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Trump Is Tempting Fate On Health Care

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Trump Is Tempting Fate On Health Care

"House Republicans introduced their health care bill, the American Health Care Act, only two weeks ago. During that relatively short interval, President Trump’s approval ratings — which were never very good — have become a little worse.

Is that just a coincidence? Could health care be Trump’s undoing when so many things haven’t been? Let’s ask a few more questions about Trump’s popularity and the GOP’s health care plan. The health care bill probably has had a drag on Trump’s numbers, but it isn’t an open-and-shut case."

Angela Merkel is now the leader of the free world, not Donald Trump

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Angela Merkel is now the leader of the free world, not Donald Trump

"When Barack Obama revealed that his last phone call as President was to Angela Merkel, reaffirming their alliance and friendship of the last eight years, he wasn’t just saying goodbye. He was handing over his baton. The German Chancellor isn’t just the leader of Europe, she is now the de-facto leader of the free world.

The thrice-elected, soft-spoken former scientist from East Germany, armed with a doctorate in quantum chemistry, doesn’t just carry the weight of Germany and Europe on her shoulders, but that of defending freedom and liberalism across the world.

This is not an attempt to be provocative or exaggerate for effect. Donald Trump cannot claim the mantle of “leading” the free world by default. America’s military might is not the only criteria necessary."

What do Trump’s 2005 tax returns reveal?

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What do Trump’s 2005 tax returns reveal?

"It's first important to note that there are limitations: they don't show us details about his sources of income, or expenditures like charity. But they do reveal Trump did pay some taxes in 2005 — previous tax-return leaks indicated he could have written off hundreds of millions of dollars in tax bills over time. "

"We also learn that he, like many, took advantage of tax loopholes, writing off more than a hundred million dollars in business losses to lower his taxable income. That landed him at a tax rate of about 25 percent."

"One reason Trump ended up paying as much as he did in taxes in 2005 is because of the alternative minimum tax, which targets the wealthy to make sure they don’t get to write off too much and pay very little. During his campaign, Trump said he wanted to eliminate this specific tax."

Purple America Has All But Disappeared

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Purple America Has All But Disappeared

I think this is a troubling trend for Democrats, in light of the fact that Republicans control all branches of the federal government, and almost a two thirds majority of state houses.

But all people in power tend of over-reach and become tone deaf. At some point, things are going to go disastrously wrong for the GOP, and Democrats will wake up and become less tone deaf to the public. The magic and shine of Donald Trump will at some point wear off, and people will want a different direction for the country. Healthcare reform seems to particularly troublesome -- although voters may actually like the fact that his plan is better for middle-class voters.

When will it happen? I don't know. It might not happen until 2020 or 2022. At some point, some heavily red counties will inevitably turn purple, when Democrats come to their senses that they don't have to always talking about the most liberal policies in the book.