investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--IT’S HAPPENING ALL OVER:  Louisville, KY: Cuban Community Rallies In Support Of Cuban Restaurant Aft

IT’S HAPPENING ALL OVER:  Louisville, KY: Cuban Community Rallies In Support Of Cuban Restaurant After BLM Issues “List of Demands”….Counter-Protesters Fly Confederate Flag at BLM Demo in Texas

Louisville , KY : Cuban Community Rallies In Support Of Cuban Restaurant After BLM Issues “ List of Demands ” .
A rather alarming situation is developing in Louisville , Kentucky , in which local businesses are allegedly being issued demands from Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) activists and told that if they don ’ t meet the demands , their business might be “ f*cked with.
” The demands are onerous , invasive , and ludicrous .
They include everything from hiring quotas to training mandates to displaying a letter supporting reparations for black people to—perhaps most outrageous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1.5 % of net sales to a local Black nonprofit or organization.
” While some area businesses have reportedly caved to the bullying demands , Fernando Martinez , a partner in a restaurant group , referred to the demands and alleged threats if he failed to comply as “ mafia tactics.
” Fernando Martinez , a partner of the Olé Restaurant Group , was one of dozens of business owners in the downtown Louisville district who recently received a letter from protesters laying out demands that aim to improve diversity in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally-owned shops and restaurants .
Martinez has publicly denounced the demands on Facebook , calling them “ mafia tactics ” used to intimidate business owners .
And on Thursday , a small group of protesters confronted him outside his newest restaurant , La Bodeguita de Mima , on East Market Street .
“ There comes a time in life that you have to make a stand and you have to really prove your convictions and what you believe in , ” Martinez wrote in his Facebook post .
“ … All good people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you justified ( sic ) injustice with more injustice ?
” According to a press release , members of the city ’ s Cuban community will meet outside the NuLu restaurant at 4 p.m. Sunday to support the immigrant-owned business , which “ has been subject to vandalism and extortion in recent days.
” The list of demands handed out to restaurant and other small businesses in the area contains the following ( per the Courier Journal ) : The demands and an attached contract , which were created by local organizers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Adequately represent the Black population of Louisville by having a minimum of 23 % Black staff ; • Purchase a minimum of 23 % inventory from Black retailers or make a recurring monthly donation of 1.5 % of net sales to a local Black nonprofit or organization ; • Require diversity and inclusion training for all staff members on a bi-annual basis ; • And display a visible sign that increases awareness and shows support for the reparations movement .
Phelix Crittenden , an activist who works with Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ NuLu social justice health and wellness ratings ” were not meant to be a threat but were instead intended to start a conversation with owners about how their businesses can better reflect and support Black people .
Armed counter-protesters waving the Confederate flag gathered at the Cooke County Courthouse in Gainesville , Texas , on Sunday , as Black Lives Matter demonstrators called for the removal of a Confederate monument .
Several BLM protesters were also seen carrying rifles .
“ We ’ re here to remove the racist monument in Gainesville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Confederate statue , said Quame Jones Jr. about the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument .
Those who are pro-Confederate like to say it is heritage , and it represents their veterans .
But that is not how it is received to people that look like me.
” Anthony Chains , one of the counter-protesters , said , “ You can ’ t erase history .
It ’ s there , it ’ s permanent.
” He added , “ These are uneducated people who think they are being oppressed .
Wake up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not oppressed.
” Dozens of heavily armed State Troopers and Sheriff Officers formed a human wall to keep the groups separated .
Several cities across the United States have been removing statues honouring Confederate generals and slave owners , as nation-wide protests reignited the debate around the issue following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .

Louisville, KY: Cuban Community Rallies In Support Of Cuban Restaurant After BLM Issues “List of Demands”.
A rather alarming situation is developing in Louisville, Kentucky, in which local businesses are allegedly being issued demands from Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists and told that if they don’t meet the demands, their business might be “f*cked with.”
The demands are onerous, invasive, and ludicrous. They include everything from hiring quotas to training mandates to displaying a letter supporting reparations for black people to—perhaps most outrageous of all—paying a “recurring monthly donation of 1.5% of net sales to a local Black nonprofit or organization.”
While some area businesses have reportedly caved to the bullying demands, Fernando Martinez, a partner in a restaurant group, referred to the demands and alleged threats if he failed to comply as “mafia tactics.”
The Courier Journal reports (archive link here):
Fernando Martinez, a partner of the Olé Restaurant Group, was one of dozens of business owners in the downtown Louisville district who recently received a letter from protesters laying out demands that aim to improve diversity in the area, which is known for its locally-owned shops and restaurants. Martinez has publicly denounced the demands on Facebook, calling them “mafia tactics” used to intimidate business owners. And on Thursday, a small group of protesters confronted him outside his newest restaurant, La Bodeguita de Mima, on East Market Street. “There comes a time in life that you have to make a stand and you have to really prove your convictions and what you believe in,” Martinez wrote in his Facebook post. “… All good people need to denounce this. How can you justified (sic) injustice with more injustice?” According to a press release, members of the city’s Cuban community will meet outside the NuLu restaurant at 4 p.m. Sunday to support the immigrant-owned business, which “has been subject to vandalism and extortion in recent days.”
The list of demands handed out to restaurant and other small businesses in the area contains the following (per the Courier Journal):
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The demands and an attached contract, which were created by local organizers and activists, ask NuLu business owners to: Adequately represent the Black population of Louisville by having a minimum of 23% Black staff;
Purchase a minimum of 23% inventory from Black retailers or make a recurring monthly donation of 1.5% of net sales to a local Black nonprofit or organization;
Require diversity and inclusion training for all staff members on a bi-annual basis;
And display a visible sign that increases awareness and shows support for the reparations movement. Phelix Crittenden, an activist who works with Black Lives Matter Louisville, said the demands and related “NuLu social justice health and wellness ratings” were not meant to be a threat but were instead intended to start a conversation with owners about how their businesses can better reflect and support Black people.
Armed counter-protesters waving the Confederate flag gathered at the Cooke County Courthouse in Gainesville, Texas, on Sunday, as Black Lives Matter demonstrators called for the removal of a Confederate monument. Several BLM protesters were also seen carrying rifles.
“We’re here to remove the racist monument in Gainesville, Texas, which is the 30-foot Confederate statue, said Quame Jones Jr. about the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Those who are pro-Confederate like to say it is heritage, and it represents their veterans. But that is not how it is received to people that look like me.”
Anthony Chains, one of the counter-protesters, said, “You can’t erase history. It’s there, it’s permanent.” He added, “These are uneducated people who think they are being oppressed. Wake up, stop oppressing yourselves, you’re not oppressed.”
Dozens of heavily armed State Troopers and Sheriff Officers formed a human wall to keep the groups separated.
Several cities across the United States have been removing statues honouring Confederate generals and slave owners, as nation-wide protests reignited the debate around the issue following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.


More Bad Breadth

We are continuing to see more rallies on bad breadth , a disturbing trend .
A few weeks ago , we noted that despite large rallies in the major averages , daily breadth readings were historically weak .
The issue is that it is healthier and more supportive of the persistence of a rally when there is broad participation from the universe of stocks .
And while this was , at the time , merely a 1-day phenomenon , we noted that “ it will definitely garner more attention from us should this pattern of “ bad breadth ” continue.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day in the major averages , the bad breadth did continue last Friday .
Consider that… Although the Nasdaq 100 ( NDX ) jumped about 1.8 % on Friday , advancing issues accounted for a mere 33.8 % of all issues on the Nasdaq exchange .
That means that roughly two thirds of all Nasdaq stocks declined on the day , despite the rally in the cap-weighted NDX .
Going back to 1990 , that is the lowest % of advancers on any day in the history of our database when the NDX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chart illustrates that – and marks all 8 days , historically , that saw the NDX up at least 1.60 % with 40 % or fewer Nasdaq advancing issues .
Each of those dates saw the NDX down at least 12 % at some point over the next 6 months – with several 2000 events obviously preceding significant long-term damage .
Another manifestation of Friday ’ s severely large-cap concentrated rally can be seen in a comparison between the NDX and the small-cap Russell 2000 index ( RUT ) .
While the NDX @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the small-cap RUT was sharply lower – by almost 1 % ( -0.981 % ) .
If we round the loss to -1 % , it marks just the 4th day ever seeing that big of a RUT loss when the NDX gained at least 1.50 % .
The others led to a long-term bear market ( 2000 ) or at least an intermediate-term correction prior to a significant low ( 2002 ) .
Once again , in the last “ bad breadth ” post , we mentioned that we would not put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1-day phenomenon .
However , as we see more and more examples of these days , our concern level over the fate of the current rally is continuing to grow .
How much “ stock ” are we putting into this data point ?
How is it impacting out investment posture ?
If you ’ re interested in an “ all-access ” pass to all of our charts , research — and investment moves — please check out our site , The Lyons Share .
You can follow our investment process and posture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re looking to buy and sell and when .
Thanks for reading !

by Dana Lyons
We are continuing to see more rallies on bad breadth, a disturbing trend.
A few weeks ago, we noted that despite large rallies in the major averages, daily breadth readings were historically weak. The issue is that it is healthier and more supportive of the persistence of a rally when there is broad participation from the universe of stocks. And while this was, at the time, merely a 1-day phenomenon, we noted that “it will definitely garner more attention from us should this pattern of “bad breadth” continue.” Well, despite another solid up day in the major averages, the bad breadth did continue last Friday. Consider that…
Although the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) jumped about 1.8% on Friday, advancing issues accounted for a mere 33.8% of all issues on the Nasdaq exchange. That means that roughly two thirds of all Nasdaq stocks declined on the day, despite the rally in the cap-weighted NDX. Going back to 1990, that is the lowest % of advancers on any day in the history of our database when the NDX gained at least 1.50%. This chart illustrates that – and marks all 8 days, historically, that saw the NDX up at least 1.60% with 40% or fewer Nasdaq advancing issues. Each of those dates saw the NDX down at least 12% at some point over the next 6 months – with several 2000 events obviously preceding significant long-term damage.
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Another manifestation of Friday’s severely large-cap concentrated rally can be seen in a comparison between the NDX and the small-cap Russell 2000 index (RUT). While the NDX was again up about 1.8%, the small-cap RUT was sharply lower – by almost 1% (-0.981%). If we round the loss to -1%, it marks just the 4th day ever seeing that big of a RUT loss when the NDX gained at least 1.50%. The others led to a long-term bear market (2000) or at least an intermediate-term correction prior to a significant low (2002).
Once again, in the last “bad breadth” post, we mentioned that we would not put a whole lot of stock into a 1-day phenomenon. However, as we see more and more examples of these days, our concern level over the fate of the current rally is continuing to grow.
How much “stock” are we putting into this data point? How is it impacting out investment posture? If you’re interested in an “all-access” pass to all of our charts, research — and investment moves — please check out our site, The Lyons Share. You can follow our investment process and posture every day — including insights into what we’re looking to buy and sell and when. Thanks for reading!


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--TRUMP PULLS 180 – ” BACKS ” MICROSOFT PURCHASE OF TIKTOK

As well as the billions Microsoft is going to PAY CHINA for it The Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok could be @ @ @ @ @ apparent change of mind by US President Donald Trump .
On Friday , Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ TikTok from the US because of concerns about the data of American users and he @ @ @ @ @ of a takeover by a US company .
America has repeatedly warned of a security @ @ @ @ @ it of billions of dollars ’ worth of intellectual property theft .
China has denied @ @ @ @ @ a discussion between Mr Trump and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella on Sunday , the @ @ @ @ @ been given the go ahead to negotiate a complete buyout with TikTok ’ s parent @ @ @ @ @ “ no later than 15 September ” .
Mr Trump said on Monday that the @ @ @ @ @ “ substantial portion ” of the sales price and warned he will ban the service @ @ @ @ @ September without a sale .

As well as the billions Microsoft is going to PAY CHINA for it
The Chinese-owned short-video app TikTok could be sold to Microsoft after an apparent change of mind by US President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Mr Trump said he intended to ban TikTok from the US because of concerns about the data of American users and he appeared to dismiss the idea of a takeover by a US company.
America has repeatedly warned of a security threat from Beijing and accused it of billions of dollars’ worth of intellectual property theft. China has denied the claims.
But following a discussion between Mr Trump and Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella on Sunday, the tech giant said it had been given the go ahead to negotiate a complete buyout with TikTok’s parent company ByteDance with discussions completed “no later than 15 September”.
Mr Trump said on Monday that the US government should get a “substantial portion” of the sales price and warned he will ban the service in the US on 15 September without a sale.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--UNBELIEVABLE! You Will NOT Believe What Wisconsin Governor Is Mandating Now

You know that saying , “ If you give them an inch , they ’ ll take a mile ” ?
We ’ ve all heard it before , and it seems like that is exactly what some of our governors are doing .
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says that a mile isn ’ t enough though as he issued a new statewide mandate that makes it a requirement to wear masks indoors until the end of…you thought I was about to say the month , didn ’ t you ?
Nope , it goes until the end of September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll be fined up to $ 200 .
“ We ’ ve said all along that we ’ re going to let science and public health experts be our guide in responding to this pandemic , and we know that masks and face coverings will save lives , ” Gov .
Evers said .
“ While I know emotions are high when it comes to wearing face coverings in public , my job as governor is to put people first and to do what ’ s best for the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I am going to do .
”

You know that saying, “If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile”? We’ve all heard it before, and it seems like that is exactly what some of our governors are doing.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers says that a mile isn’t enough though as he issued a new statewide mandate that makes it a requirement to wear masks indoors until the end of…you thought I was about to say the month, didn’t you? Nope, it goes until the end of September.
Get caught violating this edict and you’ll be fined up to $200.
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“We’ve said all along that we’re going to let science and public health experts be our guide in responding to this pandemic, and we know that masks and face coverings will save lives,” Gov. Evers said. “While I know emotions are high when it comes to wearing face coverings in public, my job as governor is to put people first and to do what’s best for the people of our state, so that’s what I am going to do.”
thinkamericana.com/unbelievable-you-will-not-believe-what-wisconsin-governor-is-mandating-now/
www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/30/tony-evers-issues-order-requiring-face-masks-indoors-starting-saturday/5531264002/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--US universities collaboration with Chinese military research

The U.S. academic community has extensively collaborated with Chinese researchers affiliated with the Chinese military , jeopardizing national security , according to a new report .
Analysts at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University found 254 papers in which U.S. researchers collaborated with counterparts from seven top universities in China affiliated with the regime ’ s military , the People ’ s Liberation Army ( PLA ) .
The think tank identified 115 U.S. universities and government-backed research labs that worked with these PLA-linked organizations , collaborating on research topics from new energy technologies to aeronautical engineering .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese researchers allegedly tried to conceal their ties to the defense institutes .
Some Chinese coauthors also appeared to have worked in classified weapons programs , it said .
It concluded that such collaborations compromised national security because it allowed the PLA-linked institutions to “ harvest U.S. S & T [ science and technology ] research at its source , and divert it to PRC [ People ’ s Republic of China ] defense research and weapons program development.
” The foreign agencies love the smell of swamp water , and the swamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign lobbies ’ $ $ .
It ’ s a win win situation for those involved , not so much for national security or national interests .

Report Finds 250 US Collaborations With Chinese Military-Tied Researchers
Epoch Times
The U.S. academic community has extensively collaborated with Chinese researchers affiliated with the Chinese military, jeopardizing national security, according to a new report.
Analysts at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University found 254 papers in which U.S. researchers collaborated with counterparts from seven top universities in China affiliated with the regime’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The think tank identified 115 U.S. universities and government-backed research labs that worked with these PLA-linked organizations, collaborating on research topics from new energy technologies to aeronautical engineering.
The report released July 30 found instances where the Chinese researchers allegedly tried to conceal their ties to the defense institutes. Some Chinese coauthors also appeared to have worked in classified weapons programs, it said.
It concluded that such collaborations compromised national security because it allowed the PLA-linked institutions to “harvest U.S. S&T [science and technology] research at its source, and divert it to PRC [People’s Republic of China] defense research and weapons program development.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
www.theepochtimes.com/report-finds-250-us-collaborators-with-chinese-military-tied-researchers-says-threatens-national-security_3445727.html
The report:
www.hoover.org/global-engagement-rethinking-risk-research-enterprise
The foreign agencies love the smell of swamp water, and the swamp dwellers and universities love the smell of foreign lobbies’ $$.
It’s a win win situation for those involved, not so much for national security or national interests.
h/t Lily


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-04--President Trump’s Record of Accomplishments Is Easy to Compile…. If This Poll Is Accurate, Trump Wil

President Trump’s Record of Accomplishments Is Easy to Compile…. If This Poll Is Accurate, Trump Will Be Reelected Easily… Democrats Urging Biden Not to Debate Trump.

HUGH HEWITT IN THE WASHINGTON POST : The Case For Trump Will Come Down To His Record : It ’ s A Strong One .
President Trump ’ s record of accomplishments is easy to compile .
Most significantly , he has brought the existential threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party into the sunlight .
No more nice words .
No more treating the Tiananmen Square massacre as a bug , not a feature .
The light is on .
Trump has pulled the cord .
With huge help from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court , 53 judges on the federal courts of appeals , 144 and counting on the District courts , and more than 20 on the specialty courts .
The Constitution has been buttressed .
Trump ’ s tax cuts , along with the massive deregulation he orchestrated , led to 3.5 percent unemployment until the regime in Beijing acted with criminal recklessness toward a virus that has devastated the world .
Economic recovery depends on those rule rollbacks , and not just grotesque overreaches such as the Clean Power Plan and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but on hundreds of other intrusions into the private businesses and onto the private property of Americans .
Trump took a military operating in President Barack Obama ’ s last years at about $ 600 billion and moved that budget by his third year to $ 738 billion , with more in the budget coming soon .
The Navy necessary to meet China on the high seas , all 355 ships of it , is being planned and built .
Trump tore up the so-called Iran nuclear deal , which was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy of appeasement and a foundation of hostility to Israel .
Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and blessed Israel ’ s necessary annexation of the Golan Heights .
His peace plan is the closest to reality of any since Oslo .
Trump took the United States out of the unbalanced , absurd , doomed-to-fail Paris Climate Agreement and has instead focused on and delivered American energy independence .
People have real job security in Pennsylvania as a result , if not in jetting off to Paris for follow-up seminars .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Qasem Soleimani , killed , accomplished the complete physical destruction of the Islamic State caliphate and successfully hunted down its terrorist chieftain , Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi .
The former was never contemplated by Obama , the latter couldn ’ t get done by him even though his scampering from Iraq in 2011 led to the rise of Islamic State and its thousand barbarities .
The Syrian butcher , Bashar al-Assad , has twice used chemical weapons and twice had cruise missiles remind him that the red line is back and is real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria and were mowed down .
Not an American was killed .
Those are “ Trump rules of engagement.
” Even Cuba is back in its box , joined there by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro .
At home , Trump pushed through the long-overdue justice reform legislation and the reorganization of Veterans Affairs , and , this year , the Great American Outdoors Act that fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund .
House Democrats passed a piffling bill when covid-19 arrived , while Trump , McConnell and Senate Republicans advanced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept the U.S. economy from collapsing even as it contracted by nearly 10 percent in the second quarter as the China ’ s principal export , covid-19 , ravaged the country .
Trump ’ s border wall , proceeding apace , makes obvious sense .
More than 200 miles completed , with Trump tweeting Thursday the length with be 300 miles by September .
.
.
.
Trump ’ s brawling , slugging , tempestuous approach to everything in every hour has worn down many , but his road is marked by these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s near-50-year run in government is marked by .
.
.
well , you fill that in .
Polls say Biden is far ahead .
We shall see .
There ’ s an aesthetic critique of Trump that has convinced elites that he must be beaten , that he is cruel and beneath the office .
But Americans want their jobs and security back .
They like the police .
And , yes , most of the time they mostly admire Trump ’ s style and , almost always , his results @

HUGH HEWITT IN THE WASHINGTON POST: The Case For Trump Will Come Down To His Record: It’s A Strong One.
President Trump’s record of accomplishments is easy to compile.
Most significantly, he has brought the existential threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party into the sunlight. No more nice words. No more treating the Tiananmen Square massacre as a bug, not a feature. The light is on. Trump has pulled the cord.
With huge help from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Trump has put two justices on the Supreme Court, 53 judges on the federal courts of appeals, 144 and counting on the District courts, and more than 20 on the specialty courts. The Constitution has been buttressed.
Trump’s tax cuts, along with the massive deregulation he orchestrated, led to 3.5 percent unemployment until the regime in Beijing acted with criminal recklessness toward a virus that has devastated the world. Economic recovery depends on those rule rollbacks, and not just grotesque overreaches such as the Clean Power Plan and “Waters of the United States” rule, but on hundreds of other intrusions into the private businesses and onto the private property of Americans.
Trump took a military operating in President Barack Obama’s last years at about $600 billion and moved that budget by his third year to $738 billion, with more in the budget coming soon. The Navy necessary to meet China on the high seas, all 355 ships of it, is being planned and built.
Trump tore up the so-called Iran nuclear deal, which was a tower of absurd hopes built on a policy of appeasement and a foundation of hostility to Israel.
Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and blessed Israel’s necessary annexation of the Golan Heights. His peace plan is the closest to reality of any since Oslo.
Trump took the United States out of the unbalanced, absurd, doomed-to-fail Paris Climate Agreement and has instead focused on and delivered American energy independence. People have real job security in Pennsylvania as a result, if not in jetting off to Paris for follow-up seminars.
Trump ordered Iran’s master terrorist, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, killed, accomplished the complete physical destruction of the Islamic State caliphate and successfully hunted down its terrorist chieftain, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The former was never contemplated by Obama, the latter couldn’t get done by him even though his scampering from Iraq in 2011 led to the rise of Islamic State and its thousand barbarities. The Syrian butcher, Bashar al-Assad, has twice used chemical weapons and twice had cruise missiles remind him that the red line is back and is real. Russian mercenaries attacked U.S. troops in Syria and were mowed down. Not an American was killed. Those are “Trump rules of engagement.” Even Cuba is back in its box, joined there by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
At home, Trump pushed through the long-overdue justice reform legislation and the reorganization of Veterans Affairs, and, this year, the Great American Outdoors Act that fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund. House Democrats passed a piffling bill when covid-19 arrived, while Trump, McConnell and Senate Republicans advanced the innovative and massive Paycheck Protection Program that kept the U.S. economy from collapsing even as it contracted by nearly 10 percent in the second quarter as the China’s principal export, covid-19, ravaged the country.
Trump’s border wall, proceeding apace, makes obvious sense. More than 200 miles completed, with Trump tweeting Thursday the length with be 300 miles by September. . . .
Trump’s brawling, slugging, tempestuous approach to everything in every hour has worn down many, but his road is marked by these accomplishments. Former vice president Joe Biden’s near-50-year run in government is marked by . . . well, you fill that in. Polls say Biden is far ahead. We shall see.
There’s an aesthetic critique of Trump that has convinced elites that he must be beaten, that he is cruel and beneath the office. But Americans want their jobs and security back. They like the police. And, yes, most of the time they mostly admire Trump’s style and, almost always, his results.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--First-time gun ownership skyrockets amid riots, increased violence across country: ‘You can’t really

First-time gun ownership skyrockets amid riots, increased violence across country: ‘You can’t really be too safe’… 2020 saw more than 2.5M first-time gun owners in first half

For years , Carlene and Jake went back-and-forth about purchasing a firearm .
The young parents from California – who @ @ @ @ @ their last names or more specific identifiers when they spoke with Fox News on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ backlash – said with the country “ a little bit on edge right now , @ @ @ @ @ time to make the purchase .
The couple is among the horde of 2.5 million @ @ @ @ @ exercised their Second Amendment right to own weapons .
They told Fox News they have @ @ @ @ @ now waiting for their firearms to arrive because they ’ re on back order .

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
For years, Carlene and Jake went back-and-forth about purchasing a firearm.
The young parents from California – who did not feel comfortable using their last names or more specific identifiers when they spoke with Fox News on Sunday out of concern about possible backlash – said with the country “a little bit on edge right now,” it was the right time to make the purchase.
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“Overall, our country is a little bit on edge right now.” — Carlene
The couple is among the horde of 2.5 million first-time gun buyers who have exercised their Second Amendment right to own weapons. They told Fox News they have received their licenses and are now waiting for their firearms to arrive because they’re on back order.
www.foxnews.com/us/first-time-gun-owners-safety-protection


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Signs the Market May Move Downward Soon: Parallels with Dotcom Bust of 2000

Almost one week ago , the Nasdaq 100 index started increasing and gained almost 2 % , setting a new record high .
Then , on that same day , it lost 2 % …plus a little extra .
This weird and unexpected situation has only happened one other time : March 7 , 2000 , the date the dot-com bubble reached its peak .
The Wilshire 5000 to GDP ratio also allows us to estimate the total market cap .
This ratio hit a historic high – 155 % – right before the stock market crash in March 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Labor Day when traditionally volumes are higher .
US Printed More Money in One Month Than in Two Centuries In a letter to investors released on July 29 , Pantera Capital CEO Dan Morehead noted that the United States has printed a shocking amount of money to combat the pandemic-induced financial crisis .
“ The United States printed more money in June than in the first two centuries after its founding , ” Morehead wrote .
“ Last month the U.S. budget deficit — $ 864 billion — was larger than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of 1979.
” … “ With that first trillion [ USD printed ] we defeated British imperialists , bought Alaska and the Louisiana Purchase , defeated fascism , ended the Great Depression , built the Interstate Highway System , and went to the Moon .
”

by Builder
Almost one week ago, the Nasdaq 100 index started increasing and gained almost 2%, setting a new record high. Then, on that same day, it lost 2%…plus a little extra. This weird and unexpected situation has only happened one other time: March 7, 2000, the date the dot-com bubble reached its peak.
The Wilshire 5000 to GDP ratio also allows us to estimate the total market cap. This ratio hit a historic high – 155% – right before the stock market crash in March 2020.
IMO, this is more likely after Labor Day when traditionally volumes are higher.
NASDAQ all time high because tech monopolies are getting bigger and AAPL is up $230BN in 2 days t.co/Pn4ufvHSTM — zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 3, 2020
Chart of the week – Arguments about a bubble in #equities continue, with US #tech at the center of the dispute. Some are drawing comparisons with Dotcom in the 1990s. t.co/f7oGweAUs0 @darioperkins #FAANGs #GlobalMacro — TS Lombard (@TS_Lombard) July 31, 2020
3 out of every 4 fund managers surveyed by #BofA think that long US #tech #stocks is the most crowded trade.
I guess this means that at least 3 out of every 4 fund managers surveyed don't like to keep #SocialDistancing from that infected crowd#Technology $QQQ $XLK $BAC #TechNews pic.twitter.com/BbtXGnhW2f — The Fortune Teller (@TheFortuneTell5) July 14, 2020
Interesting tidbit:
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US Printed More Money in One Month Than in Two Centuries
In a letter to investors released on July 29, Pantera Capital CEO Dan Morehead noted that the United States has printed a shocking amount of money to combat the pandemic-induced financial crisis.
“The United States printed more money in June than in the first two centuries after its founding,” Morehead wrote. “Last month the U.S. budget deficit — $864 billion — was larger than the total debt incurred from 1776 through the end of 1979.”
…“With that first trillion [USD printed] we defeated British imperialists, bought Alaska and the Louisiana Purchase, defeated fascism, ended the Great Depression, built the Interstate Highway System, and went to the Moon.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Ranking the World’s Biggest Economies Over the Last 40 Years

The coronavirus recession is dramatically shrinking the global economy .
According to the World Bank , we are currently in the worst recession since World War II .
Exactly how this will impact the standing of the largest economies is unknown , but here ’ s the latest projected top 10 by GDP .
• 2020 marks the start of the first decade where the U.S. does not have the largest economy in the world ( $ 22.32T ) .
First place belongs to China by a long shot ( $ 29.47T ) .
• Before this decade , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world for the last 40 years , growing from $ 2.86T in 1980 to a projected $ 23.18T next year .
• Over the last few decades , many Asian countries have seen their economies grow significantly , including China ( $ 29.47T ) , India ( $ 12.36T ) , Japan ( $ 5.89T ) and Indonesia ( $ 4.01T ) .
• Asian countries reached the top of the rankings , and Western European countries declined .
Italy is no longer in the top 10 , and Germany , France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the ranking .
We wanted to understand how the top 10 largest economies in the world measured by GDP have changed over the last few decades .
We took historical GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) from 1980 to 2020 with a projection for 2021 .
After color-coding each economy by continent , we traced where it landed in the rankings decade by decade .
This snapshot reveals at a high level the grand narrative over the last 40 years , which is the emergence of Asian economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western industrialized world .
One of the most obvious trends in our visual is how the U.S. previously held the top spot decade after decade .
Starting in 1980 with a GDP of $ 2.86T , the U.S. was always significantly larger than the countries in second place .
The Japanese economy took off after 1980 and eventually reached roughly one-third the size of the U.S. around the year 2000 ( $ 10.25T vs. $ 3.42T ) .
But then Japan plateaued and today only has a GDP of $ 5.89T compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high level , our visualization reveals the macro trend of global economic growth over the last 40 years .
Asian economies thrived through industrialization and urbanization , becoming the factories of the world and lifting billions of people into the middle class .
This narrative is most applicable for China , which wasn ’ t even counted among the top 10 economies before 1990 .
However , China now has the largest economy in the world at $ 29.47T today , and is projected to grow to $ 31.85T next year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian countries too , like India ( $ 12.36T ) , Japan ( $ 5.89T ) and Indonesia ( $ 4.01T ) .
If Asian economies are rising to become the largest in the world , then they are taking the place of industrialized Western countries .
In 1980 , Germany had the third biggest economy in the world at $ 867B .
It is projected to be in fifth place at $ 4.75T by 2021 .
The French economy tells a similar story , starting at $ 576B in 1980 in sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 3.27T .
Italy fell out of the top 10 completely .
The wild card moving forward is how the coronavirus will impact economic growth .
The IMF recently found that the cumulative loss of economic output due to the coronavirus will total about $ 9T through 2021 .
And although a lot remains unknown about the virus , the largest economies in the world will look very different as a result .
How do you think the coronavirus will affect the economy ?
Let us know in the comments .

by howmuch
The coronavirus recession is dramatically shrinking the global economy. According to the World Bank, we are currently in the worst recession since World War II. Exactly how this will impact the standing of the largest economies is unknown, but here’s the latest projected top 10 by GDP.
Buy this visualization
2020 marks the start of the first decade where the U.S. does not have the largest economy in the world ($22.32T). First place belongs to China by a long shot ($29.47T).
Before this decade, the U.S. consistently had the largest economy in the world for the last 40 years, growing from $2.86T in 1980 to a projected $23.18T next year.
Over the last few decades, many Asian countries have seen their economies grow significantly, including China ($29.47T), India ($12.36T), Japan ($5.89T) and Indonesia ($4.01T).
Asian countries reached the top of the rankings, and Western European countries declined. Italy is no longer in the top 10, and Germany, France and the U.K. have all fallen further down the ranking.
We wanted to understand how the top 10 largest economies in the world measured by GDP have changed over the last few decades. We took historical GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1980 to 2020 with a projection for 2021. After color-coding each economy by continent, we traced where it landed in the rankings decade by decade. This snapshot reveals at a high level the grand narrative over the last 40 years, which is the emergence of Asian economic power and the relative decline of the Western industrialized world.
Top 10 Biggest Economies in 2020
China: $29.47T
United States: $22.32T
India: $12.36T
Japan: $5.89T
Germany: $4.59T
Russia: $4.52T
Indonesia: $4.01T
Brazil: $3.60T
United Kingdom: $3.24T
France: $3.16T
One of the most obvious trends in our visual is how the U.S. previously held the top spot decade after decade. Starting in 1980 with a GDP of $2.86T, the U.S. was always significantly larger than the countries in second place. The Japanese economy took off after 1980 and eventually reached roughly one-third the size of the U.S. around the year 2000 ($10.25T vs. $3.42T). But then Japan plateaued and today only has a GDP of $5.89T compared to $22.32T for the U.S.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
At a high level, our visualization reveals the macro trend of global economic growth over the last 40 years. Asian economies thrived through industrialization and urbanization, becoming the factories of the world and lifting billions of people into the middle class. This narrative is most applicable for China, which wasn’t even counted among the top 10 economies before 1990. However, China now has the largest economy in the world at $29.47T today, and is projected to grow to $31.85T next year. The same rapid growth is evident for other Asian countries too, like India ($12.36T), Japan ($5.89T) and Indonesia ($4.01T).
If Asian economies are rising to become the largest in the world, then they are taking the place of industrialized Western countries. In 1980, Germany had the third biggest economy in the world at $867B. It is projected to be in fifth place at $4.75T by 2021. The French economy tells a similar story, starting at $576B in 1980 in sixth place and falling to tenth by 2021 at $3.27T. Italy fell out of the top 10 completely.
The wild card moving forward is how the coronavirus will impact economic growth. The IMF recently found that the cumulative loss of economic output due to the coronavirus will total about $9T through 2021. And although a lot remains unknown about the virus, the largest economies in the world will look very different as a result.
How do you think the coronavirus will affect the economy? Let us know in the comments.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--MUST WATCH: Tucker Carlson Warns America About Biden’s Possible VP Picks

Mike LaChance from American Lookout reports , Everyone knows that if Joe Biden wins , his vice president will basically @ @ @ @ @ Well , his VP and a shadow council of far left ideologues .
With this @ @ @ @ @ recently opened his show by talking about two of the women who most likely top @ @ @ @ @ and Karen Bass .

Mike LaChance from American Lookout reports, Everyone knows that if Joe Biden wins, his vice president will basically be running the show. Well, his VP and a shadow council of far left ideologues. With this in mind, Tucker Carlson recently opened his show by talking about two of the women who most likely top the list, Kamala Harris and Karen Bass.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Read More/Source/Credit/FairUse:
americanlookout.com/tucker-ca…


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--#recession … #Tech #Bubble 2.0 edition

#recession … #Tech #Bubble 2.0 edition

I do n't like analogs because every market event from catalysts to responses .
However , throughout history , outcomes @ @ @ @ @ so it 's not really wise to dismiss previous market events entirely .
Something to @ @ @ @ @ forgot to tell the market that everything is not perfect right now.. '' Expectations of..corporate @ @ @ @ @ of defaults has increased '' @ JARennison US junk bonds notch up best month since @ @ @ @ @ pic.twitter.com/wvymukCLrn

I don't like analogs because every market event from catalysts to responses. However, throughout history, outcomes have been the same, so it's not really wise to dismiss previous market events entirely. Something to think about. pic.twitter.com/omDIFPsIif
Someone forgot to tell the market that everything is not perfect right now..
"Expectations of..corporate defaults have moderated..although the number of defaults has increased" @JARennison
US junk bonds notch up best month since 2011 t.co/OFb9NH8sHY via @financialtimes pic.twitter.com/wvymukCLrn
— Javier Castro Valdivia (@JCastroValdivia) August 3, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Can Tech Continue to Drag the Rest of the Market Higher?

The stock market is up this morning on “ start of the month ” buying for pension funds and other large financial institutions .
The S & P 500 did manage to close above resistance ( red line in the chart below ) .
However , it is struggling to move into “ the gap ” established by the first leg down of the March meltdown ( blue rectangle in the chart below ) .
The bigger issue concerns the fact that the market is being largely driven by tech stocks .
Financials , industrials and healthcare stocks , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & P 500 have effectively gone nowhere for several months now .
Meanwhile Tech stocks have exploded higher , soaring to new all-time highs .
Why is this ?
Because the large tech stocks ( Microsoft , Apple , Amazon , Facebook ) are where central banks are buying .
Together these companies account for nearly 20 % of the stock market .
And if central banks can get them to rally , the rest of the market will follow .
Put another way , if you were going to rig the market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be buying .
And with the same stocks moving higher day after day like clockwork , it ’ s pretty clear it ’ s central banks doing the buying .
At the end of the day , it all boils down to what I ’ ve been saying since 2017… that the Fed is trapped in a vicious cycle through which it INTENTIONALLY creates bubbles to deal with each successive bust .
We had the Tech Bubble in the ’ 90s .
The Housing Bubble in the mid-00s .
And now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note , we ’ re putting together an Executive Summary on how to play this move .
It will identify which investments will perform best during the Fed ’ s next bubble , including a unique play that could more than double the performance of the S & P 500 .
This Executive Summary will be available exclusively to subscribers of our Gains Pains & Capital e-letter .
To insure you receive a copy when it ’ s sent out , you can join here :

The stock market is up this morning on “start of the month” buying for pension funds and other large financial institutions.
The S&P 500 did manage to close above resistance (red line in the chart below). However, it is struggling to move into “the gap” established by the first leg down of the March meltdown (blue rectangle in the chart below).
The bigger issue concerns the fact that the market is being largely driven by tech stocks. Financials, industrials and healthcare stocks, which comprise over 50% of the S&P 500 have effectively gone nowhere for several months now.
Meanwhile Tech stocks have exploded higher, soaring to new all-time highs.
Why is this?
Because the large tech stocks (Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook) are where central banks are buying.
Together these companies account for nearly 20% of the stock market. And if central banks can get them to rally, the rest of the market will follow.
Put another way, if you were going to rig the market, these are the companies you’d be buying.
And with the same stocks moving higher day after day like clockwork, it’s pretty clear it’s central banks doing the buying.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to what I’ve been saying since 2017… that the Fed is trapped in a vicious cycle through which it INTENTIONALLY creates bubbles to deal with each successive bust.
We had the Tech Bubble in the ’90s.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The Housing Bubble in the mid-00s.
And now the Everything Bubble in 2020.
On that note, we’re putting together an Executive Summary on how to play this move.
It will identify which investments will perform best during the Fed’s next bubble, including a unique play that could more than double the performance of the S&P 500.
This Executive Summary will be available exclusively to subscribers of our Gains Pains & Capital e-letter. To insure you receive a copy when it’s sent out, you can join here:
phoenixcapitalmarketing.com/TEB.html
Best Regards
Graham Summers
Chief Market Strategist
Phoenix Capital Research


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Pay Attention Because Your “New Normal” Should Be Survival Mode

by Selco Begovic via The Organic Prepper In one of the articles a few weeks ago I mentioned stuff about adapting , and I used “ boiling the frog ” story as an example of how situations that slowly deteriorate can make us lose our sharpness .
We get accustomed to situations , things , or actions , and we have a tendency to portray it over time as normal .
Here are a few more thoughts .
In a country where the economic situation was horrible even before this whole coronavirus thing , you do not need some large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction , and COVID hit us pretty hard .
Medical staff members have worked in bad conditions from the start of this , in double shifts , without proper equipment , and with the perspective of even more salary cuts because of the worsening economic situation .
At the beginning of all this , if a medical worker got into contact with a positive patient without PPE , he or she would go into self-isolation at home and be tested .
As the situation deteriorates more ( more medical workers getting sick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point where the medical worker ( if in contact , without PPE ) ) does not get tested and does not go into isolation until symptoms show up .
So in reality , until getting symptoms he would freely spread the disease to coworkers , family , and patients until he was actually sick .
Now the situation looks like this : If a medical worker gets sick , tested positive , and only has mild symptoms-he should work normally , with a mask .
If masks are available .
Usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing is that now medical officials are instructing workers , “ Nah , it is nothing , you just continue to work.
” In other words , you work or lose the job .
In some cities , there are internal instructions that police workers and medical workers are forbidden to be tested .
If they are not tested they are not sick , right ?
All this is being performed as a push in order to make the system look like it is still OK so that ordinary people are still able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a catastrophe waiting to happen .
And one more thing : all this does not have anything to do with whether you believe in COVID or not or how you think this is all this gon na end up .
It is about the system pushing on and on to look like they ’ re functioning to the outside world .
It is about how all may end up in disaster with the complete destruction of some important services .
Image or illusion is all that is important .
I wrote a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re calling the “ new normal ” .
New normal means that one day you will wake up in a different world .
You will realize that you are living in new world .
A new world means new rules .
In our case , because we are talking about prepping and survival , it means mostly that from that moment you need to go into survival mode .
Now that does not necessarily mean that you need to go out on streets in full camo with an assault rifle .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that from that day you are adopting a whole set of new rules and actions because you realized things have changed , and you need , for example , to watch where you go , to have a bag of essentials with you , to be ready to bug out , to know all the time where your family members are , etc , etc .
I know , I know .
You are over there saying that we all need to do that all the time anyway because we are preppers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ always live in that “ survival mode ” because it is impossible .
You should know when to switch to it .
Again , you are switching to it because you RECOGNIZE it is time for that and that the situation has become the NEW NORMAL for you , so you are living in some level of SURVIVAL MODE .
It is very important to recognize that new normal so you can switch to the proper mode .
Now , there is the term NORMAL .
If you are living for some time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard situation , or simply in a prolonged period of time in special circumstances , you as a human have a chance to adapt to it , so it will become NORMAL to you .
Also , there is a very high possibility that the system will push its own agenda very hard telling you , bombarding you actually , with information that it is NORMAL , or it will soon be NORMAL , or at least telling you , “ Oh no , it is not so bad.
” There is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become normal to you and you will have failed to switch yourself into survival mode , because why should you , everybody saying all is normal around you right ?
So you will continue to live in those not-so-normal times like they are normal .
You will adapt to those times in a way that you will not be prepared for full SHTF because you are not going to see it .
It isn ’ t as complicated as it seems .
All this may look complicated , but in essence , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be summarized in a few points at the end : • do not trust the system • have plans to accordingly act based on the changing situation around you Remember , “ normal ” is something that you should be able to define by yourself , not from what that guy on TV says .
You must be able to quickly move into the correct mode and adapt to the “ new normal ” if it happens .
And don ’ t think it can ’ t happen to you .
I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Selco survived the Balkan war of the 90s in a city under siege , without electricity , running water , or food distribution .
In his online works , he gives an inside view of the reality of survival under the harshest conditions .
He reviews what works and what doesn ’ t , tells you the hard lessons he learned , and shares how he prepares today .
He never stopped learning about survival and preparedness since the war .
Regardless of what happens , chances are you will never experience extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the chance to learn from him and how he faced death for months .
• Read more of Selco ’ s articles here .
• Buy his best-selling paperbacks , SHTF Survival Stories and The Dark Secrets of Survival here .
• Take advantage of a deep and profound insight into his knowledge by signing up for his online courses SHTF Survival Boot Camp and learn the inside story of what it was really like when the SHTF with his online course One Year in Hell .
• You can donate directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropdown arrow to select USD as the currency )

by Selco Begovic via The Organic Prepper
In one of the articles a few weeks ago I mentioned stuff about adapting, and I used “boiling the frog” story as an example of how situations that slowly deteriorate can make us lose our sharpness.
We get accustomed to situations, things, or actions, and we have a tendency to portray it over time as normal.
Here are a few more thoughts.
“Nah, it is OK”
In a country where the economic situation was horrible even before this whole coronavirus thing, you do not need some large event to push things in a bad direction, and COVID hit us pretty hard.
Medical staff members have worked in bad conditions from the start of this, in double shifts, without proper equipment, and with the perspective of even more salary cuts because of the worsening economic situation.
At the beginning of all this, if a medical worker got into contact with a positive patient without PPE, he or she would go into self-isolation at home and be tested. As the situation deteriorates more (more medical workers getting sick, fewer tests and equipment) it got to the point where the medical worker (if in contact, without PPE)) does not get tested and does not go into isolation until symptoms show up. So in reality, until getting symptoms he would freely spread the disease to coworkers, family, and patients until he was actually sick.
Now the situation looks like this: If a medical worker gets sick, tested positive, and only has mild symptoms-he should work normally, with a mask. If masks are available. Usually, they are not.
One more thing is that now medical officials are instructing workers, “Nah, it is nothing, you just continue to work.” In other words, you work or lose the job.
In some cities, there are internal instructions that police workers and medical workers are forbidden to be tested. If they are not tested they are not sick, right?
All this is being performed as a push in order to make the system look like it is still OK so that ordinary people are still able to function. In reality, it is a catastrophe waiting to happen.
And one more thing: all this does not have anything to do with whether you believe in COVID or not or how you think this is all this gonna end up.
It is about the system pushing on and on to look like they’re functioning to the outside world. It is about how all may end up in disaster with the complete destruction of some important services.
Image or illusion is all that is important.
“New Normal” vs. “Normal”
I wrote a lot about adapting to something they’re calling the “new normal”.
New normal means that one day you will wake up in a different world. You will realize that you are living in new world. A new world means new rules. In our case, because we are talking about prepping and survival, it means mostly that from that moment you need to go into survival mode.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Now that does not necessarily mean that you need to go out on streets in full camo with an assault rifle. There are levels of it.
It can mean that from that day you are adopting a whole set of new rules and actions because you realized things have changed, and you need, for example, to watch where you go, to have a bag of essentials with you, to be ready to bug out, to know all the time where your family members are, etc, etc.
I know, I know. You are over there saying that we all need to do that all the time anyway because we are preppers.
But in reality, we can not always live in that “survival mode” because it is impossible. You should know when to switch to it.
Again, you are switching to it because you RECOGNIZE it is time for that and that the situation has become the NEW NORMAL for you, so you are living in some level of SURVIVAL MODE.
It is very important to recognize that new normal so you can switch to the proper mode.
Now, there is the term NORMAL.
If you are living for some time in a changed situation, in a hard situation, or simply in a prolonged period of time in special circumstances, you as a human have a chance to adapt to it, so it will become NORMAL to you. Also, there is a very high possibility that the system will push its own agenda very hard telling you, bombarding you actually, with information that it is NORMAL, or it will soon be NORMAL, or at least telling you, “Oh no, it is not so bad.”
There is a chance over time that the situation will become normal to you and you will have failed to switch yourself into survival mode, because why should you, everybody saying all is normal around you right?
So you will continue to live in those not-so-normal times like they are normal.
You will adapt to those times in a way that you will not be prepared for full SHTF because you are not going to see it.
It isn’t as complicated as it seems.
All this may look complicated, but in essence, it is not at all. It can be summarized in a few points at the end:
trust your gut
do not trust the system
have plans to accordingly act based on the changing situation around you
have alternative sources of information
Remember, “normal” is something that you should be able to define by yourself, not from what that guy on TV says. You must be able to quickly move into the correct mode and adapt to the “new normal” if it happens.
And don’t think it can’t happen to you. I believe it is happening in many places.
About Selco:
Selco survived the Balkan war of the 90s in a city under siege, without electricity, running water, or food distribution.
In his online works, he gives an inside view of the reality of survival under the harshest conditions. He reviews what works and what doesn’t, tells you the hard lessons he learned, and shares how he prepares today. He never stopped learning about survival and preparedness since the war. Regardless of what happens, chances are you will never experience extreme situations as Selco did. But you have the chance to learn from him and how he faced death for months.


Volcanoes Activating Worldwide

Fires in California coming from the depths of hell
Get ready.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
AC


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Back to the banks and their troubles

Back to the banks and their troubles

Tucked away in the Covid news over the past few business days has been one of our longest running themes .
The original credit crunch story was one of the banks and their collapse and supposed renewal or as they are officially described these days a state of being “ resilient ” .
On this road we saw interest-rate cuts on a grand scale and then central bank bond buying ( QE ) to reduce longer-term interest-rates and bond yields .
This was to boost their balance sheet via the assets that they have ( loans to us ) which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Actually it did not work so then we saw the various credit easing policies to more directly support this area .
The UK opened with the Funding for Lending Scheme which cut mortgage rates by up to 2 % according to the Bank of England .
Since then we have seen ever more negative bond yields including in the UK as well as the Euro area providing a direct subsidy to banks via the latest TLTROs offering -1 % to qualifying banks .
Oh and you qualify basically by being a bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spite of all of that we never really achieved “ escape velocity ” for the banks .
They muddled on continuing to be a milch cow for directors and the like but a corner was always about to be turned on a Roman road and we have all been singing along to Talking Heads .
Perhaps the most extreme example has been the Italian banks which have seen a litany of rights issues , a private-sector bailout ( Atlante ) which made the stronger banks weaker .
and outright bailouts which ignored Euro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight into the Coivid-19 pandemic .
But if we return to the UK we have had our own issues .
This morning what is our largest bank these days has released its results and we are immediately placed om alert by the use of the word “ resilient ” .
So resilient in fact that profits fell by 65 % .
As you can see we have had “ bad loans ” “ sour loans ” “ non performing loans ” and now “ ECLs ” .
Indeed the use of an acronym @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the view of Group Chief Executive Noel Quinn I wonder if he had any idea what that means ?
Tucked away in his section we do get a snapshot of the economy as we note this .
So for all the rhetoric about recovery and banks helping we see that HSBC has in fact retrenched in loan terms .
Also we get another insight to the rise in saving we have noted before .
This bit is also revealing .
Firstly Brexit is no longer at the top of the list which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for HSBC we are reminded of its Far Eastern presence and footprint which is also good and bad .
The Hong Kong bit is plainly bad right now and as for China well the jury remains out .
Things were so grim here that the only solution was provided by the way that the leaky Windscale nuclear reprocessing plant became the leak-free Sellafield .
So let me welcome the Nat West Group which of course is a type of back to the future .
This means that they are worried about their capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are five key messages about this bank of which one caught my eye .
As a UK taxpayer I note that I was invested in this bank at around £5 and the share price as I type this is £1.06 so I think we as taxpayers should ask them to focus on something else !
In essence banking is losing money whilst punting the markets or perhaps front running the central banks is doing well .
When it reported last Thursday things looked not so bad for a while .
But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs Market do not seem convinced by that asset value as the share price is 26 pence .
Surely this is an enormous opportunity for the directors to invest their own money based on their own published view ?
In the case of CEO Antonio Horta-Osario his £6.3 million a year would provide a solid boost .
Bank in the real world the hype .
Rather than go through the figures we can focus on the gap between tangible net assets per share of £2.84 and a share price of £1.01 as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incoming Governor of the Bank of England assured us it would be different this time .
Well , I would just add that , as many of you know , we are still dealing with some of the more painful elements of the consequences of the last crises for small firms , and we don ’ t want that again , thank you , and there ’ s a very clear message to the banks- , and , by the way , which I think has been reflected in things that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , it ’ s important to take that into consideration , that , you know , you have all the resources and all the wherewithal to see through this issue , the shock , and to support the economy and to support businesses , and that ’ s a very strong message .
Many of you may also recall when he said that they could lend 13 times as much to support businesses .
Meanwhile the releases above show falls in bank lending .
Yet the blundering goes on .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposits .
With all this success and resilience we should be……oh hang on .

by Shaun Richards
Tucked away in the Covid news over the past few business days has been one of our longest running themes. The original credit crunch story was one of the banks and their collapse and supposed renewal or as they are officially described these days a state of being “resilient”. On this road we saw interest-rate cuts on a grand scale and then central bank bond buying ( QE) to reduce longer-term interest-rates and bond yields. This was to boost their balance sheet via the assets that they have ( loans to us) which are improved by house prices being higher. Actually it did not work so then we saw the various credit easing policies to more directly support this area. The UK opened with the Funding for Lending Scheme which cut mortgage rates by up to 2% according to the Bank of England. Since then we have seen ever more negative bond yields including in the UK as well as the Euro area providing a direct subsidy to banks via the latest TLTROs offering -1% to qualifying banks. Oh and you qualify basically by being a bank in these circumstances.
Except that in spite of all of that we never really achieved “escape velocity” for the banks. They muddled on continuing to be a milch cow for directors and the like but a corner was always about to be turned on a Roman road and we have all been singing along to Talking Heads.
We’re on a road to nowhere
Come on inside
Taking that ride to nowhere
We’ll take that ride
I’m feeling okay this morning
And you know
We’re on the road to paradise
Here we go, here we go
Perhaps the most extreme example has been the Italian banks which have seen a litany of rights issues, a private-sector bailout ( Atlante) which made the stronger banks weaker. and outright bailouts which ignored Euro area rules. All that can-kicking crunched straight into the Coivid-19 pandemic. But if we return to the UK we have had our own issues.
HSBC
This morning what is our largest bank these days has released its results and we are immediately placed om alert by the use of the word “resilient”.
Our performance in the first half of 2020 was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. In Asia, our business was resilient, demonstrating the strength of our operations.
So resilient in fact that profits fell by 65%.
Reported profit before tax fell 65% to $4.3bn, amid higher expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges (ECL) and lower revenue. Reported ECL of $6.9bn were $5.7bn higher than in 1H19
As you can see we have had “bad loans” “sour loans” “non performing loans” and now “ECLs”. Indeed the use of an acronym is an especially worrying portent.
Here is the view of Group Chief Executive Noel Quinn
“We are helping our customers navigate their own path through uncertainty and acting with pace and decisiveness to adapt HSBC to an environment in which no business can afford to stand still.”
I wonder if he had any idea what that means?
Tucked away in his section we do get a snapshot of the economy as we note this.
Lending decreased by $18bn in the first half.
Customers initially drew on new and existing
credit lines in the first quarter in response to
the Covid-19 outbreak, but began to pay these
down in the second quarter as circumstances
changed.
So for all the rhetoric about recovery and banks helping we see that HSBC has in fact retrenched in loan terms. Also we get another insight to the rise in saving we have noted before.
Deposits rose by $93bn in the first
half, as customers increased their cash
reserves and reduced their spending
during lockdown.
This bit is also revealing.
Geopolitical uncertainty could
also weigh heavily on our clients, particularly
those impacted by heightened US-China and
UK-China tensions, and the future of UK-EU
trade relations.
Firstly Brexit is no longer at the top of the list which is both good and bad. But for HSBC we are reminded of its Far Eastern presence and footprint which is also good and bad. The Hong Kong bit is plainly bad right now and as for China well the jury remains out.
Royal Bank of Scotland
Things were so grim here that the only solution was provided by the way that the leaky Windscale nuclear reprocessing plant became the leak-free Sellafield. So let me welcome the Nat West Group which of course is a type of back to the future.
However, NatWest Group has a robust capital position, underpinned by a resilient, capital generative and well diversified business.
( Chief Executive Officer Alison Rose)
This means that they are worried about their capital position and exposure to some areas. There are five key messages about this bank of which one caught my eye.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Focused on generating shareholder value. Committed to resuming capital distributions when appropriate
As a UK taxpayer I note that I was invested in this bank at around £5 and the share price as I type this is £1.06 so I think we as taxpayers should ask them to focus on something else!
The numbers are pretty poor.
H1 2020 operating loss before tax of £770 million and operating profit before impairment losses of £2,088 million.
● Net impairment losses of £2,858 million in H1 2020, or 159 basis points of gross customer loans, resulted in an expected
credit loss (ECL) coverage ratio of 1.72% across the Personal and Wholesale portfolios.
In essence banking is losing money whilst punting the markets or perhaps front running the central banks is doing well.
In comparison to H1 2019, across the retail and commercial businesses income decreased by 9.0% whilst NatWest Markets income excluding asset disposals/strategic risk reduction, own credit adjustments (OCA) and notable items increased by 44.4%.
Lloyds
When it reported last Thursday things looked not so bad for a while.
Trading surplus of £3.5 billion, a reduction of 26 per cent compared to the first six months of 2019, providing still significant
capacity to absorb impairment impacts of the coronavirus crisis
But if you looked further down.
Statutory loss before tax of £602 million and statutory profit after tax of £19 million, both impacted by income
developments and the increased impairment charge. Tangible net asset value per share of 51.6 pence.
Mr and Mrs Market do not seem convinced by that asset value as the share price is 26 pence. Surely this is an enormous opportunity for the directors to invest their own money based on their own published view? In the case of CEO Antonio Horta-Osario his £6.3 million a year would provide a solid boost.
Bank in the real world the hype.
Loan to deposit ratio now 100 per cent, providing significant potential to lend into recovery, with a strong liquidity position
becomes this.
Loans and advances at £440 billion were stable compared to the year end but reduced by £3 billion in the second quarter
Barclays
Rather than go through the figures we can focus on the gap between tangible net assets per share of £2.84 and a share price of £1.01 as I type this.
Comment
When all this began the incoming Governor of the Bank of England assured us it would be different this time.
Well, I would just add that, as many of you know, we are still dealing with some of the more painful elements of the consequences of the last crises for small firms, and we don’t want that again, thank you, and there’s a very clear message to the banks-, and, by the way, which I think has
been reflected in things that a number of the banks have already said. So, it’s important to take that into
consideration, that, you know, you have all the resources and all the wherewithal to see through this
issue, the shock, and to support the economy and to support businesses, and that’s a very strong
message.
Many of you may also recall when he said that they could lend 13 times as much to support businesses. Meanwhile the releases above show falls in bank lending.
Yet the blundering goes on.
Nationwide re-joined stalwart lenders such as HSBC to offer 90 per cent deals last month, exclusively for first-time buyers, with an additional condition. Buyers will need to prove that at least 75 per cent of their deposit has come from their own savings, ruling out deposits that have been gifted entirely from parents.
For a bank the issue is repayments not deposits.
With all this success and resilience we should be……oh hang on.
Podcast


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Can Trump Postpone the Election? Maybe He Can!

Trump tweeted about postponing the election due to the main-in voting without proving who you are .
There is a lot of fake news running around claiming that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution says the term must end by January 20th .
However , this does not specify which January .
The 20th Amendment says : The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January , and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January , of the years in which such terms would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ratified ; and the terms of their successors shall then begin .
Then there are many claiming that the 22nd Amendment defines the term of the president as four years .
This Amendment only limits the president to two terms and has nothing to do with the length of a term of office .
The 22nd Amendment Section 1 .
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice , and no person who has held the office of President , or acted as President , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once .
Originally , the office of President and Vice President were separate .
People ran for each .
The way we have Vice President selected by the Presidental candidate is also not authorized by the Constitution .
“ The electors shall meet in their respective states , and vote by ballot for two persons , of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the persons voted for , and of the number of votes for each ; which list they shall sign and certify , and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States , directed to the President of the Senate .
The President of the Senate shall , in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives , open all the certificates , and the votes shall then be counted .
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President , if such number be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed ; and if there be more than one who have such majority , and have an equal number of votes , then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a majority , then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President .
But in choosing the President , the votes shall be taken by States , the representation from each state having one vote ; A quorum for this purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from two thirds of the states , and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice .
In every case , after the choice of the President , the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the Vice President .
But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes , the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice President.
” ( see also 3 USC §12 ) All of this does not address what happens in an emergency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the argument of national security during the Koren War .
He explained : “ Our national security and our chances for peace depend on our defense production .
Our defense production depends on steel.
” He claimed , “ inherent power ” to do what needed to be he had done .
The Supreme Court rejected that argument saying that : “ The Founders of this Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good and bad times .
It would do no good to recall the historical events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hopes for freedom that lay behind their choice.
” Justice Robert Jackson wrote : They knew what emergencies were , knew the pressures they engender for authoritative action , knew , too , how they afford a ready pretext for usurpation .
We may also suspect that they suspected that emergency powers would tend to kindle emergencies .
Aside from suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in time of rebellion or invasion , when the public safety may require it , they made no express provision for exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I do not think we rightfully may so amend their work .
However , here the enemy of the state is actually Congress .
There is no question that the COVID numbers have been so abused because the hospitals are paid even for people without insurance as long as they claim they have COVID .
Even the director of the CDC Robert Redfield admitted that before Congress .
The numbers are inflated because they are not paid unless it is COVID .
This has been defined under National Security .
What is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government from Trump has manufactured an actual National Security Crisis using this exaggerated COVID Pandemic which did not exist under Truman .
Here , there are shortages of money because of social-distancing and shutting down the economy so people have not been spending cash , and even the Post Office is disrupted .
In trying to mail books , delays were unbelievable .
Congress changed its rules and have allowed its member to attend remotely .
That in itself may not be constitutional .
Congress has allowed lawmakers to cast votes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by proxy .
This is certainly a highly dangerous new rule .
Article I , Section 4 clearly requires that : “ The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year , and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December , unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
” There is no Constitutional Authority for proxy votes .
Each representative was to represent 30,000 people – not a party .
Additionally , elections for the Senate and House of Representatives were : “ The times , places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Representatives , shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof ; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations , except as to the places of choosing Senators.
” Here we have vast portions of government offices not functioning – even Congress itself .
This opens the door to the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 51 ( Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-20 ) .
This was signed by President of the United States George W. Bush on May 4 , 2007 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidential Directive establishes an interesting comprehensive policy whereby what happens when the federal government institutions fail to operate in the event of a “ catastrophic emergency ” which the media has certainly turned this COVID Crisis into locking down the entire economy .
The COIVID contrived crisis is such an emergency is defined as “ any incident , regardless of location , that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties , damage , or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population , infrastructure , environment , economy , or government functions.
” “ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continuity of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Federal continuity policies .
This policy establishes “ National Essential Functions , ” prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies , and provides guidance for State , local , territorial , and tribal governments , and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This presidential directive defines the “ national essential functions ” of the federal government , specifies “ continuity requirements ” for the departments and agencies in the federal government ’ s executive branch , and “ provides guidance for state , local , territorial , and tribal governments , and private sector organizations .
It also provides for a National Continuity Coordinator who will oversee the “ development and implementation of federal continuity policies.
” Since Congress has made new rules that it will no longer require member to be present due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not authorized by the Constitution , the very foundation of a representative government has ceased to exist .
The purpose of this Directive is to protect the constitution .
There is no comity among the branches to preserve the constitutional framework of government to execute constitutional responsibilities and provide for orderly succession , an appropriate transition of leadership , and interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a catastrophic emergency .
This Directive 51 asserts that the president has the power to declare a catastrophic emergency .
It does not specify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency over .
It also authorizes the new position of “ National Continuity Coordinator ” would be filled by the assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism .
The directive further specifies that a “ Continuity Policy Coordination Committee “ , is to be chaired by a senior director of the Homeland Security Council who is selected by the National Continuity Coordinator .
The majority of this order is secret and has not been published .
The mere fact that Congress has stopped attendance and allowed proxy voting does not comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this COVID Crisis has indeed risen to a catastrophic emergency thanks to the media .
It certainly appears that this is ripe for the Supreme Court .
What if there was an act of war and Congress was destroyed in an attack ?
How would the government function is Congress does not attend ?
The primary mission of the Homeland Security Act was to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States , reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism , and minimize damage and assist in recovery for terrorist attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If it argued that COVID was deliberately released by any clandestine group to bring down the US economy in order to create a Great Reset opportunity , then clearly Homeland Security comes into place and the Justice Department is duty-bound to investigate if anyone in Congress or any agency , including Fauci , have conspired with anyone to create this national catastrophic emergency and cause the national GDP to collapse in the greatest recorded decline in history .
There is the authority to postpone the elections when Congress itself is no longer attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court , but there should be a nonpartisan investigation of everyone involved and ASAP to be able to reveal evidence to justify this catastrophic emergency which has been fueled by CNN , Washington Post , and New York Times just to mention a few .
3 USC §12 .
Failure of certificates of electors to reach President of the Senate or Archivist of the United States ; demand on State for certificate When no certificate of vote and list mentioned in sections 9 and 11 of this title from any State shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate or by the Archivist of the United States by the fourth Wednesday in December , after the meeting of the electors shall have been held , the President of the Senate or , if he be absent from the seat of government , the Archivist of the United States shall request , by the most expeditious method available , the secretary of state of the State to send up the certificate and list lodged with him by the electors of such State ; and it shall be his duty upon receipt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by registered mail to the President of the Senate at the seat of government .
1984-Pub .
L. 98–497 substituted “ Archivist of the United States ” for “ Administrator of General Services ” in section catchline and two places in text .
1951-Act Oct. 31 , 1951 , substituted “ Administrator of General Services ” for “ Secretary of State ” in section catchline and two places in text .
Amendment by Pub .
L. 98–497 effective Apr .
1 , 1985 , see section 301 of Pub .
L. 98–497 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2102 of Title 44 , Public Printing and Documents .

by Martin Armstrong
Trump tweeted about postponing the election due to the main-in voting without proving who you are. There is a lot of fake news running around claiming that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution says the term must end by January 20th. However, this does not specify which January.
The 20th Amendment says: The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Then there are many claiming that the 22nd Amendment defines the term of the president as four years. This Amendment only limits the president to two terms and has nothing to do with the length of a term of office.
The 22nd Amendment Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
Originally, the office of President and Vice President were separate. People ran for each. The way we have Vice President selected by the Presidental candidate is also not authorized by the Constitution.
Article II, Section I:
“The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President; and if no person have a majority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice President.” (see also 3 USC §12)
All of this does not address what happens in an emergency. Former President Harry Truman seized steel production under the argument of national security during the Koren War. He explained: “Our national security and our chances for peace depend on our defense production. Our defense production depends on steel.” He claimed, “inherent power” to do what needed to be he had done. The Supreme Court rejected that argument saying that: “The Founders of this Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good and bad times. It would do no good to recall the historical events, the fears of power, and the hopes for freedom that lay behind their choice.” Justice Robert Jackson wrote:
They knew what emergencies were, knew the pressures they engender for authoritative action, knew, too, how they afford a ready pretext for usurpation. We may also suspect that they suspected that emergency powers would tend to kindle emergencies. Aside from suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in time of rebellion or invasion, when the public safety may require it, they made no express provision for exercise of extraordinary authority because of a crisis. I do not think we rightfully may so amend their work.
However, here the enemy of the state is actually Congress. There is no question that the COVID numbers have been so abused because the hospitals are paid even for people without insurance as long as they claim they have COVID. Even the director of the CDC Robert Redfield admitted that before Congress. The numbers are inflated because they are not paid unless it is COVID.
This has been defined under National Security. What is fascinating is that this conspiracy to seize the government from Trump has manufactured an actual National Security Crisis using this exaggerated COVID Pandemic which did not exist under Truman. Here, there are shortages of money because of social-distancing and shutting down the economy so people have not been spending cash, and even the Post Office is disrupted. In trying to mail books, delays were unbelievable. Congress changed its rules and have allowed its member to attend remotely. That in itself may not be constitutional. Congress has allowed lawmakers to cast votes for as many as 10 other House members by proxy. This is certainly a highly dangerous new rule.
Article I, Section 4 clearly requires that: “The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.” There is no Constitutional Authority for proxy votes. Each representative was to represent 30,000 people – not a party. Additionally, elections for the Senate and House of Representatives were: “The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators.”
Here we have vast portions of government offices not functioning – even Congress itself. This opens the door to the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 51 (Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-20). This was signed by President of the United States George W. Bush on May 4, 2007, in the aftermath of 911. , This Presidential Directive establishes an interesting comprehensive policy whereby what happens when the federal government institutions fail to operate in the event of a “catastrophic emergency” which the media has certainly turned this COVID Crisis into locking down the entire economy.
The COIVID contrived crisis is such an emergency is defined as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The Directive states its purpose:
“This directive establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes “National Essential Functions,” prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.”
This presidential directive defines the “national essential functions” of the federal government, specifies “continuity requirements” for the departments and agencies in the federal government’s executive branch, and “provides guidance for state, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations. It also provides for a National Continuity Coordinator who will oversee the “development and implementation of federal continuity policies.”
Since Congress has made new rules that it will no longer require member to be present due to this COVID Crisis and allows proxy voting not authorized by the Constitution, the very foundation of a representative government has ceased to exist. The purpose of this Directive is to protect the constitution. There is no comity among the branches to preserve the constitutional framework of government to execute constitutional responsibilities and provide for orderly succession, an appropriate transition of leadership, and interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a catastrophic emergency.
This Directive 51 asserts that the president has the power to declare a catastrophic emergency. It does not specify who has the power to declare the emergency over. It also authorizes the new position of “National Continuity Coordinator” would be filled by the assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. The directive further specifies that a “Continuity Policy Coordination Committee“, is to be chaired by a senior director of the Homeland Security Council who is selected by the National Continuity Coordinator. The majority of this order is secret and has not been published. The mere fact that Congress has stopped attendance and allowed proxy voting does not comply with the constitution and calls into question is this COVID Crisis has indeed risen to a catastrophic emergency thanks to the media.
It certainly appears that this is ripe for the Supreme Court. What if there was an act of war and Congress was destroyed in an attack? How would the government function is Congress does not attend? The primary mission of the Homeland Security Act was to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, and minimize damage and assist in recovery for terrorist attacks that occur in the United States. If it argued that COVID was deliberately released by any clandestine group to bring down the US economy in order to create a Great Reset opportunity, then clearly Homeland Security comes into place and the Justice Department is duty-bound to investigate if anyone in Congress or any agency, including Fauci, have conspired with anyone to create this national catastrophic emergency and cause the national GDP to collapse in the greatest recorded decline in history.
There is the authority to postpone the elections when Congress itself is no longer attending. This will end up in the Supreme Court, but there should be a nonpartisan investigation of everyone involved and ASAP to be able to reveal evidence to justify this catastrophic emergency which has been fueled by CNN, Washington Post, and New York Times just to mention a few.
3 USC §12. Failure of certificates of electors to reach President of the Senate or Archivist of the United States; demand on State for certificate
When no certificate of vote and list mentioned in sections 9 and 11 of this title from any State shall have been received by the President of the Senate or by the Archivist of the United States by the fourth Wednesday in December, after the meeting of the electors shall have been held, the President of the Senate or, if he be absent from the seat of government, the Archivist of the United States shall request, by the most expeditious method available, the secretary of state of the State to send up the certificate and list lodged with him by the electors of such State; and it shall be his duty upon receipt of such request immediately to transmit same by registered mail to the President of the Senate at the seat of government.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 644, 62 Stat. 674 ; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, §8, 65 Stat. 712 ; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, §107(e)(1), (2)(B), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2291 .)
Amendments
1984-Pub. L. 98–497 substituted “Archivist of the United States” for “Administrator of General Services” in section catchline and two places in text.
1951-Act Oct. 31, 1951, substituted “Administrator of General Services” for “Secretary of State” in section catchline and two places in text.
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497, set out as a note under section 2102 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-03--Donald Trump Jr.… The Silent Majority isn’t going to standby and allow weak Joe Biden and his radica

Donald Trump Jr.… The Silent Majority isn’t going to standby and allow weak Joe Biden and his radical leftwing puppet masters destroy our great nation with their socialist policy agenda!

The Silent Majority is n't going to standby and allow weak Joe Biden and his radical leftwing puppet masters destroy @ @ @ @ @ socialist policy agenda !
!
!
pic.twitter.com/KcRdgy8YbA

The Silent Majority isn't going to standby and allow weak Joe Biden and his radical leftwing puppet masters destroy our great nation with their socialist policy agenda!!!pic.twitter.com/KcRdgy8YbA
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 3, 2020