Recent news reports indicate that Justice Alito assured Senator Kennedy in 2005 that he was not a threat to Roe v. Wade. These recollections were contained in Senator’s Kennedy’s diary, and would likely be admitted in a court of law as a contemporaneous writing, which is an exception to the Hearsay Rule, and maybe be a business record. This is, of course, just another bit of evidence of how duplicitous Justice Alito, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch actually are.
The IRS inflation adjusted tax rates may save you a few percentage points on your 22 taxes. Hopefully you’ll save those dollars and not add to inflation.
The Washington Post published a story that raises the question of whether or not there will be a return to some levels of split voting, particularly in Pennsylvania in the Senatorial and Governor’s races and in Georgia, again, in the Senatorial and Governor’s races. It appears at least some voters in those states are prepared to vote for Dr. Oz and Mr. Shapiro in Pennsylvania and Mr. Kemp and Reverend Warnock in Georgia. Split ticket voting has become less popular as we have become more and more partisan, and while in the particular races, I find it problematic, nonetheless, of the point of view from our democracy, it is a good thing.
A video has been published recently showing Speaker Pelosi asking for the National Guard to be deployed to the Capital. This contradicts Mr. Scalises’ comments on the floor of the House that Speaker Pelosi did nothing. Deliberate disinformation, what used to be called lies, is now rampant. This is just the latest example of a troubling trend given the partisan nature of our politics, and how readily people are willing to accept the words of a member of their party. Will Mr. Scalises apologize, I doubt it. He is not that much of a gentleman.
Market watch indicates that consumer confidence fell from 107.8 to 102.5, based upon inflation and recession worries. This is a problematic indicator, but again, as we have commented on so frequently, there is much inconsistency in what information the economy is communicating. GDP accelerated at a 2.6% annual pace in the 3rd quarter another good sign. Recently, the fed has indicated it may not have to increase rates as much as originally anticipated, so the fed must believe that inflation is coming under control.
This week we’re 2 out of 3 for no recession.
The new Prime Minister of the UK, Mr. Sunak, who has greater wealth than the royal family, and is a person whose ethnic background is from a colony, presents some interesting challenges to the British Parliamentary system. What Irony. in some ways, it demonstrates a degree of tolerance and acceptance that one would not have anticipated coming from the Conservative Party of Britain, which has produced such figures as Ms. Truss, Margaret Thatcher, and Boris Nour of whom one would call warm and fuzzy, and more likely would have seen them as harsh and right-wing, not just conservative. Good luck to Mr. Sunak, and we hope he makes it until Christmas.
Bill Owens is a former member of Congress representing the New York 21st, a partner in Stafford, Owens, Piller, Murnane, Kelleher and Trombley in Plattsburgh, NY and a Strategic Advisor at Dentons to Washington, DC.
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