The efforts of the Wall Street pundits and financial class to talk the American consumer into creating a recession is failing. The Consumer Confidence Index remains at historic highs as U.S. workers/consumers are confident in their economic position. Yes, Main Street USA is optimistic about current and future expectations.

The Consumer Assessment Index, a measure of the percentage of consumers claiming business conditions are “good”, increased from 39.9 percent to 42.0; and the Present Situation Index is now at its highest level in nearly 19 years (Nov. 2000, 179.7).
These are all key indicators because the U.S. consumer is the engine of our economy.  The U.S. consumer generates over two-thirds of our GDP activity through purchases.  One of the strengths of the U.S. economy is our internal self-sufficiency; approximately 80 percent of all consumer goods created in the U.S. are purchased in the U.S. by U.S. consumers [we are not reliant on exports to sustain growth].
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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Stephanie Grisham Twitter @StephGrisham45

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Against a backdrop where people are beginning to questions the cognitive capabilities of the former Vice-President, and current democrat presidential candidate, Joe Biden; the candidate tells a campaign audience he was “not going nuts“….  WATCH:

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This latest “I’m not nuts” campaign slogan might explain the recent Monmouth University Poll which shows a massive collapse of support for the former VP.

Monmouth – The poll finds a virtual three-way tie among Sanders (20%), Warren (20%), and Biden (19%) in the presidential nomination preferences of registered Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters across the country.
Compared to Monmouth’s June poll, these results represent an increase in support for both Sanders (up from 14%) and Warren (up from 15%), and a significant drop for Biden (down from 32%).

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In the ongoing battle for the unredacted Comey Memos, and David Archey Declarations describing those memos [Backstory Here], today the DOJ filed a motion for a stay (full pdf below) against the forced production of the documents (previously ordered by Judge Boasberg).

Hat Tip Techno Fog – As a likely result of this DOJ motion, Judge Boasberg will issue a deadline on production. Whether that deadline will be 14 days or until the end of the appeal deadline (60 days from August 12) is still unknown.
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At the conclusion of the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference.
President Macron used the opportunity to serve his own urgent political interests.  With a populist ‘yellow vest’ movement knocking on his palace gates, the optics of presenting himself in alignment with ‘yellow vest’ nationalist Donald Trump helps Macron to deflect opposition away from his leftist policies.  Hence, a lengthy diatribe from the french weasel.
[Video below and UPDATED With Transcript]

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[Transcript] PRESIDENT MACRON: (As interpreted.) Mr. President, Madam First Lady, ladies and gentlemen — ladies and gentlemen: Following this G7 meeting that we have just held, and we’ve been discussing for two days now and I’m going to report back to you. But, first of all, I’d like to thank President Trump and all the heads of state and government present here for the extremely productive work and the very productive discussions that we’ve had since Saturday evening together.
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Perhaps President Trump has to play the public pretend game to China’s panda mask presentations, but we do not.

The corporate U.S. media are pushing a hard narrative today surrounding claims by Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and wanting to create “calm” to work in earnest toward a U.S-China trade deal.  However, those who follow the dynamic closely will remember Liu He’s role was changed back in July.  Today’s Panda announcement is pure cunning.
Everything China is doing is intended to make it harder for President Trump to be aggressive in the confrontation:

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said on Monday that China is willing to resolve its trade dispute with the United States through calm negotiations and resolutely opposes the escalation of the conflict, a state-backed newspaper reported.
Liu, China’s top trade negotiator, was speaking at a tech conference in Chongqing in southwest China, the Chongqing Morning Post reported.

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Everyone has been looking for a moment where we can determine the intents and motivation of U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr.  Well, here is one…
According to reporting today from the New York Times, Washington DC U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu has punted the decision on whether to indict former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe back to Main Justice, via Deputy AG Jeffrey Rosen.

All of our prior research into the DC U.S. Attorney’s office, specifically toward Jessie Liu, has identified her as -essentially- Rod Rosenstein in a skirt.  Attorney Liu’s DC office was responsible for not prosecuting the Awan Brothers; and also Liu’s office was responsible for covering up the leaking of the classified FISA application by SSCI Director of Security James Wolfe. Yes, covering it up – there is ZERO DOUBT.
Both cases were clear law-breaking, and both highly politically charged.
Today the Times is reporting on leaks from officials connected to the DC office of Ms. Liu, framing her deference of the McCabe indictment back to Main Justice.
Two former DC prosecutors who were involved in the McCabe decision are mentioned by name in the NYT reporting: former lead prosecutor Ms. Kamil Shields, and also former prosecutor David Kent.  It would be interesting to see if Shields and/or Kent were also involved in the Awan case or the James Wolfe case.
Here’s the substance of the NYT article [emphasis and names added by me]:
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President Trump holds a bilateral discussion with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  PM Modi is a key figure in any strategy designed to blunt the influence of China.  [Video and Transcript below]

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[Transcript] – PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. It’s great to be with Prime Minister Modi of India. Incredible country and he’s an incredible man. Just had a tremendous election victory and he really is a man who’s loved and respected in his country.
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U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel.  This meeting happens with the backdrop of the German economy in trouble.  [Video and Transcript Below]

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[Transcript] Q Mr. President, when will you visit to Berlin?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we’ll be coming to Germany. A very special place. And we look forward to coming. We haven’t set that date, but we will be going to Germany. Absolutely. Thank you.
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