Mediaboss Marketing

Ad will collapse in seconds CLOSE / the national interest August 7, 2017 08/07/2017 8:31 am By Jonathan Chait Share Wall Street in happier days, unburdened by Big Government regulation. Photo: New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images

This is the third time in 100 years weve had this alignment of government that weve got to get it done or else I [am] really worried our country will continue down a bad path, said Paul Ryan this weekend. This alignment of government means conservative Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the presidency. The previous two times Ryan is describing are the 1920s, when Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover presided over a Republican-controlled Congress, and the George W. Bush administration. (Ryan is omitting 19531954, when Republicans narrowly controlled both chambers, presumably because Dwight Eisenhower governed as a moderate deeply at odds with conservatives.)

The Republican government of the 1920s ended when a wave of loosely regulated stock speculation produced a crash in the financial system. The Republican government of the 2000s ended the same way. Its not clear what lessons Ryan has absorbed from these prior episodes, but he does not seem to be especially concerned about repeating those policy errors.

In possibly related news, The Wall Street Journal reports today, Penalties levied against firms and individuals by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in the first half of 2017 were down nearly two-thirds compared with the first half of 2016putting regulators on track for the lowest annual level of fines since at least 2010.

And it is true, as President Trump now boasts on a near-daily basis, that the stock market is performing well. Weak regulations are one way to help produce higher stock values. In the short run.

Our 14 Biggest Questions About This Weeks Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones Recap: Sibling Revelry

The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter

Ashley Graham Isnt a Sample Size, But She Is a Supermodel

Who Is Left on Aryas Kill List?

Just How Hard Is It to Kill a Dragon?

Whats New on Netflix: August 2017

Ray Donovan Season-Premiere Recap: Theres No Place Like Home

Whats the Deal With That Dagger on Game of Thrones?

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt Announce Their Separation

As Tillerson meets with Duterte, the Pentagon mulls opening a new front in Americas war against the (so-called) Islamic State.

Hes just the latest in a growing trend of liberal-leaning politicians and political operatives taking up podcasting.

Nobody thought Judge Roy Moore had a chance to win a special Senate election in Alabama, until his main opponents began destroying each other.

The venture capitalist was an early passenger on the Trump Train, but it looks like hes steeling himself for a derailment.

McEnany once mocked Barack Obama for having a brother who lives in a hut in Kenya, and expressed support for the birther movement.

He announced a boost on high-end income-tax rates to fund public-transit fixes and reduced-fare MetroCards.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans can probably avoid a government shutdown or a debt default. But Trumps border wall could be a deal-breaker.

The senator used an interesting term to describe the GOPs health-care defeat.

Trump wants to let coal companies pay well below market rate for the right to despoil public lands and damage the climate.

The GOPs advantage in dominating small states is giving it a permanent advantage in controlling the U.S. Senate, even in bad years for the party.

Wheres John Kelly when you need him?

This is the third time in 100 years weve had this alignment of government, says Paul Ryan. So, how did the previous two go?

The government said it was a terrorist attack, but the men claimed they were defending democracy via a legitimate rebellion.

Diplomats complain that the former Exxon CEO is a surprisingly ineffectual manager but that may be what Trump wants.

Many have tried. All have failed.

A new Times report says that some Republicans, including Pence, are quietly betting against Trump being willing or able to run for president again.

No one was injured in the Saturday-morning blast, which may have been a domestic terrorist attack.

The U.S.-drafted resolution, which received unanimous support, is the first international measure taken against Pyongyang since Trump took office.

The DOJ inserting itself into this debate would represent a dramatic break with history and prior practices.

Conservative commentator Eric Bolling is the latest Fox News staffer to be accused of lewd behavior.

Read more:
Republicans Gearing Up for Third Financial Crash in 3 Tries - New York Magazine