dealraker

Again Reds, you underestimate the harm in Trump culture. I can only wish you were correct.

Thinking throughout the US is running at a special needs Kindergarten level. Trump has created conflict and chaos his entire life, it defines him, it has empowered him. Supporters have always sensed he was taking from others baskets while adding to theirs. The constant grievance and blame sells so incredibly well to those who are externally focused, those who do not look within for change and improvement. Give a man someone to look down on and he will empty his pockets for you.

Ed Yardeni has gone from endless DOGE, Musk, and POTUS praise, repeat of the Roaring Twenties assertion, and a huge S & P prediction all the way across town to sponsoring this? How fragile it all really is! https://www.yardeniquicktakes.com/reprint-the-protectionist-road-to-depression-deja-vu-all-over-again/

In my view Reds you are going to change your mind on this.

POTUS spending is already trending well above Biden spending. It is all being "fixed" by the fixer via massive revenue decline. Welcome to the DJT business model, a consistent one for some 60 years of failure.

But I do enjoy your posts Reds.

Reds as is the norm, you being a lawyer maybe you "seem" to miss the obvious of how much others may enjoy their investigations. I graduated from the UNC system tith a BA in business, BS in accounting, MS masters of management, but wildly more importantly and enjoyably later in life a masters in counseling- the degree that has been most rewarding. You "seem to have" a view I do not share as to POTUS.

John, while I no longer read most posts and a few posters I do follow your output as it is an uplifting for me - being so genuine. The point I'll debate with you here is POTUS aspirations. My thoughts aren't related to any current direction as to what is happening, it's more of a half century plus of mildly intermittent grasping for clarity observations (too many words back there...but I'm trying my best to state something). My view is more that someone wakes each day with both significant anxiety even panic attacks--- and envy/ revenge obsessions -- and the day proceeds from there. Plan? There is none. A lifetime of business failure coupled with successful mostly fraud and illegal survival schemes? Add to that a skill for bullying the weaker and more ignorant? The game played is the one that's worked for 60 years. But big plan? The US will be a financial wreck when he's expired. But his finances will...as usual...survive.

+1 . I'm finally-finally-finally reading others with an accurate view.

Yes. An endless slew of political power related shocks certain to be layered to the normal economic and business ones. An economy that historically plays out as intermittently "inherently unstable" will go guaranteed constantly unstable.

villainx I often look at prices and ask myself the same question. If the last 5-10-15-20-25-30 years is repeated then they are buys. LOL, that's one hell of a worthless answer (to myself and you). My latest buys, that's after 1994 when I attained AJG, BRO, AON, and MMC: Erie in 2010 (about $40 per share) and 2017 (at about $115 per share) and both were at over $30 PE ratios. Willis Towers Watson in 2017 (at about $125) and 2022-2023 (at just under $200) and both were PE's of 13-16 or so. The 2022-2023 buy was discussed here in the forum, actually brought up by Spek. I did buy AJG in a trust that I'm currently responsible for in 2023 (at about $185) and we discussed that here in the forum too. The PE for AJG was over 20 at the time, and about 20x free cash flow.

POTUS has kept a fan base and media following since his early 20's but outside of that several times he's lured substantial numbers of credible people into his very popular project of the current time. These endeavors have all ended almost precisely the same, POTUS has chosen something well beyond his skill level and he promptly realizes it ain't gunna work. It is at this point where POTUS truly displays his immense talent to escape soundly with both his money and his reputation as a "deal maker" - while others involved spend years scavenging what they can from the ruins. However, given this time he has zero invested and no fears of losing anything financially (which is 99% of his interest at all times) and the fact that he can probably still stay empowered with an approval rating of 30%... I think we have some very exciting stuff coming at us. Overall today we have something that I think will prove to be the theme for this era. We have Saylor, POTUS, Musk, and many others...all drama queens and kings dancing their dramatic multi directional (non profit) themes and schemes of every type of fear possible - that you must "invest" and "believe" with them not to face ruin or get left behind with astronomical $ rewards. This sales game is incredibly successful - but the issue is that there is no income/revenue in any of it at all, no benefit to anyone anywhere - except the sponsors own bank/business account and power over you. All of it is polar opposite of Warren Buffett who has said, "Wealth building is your direct link or ownership of stock in a productive profitable business, all else between you and that entity is an unnecessary cost." We are spending all our time these day discounting and hating one another while 'buying' worthless shit whether it be lunatic fear based ideas or fake investments. It is a goofball era full of oddballs who love conflict and disruption - as long as they benefit financially themselves.

We started off with a very solid economy with rich markets and politicians with no financial literacy (or financial interest) running increasing deficits. Then we got two obsessed for attention leaders who wanted to be in charge of eventful change, but neither with a plan nor any real interest in making a plan, and both have zero attention span as to logic about any of it. I don't blame them, I sure as hell wouldn't. Very soon responding/resulting events will be in charge of our wild ass duo. It won't be them controlling the show it will be stuff happening to them that is in control of all of us. It happens to one of them over and over in his aged low performance business life of failing to keep up with even inflation. He will crawl out of the chaotic yard sale with a personal profit; always has, always will. Others.... not so lucky.

Tariffs are a distraction (so other more personal accomplishments can be attained) and a tax on citizens of the US. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/business/warren-buffett-tariffs-trump/index.html

Sort of obvious that I don't believe tariffs have any benefit ever.

+1

The possible gains from tariffs are years out in the future. The for certain pains from the tariffs are now. I look for a couple jolts of significant economy and market declines even from this small descent in the last few days. Might already be too late to stop it even with some changes; maybe so, maybe not. Most businesses will publicly lip service the gunna do it here thing and in the boardroom be whispering that the next boss will toss this stuff out the window, thus just lip it and skip it.

True.

I have a mountain bike riding friend of decades. He solid a a rock as to all in life and he endlessly pokes fun at Trump's distortions and lies. Then he simply says everyone should fall in line with Trump or they need to be thrown out of the country. Yep...and I know a lot like this, damn good people who know Trump's garbage but fall in line.

As to the POTUS position regarding Ukraine my view is that if the US does not have the near unanimously predicted Roaring 20's boom that instead of shaping events the presidency will be more one of being controlled by events. I've already seen things happening in the US power scheme competition that I thought were sure to happen but only down the road some...they're already in process. I think the economic setting in the US will be the determining factor on a lot of the US actions with Ukraine.

Bought back APO at $132.20.

Got to include Bill Russell. In my early years I watched Bill and Wilt go at it. What a privilege that was to experience that. Some say there was little competition back then, they are silly given the Walt Belamy's athleticism and Nate Thrumond's all around offensive and defensive skills. Huge guys with skills as good as any today.

+1

And Tesla has morphed to Bud Light? LOL, I was actively buying the BUD in the lower 50's but you can be triple damn sure I will never discuss it on this site except to mention it here.

And with Luca something seems to be re-igniting within him which may extend his interest in continuing.