July Retail Sales Surpassed Expectations

July retail sales surpassed expectations. Rising 0.7 %, gains were broad-based with ten of the thirteen categories seeing an increase in sales over the month. Wells Fargo

US Drill Rigs Running Down From Previous Count

There were 934 drill rigs operating in the US last week, down 8 rigs from the previous count. Meanwhile, Canadian drilling rose by three rigs, to 140.

US Raw Steel Production at ACUR 80.2%

In the week ending August 10, US raw steel production was 1,867,000 tons as mills ran at an ACUR of 80.2 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 59,812,000 tons compared to the prox 57,140,000 tons produced in the like period last year.

Small Business Optimism Index Rose in July

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.4 points to 104.7 in July. Business owners appear to be navigating trade uncertainty well and are more concerned about finding qualified workers than tariff threats. Wells Fargo

Industrial Production Slowed in July

Industrial production slowed 0.2% in July and the prior month’s reading was revised upward by 0.2%

August 2019 Empire State Manufacturing Survey Reports Business Activity Increased Modestly

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its August 2019 Empire State Manufacturing Survey and reports business activity increased modestly in New York State. The headline general business conditions index was little changed. The New Orders Index increased after declining for the prior two months and shipments continued to expand.

August Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey Reports Manufacturing Activity Still Growing

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its August Manufacturing business Outlook Survey and reports manufacturing activity in the region continued to grow. The survey’s broad indicators remained positive, although their movements were mixed. The general activity, shipments and employment indicators decreased from the prior month’s readings but the indicator for new orders increased. The survey’s future activity indexes remained positive, suggesting continuing optimism about growth for the next six months.

Seventh District Farmland Values 1 percent Lower Than One Year Ago

According to the most recent AgLetter, Seventh District farmland values in the second quarter of 2019 were 1 percent lower than one year ago. Values for “good” agricultural land in Q2 of 2019 were largely the same as in Q1. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Gun Control

It has been a week now and the leftists are relentless with their calls for gun control. This is all ends up as incremental moves by the socialists to disarm the citizenry. Their aim is to repeal the Second Amendment. It is not going to happen. The Founding Founders had been fighting a Revolutionary war to free the people from the tyranny of an oppressive government. The Americans were armed and therefore able to fight and ultimately defeat the British forces. By the grace of God, what is good always triumphs over evil in the end. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads as follows:

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

This is not about hunting or sport shooting at all. This is based on the knowledge that a government with unlimited control over the people will necessarily become tyrannical. You can bet that should a tyrannical government take control in the United States, we, the people of the United States, will form local militias, which will become a national militia, charged with the protection of our hard-won freedoms. America will NEVER be a socialist country.

More Mass Shootings

Regarding the mass murders, it is not guns which are the problem. It is a lack of control over the mentally ill. These last two guys each passed our stringent background checks, so we do not need more of those. The mentally unstable, must somehow be identified then be prohibited from purchasing or owning a firearm and probably monitored constantly. Is this unconstitutional? I do not know, but isn’t the protection of innocent people the primary concern here?

The problem is the black market, where anyone can purchase a weapon if they choose to. It is a catch 22: We cannot allow the confiscation of our weapons, for the obvious reasons stated above, and no matter what we do, if someone is intent on committing murder, they will find a way to do so. No one is talking about the guy who stabbed four people to death in his rampage last week. Are knives next? Trucks? Cars? Hammers? Nail guns? Screw drivers? Fire? Explosives?

Common sense tells you it is not the weapon, it is mental health which must be addressed, recognizing it, treating it if possible. I am afraid that doctor-client privilege must be suspended in cases.

Recession

Here we go again…on Wednesday the Dow Industrials dropped some 800 points. The DINOs and the liberal mainstream media are screaming RECESSION. I told you earlier this year, maybe last year, that these idiots were aiming to cause a recession by not doing the job they were elected to do. Screw the people, screw the country, we want power! Fundamentally, our economy remains strong. Unemployment is low, interest rates are low.

We do not have anything like a real estate bubble, dot com bubble, banking bubble etc. lurking in the wings. Yes, there are trade problems. But to date, those have not made the consumer pull in his or her horns as costs have not really risen much…inflation is still in check. Victory must prevail in the trade negotiations as the USA has been taken advantage of for way too long. We will have a recession, it is inevitable. With some policy success it can be delayed for a couple years, despite the efforts of the left to sink this booming economy and this presidency. More bullshit…but they will not stop trying.
See…

As an American citizen, how do you want our country to move forward for you and your family:

SECURE BORDERS? OPEN BORDERS?
MORE GOVERNMENT? LESS GOVERNMENT?
A STRONG MILITARY? A WEAK MILITARY?
LESS TAXATION? MORE TAXATION?
LESS GOVERNMENT REGULATION? MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATION?
FAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS? QUID PRO QUO TRADE AGREEMENTS?
PROPER CARE FOR OUR VETERANS? DON’T CARE FOR OUR VETERANS?
MERIT BASED IMMIGRATION? THE SHIT WE HAVE NOW?
RESPONSIBLE HELP FOR THE POOR? THROW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM?
TEACH AMERICAN HISTORY TO OUR CHILDREN? ERASE AMERICAN HISTORY?
RESPECT OUR FLAG? DON’T GIVE A SHIT?
SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SCHOOL? WHAT IS THAT?

Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX

I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term, but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

and

“KEEP AMERICAN GREAT”

Have a great weekend…. God bless America!

Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.

If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.

By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”</blockquote