Republican tax cut work is progressing nicely thank you.

Setting aside the slow-brewing Clinton-Fusion GPS-Russia scandal, there's actual work going on regarding tax cuts and tax reform.  And while the mainstream media are angling to tell the story as Trump meddling interfering with progress, if you dig, you'll find out that things seem to be progressing.

Firstly, president Trump had a real reason to interfere, as CNBC reports;

The American people were treated today to another example of the congressional Republicans' contortionist act. This time it was over 401(k) plans. But the real story is how much the GOP congressional leaders will twist and turn and basically make themselves into a pretzel all to avoid one thing: Cutting the spending.

First, let's look at the most recent details. A report surfaced late Friday that the Republican tax-reform bill may include a provision that would limit tax-free contributions to 401(k) plans to $2,400 per year. An understandable howl went up over that one, as 401(k)s have become a major staple of retirement savings for millions of Americans, a key benefit employers offer via matching contributions, and a big money maker for Wall Street firms.

In another report, CNBC points out that the tax bill is expected to be delivered next week.

House Republicans aim to introduce their tax bill on Nov. 1, a Capitol Hill source tells CNBC.

The plan's release will follow an expected House vote on the Senate-approved budget plan on Thursday. The Senate resolution unlocks a tool that would allow the tax bill to pass with only a simple majority of Republican votes in the Senate.

The GOP wants to approve a plan by the end of the year to dramatically lower individual and corporate tax rates, double the standard deduction and scrap certain taxes that largely affect wealthier Americans.

Doesn't seem the media are really drilling down but just looking for reasons to continue to go after president Trump, spurious though those reasons might be.

CNBC - Missing the headline

The Congressional Budget Office says that the GOP replacement bill for Obamacare would see 26 million people lose their coverage. according to CNBC, glossing over the fact that they can buy the insurance themselves on the open market, quite possibly at a cheaper price.   And that's not even the missing headline - check out the last paragraph (emphasis added):

The loss in coverage projected for next year if the bill is enacted alone equals about 70 percent of the 20 million or so people who have gained insurance coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, as Obamacare is more formally known.

The total loss in coverage over the next decade would wipe out Obamacare's gains in coverage, and then some.

The Republican bill also would reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion over the next decade, the CBO estimated in an analysis of the embattled proposal, which is currently working its way through the House of Representatives.

CNBC misses the main purpose of the CBO - scoring the cost or cost savings of various bills. You have to wonder if it's intentional.  Oh wait, no you don't.

Obama's false comparison on the CNBC GOP debate

President Obama recently jabbed the Republican candidates saying that if they couldn't handle the CNBC moderators then how could they be expected to handle Russia's president Putin.  That's disingenuous and a patently false comparison. here's why.

D-bag says what?

The CNBC moderator of the GOP debate took a swipe at Republicans after the debate according to The Hill.

CNBC anchor John Harwood took a shot at Republicans who accused him of asking unfair questions at the GOP’s third presidential debate on Wednesday night.

Harwood said in a tweet on Thursday that co-moderating the unruly debate gave him an appreciation for Republican leadership in the House trying to maintain party unity in a divided caucus.

Pretending to be the adult in the room is an absolute fail when anyone who watched that debate could not fail to see Ted Cruz's point that the moderators were anything but impartial. Shame on you John Harwood for trying to defend the indefensible by attacking yet again.

Just a note that if I'm not mistaken this is the first time I've ever resorted to an insult, which I've done in the title. I hereby retract the insult because it does not add anything to the discourse.  However, I will not retract the sentiment behind it.

CNBC anchor lied about Trump during GOP debate

CNBC anchor lied about Donald Trump negotiating the length of the CNBC debate.

But this from The liberal Huffington Post on October 16th, prior to the debate, states otherwise:

Looks like Donald Trump is getting his way.

Trump and fellow Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson sent a letter to CNBC on Thursday threatening to not participate in the next GOP debate if it exceeded 120 minutes, including commercial breaks. In a tweet Thursday, Trump claimed CNBC had agreed to limit the debate to two hours.

Both Politico and CNN reported Trump's claims were true, saying the Republican National Committee began calling campaigns Friday morning to inform them the debate would be restricted to 120 minutes.

The business mogul also took to Twitter to make his disdain for a long debate known.

Okay tinfoil hat time - that's so easy to check.  It's too easy to expose the lie.  So why do it? Are the liberal media now attempting to generate sympathy for Trump candidacy in the hopes  he becomes the nominee and can be decimated in the general election by Hillary Clinton? I wonder.

Rand Paul covers Fed territory

Rand Paul at the CNBC debate.  Good topic, well covered by Paul, but one of too few moments for him to stand out.  The other concern, as well versed as he is on the Fed, most voters are not that engaged on the topic. I am coming from the position that being a good policy person and having good ideas does not win a presidency. You need to connect.  You need to be likable and you need a moment or two to shine.  Being right is not enough.

Bush goes after Trump, Rubio

We can't build a wall. Rubio sucks.  I'm stiff and stilted.

Not. Impressive.

Ben Carson discussing a flat tax

Good, but not very exciting.  A lot of steak but not a lot of sizzle unfortunately.

One of Huckabee's best moments on the CNBC debate

This came near the end. It was magnanimous and well done.

Trump could be packing...

...a pistol. I don't think this hurts his chances at all.

Christie calls CNBC moderator rude

I guess I must be in an anti-media mood, but the way this debate started, I think a lot of people (viewers and candidates) feel that way right now.

Chris Christie, rightly, calls the moderator rude.

Marco Rubio on Hillary's SuperPAC

Seizing on Ted Cruz's thunderous applause, Marco Rubio goes after the media.  A little bit "me too", but it's well done.

Fiorina on Obama vs. Women

This is a good clip, but not her best from the debate, just the best I could find this evening.

There's a GOP debate on CNBC tonight?

Basically it's on now.  Not being a much more than an occasional viewer of CNBC, and having been away from hard core news for a few days due to work, I actually wasn't aware of it.

I don't think this will be a big deal debate, even though it's supposed to be policy-focused.  I don't expect any knockout punches to be throw.  I don't expect big changes in polling numbers starting tomorrow either.  But I'll be watching.  Maybe I will have something interesting to talk about tomorrow.

Recovery? What recovery?

When it comes to the economic situation in the U.S. and indeed worldwide, over the last decade I have been a glass-half-empty guy. That runs counter to my normal view but there's just so many underlying problems that seeing this, I have to say I'm glad someone is pointing these issues out.

Mizuho's Steve Ricchiuto on CNBC:

Best Rant of 2009 So far.

Rick Santelli, goes on a rant on CNBC. This needs to be seen. Great work Rick.



Amen to that.