Unemployment was at 4.7 percent because the government in their infinite wisdom don't count people who quit looking for work. While the unemployment rate is officially low, the number of people in the work force was at an all time low from a percentage standpoint. Statistics are a wonderful thing. You can make them say anything you want them too.

As far as our status internationally there was a post on one of the other threads about two days ago decrying Trump because he has hurt our favorability in Germany. Interestingly the op ed pointed out that our approval rating in Germany went from 76 percent to 24 percent during the Obama administration.

Add in how well Trump was received in Saudi Arabia and in Israel and it certainly doesn't look like Obama was that well thought of world wide.

Well, Bork immediately comes to mind if you are questioning my knowledge of history. And look at how many Republicans v**ed for both of Obamas supreme court appointees. Both of whom I view as unfit to serve on the court because they don't take the constitution literally.

And as far as false equivalency when you adapt the nuclear option whether it is for appeals courts or the supreme court the end result is the same.

As far as Biden it wasn't political posturing. He clearly meant it as did his compatriots. I agree with you that the Republicans adapting the nuclear option is not a very good idea. But it was a bad idea when Reid did it too.

You are right that obstructionism in the past didn't take place at this level, but you have some factual difficulties. It should be pointed out that Obama accomplished virtually all of his political objectives and made no effort to work in a bipartisan way. Now when the Republicans look like they may try to do the same thing you seem horribly offended.

Both sides are wrong, and although two wrongs don't make a right, what would you suggest Republicans do regarding the affordable care act. It was crammed down our throats with the famous quote we have to pass it so that we can see what's in it. It is going to bankrupt us if something isn't changed.

The cost is being born by the states. Example, Oregon has a projected 1 billion dollar shortfall for the next biennium even though tax revenue is the highest in history. Why? because of the Public Employees Retirement System and government entitlement programs, many of which are mandated by the feds. Example Medicaid and what used to be called food stamps.

The tax and spend policies of the last 12 years, because yes Bush was guilty of it too are bankrupting our country, yet Democrats just want to keep spending money and increasing taxes. As a taxpayer I'm fed up with it. I despise Trump, but at least he gets that we already pay too much in taxes and keep too little of what we work for.

Here is a letter to the editor from th Minneapolis paper concerning Trump and Germany.

TRUMP’S FOREIGN TOUR

A new world order, with beacon of hope shining elsewhere

In the wake of President Trump’s recent visit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel concluded that “we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands.” Meaning that the U.S. is no longer an ally in Europe’s quest for peace and security (and environmental sanity). For me, this comment brought home the overarching significance of the Trump administration: The roles of Europe and the U.S. have been inverted. Our national identity has been shaped by the idea that we are the beacon of reason and justice — the answer to Europe’s dark legacy of autocracy, tribalism and religious conflict. Sure, this was partly delusional (see s***ery, Jim Crow, Native American history), but it held some deeper t***h — at least in our aspirations, we were different.

But no more. The United States that Donald Trump and Steve Bannon envision is a dark, closed and frightening place. Germany — Germany! — once the heart of darkness, is now the shining city on the hill. In effect, Europe (at least the core led by Germany and France) is now the beacon of hope for us all. The old world has become the new one. It’s shocking, and unbearably sad, but I guess I should take comfort in knowing that, just as my ancestors maintained hope by looking across the Atlantic, I can do the same — looking in the opposite direction.
********

The Germans are smarter than trump...