All the money in the world...

"In any event, the powers that be are putting on the dog this week in the Middle East. Money will flow, and the pomp and circumstance will be in full bloom. It is expected the president will come home with a full bag of goodies for growing our growing domestic business base. Plus - he might just come home with a new Air Force One to boot."    

Here we are, with President Trump having his first real trip overseas since becoming POTUS 47. Can I just say this? It is only his first, and it is going to be a doozy. He is going to visit the Saudis (first), and then UAE and Qatar. What is the purpose of this meeting? Abraham Accord? Peace deal in Ukraine or Gaza? No and no. This is a business trip. A money trip. The three nations Trump is visiting are anxious to invest more in the American Dream, and many American businessmen are anxious to invest more in the Middle East. Sounds like a good marriage to me.

Can we just clear the air on this very important point first? The Saudis love Donald Trump. They loved him as POTUS 45 and maybe even more so as POTUS 47 Why? They speak the same language - money. Biden? The Saudis would not give him the time of day at 12 noon. Why? First off, he called the Saudi prince (MBS) a "pariah". Plus, Biden did not want any Saudi oil - only windmills and solar panels. Biden quickly became a non-factor in the Middle East. The great American MISTAKE.

Trump is expected to come home with over a trillion dollars of new business offerings. Business to set up shop in the US and employ thousands of Americans. By the same token, more American business opportunities are expected to be offered to the rich oil barons who populate the Middle East. Money will be flowing like water - or oil in this case. But there also might be a huge bonus in this entire trip.

As most know by now, Trump tried to upgrade both of the Air Force One 747's during his first term. He started the ball rolling, and Biden did nothing to keep it rolling. Boeing, who seems to have lost the recipe on how to build stuff, flubbed up the order. Bottom line - we have two forty-year-old jets used to haul our President and his staff around. Qatar got wind of this and had a solution.

The Royal Family of Qatar, who is rolling in the dough, has an extra 747-8 just sitting around. This luxury jet goes for about $400M. The Royal Family would like to gift this plane to the USA to be used for Trump's Air Force One. No strings attached - just a gift. It would need to go through some modifications, testing and a new paint job, but what a deal! But what does the Washington chattering class have to say about this?

"You are breaking the Emoluments Clause!" they are crying out. "You are corrupt" the Democrats are squealing. But here is the deal. This plane is not for Donald Trump. It is for our DOD. They are the ones who manage Air Force One duties. Trump can use it, but it will not belong to him. At the end of his term, the plane can be retired and sent to a museum - like Trump's Presidental Library. Will that satisfy the Trump haters in Washington? Absolutely not! 

In any event, the powers that be are putting on the dog this week in the Middle East. Money will flow, and the pomp and circumstance will be in full bloom. It is expected the president will come home with a full bag of goodies for our growing domestic business base. Plus - he might just come home with a new Air Force One to boot!    

Did China just blink first?

 

"Yes, China did blink first. And good on them for doing it. Now we can cross this natty issue off the list. Let's get India, Japan and South Korea done now. It is nice living in the Golden Age of America. The Democrats should join us - they might like it."      

To paraphrase that wi-fi commercial, "The stock market is BOOMING"! Yes folks, just when the Democrats thought they could earn some points by saying Trump is sowing chaos into our market, the Chinese (on the verge of economic collapse), just blinked in our trade war. And just like that, the market futures (DOW), up over 800 points this morning. 

What just happened? Both sides agreed with the sky-high tariffs they were charging each other, trade became almost impossible. Ships were hitting out west coast from China, basically empty. It was hurting us but killing the Chinese. Why? Without our market to sell to, other markets are small in comparison. Chinese workers were out of work. Factories were idle. To keep the lid on, China wanted to have some honest trade talks. 

This is not a final deal, but it could or should turn out that way. It is a 90 day pause with both parties going back to a normal tariff. That would be 10% charged by both sides. In addition, so long as fentanyl keeps coming in from China, an additional 20% will be charged by the US. But things will change. We will still onshore many items that China has made for us - especially our meds. Also, this IP theft has GOT TO STOP. I look for new language in the new trade agreement which will address that issue. 

None of these issues would have even been addressed with China if Trump had not declared Liberation Day. That is a cold hard fact. We already have a great deal with the UK and are on the path to an excellent deal with China. It has been leaked out by the Trump team that this week we could see a hand full or more deals get settled. PLUS - our negotiator in chief is meeting with the Saudis this week. It will be interesting to see what Doanld Trump comes home with.

Now a word about Steve Witkoff. This guy, even though he is not involved in the trade negotiations, is involved in the real tough nation against nation negotiations. He was just in Russia meeting with Putin (again) to try and put some meat on the bones of a better and more reliable peace agreement in Ukraine. And he probably had something to do with getting our last American hostage released from Hamas. Oh, and he might have had something to do with getting the India-Pakistan dust up resolved.

I look at the team that Donald Trump has put together in every category this time around and am amazed. He got the best of the best and everyone is a perfect fit for the job assigned. Even Hegseth? Just ask the Houthis (what is left of them) about Hegseth. He bombed them into submission. No more attacking our ships in the Red Sea. But if they do, the non-stop bombing will continue. 

Yes, China did blink first. And good on them for doing it. Now we can cross this natty issue off the table. Let's get India, Japan and South Korea done now. It is nice living in the Golden Age of America. The Democrats should join us - they might like it.      

Home of the free, land of the - robots?

"We are either at the beginning of the end or the beginning of the beginning of a new age. Work is only part of it. What we will learn in schools will have to be different than what is taught today. But here is the scary part. As AI evolves from AI to AGI, and onto ASI, robots will not only work repetitive jobs for us - they will also begin to think for us. And then what?" 

Saw an interesting interview with a young man who was just let go from Amazon. He lived a long way from the distribution center, so he would sleep in his car until the weekend. He worked hard and believed in the company. Then all of a sudden - he was let go. Why? Did he not work hard enough? He did, but he was replaced. By a robot.

We can talk all we want about adding thousands of well-paying jobs to our payrolls. This next week, our president will be in the Middle East trying to woo some more companies to come over and do business with us - here. Remember - no tariffs if they do. But here is where the clash of realities come together. Currently, we have many, thousands in fact, good jobs which are unfilled. Why? No takers. Or the takers who are interested do not have the right background, skill set, or attitude. Thus, many of these well-paying jobs go unfilled.

Buckle up for this one. This is only the beginning. Soon many jobs will be replaced by AI and robot fueled automation. Just about every futurist will parrot that fact. Jobs will come back to America, and some will be done by Americans. The others will be filled by non-humans. Robots, filled with AI. 

But don't we want as many manufacturing jobs brought back here as possible? Absolutely - it is part of our national security. But know that in all probability, these American manufacturing jobs will filled by a mixture of humans and non-humans. In addition, more and more jobs in agribusiness will be done by non-humans.

Can't we just turn back the clock, and have things the way they once were? Dad going to work at a factory, working a forty-hour week, maybe some occasional overtime? But that was then and this is now. Work is going to change. Society is going to change. Leisure time is going to change. Basically, once AI and robots become more prolific, everything will change. Even warfare will change.

We are either at the beginning of the end or the beginning of the beginning of a new age. Work is only part of it. What we will learn in schools will have to be different than what is taught today. But here is the scary part. As AI evolves from AI to AGI, and onto ASI, robots will not only work repetitive jobs for us - they will also begin to think for us. And then what? 

     

COFA for Greenland? Maybe...

"Greenland - for your sake and ours, let us hurry and get you in our orbit. Trust me, you need it. We need to have you. If Russia wants you instead of us, Russia will not be as nice about the way they go about it. Just ask the good people of Ukraine."  

Is Greenland "off the table" for the US? Maybe not. The wheels have been turning how to get Greenland in our orbit without ticking off everyone from the Danish to Greenland itself. As much as Donald Trump would like to tuck this very large island under our wing as a state or a territory, it is looking more and more like that will not happen. So, now what? Maybe a COFA?

What is a COFA? It stands for a Compact of Free Association. It is an agreement we would have with Greenland where we would provide Greenland with essential services, military protection, and duty-free trade. With all of that, Greenland would still maintain its independence. This is the important point - even though Denmark still thinks it has control over Greenland, Greenland wants independence. Ergo, that is why we have an agreement promising military protection. An independent Greenland would not be a part of NATO, even though Denmark is. 

We already have COFA agreements with places like the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands are important to us, thus the need for a COFA. Greenland is also important to us - very important. It seems that much of the future action will take place in the Artic. We have some Artic exposure with Alaska, Canada has a bunch, and so does Greenland. Get the picture? This is why Trump is leaning so hard on Canada, as well as Greenland. If we don't get much of the Artic secured near term, then it could be Russia or China making a play for it.

Having a COFA would also give us more leverage with future mineral deals with Greenland. We could mine valuable minerals and then split the proceeds with an independent Greenland. With that scenario, everybody wins. 

The world continues to change. Enemies from yesteryear are close allies today. Russia, who once was our "friend", is now the world's bad boy. And China, who helped us during WWII, is no longer to be trusted. Going forward, we need new friends. Close friends, who we can depend upon.

It is a very dangerous world. Look what just erupted between India and Pakistan. Our intelligence services are suspecting that Russia will launch a surprise offensive during the cease fire they called in Ukraine. And Gaza? Still a got mess.

Greenland - for your sake and ours, let us hurry and get you in our orbit. Trust me, you need it. We need to have you. If Russia wants you instead of us, Russia will not be as nice about the way they go about it. Just ask the good people of Ukraine.  

Fat, dumb, and happy

"The good news is Team Trump has some of the smartest men in the country working these deals. That being said, Trump will have the final say when a deal is fully cooked. What can we do to help? Be supportive. Don't bitch or whine. Be patient. This will all work out fine. But know this - we did elect a game changer. A world changer. Right now, we are getting what we paid for." 

Right now, the world is in a bit of turmoil due to the monkey wrench which was thrown into the world trade gearbox. Who threw it? Donald Trump. As uncomfortable and chaotic as things have been since that monkey wrench went flying, it was an important thing to do. Thus, I had to dredge a saying up from the past to make a point. Why? Even though the world trading was skipping along fat, dumb and happy - the United States was getting screwed. Most did not realize how much we were getting screwed until Donald Trump pulled the curtain back and exposed it. Ouch!

To really get the message out that the old ways of doing business, the fat, dumb and happy days are over - enter Liberation Day. This was the day Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs (sort of) on all our trading partners. For another country to escape from these new tariffs, they could do one of three things - 1) Don't trade with us anymore (fat chance on that one!), 2) lower or eliminate the tariffs they charge us (better chance on that one), or 3) build product in the US and then pay zero tariffs (Trump's first choice). 

Guess what? Many of our friends and foes who HATE this tariff thing, are now lining up at the door to make a deal with US. Even with that, for the waves to settle and the ground to quit shaking, it is going to take some time and patience. Trump has said many times; we don't just need a deal with other countries - we need the right deal. Trade barriers and tariffs need to be rightsized or eliminated. Are some overseas citizens really ticked off at us and our president? As they say in Minnesota, "You betcha!"

To get the right deal which would benefit the most people, it is tantamount to solving a Rubic's Cube and playing four-dimensional chess at the same time. In addition, Trump is smart enough as a negotiator to know you never leave the other side bleeding. A good solution to any negotiation is for both parties to leave the table challenged yet satisfied. Any outcome other than that can be a failure. Why? If the other side feels used or screwed, they will never trust you (or deal with you) - again.

The good news is Team Trump has some of the smartest men in the country working these deals. That being said, Trump will have the final say when a deal is fully cooked. What can we do to help? Be supportive. Don't bitch or whine. Be patient. This will all work out fine. But know this - we did elect a game changer. A world changer. Right now, we are getting what we paid for. 

 

 

Deals, deals, and more deals!

"Some of us look back and can't believe how we survived under Biden. Yikes, we were so close to the edge! It is no doubt that if we now had Kamala, we would now be over the edge. Heading into the great void instead of the Golden Days of America."

Don't look now, but the total value of new investment coming onshore is now about $8T. Some foreign, some onshore from domestic firms. This has all happened since Trump took office. That is the good news. Lots of jobs, lots of opportunities. America will once again be a powerhouse of manufacturing. Now the bad news. Because of the combination of our "birth dearth", and super low achievement scores in government education, many of those new manufacturing jobs will come under the category of "open req". In other words, we have a huge imbalance coming our way.

Please - spare me the argument that we should not deport the illegals. We should put them to work instead. One big problem with that - many of the illegals are also illiterate. And some have spotting criminal backgrounds. We might need more people to fill these open positions but need to be selective. We need to hit the ground running on many of these higher tech jobs (chip manufacturing), and we don't have time for "driftwood". 

And today, the first of many new deals were announced. Great Britian, one of our closest allies, have come to terms with the United States. Is this a good deal? Absolutely better than getting hosed year after year. Good FAIR trade is always good for both parties. Why was not this done earlier? Because it takes the author of the Art of the Deal to make it happen. Plus - more deals mean more jobs, more money, more opportunities. 

Some think that Trump (as he usually does), is getting ready to "run the table". Even though he says he is fearful of China's demise, deep down most of us would love to see China get a little adjustment and a huge lesson. We need to help the dream of China's world domination via the Belt and Roads gimmick, go into the dustbin of history.

Russia is militarily weakened from three years of Ukraine, China is weakened from the tariff war with the US, and we have global deals coming in from all over the world. Like I said - Trump is getting ready to "run the table".

Some of us look back and can't believe how we survived under Biden. Yikes, we were close to the edge! It is no doubt that if we now had Kamala, we would now be over the edge. Heading into the great void instead of the Golden Days of America.

Donald Trump is a master at his craft. He IS the art of the deal. We are oh so fortunate to have President Trump at this point in time. And the best part - is the best part is yet to come.   

Oh, Canada! Again?

 

"I am glad to see such a mess up in Canada. Ottawa deserves it. The voters who voted for Carney out of fear of Trump also deserve what they got. We voted for Trump and could not be happier. Why? Trump is going to change the world - in a good way. Carney on the other hand, is going to ride that dumpster fire all the way down."  

Jordan Peterson had an interesting take during a YouTube interview. It is no longer just Alberta - now it appears that Saskatchewan might also want to be part of the stampede to leave Canada. And, according to some, even putting the Vancouver liberals aside, BC might also like to leave this socialist nightmare. Maybe Canada will never be our 51st state. Fine with me. There are parts of eastern Canada which would be like a cancer to us. But the west? Now that is a horse of a different color! Our welcome mat is out!

Here is the truth. Much of Canada right now is undergoing voter's remorse. After two terms of Casto's kid, then having another globalist like Carney was like getting the stomach flu while on a cruise ship. Mark Carney (no offense) is a nothing burger to the folks in Western Canada. Why? The folks in Western Canada are cut from the same stock as the folks in our western states. Rugged individualists. Anti-tyranny. They eschew authoritarianism.

But Carney is a Biden. Just as Trudeau was like an Obama. Globalists all. Who do rugged individualists like and admire? Donald J. Trump. Why? He is a patriot and believes in liberty. Most of all, he is not a "pajama boy" or a "girlie man". Trump was right when he told this upstart Carney in the Oval Office, "We don't need your cars. We don't need your steel. We don't need your aluminum." The not so hidden message to Carney was simply this - Canada will be invited to play ball with us, so long as the playing field is level. Until that happens, don't let the door hit you where nature has split you (on your way out). 

But wait Bird! What if California wanted out from the US of A? What would we do? I don't know - maybe throw a party? Until California stops acting like the land of fruits and nuts and once again become patriots, they can leave. Can we survive without California? Regardless of what Newsom always says, we can, and we will. I would trade Southern California, eastern Washinton and eastern Oregon for Alberta and Saskatchewan any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. 

I am glad to see such a mess up in Canada. Ottawa deserves it. The voters who voted for Carney out of fear of Trump also deserve what they got. We voted for Trump and could not be happier. Why? Trump is going to change the world - in a good way. Carney on the other hand, is going to ride that dumpster fire all the way down.