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Let the good times poll

Dec 26, 2014 1:10PM PST
Higher growth and consumer confidence could reshape political strategy.

The latest evidence of strength came in a report on Tuesday showing growth expanded at a robust 5 percent pace in the third quarter of 2014, the fastest speed in over a decade. The news helped drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average above 18,000 for the first time ever in a bull market charge that began six years ago and shows no signs of slowing.

But the latest numbers from Gallup show Obama's approval rating already beginning to tick up slightly. A faster growing economy will likely continue that trend, boosting the president's standing with the GOP Congress and possibly making it easier for Hillary Clinton — or another Democrat — to succeed the president in the 2016 presidential race. Republicans will have a tougher time tying any Democratic nominee to the "Obama economy" if that economy is growing at anywhere close to 5 percent.

Sharply lower gas prices — driven by a glut of supply and a huge increase in domestic production — are also acting as a stealth stimulus, putting billions in the pockets of consumers who are using the money to buy more products and services.

Both U.S. businesses and consumers have much lower debt levels than they did at the end of the financial crisis in 2009

Discussion is locked

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(NT) Then why did my ss cola only go up 1.7%?
Dec 27, 2014 1:26AM PST
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My suspicions
Dec 27, 2014 2:10AM PST

I suspect that the DOW is because as usual the Treasury is keeping rates next to nothing meaning that only the rich again are making money and taking advantage of those rates........pretty sure that this will go away soon once Republicans are back.

And, again, I suspect consumer confidence spending is also because of the recent election knowing Republicans will be in charge of the money and bills will finally be being passed.....including tax reform.....it will still be up to BO to veto whatever happens after this month ends; however, his popularity rate won't get any better if he decides to veto much because he won't be able to blame Republicans for blocking/obstruction anymore and he turns into the sole 'bad guy'..........

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The Dow may be up but the bond market
Dec 27, 2014 2:22AM PST

seems to have been falling quite rapidly. My old 401k that I converted to an IRA after leaving work is a mix of stocks and bonds. Although the Dow has been hitting record highs for months, I've seen a dip in my IRA since about the end of June. Supposedly this is due to the government easing back on pumping its funny money into that market. I'm not a Wall Street guru but some of what I read when I question my own loses make sense. I'd really like to see the government keep its hands out of business as much as possible and only take on the verified abusers. Instead, they punish everyone whether they ever stole a cookie or not.

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It's normal when stocks go up, bonds go down.
Dec 27, 2014 4:24AM PST

And when bonds go up, stocks go down.

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Watch how fast the DOW goes down
Dec 27, 2014 5:05AM PST

when the Treasury finally turns off the money train it's been shelling out for the last six years like clockwork every week. If you thought 2007 on Wall Street was bad.....and guess what? Predictably, the Dems will blame the new leaders in Congress or the next President.....BO has a plan and it's a pretty obvious one to anybody with a brain.

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Re:Watch how fast....like clockwork every week.
Dec 27, 2014 5:25AM PST

Seems like you could make a couple bucks in the market. Not many can predict the market...Some can't even predict lawsuits.

If you thought 2007 on Wall Street was bad

BO? BEFORE Obama?

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RE: Predictably, the Dems will blame the new leaders
Dec 27, 2014 5:48AM PST
Predictably, the Dems will blame the new leaders in Congress or the next President.

You're predicting the next president will be Republican? You think the voters are that stupid?

Do you even know who will be running for president...for either side?

Come on Toni...take out the crystal ball, put you fortune teller hat on, I'll turn down the lights and turn on the smoke machine.

BO has a plan and it's a pretty obvious one to anybody with a brain.

That's you , right?...Details...I want details.