sovereign countries in support of the Kremlin's political objectives."

 

[irishog77]

The idea that Secretaries of State and or State legislatures can decide they don't like the total vote count of an election and declare whoever they want as the winner seems like a pretty serious and dangerous step backward for the Republic.

That and the level of gerrymandering being done everywhere at every level by both parties is absolutely bonkers.

My polling place was less than a mile from my house in 2020 and for the spring 2021 local elections. I now go clear across town 4 miles away for no reason other than they redrew the maps and my district looks like some kind of amoeba drawn by an Ann Arbor undergrad.

Vote by mail is still an option, so I'm doing that.

Where is this happening?

 

[Irish#1]

The idea that Secretaries of State and or State legislatures can decide they don't like the total vote count of an election and declare whoever they want as the winner seems like a pretty serious and dangerous step backward for the Republic.

That and the level of gerrymandering being done everywhere at every level by both parties is absolutely bonkers.

My polling place was less than a mile from my house in 2020 and for the spring 2021 local elections. I now go clear across town 4 miles away for no reason other than they redrew the maps and my district looks like some kind of amoeba drawn by an Ann Arbor undergrad.

Vote by mail is still an option, so I'm doing that.

This reminded me of a story. Living in Indy across town would be 20 miles away. I used to work in a small town. One day a co-worker who lived there told me of a shortcut to avoid traffic. I was surprised asked "What traffic?" I guess it's all in perspective.

 

[Irishize]

This reminded me of a story. Living in Indy across town would be 20 miles away. I used to work in a small town. One day a co-worker who lived there told me of a shortcut to avoid traffic. I was surprised asked "What traffic?" I guess it's all in perspective.

It has to be perspective. I practically live in my car (pre-Covid) w/ my job so “clear across town 4 miles away” is actually convenient for me. Anything I can accomplish local is a a bonus. Some of my biggest accounts are 2-3 hours away one direction.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Wonder if Biden told them to leave a chocolate on the pillow for Putin

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/jacquiheinrich/status/1484908832895782917?s=21[/TWEET]

 

[ulukinatme]

Wonder if Biden told them to leave a chocolate on the pillow for Putin

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/jacquiheinrich/status/1484908832895782917?s=21[/TWEET]

Putin can buy his own chocolate with the way we've been buying up Russian oil over the last year. Record highs last year in oil imports from Russia despite the tough talk and threats of more sanctions. This was after 4 years of lower imports under Trump. Gotta stop the fracking though, shut down the pipelines...why is gas higher? I'm told the President doesn't control prices.

 

[TorontoGold]

Putin can buy his own chocolate with the way we've been buying up Russian oil over the last year. Record highs last year in oil imports from Russia despite the tough talk and threats of more sanctions. This was after 4 years of lower imports under Trump. Gotta stop the fracking though, shut down the pipelines...why is gas higher? I'm told the President doesn't control prices.

Besides the SPR, how would a president provide a short term relief for gas prices? Genuinely curious as oil/natural gas was always convoluted in my macro econ classes.

 

[ulukinatme]

Besides the SPR, how would a president provide a short term relief for gas prices? Genuinely curious as oil/natural gas was always convoluted in my macro econ classes.

There was little point in dipping into the reserves. It's supposed to be used for emergencies, not to improve polling numbers. Gas prices ended up dipping nominally for a short period and then we're back up over $3 again today. We increased the demand on outside oil as we lowered production here at home, whether it was due to the pandemic and/or policy.

We need to think long term and reduce our reliance on Russia and the Middle East. Finish the pipeline, get back to fracking, the price will drop as the supply increases and demand on others falls. We still have a pressing need to make more economical electric vehicles too so we can reduce consumption, but therein lies another problem as we don't have the infrastructure to supply energy and charging stations yet if a large percentage of the population goes electric. 70% of the country is powered by either petroleum or natural gas, we need more nuclear production most likely.

 

[NorthDakota]

Besides the SPR, how would a president provide a short term relief for gas prices? Genuinely curious as oil/natural gas was always convoluted in my macro econ classes.

That stuff is not my wheelhouse either. So I'll go purely optical because that's something I think we all get.

When it gets on the news that the President is cutting gas/oil pipelines and (i think?) starts causing trouble with new drilling, he's going to catch hell. It gets even uglier for said President when he signs off on an adversary building a gas pipeline.

We got truly stupid amounts of oil in the US, and Canada has the tar sands? I got no problem with putting research money into renewables and stuff. Selfishly I hope they run into hangups because that benefits home more.

that's largely irrelevant though to Biden getting blamed. It is all gonna go back to the first paragraph. Whether it's economically right or wrong, I have no idea. I hated those courses in college... like you, it is convoluted to me. Frankly, I'd love to get a beer with you sometime. I think it would be fun. I digress again.

His biggest issue is that he has screwed up enough tangible things with few, if any, wins that he is going to get blamed for less tangible things too whether they are his fault or not. With Biden, I'm pretty sure Afghanistan was his bad moment that lost the faith of many open minded and even friendly voters.

I believe GWB ran into a similar issue with Katrina. Once you have a bad moment, people start blaming you for everything that goes wrong.

 

[Armyirish47]

That stuff is not my wheelhouse either. So I'll go purely optical because that's something I think we all get.

When it gets on the news that the President is cutting gas/oil pipelines and (i think?) starts causing trouble with new drilling, he's going to catch hell. It gets even uglier for said President when he signs off on an adversary building a gas pipeline.

We got truly stupid amounts of oil in the US, and Canada has the tar sands? I got no problem with putting research money into renewables and stuff. Selfishly I hope they run into hangups because that benefits home more.

that's largely irrelevant though to Biden getting blamed. It is all gonna go back to the first paragraph. Whether it's economically right or wrong, I have no idea. I hated those courses in college... like you, it is convoluted to me. Frankly, I'd love to get a beer with you sometime. I think it would be fun. I digress again.

His biggest issue is that he has screwed up enough tangible things with few, if any, wins that he is going to get blamed for less tangible things too whether they are his fault or not. With Biden, I'm pretty sure Afghanistan was his bad moment that lost the faith of many open minded and even friendly voters.

I believe GWB ran into a similar issue with Katrina. Once you have a bad moment, people start blaming you for everything that goes wrong.

Optics is definitely a good point. The truth is that domestic oil production cratered in May of 2020 when ye old pandemic kicked off, which is obviously pre-President Biden but once a dedicated narrative takes hold it is incredibly difficult to turn the tide of. Supply and demand be darned!

 

[TorontoGold]

That stuff is not my wheelhouse either. So I'll go purely optical because that's something I think we all get.

When it gets on the news that the President is cutting gas/oil pipelines and (i think?) starts causing trouble with new drilling, he's going to catch hell. It gets even uglier for said President when he signs off on an adversary building a gas pipeline.

We got truly stupid amounts of oil in the US, and Canada has the tar sands? I got no problem with putting research money into renewables and stuff. Selfishly I hope they run into hangups because that benefits home more.

that's largely irrelevant though to Biden getting blamed. It is all gonna go back to the first paragraph. Whether it's economically right or wrong, I have no idea. I hated those courses in college... like you, it is convoluted to me. Frankly, I'd love to get a beer with you sometime. I think it would be fun. I digress again.

His biggest issue is that he has screwed up enough tangible things with few, if any, wins that he is going to get blamed for less tangible things too whether they are his fault or not. With Biden, I'm pretty sure Afghanistan was his bad moment that lost the faith of many open minded and even friendly voters.

I believe GWB ran into a similar issue with Katrina. Once you have a bad moment, people start blaming you for everything that goes wrong.

I just don't get the hangup on which country is providing the resource. This is where I get flack from progressives because the whole "you can change companies with your dollar", but under capitalism there is hardly ever "ethical" consumption. Like sure it's nice to have good homegrown products, but if I can get a cheaper and better product from India then I'll get that instead of from Dave McHockey. Isn't that supposed to be the glory of Capitalism that you can encourage competition and innovation by removing barriers? Idk being beholden to cartels like OPEC and the like is above my IQ level to understand.

Basically protectionist policies that hurt competition like tariffs or milk taxes are brutal. The steel tariff stuff was a huge headache for me and my clients trying to skirt around cross-border taxes.

Anyways - I can see how people would be upset by higher gas prices, but I just don't see how a building permit for keystone would have solved this whole thing. Who's to say JT wouldn't have cranked the price up if Donny was in charge? It's seems way more to do with a global economic supply chain and OPEC issue then a guy who's just starting year 2 of a presidency in a pandemic.

(My 4th year macro econ prof referred to me as Canadian rand Paul lmao at one point)

 

[NorthDakota]

I just don't get the hangup on which country is providing the resource. This is where I get flack from progressives because the whole "you can change companies with your dollar", but under capitalism there is hardly ever "ethical" consumption. Like sure it's nice to have good homegrown products, but if I can get a cheaper and better product from India then I'll get that instead of from Dave McHockey. Isn't that supposed to be the glory of Capitalism that you can encourage competition and innovation by removing barriers? Idk being beholden to cartels like OPEC and the like is above my IQ level to understand.

Basically protectionist policies that hurt competition like tariffs or milk taxes are brutal. The steel tariff stuff was a huge headache for me and my clients trying to skirt around cross-border taxes.

Anyways - I can see how people would be upset by higher gas prices, but I just don't see how a building permit for keystone would have solved this whole thing. Who's to say JT wouldn't have cranked the price up if Donny was in charge? It's seems way more to do with a global economic supply chain and OPEC issue then a guy who's just starting year 2 of a presidency in a pandemic.

(My 4th year macro econ prof referred to me as Canadian rand Paul lmao at one point)

I think the issue is the idea of making things harder on your (or a friendly neighbor) companies than on an adversary.

I dont know specifics on oil/gas, but it's a bad look to sign off on things we won't do ourselves. If an oil/gas guy could explain that, I'd write it off entirely. On the surface, we got a ton of oil and gas in the US and Canada. We have the tech to get it. Let's go get it.

The Canadian Rand Paul is basically Karl Marx soo.....I jest.

 

[drayer54]

That stuff is not my wheelhouse either. So I'll go purely optical because that's something I think we all get.

When it gets on the news that the President is cutting gas/oil pipelines and (i think?) starts causing trouble with new drilling, he's going to catch hell. It gets even uglier for said President when he signs off on an adversary building a gas pipeline.

We got truly stupid amounts of oil in the US, and Canada has the tar sands? I got no problem with putting research money into renewables and stuff. Selfishly I hope they run into hangups because that benefits home more.

that's largely irrelevant though to Biden getting blamed. It is all gonna go back to the first paragraph. Whether it's economically right or wrong, I have no idea. I hated those courses in college... like you, it is convoluted to me. Frankly, I'd love to get a beer with you sometime. I think it would be fun. I digress again.

His biggest issue is that he has screwed up enough tangible things with few, if any, wins that he is going to get blamed for less tangible things too whether they are his fault or not. With Biden, I'm pretty sure Afghanistan was his bad moment that lost the faith of many open minded and even friendly voters.

I believe GWB ran into a similar issue with Katrina. Once you have a bad moment, people start blaming you for everything that goes wrong.

Afghanistan is where the tide turned because all of the people who had been hearing he was incompetent and failing saw his dramatic failure and connected the dots. I also think this administration is tone-def and out of touch with most American’s priorities. They wait until they are deeply underwater on an issue to acknowledge it.

Energy Independence appeared to be here and now is a mile away again. I think we must view Energy in a North America construct. Canada and Mexico and us are basically in this together. Axing Keystone Day 1 sent a signal to American O&G that the hostility had begun and it has seriously stalled O&G investment. Making permitting tougher, limiting drilling areas, and regulatory headwinds didn’t help either.
When Biden recognized he needed more production, he went to OPEC, not Texas. When Biden allowed a pipeline, it was for Russia, not us. I do believe the O&G community is going to grandstand and speculate of $150/BBL oil and laugh at Joe’s team for not understanding the industry. When Biden nominates people who openly say they want the industry to go bankrupt for Climate Change, do you expect investment on the O&G side?

The other side of the puzzle is that investment and raising capital in the sector has become much harder. Many big firms don’t want be tied to anything that isn’t viewed as sustainable/eco friendly.

Don’t forget what has also happened to commodity pricing due to inflation and the money supply. We’re also not moving the product from Texas/PA like we could. To simplify this to a simple a supply and demand issue and ignore the headwinds brought on from the Biden team would be a mistake.

 

[yankeehater]

I long for the day of peace and prosperity, but instead we have war and inflation. My in-laws who have voted Democrat since they retired (bought into the Republicans wanting to throw granny off the cliff fallacy) are complaining because their fixed income isn't making it through the month anymore. He is losing the elderly vote quickly because the retirement communities talk.

 

[yankeehater]

I also warned friends who were thinking of voting for Biden that when the US is weak the evil players become emboldened and it will be your kids who have to go off and fight the wars (not a middle aged dude like me). Sadly, it may be happening quicker than I even thought.

 

[Armyirish47]

Afghanistan is where the tide turned because all of the people who had been hearing he was incompetent and failing saw his dramatic failure and connected the dots. I also think this administration is tone-def and out of touch with most American’s priorities. They wait until they are deeply underwater on an issue to acknowledge it.

Energy Independence appeared to be here and now is a mile away again. I think we must view Energy in a North America construct. Canada and Mexico and us are basically in this together. Axing Keystone Day 1 sent a signal to American O&G that the hostility had begun and it has seriously stalled O&G investment. Making permitting tougher, limiting drilling areas, and regulatory headwinds didn’t help either.
When Biden recognized he needed more production, he went to OPEC, not Texas. When Biden allowed a pipeline, it was for Russia, not us. I do believe the O&G community is going to grandstand and speculate of $150/BBL oil and laugh at Joe’s team for not understanding the industry. When Biden nominates people who openly say they want the industry to go bankrupt for Climate Change, do you expect investment on the O&G side?

The other side of the puzzle is that investment and raising capital in the sector has become much harder. Many big firms don’t want be tied to anything that isn’t viewed as sustainable/eco friendly.

Don’t forget what has also happened to commodity pricing due to inflation and the money supply. We’re also not moving the product from Texas/PA like we could. To simplify this to a simple a supply and demand issue and ignore the headwinds brought on from the Biden team would be a mistake.

This is a beautiful example of optics and narrative that North Dakota pointed out. President Biden has approved oil and gas drilling on public lands on average more monthly in his first year than President Trump did in each of his first three. His administration also approved the largest offshore sale of public waters in US history. This completely ignores that under the guidance of President Trump OPEC massively slashed oil production in 2020 as part of a brokered deal. OPEC ramping back up is absolutely necessary to meet the supply needs of a global economy that bounced back quite strongly in 2021. US oil production in 2021 was essentially flat from 2020. Barring another global calamity oil production domestically looks on pace to ramp up above record levels in 2023.

So to word salad a host of issues and yell "Keystone!" when discussing gas prices and oil production while ignoring the broader picture would be a mistake.

 

[TorontoGold]

I long for the day of peace and prosperity, but instead we have war and inflation. My in-laws who have voted Democrat since they retired (bought into the Republicans wanting to throw granny off the cliff fallacy) are complaining because their fixed income isn't making it through the month anymore. He is losing the elderly vote quickly because the retirement communities talk.

Which war?

If countries around the world are all experiencing inflation, is this something where each leader is responsible for that separately or a collective global economic event? Additionally, how would you suggest a government should intervene to assist in individuals insufficient retirement planning?

 

[yankeehater]

Which war?

If countries around the world are all experiencing inflation, is this something where each leader is responsible for that separately or a collective global economic event? Additionally, how would you suggest a government should intervene to assist in individuals insufficient retirement planning?

You are sounding like a conservative in this post.

My in-laws generation was pre-401k and they were sold on social security being a retirement program. The data shows (annual income and life expectancy) most people will put into the program more than they will see in return. This is even before current inflationary trends.

U.S. just sent air craft carrier along with other allies to the Mediterranean. They are claiming this was a planned exercise even though it wasn't listed as late as yesterday.

 

[TorontoGold]

You are sounding like a conservative in this post.

Believe it or not I considered myself one until about 2015. But that doesn't answer the questions below:

1) Which war is being fought currently?

2) Who is responsible, in your opinion, for the inflation that is being felt in each country?

3) How should the Biden administration tackle poor retirement planning?

 

[NorthDakota]

Which war?

If countries around the world are all experiencing inflation, is this something where each leader is responsible for that separately or a collective global economic event? Additionally, how would you suggest a government should intervene to assist in individuals insufficient retirement planning?

I would think inflation of the US dollar has an impact on other currencies...I think they all sorta are connected in one way or another. But if I remember my foreign currencies course correctly from undergrad, a lot of them artificially tie their currency to a certain rate of US dollar. (Example: Australia might like their dollar to be like .80 US dollar or something).

Inflation was probably coming in some form or another, but again...Biden ran on getting everything back to normal. He hasn't. At all. He and the Dems are going to get murdered in the midterms. Its gonna be wild. USA rules.

 

[TorontoGold]

I would think inflation of the US dollar has an impact on other currencies...I think they all sorta are connected in one way or another. But if I remember my foreign currencies course correctly from undergrad, a lot of them artificially tie their currency to a certain rate of US dollar. (Example: Australia might like their dollar to be like .80 US dollar or something).

Inflation was probably coming in some form or another, but again...Biden ran on getting everything back to normal. He hasn't. At all. He and the Dems are going to get murdered in the midterms. Its gonna be wild. USA rules.

Yeah US inflation does impact other currencies but the reverse is true too. You might thinking of targeted interest rates set by the central banks? For us the BOC targets inflation at 2% a year and adjusts interest rates accordingly. With central banks like the BOC and the federal reserve operating pretty much as non-political bodies its strange to me how the gripe is with Biden and not with Powell who's been at the FR for a considerable amount of time.

Biden hasn't really done anything too crazy fiscally....inflation was 110% expected to hit no matter who the president was, with the pent up demand from the shutdowns in 2020 and supply shortages it was assured to happen.

The GOP media machine is so much better oiled than the Dems. The fact that people are losing their minds about a president who couldn't have possibly solved the global economic bottlenecks from a pandemic in his first year shows how well the messaging is. This is way too complicated to be "Yep FJB did this, it's all his fault" but Dems gunna Dem.

 

[drayer54]

This is a beautiful example of optics and narrative that North Dakota pointed out. President Biden has approved oil and gas drilling on public lands on average more monthly in his first year than President Trump did in each of his first three. His administration also approved the largest offshore sale of public waters in US history. This completely ignores that under the guidance of President Trump OPEC massively slashed oil production in 2020 as part of a brokered deal. OPEC ramping back up is absolutely necessary to meet the supply needs of a global economy that bounced back quite strongly in 2021. US oil production in 2021 was essentially flat from 2020. Barring another global calamity oil production domestically looks on pace to ramp up above record levels in 2023.

So to word salad a host of issues and yell "Keystone!" when discussing gas prices and oil production while ignoring the broader picture would be a mistake.

It’s not wrong and the strategic reserves stunt was a response to polls. Remember the DCCCs lovely graphic on lower oil prices. There’s a reason every gas pump in the area has a sticker on it with Biden’s face.

 

[drayer54]

The GOP media machine is so much better oiled than the Dems. The fact that people are losing their minds about a president who couldn't have possibly solved the global economic bottlenecks from a pandemic in his first year shows how well the messaging is. This is way too complicated to be "Yep FJB did this, it's all his fault" but Dems gunna Dem.

Please tell me this is sarcasm? How does someone post such things with a straight face? The media is hysterically in lock step with the DNC and promoting the left-wing agenda. It’s not just this network or that network. Look at all the papers. Big-tech and the ‘fact-checkers’ too. It’s insane what the right has to contend with.

 

[TorontoGold]

Please tell me this is sarcasm? How does someone post such things with a straight face? The media is hysterically in lock step with the DNC and promoting the left-wing agenda. It’s not just this network or that network. Look at all the papers. Big-tech and the ‘fact-checkers’ too. It’s insane what the right has to contend with.

You're all in lockstep that the world is ending, look at Yankee's posts, your posts, IE's CNN correspondent's posts, literally the only one with a somewhat level head is North Dakota. If someone was reading IE you'd think that the US is this wasteland, it's not. How does everyone get in the same mindset if the big bad media and Jeffrey Bezos are silencing the real news?

Just look at how so many flail around and go "hrrrrrr Inflation! hrrrrrrr gas!" But they can't explain why it's Biden's fault. Oh you mean the pipeline that was 8% complete in June 2021? Right yes that totally would have solved the rising prices lmaooooo ok buddy. Let's double back to inflation for a moment, Biden is getting slamed by the WP/NYT/Fox about inflation so I'm not sure the crying about MeDiA is warranted - at all. I still have not seen anyone provide an actual answer on what exactly Biden has done to cause a global inflation issue, can anyone do that? I promise I won't tell Daddy Soros to censor you xoxo