Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
If the "tipping point" is defined as driving away any swing voters that would enable GOP candidates, I would guess "yes", we have passed that point. Of course, die-hard maga will remain maga. Of course, policy reversals will be time-consuming.
But…
I love references to "TDS", especially when I hear our president obsess over Obama and Biden.
ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome) is a particular hoot since Obama's been out of office for nearly a decade at this point. It likely drives Trump's Peac…
Job market for new grads at top schools such as Stanford and Harvard is not great. Offer at graduation rates have likely fallen from ten year average of 75–80% to current ~55–65%. For schools outside top 20 schools you can be sure offer at graduat…
“What the European Union has learned is that if you face up to them, you win,” Roche said. “Nobody’s going to believe him anymore.”
He is pretty much all played out at this point. You can't bluff 'em all the time.
His mental deterioration add…
@Mona -- Good for them!
Since last summer I've been saying that world economics, trade, and security alliances, will start to restructure to work around, or perhaps WITH, the USA, but not necessarily THROUGH it, or be dependent on it. Donnie's…
@Anna and @rforno, thank you. Great alliance and future trading partner.
In 2026 the developed and EM indexes are ahead of US already. Let the race begins.
And we are still building vast debt, selling at ever lower interest rates, presumably …
EU and India Clinch ‘Mother of All Deals’ in Rebuff to Trump
(Bloomberg) -- The European Union and India concluded a free trade agreement after nearly two decades of negotiations, as both sides seek to deepen economic ties and offset the impact of …
@Hank
I agree. And since I consider song lyrics to be poetry, I'd add that to soliloquies and traditional poetry.
Moving words, are moving in any context. Thanks for your contribution.
The maga regime was outclassed and humiliated by the leader of Canada,,, who is not the Governor, so he is throwing another tariff tantrum. What’s next?
I believe that we can now say with 100% absolute certainty that he has run out of new ideas, a…
Yeah, go ahead and add that poll to your bogus lawsuit, Donnie -- because once again, your slip is showing, and you're too embarrassed to admit it.
...
he is now taking his conspiracies to a new level. I look forward to seeing how the justice syst…
"A moment of global clarity..." (Vancouver Sun link. )
https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-mark-carneys-davos-speech-marks-a-major-departure-from-canadas-usual-approach-to-the-u-s
Thanks, @Crash
It does not appear that Canada has intenti…
Carney had to renounce two other citizenships to take the job he now has. That's a big price to pay. It was not REQUIRED by law. It was politically smart. Carney is THE MAN, now. The US and its leadership are, sadly, the joke.
True. Sacrifice and le…
Last night it was -16 here. My neighbor just wheeled my recycling bin up to the garage in the balmy -8 we have right now @ 4:30 pm. Perfectly normal.
It is the Midwest. I hope those ICEholes are freezing their fingers off.
The way that observers and strategists and market participants see the Greenland/NATO/tariff situation:
"Trump’s Greenland threat is “the biggest ‘taco’ that you could get,” Roche said, referring to the phrase “Trump Always Chickens Out,” which has…
This is not over, just a pause long enough for him to realize how the Greenland negotiation will be long and challenging. I envision some lease agreement to expand US base(s) for security purpose.
Next target is Canada, Cuba, and Mexico, because…
Mental deterioration doesn't commonly happen quickly. It comes on slowly. He is devolving in front of the whole world.
When he becomes completely incoherent, will that also be "the art of the deal"?
In case I wasn't clear, my plans were not related to the new chaos. Just a reaction to a perceived rotation. I want to lighten large growth and gain exposure to small and INTL.
This new wrinkle could cause some unsettled markets IMO. Where do folk…
As to "the markets", and what they may "take seriously", I am wondering just that.
I was planning to do some fund exchanges in the coming days/weeks. I now may park funds in MMF first, see what happens.
Funds that I may lower in allocation are m…
Did not know that was about the Falklands. Thanks
My favorite Dire Straits song (besides Telegraph Road) is The Man's Too Strong - considered an anti-war song.
Yes, higher taxes (customs receipts) will lower deficits. Not a big revelation. No big accomplishment.
"The Treasury today confirmed that borrowing remains much too high in 2026. We’re borrowing $602 billion already this fiscal year, with $145 bil…
One of my favorite songs of this genre.
Lady In Black
She came to me one morning, one lonely Sunday morning
Her long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking
And destruction lay around me, fro…
Not a big Monkeys fan, but always liked the ironic surrealism of Pleasant Valley Sunday. Carole King and her songwriting partner wrote that.
Neil Diamond wrote 4 songs for The Monkeys, including "I'm a Believer".
And Jon Stewart's "Daydream Belie…
What a timely coincidence that I was just thinking of Bill Ackman, when I heard about the Nazi-loving ICE attorney.
Of course Ackman supports ICE. Makes perfect sense.
In addition to the above, other "state-directed capitalist" moves:
-Tariffs and Trade Intervention: Implementing aggressive protectionist tariffs, including a universal 10 percent tariff on nearly all countries and higher rates on some, which has l…
I went back and watched the last Playing For Change video again. I missed so much on the first viewing. The vocals began with Lukas Nelson hitting it out of the park. Then Sierra Ferrell put a woman's touch to the vocals. Finally they lifted Jim Mor…
-Filling positions of authority with White Supremacists.
-Weakening us against or enemies and adversaries.
-Pushing prices ever higher.
-imposing a massive tax on imported goods.
-Destroying 70,000 manufacturing jobs since April 2025.
-Assaulting …
My experience on food inflation is munch higher than 3.1%; more like 30% in 2025 ! That is from comparing grocery store receipts from a year ago and today prices.
Over Christmas holiday, we experience restaurants and lodging also went up double…
And China has a record breaking trade surplus in the face of trump's trade war. They are not likely to cave to trump demands,
Meanwhile our tourism has dropped significantly. Las Vegas being a great example, including a 20% drop in Canadian touris…
