IS THIS DUDE SERIOUS? – FROM AP:  LONDON — London's mayor says that President Donald Trump shouldn't receive a state visit in Britain because of his "cruel" policies on immigration.  Sadiq Khan said Sunday the U.S. president should not get VIP treatment when he comes to Britain later this year because of his "ban on people from seven Muslim-majorities countries" and his decision to block refugees from entering the United States.  Khan said that "in those circumstances we shouldn't be rolling out the red carpet."  He spoke one day before British legislators are expected to debate a proposal to downgrade the planned state visit. The debate was scheduled in response to an online petition calling for the honor to be rescinded.  A state visit usually includes extensive pomp and a stay at Buckingham Palace.  If the president is denied the honor, he should simply stay home and cite "scheduling difficulties."  To insult the president is to insult the American people.

HILLARY HAD A FEELING – FROM FOX:   Months later, the left still seems to be recovering from the shock of Hillary Clinton losing to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.  However, as it turns out, Clinton herself may have anticipated the election loss, despite all signs pointing to her victory.  In an interview with CBS News, Clinton's campaign communications director Jennifer Palmieri said that although Clinton was upset about her loss, she wasn't too surprised by it.  "I think she's one of the people who is least surprised that she lost. ... Contrary to this view that she held onto this dream of being the first woman president, I think she came close to not running in 2016," Palmieri said.  Palmieri said Clinton eventually decided to run "because she thought she was the person who could best be president and that she was the Democrat that was best positioned to be able to win," as compared to Sen. Bernie Sanders.  I don't know if I buy this story.  Sounds like an attempt to make Hillary sound human, an impossible task.

THE TRUMP EFFECT – FROM THE HILL:    A strong majority of Americans say the U.S. economy is running strong, and most believe the upward trend will continue under President Trump, according to a Harvard-Harris poll provided exclusively to The Hill.  The survey found that 61 percent view the economy as strong, against 39 percent who say it is weak.  A plurality, 42 percent, said they believe the economy is on the right track, versus 39 percent who said it is on the wrong track.  Trump and congressional Republicans have claimed credit for the turnaround, noting numerous polls in 2016 that showed that many Americans wanted change in the nation's capital. Democrats counter that former President Obama handed a healthy economy to Trump and point out that the unemployment rate has dropped under 5 percent.  It's hard to deny the Trump effect.  Obama was not seen as an economic genius.  Now Trump must deliver on his economic promises to keep the momentum going

February 19, 2017