Trump discussion

[Poindexter]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStor ... y-53283348

I wish them the best but the states are so gerrymandered that it'll take a lot of republican apathy and swing voters to turn things around.

Hopefully Pensilvania is just the start of the courts making it a more level playing field.

On Monday, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court issued a new congressional map.
The new map repackages districts that had been stretched nearly halfway across Pennsylvania and reunifies Democratic-heavy cities that had been split by Republican map drawers.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nbcphil ... ml%3famp=y

[CapitalB]

I hope so for their sake. Its kind of sad watching emperor nero destroy the empire next door.

[Bigjohn69]

Gates says he will help special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in 'any and all matters


http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/rick- ... -1.4549166


What all does gates know ?

[Bigjohn69]

(CNN) - A survivor of last week's massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida, said President Donald Trump failed to bring her any real comfort during a phone call he made while she was hospitalized.


http://cnn.it/2BPEZ5U


Tough young woman

[Snman]

"My daughter, Ivanka, just arrived in South Korea. We cannot have a better, or smarter, person representing our country."

So she's the smartest? I knew Americans were dumb as posts but I never expected she'd be the smartest. Apple, tree.

ETA No offence to Americans clever enough to hang out here at Castanet Forums.

[Bigjohn69]

Mueller's willingness to cut a plea deal with Gates -- coming less than 24 hours after the special counsel's office charged Gates and one-time Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort with a bevy of money laundering and bank fraud violations -- suggests that Mueller believes that Gates has information critical to his broader investigation into Russian meddling and any possible collusion between the foreign power and the Trump campaign.


http://cnn.it/2GFUwEq

[Bigjohn69]

(CNN) - President Donald Trump on Saturday agreed to release a redacted version of a Democratic memo that seeks to undercut Republican claims of FBI surveillance abuses.

http://cnn.it/2HGR3Xk

[Bigjohn69]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/politics ... index.html


You can read the memo here

[Poindexter]

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/politics/read-democratic-memo/index.html


You can read the memo here

Suppose it was only fair that the Dems have the ability to counter the GOP memo. Not sure it was necessary though since the Nunes memo countered itself when it noted that the FBI investigation into Carter Page had started before the Steele dossier was received. The only people to take Nunes memo seriously would never take the time to read this memo so in some ways this was simply the second act of some useless political theatrics.

[Poindexter]

For someone who claimed his election was self funded so that he wouldn't owe anyone anything, Trump has pretty much done everything his wealthiest donors have asked of him.

We recently saw how Trump's remarks regarding gun regulation was almost word for word what the NRA said last Thursday. Now the Koch brothers are taking a victory lap after Trump has met the majority of thier laundry list of requests within a year of being in office.

Documents obtained by The Intercept and Documented show that the network of wealthy donors led by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch have taken credit for a laundry list of policy achievements extracted from the Trump administration and their allies in Congress.

To win support for the Republican tax legislation, the Koch network claims that it organized over 100 rallies in 36 states, contacted over 1.8 million activists, and knocked on over 33,000 doors. The group also spent freely on digital and television advertisements, with $1.6 million in TV spots to support the legislation in Wisconsin alone.

The Koch brothers intend to spend $400 million to preserve the Republican majority in Congress and maintain GOP power at the state level.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/static.thei ... ation.html

[Necro]

These companies announced wage hikes, bonuses, benefits in afterglow of Trump tax reform.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/81-compa ... 48283.html

1st Summit Bank: $1k bonuses to full-time employees; salary raises; increased charitable donations
AAON: $1k bonuses for 2,000 employees
AccuWeather: Year-end bonuses for 450-500 employees
Advance Financial: increase in 401(k) match
Aflac (AFL): Increase 401(k) match from 50% to 100% on the first 4% of compensation plus a one-time $500 contribution to every employee’s 401(k)
Alaska Airlines (ALK): $1k bonuses for 22,000 employees
Amarillo National Bank: $1k bonuses for 313 employees
American Airlines (AAL): $1k bonuses for ~127,600 employees
American Bank: $1k bonuses for 60 employees
American Community Bank & Trust: $500 bonuses to all employees, hiring more employees
American Express (AXP): Incremental investment in employee profit-sharing plans
American Savings Bank: $1k bonuses for 1,150 employees, minimum wage increase to $15.25
AndyMark: Hiring more employees
Anfinson Farm Store: $1k bonuses, 5% pay raises for employees
Apple (AAPL): $2,500 bonuses in restricted stock units, hiring 20,000 new employees
Aquesta Financial Holdings: $1k bonuses for 95 employees, minimum wage increase to $15
Associated Bank: $500 bonuses for all hourly employees, minimum wage increase to $15
AT&T (T): $1k bonuses for 200,000 U.S. employees
AutoNation: doubling 401(k) match, launch of cancer benefit program
Ball Ventures: $100 bonuses for every year of employment
BancorpSouth Bank: pay raises for ~70% of employees, bonuses for ~20% of employees
Bank of Advance: $1k bonuses to all employees
Bank of America (BAC): $1k bonuses for 145,000 U.S. employees
Bank of Colorado: $1k bonuses to all full-time employees
Bank of Hawaii: $1k bonuses for 2,074 employees, minimum wage increase to $15
Bank of the James: Increase base wage to $15 for employees serving more than 1 year; increased employee vacation days
Bank of the Ozarks: Incentive bonus plan for 2,300 employees of up to $1,200
BB&T (BBT): $1,200 bonuses for 27,000 employees, minimum wage increase to $15
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB): $1k bonuses to 1,000 employees, base wage increase to $15
Best Buy (BBY): $1k bonuses for full-time employees, $500 bonuses for part-time workers
Boeing (BA): $300 million for “workplace of the future” facilities, infrastructure, workforce development, charitable giving
Cabot Oil & Gas: $1,600 bonuses for employees
Camden National Bank: $1k bonuses to all non-executive full-time employees, $750 bonuses to part-time employees
Canary LLC: Hire more employees
Capital One (COF): Raising minimum wage to $15
Cedar Rapids Toyota: $500 bonuses to full-time employees
CenterState Bank: $1k bonuses to non-officer employees
Central Bancompany: $1k bonuses to full-time employees, $500 bonuses for part-time employees
Central Pacific Bank: $1k bonuses to 850 employees, minimum wage increase to $15.25
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Company: $1k bonuses to all 1,400 employees
Charter Communications (CHTR): Raising base wage to $15
Citizens Financial (CFG): $1k bonuses for 12,500 employees
Clayton Distillery: Upgrade facilities
College of the Ozarks: $204 bonuses for employees
Comcast (CMCSA): $1k bonuses for 100,000 employees
Comerica (CMA): $1k bonuses for 4,500 employees. base wage increase to $15
Commerce Bancshares: $1k bonuses for 3,450 full-time employees; $250 bonuses for eligible part-time employees
Community Trust Bancorp: $1k bonuses for full-time employees; $500 bonuses for part-time employees
Copperleaf Assisted Living: $200-$600 bonuses for 175 employees
CVS (CVS): Raising minimum wage from $9 to $11
Data Sales Co.: $1k bonuses for all 80 employees
Dayton T. Brown: $400 bonuses for all 210 employees
Delaware Supermarkets: $150 extra bonuses for 1,000 non-management personnel
DePatco: Employee bonuses
Dime Community Bank (DCOM): $1k bonuses for non-executive employees
Discover Financial Services (DFS): Raising base wage to $15.25 for “virtually all” ~7,000 full-time employees
Disney (DIS): $1k bonuses for 125,000 employees, $50M investment in employee education
DTN: $1k bonuses to ~700 employees
Eagle Ridge Ranch: Employee bonuses
EastIdahoNews.com: Employee bonuses
Elite Roofing Systems: Employee bonuses
Elite Clinical Trials: Employee bonuses
Emkay: $1k bonuses for all 150 full-time employees
Employers Mutual Casualty Insurance: $1k bonuses for employees for those below the VP position
Ennis: $500 bonuses for 2,200 non-management employees
ES Bancshares: $500 bonuses to non-executive full-time employees, $250 bonuses to part-time employees, creating 10 new jobs
Express Employment Professionals: $2k bonuses for ~200 non-executive employees
FedEx (FDX): $3.2 billion in wage increases, bonuses, pension funding
Fiat Chrysler (FCAU): $2k bonuses for 60,000 employees, creating 2,500 new jobs
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB): $1k bonuses for 13,500 employees, base wage rises to $15
FireBird Bronze: Offering health insurance to its nine employees for first time, upgrading equipment, hiring
First Bank and Trust Company: Base wage raised to $15
FirstCapital Bank of Texas: $500 bonuses for 197 employees
First Farmers Bank and Trust: $750 bonuses for full-time employees
First Financial Bancorp: Base wage raised to $15
First Financial Northwest: $1k bonuses to all 138 non-executive employees
First Hawaiian Bank: $1,500 bonuses for 2,264 employees, base wage increases to $15
First Horizon National Corp.: $1k bonuses for 4,000 employees
First Merchants Corporation: $1 wage increase for hourly employees, $500 bonuses for full-time employees excluding senior management
First Midwest Bancorp: Base wage increase to $15, $1,035 bonuses for 85% of employees
First National Bank: $1k bonuses for its 44 employees
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber engineering: $1,500 bonuses to all 400 employees
Flemington Car & Truck: $500 employee bonuses
Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC): $1k bonuses for full-time employees, $500 bonuses for part-time employees
FNB Corporation (FNB): Extra 401(k) contributions totaling $1M, base wage raised to $15
Fort Ranch: Employee bonuses
Fulton Financial Corporation (FULT): Base wage raised to $12, bonuses in form of additional week of pay for 2,775 employees
Gardner Company: Employee bonuses
Gate City Bank: $1k bonuses for 538 non-management personnel
Great Southern Bancorp (GSBC): 1,200 employees receive bonus (full-time get $1k, part-time get $500)
Great Western Bancorp (GWB): Base wage raised to $15, $500/wage increase for 70% of workforce
Group 1 Automotive (GPI): $500 cash bonuses for non-management dealership employees
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust: Increase base wage to $12
HarborOne Bank: $500 bonuses for 600 employees, base wage raised to $15
Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG): $1k bonuses for 9,500 employees
Hawaii National Bank: $1k bonuses
Heartland Bank: $1k bonuses for full-time non-executive employees, $500 bonuses to part-time employees
Home Bancshares (HOMB): $500 bonuses for 850 employees
Home Depot (HD): Up to $1k bonuses for all hourly employees
HomeStreet (HMST): Base wage increased to $15
Honeywell (HON): Increasing 401(k) match
Humana (HUM): Base wage increased to $15
IAT Insurance Group: $3k bonuses for 685 non-executive employees
INB Bank: $500 bonuses to 200 employees (excludes senior management), base wage raised to $15
JetBlue (JBLU): $1k bonuses for all 21,000 employees
Jordan Winery: $1k bonuses for each of its 85 employees
JPMorgan Chase (JPM): 22,000 employees will get base wage raised from $12-$16.50 up to $15-$18, opening up 400 new branches, hiring 4,000 new employees
Kalb Industries of Nevada: Pay raises for employees who have been with the company for 3+ months
Kansas City Southern: $1k bonuses to eligible employees
Kauai Cattle: Employee bonuses
KeyCorp (KEY): Raise base wage, increase retirement plan contributions (impacts >80% of workforce)
Kish Bancorp: $1k bonuses for full-time employees, $500 bonuses for part-time employees
Lawrence Paper Company: $500 bonuses for all 300 employees
M&T Bank Corporation (MTB): Base wage raised to $14/$16 (based on location), employees receive 40 hours of paid time annually for volunteer activities
MainSource Financial Group (MSFG): Base wage raised to $15
MB Financial: Base wage raised to $15
Melaleuca: $100 bonuses for each year worked for 2,000 employees
Meridian Bancorp (EBSB): Base wage raised to $15, additional 20% added to exiting bonuses, six new branch locations
Mid-AM Metal Forming: Bonuses for all 140 employees
MusicNotes: 3% salary increase for all 55 employees
National Bank Holdings Corporation: $1k bonuses for employees earning <$50k
Nationwide: $1k bonuses for 29,000 employees, increased 401(k) matching contributions
Navient (NAVI): $1k bonuses for ~6,566 employees (98% of total)
Nelnet: $1k bonuses for 4,100 employees
Nephron Pharmaceuticals: 5% raise for its 640 employees
NexTier Bank: $1k bonuses for all employees, tuition reimbursement on job training
Nexus Services: 5% raise for all employees, hiring 200 more workers in 2018
Northpoint Apartments: Employee bonuses
OceanFirst Financial (OCFC): Increase base wage to $15
Ohnward Bancshares: $1k bonuses for all 260 employees
Old Dominion Freight Line: $500 bonuses for all 22,000 employees
Peoples Bank (Washington): Base wage raised to $15, 401(k) match increased one point to 8%
Peoples Bank (Arkansas): $500 bonuses
Pinnacle Bank: $1k bonuses for 1,007 employees
Pioneer Credit Recovery: $1k bonuses for 800 employees
PNC Financial Services Group (PNC): $1k bonuses for 47,500 employees base wage hike to $15
Regions Financial Corporation (RF): Increase base wage to $15
RGF Environmental Group: $1k bonuses
Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry: Open more stores, hire more employees
Rush Enterprises: $1k bonuses for all 6,600 employees
Russell Lands: $500 bonuses for ~400 full-time non-management staff
Sheffer Corporation: $1k bonuses for all 126 employees
Sinclair Broadcast Group: $1k bonuses for 9,000 employees
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa: Doubling bonuses for 2,300 employees ($500-$2300 range)
Southwest Airlines (LUV): $1k bonuses for 55,000 employees
Spellex Corporation: $1k bonuses for all 26 full-time employees
Starbucks (SBUX): Wage increases, stock grants to eligible employees, expanded family sick time and parental leave benefits, creating 8,500 new jobs
State Street Corporation (STT): Improve employee retirement benefits, training
Stifel Financial (SF): $1,500 bonuses for 7,000 employees
Summit State Bank: $2k bonuses for 78 non-executive employees
SunTrust Banks (STI): $1k incentive for employees that complete company’s financial fitness program, base wage raise to $15
Synovus Financial Corporation: $1k bonuses to all non-executive employees
TCF Financial: $1k bonuses for full-time employees; $500 bonuses for part-time employees
The Flood Insurance Agency: $1k bonuses for 17 full-time employees
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO): $500 bonuses
The Travelers Companies (TRV): $1k bonuses for 14,000 employees, base wage raised to $15
Territorial Savings Bank: $1k bonuses for 247 employees, base wage hike to $15
Texas Capital Bank: $1k bonuses for 900 employees
Tiffany & Co. (TIF): Increased spending in tech, marketing communications, visual merchandising, digital & store presentations
Total System Services (TSS): $1k bonuses for 11,500 employees
Turning Point Brands: $1k bonuses for 107 employees
United Bank & Trust: Salaries & hourly employees receive raise of $100/month
Unity Bank: $750 bonuses for all employees except executive management
US Bancorp (USB): $1k bonuses for 60,000 employees
Verizon: non-executive employees receive 50 shares of restricted stock
Visa (V): increased contributions to employee 401(k) accounts
Walmart (WMT): Increase starting wage to $11; expand maternity and paternal leave benefits; one-time cash bonus for eligible associates of up to $1k
Washington Federal: Provide 5% increase in addition to normal merit increase for employees earning <$100k; invest in employee training programs
Washington Trust Bancorp: $1k bonuses for full-time employees, $500 for part-time employees
Waste Management (WM): $2k bonuses to 34,000 eligible employees
Webster Financial Corporation: Base wage raised to $15, $1k bonuses to full-time employees below VP level
Wells Fargo (WFC): Increase base wage from $13.50 to $15
Western & Southern Financial Group: $2k bonuses for full-time employees, $1k bonuses for part-time employees
Western Alliance Bancorporation: Increase wages 7.5% for the lowest-paid 50% of employees
White Pine Winery: Planting more vines
Windsor Federal: $250 bonuses for employees except senior management
YAM Worldwide: $2k bonuses for 595 employees who have been with the company for 6+ months, $1k bonuses for 131 employees who have been with company for <6 months
Yancey Bros.: $500 bonuses for all 1,200 employees
Zions Bancorp (ZION): $1k bonuses for 80% of employees

[Catsumi]

There is little doubt that Trump will be re-elected, like it or not. The recipients of those handsome bonuses all vote; the tendancy is to vote for bread, wine, inflow of cash and circuses.

Other countries just get to pay for expensive circuses.

[CapitalB]

There is little doubt that Trump will be re-elected, like it or not. The recipients of those handsome bonuses all vote; the tendancy is to vote for bread, wine, inflow of cash and circuses.

Other countries just get to pay for expensive circuses.

Assuming he isn't convicted of grand treason. Also assuming the 55% of the country that didn't vote for him doesn't get their in the meantime. Which they seem to be doing as democrats have been hitting record numbers in recent local and regional elections.

[Bigjohn69]

http://huffp.st/LGolFTO
WASHINGTON ― In a major setback for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a lawsuit over the future of an Obama-era program that protects so-called Dreamers from deportation.

[Ka-El]

Is it a contradiction, or just pure ignorance?

Trump contradicts self

Donald Trump's views on trade have taken a battering in a newly released report that was not only published by his own White House, but presented under his own signature.

The self-rebuke includes some of his talking points about Canada.

The president regularly bemoans a trade deficit with the northern neighbour. Once again Monday, he was complaining about Canadian trade, saying: "We lose a lot with Canada. People don't know it. Canada's very smooth. They have you believe that it's wonderful. And it is, for them. Not wonderful for us."

Far less smooth is the consistency of U.S. messaging.

A far more positive story about trade appears in the newly released 2018 White House "Economic Report of the President" — it's an annual document prepared by the president's team, with Trump himself signing the introductory foreword.
The document smashes at a few of the president's favoured themes.

One involves the supposed trade deficit with Canada. While Trump keeps talking about it, and insisting it exists, the document he signed states the opposite — that Canada is among the few countries in the world with whom the U.S. runs a surplus.

The document states this at least three times.

For example, it says, "All countries show a (U.S.) services surplus offsetting a goods deficit, with the U.S. running a net bilateral surplus only with Canada and the United Kingdom."

And again: "The United States ran a trade surplus of $2.6 billion with Canada on a balance-of-payments basis."

And once again: "The United States has free trade agreements ... with a number of countries — some of which represent net trade surpluses for the United States (Canada and Singapore), and some of which represent deficits (Mexico and South Korea)."

There's more.

The report also contradicts the president by stating that trade has helped the U.S. economy grow; that economies are shifting away from manufacturing; that foreign trade is increasingly important to the modern economy; that America has a good record of success in international dispute panels at the WTO; and that you can't rework trade agreements to fix an import-export deficit.

"Trade and economic growth are strongly and positively correlated," the White House report says.

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#219797

This guy never stops revealing to the world just what an imbecilic fool he is. Go back to failing at reality TV Donald.
Get out of the White House before America never has the chance to be great again.