What’s the plan?
One gets the idea that the Dem plan for slowing Zhou’s and their party’s plunging poll numbers was to attempt a coast to a type of artificial finish line—the greatly delayed SOTU, to be delivered before 25 people. An end to the pandemic would be announced—at least that’s the rumor—and Americans would develop warm fuzzy feelings toward the regime.
If that was the plan, it doesn’t seem to be working—or maybe it’s being implemented with the type of incompetence we expect from, well, this not entirely compos part time occupant of the White House. The conflicted messaging is surrounded by the usual bizarre antics of the regime and the usual everyday craziness of the Left. The mood of the country could be described as increasingly sullen, verging on outright anger—every day brings new stories of frustration at the Covid Regime boiling over into anger at school board meetings, walkouts by HS students—this is even happening in my Blue suburb. That’s something I never thought I’d see. The bottom line? Ain’t nobody gonna be thanking old Zhou for declaring an end to the pandemic if that’s what happens—and watch the door on your way out, Brandon.
Meanwhile the regime’s incompetence is on full display with it’s bumbling excuse for a foreign policy. The latest item? Incredibly, Zhou will not be attending the Munich Security Conference—described by Wikipedia in these terms:
Over the past four decades the Munich Security Conference has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. Each year it brings together about 350 senior figures from more than 70 countries around the world to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges. The list of attendees includes heads of states, governments and international organizations, ministers, members of parliament, high-ranking representatives of armed forces, science, civil society, as well as business and media.
Kama Sutra will be “representing” the United States, if you can believe that.
Bonchie at Red State captures the surrealness of the latest bizarre event in this faux presidency:
Does the United State actually have a president? ...
Biden has provided another example of that with an inexplicable decision to send Kamala Harris to the Munich Security Conference, where the President of the United States normally speaks.
…, it’s unusual to send a vice president to the Munich Security Conference. But even if it’s happened before, it hasn’t happened in a moment where Europe is on the verge of war, and Germany is playing a key role in stopping diplomatic progress. If there was ever a moment the president needs to show up for work, this is it, and Biden decides to just…not go.
The entire thing is incredibly odd and opens up the door for yet more questions about the president’s constant disappearing act. Biden has spent nearly every weekend of his presidency in Delaware, but he’s not capable of jumping on Air Force One and going to Munich during this all-important, incredibly volatile time? To be frank, that just doesn’t add up, and I don’t believe he’s just got better things to do. Blame it on his senility or something else, but this is the moment a president is expected to be a leader, not dump his duties into the lap of an inexperienced, ineffective vice president.
One thing I think we know—Zhou didn’t really make this decision. It was the decision of his handlers that he wouldn’t be able to manage this conference.
Meanwhile, as if anyone doubted that the American people have more pressing matters on their mind than a faux pandemic …
Bullard Bombshell & Soaring CPI Spark VaR Shock-nado, Rate-Hike Odds Explode
A 40-year-high print for US CPI and bombshell comments from St.Louis Fed's Jim Bullard stole the jam out of most investors donuts today as the hawkish implications of the far hotter than expected inflation print sparked a total VaR Shock across every asset class
Notably, even The White House commented that it would be appropriate for The Fed to recalibrate support for the economy (after blaming the soaring inflation on the pandemic). This sounds a lot like "meddling" with the independence of The Fed (cough Trump cough) but seems like a clear message to Powell that it's ok to crash the economy (to slow inflation)... perhaps in the mistaken belief that it will somehow help his approval ratings?
Since even Goldman admitted that the Fed has never successfully hiked its way into a soft landing, Biden is basically telling Powell to start a recession to undo the consequences of his idiotic fiscal policies that have sparked the biggest inflationary conflagration since Volcker... and having no job and soaring inflation would make matters worse for Biden's approval rating.
As David Rosenberg (@EconguyRosie) notes, the best way to cure inflation? Recession. …
St.Louis Fed's Bullard piled on, urging a 50bps hike asap... and suggesting an inter-meeting hike (and a Q2 start to QT).
What the hell happened in the last 9 days to get to that from this...
The Fed has not started a rate-hike cycle with a 50bps increase since at least 1990.
To add to the appearance of a nation adrift on a troubled sea, here is what Zhou said about inflation today:
Joe Biden on Thursday delivered remarks at Germanna Community College in Culpeper, Virginia on his administration’s efforts to lower health care costs.
Speaking on soaring gas prices and high food prices, Joe Biden said “We’re in a situation now where you should have peace of mind.”
The annual inflation rate hit 7.5% in January. This is the highest increase in 40 years and much higher than expected.
The experts were expecting a 7.2% increase. They were wrong again.
But Joe Biden is telling people who are struggling to make ends meet to “have a peace of mind.”
Biden also said he doesn’t know why prices for commodities keep rising.
“I don’t know why [prices] keep moving and all that,” Joe Biden said while promoting his Build Back Broke agenda that died a painful slow death in the senate.
Meanwhile …
Biden showered with 'Let's Go Brandon' chants and 'Build Crack Better' signs on Virginia roadway
For all the bad news this portends for Dems come November, Republicans like the Turtle better come up with something a lot more compelling than warmed over Never Trumpism.
Inflation is actually higher than what is being reported. See Sundance article from yesterday to understand how the Dept of Labor "cooked the books" for Zhou's benefit. That being said, I've decided to take matters into my own hand. I'm selling some major stock assets and moving these into safer places. In addition, I'm paying down most of my debt and will scratch and claw any savings over the next 2 to 3 years so that I can eventually relocate to a warmer climate AND then buy real estate / house when the housing market crashes over the next 2 to 3 years because no one will be able to afford their mortgage rate.
Wait till the end of the year. Kiss my arse Zhou. OBTW Where's Janet Yellen?
SOTU delays to March 1st are to allow for any favorable news to begin to appear as late as possible. Everyone knows this. Feb. jobs report won't be available by then and the assumption that the Zhou/Sutra regime can take credit for Pandemic recovery at that point. What a crock.