2017: The year that Trump finally began to heal America
If you were to ask me in 2016 what 2017 would be like, I’m not certain that I could have provide d a clear and concise answer.
The former was the year that the elite and pundit class got it all so wrong leading up to President Trump 's election. Voters overwhelmingly rejected Hillary Clinton in the places that it mattered most and in an upset that surprised the political class, she lost in places that were previously solidly Democratic. Since his election, Trump has become the constant target of the mainstream media and liberal elites. That has ranged from celebrities attacking his family — including his youngest son Baron — to Kathy Griffin's portrayal of herself holding the decapitated head of our commander in chief.
Our nation has never seen vitriol at this level w ith any president prior to Trump. Despite it all, Trump has continued to move forward with his agenda of making America great again.
Immigration
Things have been rocky for the president, beginning with Executive Order 13769, commonly known as the “Muslim ban” or “travel ban.” Despite setbacks delivered by more than one court, the president persisted. That perseverance paid off when the Supreme Court finally vindicated him in deciding that he did indeed have the legal power t o impose su ch standards.
The president has also been persistent in signaling that national security and border security are priorities for his administration. He ended the Obama-era “catch and release” of illegal immigrants, which resulted in the release of violent illegals on American streets. We also saw an increase in resources dedicated to tackling gang violence by illegals. In all, 36 percent more criminal gang members have been arrested than in fiscal 2016. It's been a drastic change from the previous eight years, when illegal immigration was rampant.
Jobs and the Economy
The economy is growing at its fastest pace in more than two years and with the recent $ 1.5 trillion tax overhaul, many suspect things will only get better g oing into 2018. Think about it, w hen taxes go down for American corporations, the American economy reaps direct benefits. The net result will be positive because having the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world has hurt the economy and slowed job growth. The concept is simple: w hen taxes go down for the American people, our cit izens reap direct benefits. This year, Republicans have finally delivered on a twenty-year-old promise of reforming our outdated tax system to a system that restore s consumer confidence and fosters a pro-growth economy. Unemployment rates remain at a 17-year low, which helps all Americans, particularly often forgotten poor whites and minorities.
With the increased growth, the administration has also focused on other areas that have diminished growth, such as job-stifling regulations. As a growing small business owner, I can tell you firsthand that small b usinesses are over- regulated. With small business representing 49.2 percent of private sector jobs, government should deregulate industry to allow small business to keep more money to expand or hire new employees. President Trump signed an executive order that would remove two regulations for every one that’s created, effectively ending the mountain of duplicity that’s often found reeking from the government. To date, an estimated 8.1 billion has been saved as a result.
Trade
American goods are now worth more today than they were a year ago. With the opening of NAFTA, we’re able to make better deals that will benefit American companies and workers. We’re also seeing major corporations come back to the U.S. such as Foxconn, Broadcom Lim ited, Toyota, Mazda, and others. If you’re a farmer, you’re going to get a better deal for your corn and wheat when it’s traded to places such as China or Japan. If you’re in the manufacturing space, you’re going to see our goods have more of a priority, which allows business to make more money that can be used to increase wages for employees and hire new workers. There’s an undeniable chain effect that such changes will impact where the results are positive for goods made in America. Our enhanced trade practices should become a norm for American workers that will have tremendous benefit and so will the economy.
Conclusion
Despite his detractors, President Trump has delivered on many of his promises and the net results have been overwhelmingly positive for the American people. He has passionately promoted and staunchly defended his agenda, and he has done so despite the overwhelmingly n egative push back from Democrats in Congress as well as the mainstream media and liberal elite. He has remained steadfast, honest and true.
The size of government is shrinking, companies are keeping more of their profit, which benefits workers, and we are seeing our competitive edge return after years of the belief that because of our prosperity we are obliged to allow others to take advantage of it. Those days have finally coming to a screeching halt and we all will benefit from it.
Is there more work to be done? Of course, there is. Is the president imperfect? Absolutely! Could he improve in several areas? Yes. However, we all continue grow and mature from our experience, so as our country improves, and we should pray that our leaders do the same. This is only the beginning of the American turnaround, a recipe that puts America first and places us once again as the shining city on a hill.
Armstrong Williams ( @ARightSide ) is author of the brand new book, "Reawakening Virtues." He served as an adviser and spokesman for Dr. Ben Carson 's 2016 presidential campaign, and is on Sirius XM126 Urban View nightly from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/366440-2017-the-year-that-trump-finally-began-to-heal-america
Tags
Who is online
122 visitors
I have quite a bit to add to that short list.
Amen and Amen to your awesome 😎 and right on 👍👏 seed. Many thanks for seeding it here.
Haaha
Yeah, I bet some of those employees at companies which have already announced bonuses because of the new tax law will be laughing all the way to the bank.
While you whine.
Yep great news all around. Especially for those with pie in the sky dreams that think corporations are their savior.
I bet all those receiving bonuses are just itching to give them back, right?
Why does it piss you off that a (GASP!) corporation did something nice and gave their employees bonuses?
Wow. Can some people deflect or what. What part of close to a thousand people being laid off do you not understand?
How in the world does even a two grand bonus equal to the corporations windfall?
Oh gee...a one time bonus for those lucky enough to still have a job. Meanwhile att is going to rake in millions.....
People get laid off every day in America.
Companies don't give bonuses every day.
Besides, as an evil, greedy corporation, weren't these companies supposed to be keeping every penny?
So let me get this straight. You are perfectly fine with people getting laid off as long as the ones left got a one time bonus. Meanwhile the company will have a windfall of tax freedom.
Sounds like republican math to me.
The sad thing is, you do not even see it....
Why are you whining about Americans getting bonus money?
Where is the emoji for banging ones head against the wall? As I seem to be speaking into thin air.
Let me put it this way, the bonuses came at the expense of others. The company lost nothing!!!!!
If you wish to make sense, you'll have to do better.
Holy hell dude....read my post above.
Stop banging your head and educate yourself.
"Even with the reductions announced today, we expect our head count overall to remain stable this year as we hire additional employees to support growth areas like wireless and TV," said spokesman Michael Coe.
Yep that's the ticket. Even though we are laying off, we might hire more. What is att? They are wireless and phone. I do not know anyone that watches att television. They are downsizing landlines. Wireless takes less people.
As for your comment, I am educated. The backhanded remarks will only lead to ones in kind.
By the way, I provided links.
There are many emojis missing. Where is the one for a simple handshake? How about a kiss, there needs to be a kissing emoji and one for slipping in some tongue too! Ok, maybe that one would cause some problems, but there are many missing. I feel a Meta blog coming on...
You must be joking haven’t you heard about the AT&T Time Warner merger?
The kissing emoji would definitely get me in trouble. You know how the homophobic people are...
I am upset they do not have the one with sunglasses.
What does that have to do with att layng people off?
Forget it go back to banging your head against the wall if you don’t understand how their business model is changing and old landline phone service is dying how they are becoming a multimedia giant.
I already said that. They are laying off the people that lay lines. How is being wireless hiring more people? It takes less.
Them merging into a giant will not help, especially with the net neutrality rules gone. It does not mean they will hire new people, even if they say so, and it does mean that they will have a windfall with tax breaks.
What does that have to do with att laying people off? What does that have to do with corporations making millions in tax windfall?
Absolutely nothing. Talk to me next year....
Ps. I don't use a mastercard.
Good Fake God Bud. Is your fuck them all I have, my own attitude showing?
Your crappy memes aside, what do you think holds our country together? Could it be our roads, our bridges? Could it be our police and fire departments? EMT, emergency response? The school you went to? If one had the brain, higher education? If one was not afforded abilities, could it be food on their table or housing to live in? Could it be clean water to drink and clean air to breath?
Why do some care so little for theses things yet their god should provide every idiot on the street with a rifle.
Ask yourself.......
Stop shouting, Norman, I have a headache and feel like
.
Personal responsibility too tough, eh?
The fuck you I have mine attitude is not very Christian like....
Caring for your fellow man too tough eh?
What does religion have to do with it?
Aren't you one of those constantly trumpeting and preaching separation of church and state?
People live off of that generational welfare. That is why it is perpetual.
maybe one day liberals will realize that caring for your fellow man is WAY different than supporting your fellow man.
maybe.
Time for them to get off the government/taxpayer tit.
Your denial of what is happening is a downer.
I am not the one that professes to be.
Oh, look.
We got us a little Debbie Downer--mad because more Americans get to keep more of the money that they earn. Oh the sheer HORROR of such a thing!
But you ARE the only one bringing religion into it.
Why?
Maybe conservative people will begin to realize that throwing people on the street with nothing will cause more discord.
Before making that claim, please tell us all who we have thrown out into the street.
And also explain why it is my responsibility to feed and shelter everyone?
Great. Damn people need to be off the government teet. Oh wait, are not corporations people too? Then they should be off it as well.
Instead of bitching incessantly about it, why not do what a famous Democrat suggested:
"Win some elections" and that way, you can magically change everything you seem to hate about America.
Enjoy trinkets while the wealthy enjoy millions.
And when social services are cut, no doubt you will be cheering, unless it hits home.
Why not? We can have them on the steps of government buildings, according to republicans.
Once again, it is only you talking about religion on this thread that I have seen. Did you think that was the topic of the article?
The truth always comes out. A Putin Lover we have here.
Do you mean the President who could be more flexible and then presented a nice, big red reset button to Putin?
One small layoff doesn't amount to much, except liberal dooms dayers
Oh, wah, wah, wah.
Stop sniveling.
If you want to support other people, do so at your own expense.
Awww! Him's upset. Why should the company lose anything. Maybe it's mostly department heads, managers, and supervisors, instead of the worker bees. They're still providing 199,000 other jobs.
Educated doesn't always guarantee intelligence and logical reasoning.
CEOs, VPs and the BoD are the only ones who will get a bonus. Others will get pink slips.
You don't understand capatalism if you think that people will get hired and other members of the staff will get raises because the company is now paying less in taxes. The goal of capitalism is to make more money for the owners, but the general staff is a cost to be lessened or eliminated when possible. They want to hire as few people as possible and pay them the absolute least that they can to do the job. This is why capitalism loved slavery and now offshoring to 3rd world countries.
So you hate Capitalism and therefore your'e in denial about what the highest corporate tax rate did to America. It drove companies and jobs out. American blue collar workers have suffered. Trump wants to bring those jobs back. He also gave a tax cut to the middle class - I assume you don't like that either. Here's the thing - as Barak Obama once said - "elections have consequences". People are going to end up loving what was just past by congress. Those 2018 midterms are gonna to be another shocker for the left.
This is what people care about, not about putting transgenders in the ladies room.
It’s called envy. The progressive left are serial breakers of the 10th commandment.
I suppose it is entirely possible that you haven't read anything about who these companies are actually giving the bonuses to.
That is the only explanation I have for your comment.
The rest of us know employees will be getting the bonuses.
Which one of them is you?
That is yet to be seen.
Uh, a lower taxes bill was already signed by President Trump.
Isn't there a sky somewhere you are supposed to be screaming helplessly at?
You should be, but you're not. The divide in this country will only grow bigger. I doubt you are in the one percent.
"You should be, but your not"????????????
Why?
So I can look as looney as the rest of you social crusaders?
LMFAO and SMDH
nah, most of the country will be forced to take the red pill
I doubt you are and you will not reap the benefits. Make fun all you want, the rules are being stacked against you.
You have QUITE the persecution complex, don't you?
Poor thing. Always believing someone is out to get you. Good excuse as any to explain how unfair life is to you, right, poor little thing?
Wow, you all are really full of yourselves huh.
Nope, just tired of hearing about how we should cheerfully pay yet more and more in taxes to support those who don't have the same standard of living as we do.
I believe you would be much happier if you lived in one of the European Utopia countries. You seem awfully unhappy here.
So because a person is not in the 1%, he/she is suppose to despise the 1%?
The flaws in reasoning like that are numerous and vast.
Well, they seem to think that someone getting rich means that someone else got poor because of the rich guy.
Comment removed for CoC violation [ph]
Strong accusation with no proof. Prove it or shut the fuck up
Yeah, it pretty much boils down to petty jealousy. I see it all the time with my employees. Rather than be proud of our combined accomplishments many get jealous of what we have achieved with our company but few want to put in the effort that it take to get and stay there on their own. They prefer to leech off the hard efforts of others.
There is a reason most new businesses fail within the first few years. It's a lot harder than it looks to be successful.
Yes and they have people like Obama stoking their jealousy and claiming those that are successful should be carrying their deadweight.
Sad part is i actually enjoy helping others out and don't do it expecting any pats on the ass. But i do bristle at those who say i'm cheating them or not paying my fair share. Screw them and the horse they rode on. They know jack-squat.
Kind of like all these faux Pocahontas that fill these boards huh?
Lenny,
Without proof, you can't question someone's service. Please don't do this anymore.
I know who he is. Comment removed for NT policy [ph] He just sent me a message saying: "Go fuck yourself you bitch made piece of libtard pig shit."
I am not sure who you are directing this to, but we have a indian group here, and our members who are indians are members of indian nations, like me. Please don't make references like that about members on this board.
Why not ban him for a week?
Rex,
Don't inflame the situation.
Do you have to brag about it? You don't see me bragging about being an astronaut, do you?
Comment removed for CoC violation [ph]
Comment removed for CoC violation. [ph]
Does this mean that since some members are Republicans that no snide comments can be made about them because some of us are Republicans?
I have reopened this article. From this point on any other comment from you two to each other will get a 2 day suspension.
I ejected safely.
Give me a break, pretty boy. Your tassels are twirling in every direction.
Sorry if it upset you fishy.
#fishlivesmatter
Thx PH and as a side note i'm all for calling out bogus service if and when it arises. I've gladly reported several people to "Stolen Valor" over the years but not until i had solid proof to go by.
This is the same sort of nonsense that some of these folks got away with on a previous site which now no longer exists. In part due to nonsense like that. I am continually heartened that they don't generally get away with that sophomoric nonsense here. Credit where credit is due.
Job well done, keep up the good work and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
He didnt.
Lol, what was your first clue Arky? Merry Christmas, hope you had a good one.
Correction: Trump has had a very good year!
Indeed he has and so have we the American people. A great year for America.
So what you're saying is Obama did nothing for the lower and middle classes. Both lower and middle class have less disposable income, but hey at least they have worthless health insurance that doesn't cover anything because of the high deductibles and copays. I did have customers that had good health insurance until Obamacare, PPACA, ACA whatever you want to call it made their plans illegal, so they went into the exchanges sure their premiums are lower but the deductibles are so high that they are paying out of pocket for their healthcare and therefore cutting back on other services of which I was one of them. I still don't get where 22 million people now having to pay health insurance premiums and having less disposable income is a good thing for the economy. Of course it would be good for the evil insurance companies having people being forced to buy their insurance, oh wait a minute that's right they aren't evil anymore.
Great seed. It is right on the mark. 🎯 Trump is getting our economy growing again.
So to sum up:
Immigration: America is browning less quickly, a boon for white nationalists.
Jobs and the economy: Continuing the growth under Obama plus huge give-away to corporate America and the top 1% make the rich even richer and stocks continue to soar. Unemployment still dropping at the same rate as under President Obama, so far only a .6% gain. Wages still stagnate. A handful of corporations giving bonuses because they got their way with dismantling net neutrality which is going to cost us all more in the long run and hamper tech startups not able to pay the coming premiums to deliver their digital products.
Trade: Nafta still in effect, no major trade deals signed. We already had Toyota, Foxconn and others investing and plants planned years ago starting construction. A lot of promises for farmers but nothing to benefit them yet, corn prices still way below their 2011 peaks.
Conclusion: Trump made a lot of promises, has kept almost none of them. His major achievement passing the tax bill barely helps middle and low income Americans but benefits himself and his family to the tune of hundreds of millions along with other billionaires. White nationalists, white supremacists, Nazi's and the KKK are excited because of all the dog whistles and outright support Trump has shown them making them feel like the America they long for, one of inequality and discrimination, is possible again. Corporate raiders, dirty fossil fuels and other non-renewables are happy since regulations are being cut so they can damage the environment as much as they want, reap all the profits for their shareholders while paying rock bottom wages and leave the government tax payer to finance the superfund cleanup later. Trump is a boon for heartless industrialists and dictators everywhere and his 35% base is cheering him on with hopes they get some of the table scraps.
OMG, what does that mean? Are you viewing our immigration crisis through a racial lense? Maybe your'e a progressive trying to convince the immigrants that their is a racial bias against them or you believe that America is or was browning. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but although the groups known as Hispanic are people of many races - the predominant race among Hispanics is white. America is not browning - never was. Hispanic's are also of European ancestry & mostly Christian. You may convince the more recent arrivals that they owe the democratic party a vote, but they are one demographic (and a big one) that will ultimately be Republican.
Jobs and the economy: Continuing the growth under Obama
Wrong. Obama was the only President never to see 3% GDP in any of his 8 years. He also never claimed to be looking to grow the US economy. If you recall his mantra was fairness (and social justice). The Stock Market & business was delighted when Trump won and before Congress passed his tax legislation, Trump had already dismantled most of Obama's stifling regulations.
Trade: Nafta still in effect, no major trade deals signed.
You may want to look back at the article. Nafta is being renegotiated.
Conclusion: The Trump phenomenon continues. The recent tax legislation which WILL put more money in the hands of workers begining in February and stimulates the US economy will eventually give the GOP a super majority in the Senate in 2018. You heard it here first!
I don't have to convince anyone of that, it's an obvious truth when Trump and his supporters show their prejudice against people from Mexico and pushing a Muslim ban.
"Obama was the only President never to see 3% GDP in any of his 8 years. He also never claimed to be looking to grow the US economy."
There were several quarters that far exceeded 3%, one as high as 5.2%. What ignorant Obama haters fail to take into consideration is that the GDP was NEGATIVE when President Obama took over so he had to bring it back from nearly -3% to the close to 2% he ended up averaging. That's a turn around of 5% if you're able to count. The dishonesty Obama haters have over his years is ridiculous. He could of had the terrorist who killed thousands of Americans on 9/11 taken out and they wouldn't even give him credit for that, oh wait, he did and they don't.
"Nafta is being renegotiated."
"On May 18, 2017, following consultations with relevant Congressional committees, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer informed Congress that the President intends to commence negotiations with Canada and Mexico with respect to the NAFTA."
NAFTA has not been "renegotiated", it still remains just as it has since 1994. Just claiming that we're going to "support higher paying jobs in the US" doesn't actually change anything.
"The recent tax legislation which WILL put more money in the hands of workers begining in February and stimulates the US economy"
Don't go spending your whole $66 a month extra in one place now...
As middle and low income Americans feel almost no relief from the new tax bill they will undoubtedly vote out the incompetent Republicans come November 2018. There is a tide that is rising against Trump and his 35% base will not be able to withstand it.
Gee, and all along, Democrats and progressives have been telling us they would vote out the GOP in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Seems if your predictions were remotely accurate, there wouldn't be a need to vote the hated GOP out anymore.
You've been doing it for decades - dividing America
There were several quarters that far exceeded 3%, one as high as 5.2%
A quarter is not a year, I never even seen a quarter like that under Obama. The FACT remains: Obama NEVER had a year of 3% growth - the ONLY President who failed to do it
NAFTA has not been "renegotiated"
from August:
Don't go spending your whole $66 a month extra in one place now...
Between 1 - $2,000 for most.
Suddenly liberals are worried it hasn't enough?, you haven't got anything right, just leftist talking points
Pushing for equality for all regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or lack thereof is not dividing America, those who work against that American ideal because of their bigotry and prejudice are the ones continuing to divide America. Not all Trump supporters are Nazis, neo-confederates or KKK members, but all Nazis, neo-confederates and KKK members are Trump supporters and there's an obvious reason for that.
" A quarter is not a year, I never even seen a quarter like that under Obama."
The first quarter we hit 3% this past year Trump supporters and Trump himself were claiming he had turned the economy around and was averaging 3% which just wasn't true.
2nd quarter 2014: 4.6% , 3rd quarter 2014: 5.2% , 2nd quarter 2015: 3.2% -
Your own link on NAFTA admits it hasn't been renegotiated yet, they are still in negotiations, and says to do it by the end of the year "won't be easy".
" Between 1 - $2,000 for most."
The average will be $800 to $1200 a year for the middle income Americans. $800 divided by 12 = $66 a month, as I said.
" Suddenly liberals are worried it hasn't enough?"
Liberals and progressives have always been for tax cuts for the middle and low income Americans, we just don't support trickle down economic tax cuts for the obscenely wealthy or large corporations who are doing just fine right now. This tax cut is a huge boon for the top 1% including Trump and his family while giving chump change to middle and low income Americans.
BS! Youv'e been pushing for reparations & retaliation, telling people they are victims to gain their vote and trying to expand rights that were already established. Your elected leaders have called white Christians clingers & deplorables. You've promoted violence and wev'e had cops murdered in addition to Republicans shot at during a baseball practice. Youv'e made the country polarized and unsafe. Don't tell us that your'e noble
Liberals and progressives have always been for tax cuts for the middle and low income Americans
No you haven't. Youv'e pushed giveaways and redistribution and youve left this country $20 trillion in debt
Besides all the other BS in your comment, that piece of feces takes the cake. We had about $1 trillion of debt when Ronald Reagan took office, by the end of his two terms he had over doubled it to $2.6 trillion. Bush Sr. then added another $1.5 trillion leaving us with $4 trillion by 1992. From 1992 to 2000 Bill Clinton added $1.6 trillion, almost the same that Bush added in one term, and had balanced the budget leaving office with a $128 annual surplus instead of a deficit. George W. then took a $128 billion annual surplus and exploded it into a $1.4 trillion annual deficit by 2008 adding a whopping $5.5 trillion of debt and leaving us in two unfunded unnecessary wars, an economy in free fall, a -3% GDP, 10% national unemployment and $11.9 trillion of debt by the first month President Obama took office. President Obama took that -3% GDP and turned it into nearly 2% GDP growth, cut the $1.4 trillion annual Republican deficit down to $500 billion, cut unemployment from 10% down to 4.7%, the stock market from record lows to all time highs. Yes, during his time another $9 trillion was added to the debt but if he had just left the Republican deficit run it would have added $12 trillion, so he actually saved us $3 trillion over his two terms and rescued the economy. Just because conservative Republicans in the middle of nowhere who relied on dirty coal jobs and manufacturing jobs got left behind and might still be out of work doesn't mean everyone is feeling the same. 70% of those manufacturing jobs were lost to automation, not immigration. Blaming Democrats for $20 trillion of debt is beyond dishonest, it's blatantly false ignorant rhetoric.
A historically unpopular president pushing unpopular policies in between his McDonald's-fueled rage tweeting while enjoying widespread and unprecedented support from white nationalists (aka domestic terrorists) is neither normal presidential behavior nor aspects of a man leading a healing nation.
That was a purposeful run-on, in case anyone was wondering.
I can’t wait for a second four years and another Trump administration.