Retail Sales Strong, Dems Just Keep Winning Elections, My Appearance on Lawrence
With Dems Tomorrow at 1pm EST, Tom Suozzi Next Wed Jan 24th
Friends,
I got behind today, and just couldn’t get my normal post done. So a few quick ones, and will back at it tomorrow. And come join me for With Dems tomorrow at 1pm EST - promise you it will leave you with a bit of extra pep in your step!
Upcoming Events
Fri, Jan 19th, 1pm EST - With Democrats, Things Get Better - Learn more, register here.
Wed, Jan 24th, 8pm EST - Monthly Hopium Community-Wide Gathering with Special Guest Tom Suozzi. Register here.
How To Help Tom Suozzi
Donate - Learn More - Get Updates - Canvass - Make Calls - Write Postcards
Retail Sales Strong, US Economy Remains Remarkably Strong - From Reuters:
WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in December, boosted by an increase in motor vehicle and online purchases, keeping the economy on solid ground heading into the new year.
The upbeat report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday, which prompted economists to upgrade their economic growth estimates for the fourth quarter, cast further doubt on financial market expectations that the Federal Reserve would start cutting interest rates in March.
It followed news earlier this month of strong employment and wage gains in December as well as a pickup in consumer prices. Fed Governor Christopher Waller on Tuesday described the economy as "doing well," which he said was giving the U.S. central bank "the flexibility to move carefully and methodically" on monetary policy.
"The economy is still flying high enough and economists can take down those recession forecasts this year," said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS in New York. "For Fed officials, the economy is not too hot and not too cold, but it is just right perhaps for a few interest rate cuts in 2024."
Stat Of The Day - Biden won working class voters in 2020 by 13 points (via the Exit Polls):
Recent Posts and Pods, Still Fresh and Full Of Good Stuff
My iGen Politics Podcast Interview with Victor Shi and Jill Wine-Banks
My MSNBC Op-Ed, “Biden’s Chances Are Stronger Than People Realize”
My Full Tuesday Night Interview With Lawrence O’Donnell
2024 is here, and we are off to a good start. Lots more to do but lets take the wins when they come - Simon
Simon - brilliant as always. But in the spirit of keeping our eye firmly on the ball, a few "devil's advocate" things to consider.
In 2018, the Dems killed it in the House but the GOP *did* have a remarkable net gain of +2 Senate seats (Dems flipped AZ & NV, but GOP defeated incumbents in IN, MO, ND, FL). We have to *REALLY* work hard in about 10 high-pri states and we cannot under any circumstances concede upcoming races in FL, TX and MO against three of the worst human beings ever to hold the title of Senator: Scott, Cruz and Hawley. Our narrow losses in 2022 in WI and NC deprived us of wiggle room. The money dump in OH also deprived us of another winnable victory. The partisan senate leanings are the worst in 100 years. Let’s change that!
In 2020, the GOP flipped back 13 Seats from Dem to GOP from the '18 wave. Then they flipped another dozen in 2022. This is about a net gain of +25. Not a red wave, but we have to still work hard here -- particularly since a GOP House in January 2025 will not, under any circumstance, certify a Biden election victory.
Again, we've done great work since 2017, but we have to run the tables in the House and Senate to really preserve our democracy. Nothing less than that is at stake.
Thanks Dad! See ya tomorrow then.