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ForConstructionPros / January 20, 2017 . .

I've been taught a new term, "alternative facts". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kellyanne Conway: “Sean Spicer, our press secretary -- gave 'alternative facts'." NBC’s Chuck Todd: “Alternative facts aren't facts, they are falsehoods." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The message Spicer was told to give made him appear ridiculous. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/us/politics/trump-white-house-briefing-inauguration-crowd-size.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-inauguration-crowd.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/22/us/politics/womens-march-trump-crowd-estimates.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Guardian / January 27, 2017 Donald Trump ordered the National Park Service (NPS) director to produce additional photographs of his inauguration crowds, believing the images “might prove that the media had lied” about the size of the audience, according to the Washington Post. In a Saturday phone call, the president told Michael Reynolds, acting NPS director, that he wanted to see more photos because he thought they could show that the attendance at his Friday swearing-in ceremonies at the National Mall was above average, three sources with knowledge of the conversation told the Post. Parks spokesman Tom Crosson told the Guardian in an email on Thursday night, “I can confirm the call happened ... but I’m not discussing the content of the call.” The account from the Post comes as reports in the first week of Trump’s administration have repeatedly suggested that the president has been obsessed with the flurry of news stories that accurately pointed out that the inauguration had a noticeably smaller crowd than the equivalent event in 2009 when Barack Obama was sworn in. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pressured-park-service-to-back-up-his-claims-about-inauguration-crowd/2017/01/26/12a38cb8-e3fc-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where are you located ?

Thank you for clarifying. I’m with you 500 percent. I don’t think Trump’s wording was clear enough. Standing outside the box, I can see how his “America first” words could be interpreted differently depending on whether one is inside or outside the US. Speaking of illegal immigrants, if king for a day, I would deport EVERY one. Enter the U.S. legally.......or don't enter. And, I would nullify the U.S. citizenship of every individual born to illegal immigrants in the US. I am ALL for spending U.S. taxpayer money in the United States, rather than continuing a decades long culture of financing the rest of the world. At the end of FY 2017 the gross US federal government debt is estimated to be $20.1 trillion. I have a real problem with that. We should operate like a business and keep our books “balanced”. We can’t afford to be the world’s policeman anymore. BUT, we then must ensure that our armed forces, and its "tools", are second to none, for those moments when we need to "reach out" and send a message (nip something in the bud). Yes, if we hadn’t abandoned an isolationist tone and entered WW2, the world would be a very different place today. But that’s not today’s situation. Following WW2, the Marshall Plan and the rebuilding of Japan worked out well. But since then, U.S. global “aid” is beyond “out of control”. For example, why are we giving Israel $38 billion over the nest 10 years. One of the world’s wealthiest country’s with foreign donors constantly pumping money into it, Israel has no need for U.S. “aid”. There was a time when Israel needed assistance, and the U.S. had the money to offer. But today, Israel no longer needs “aid”, and we don’t have the money. During the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War, the naval and air forces of Israel attacked the U.S. flagged Belmont-class reconnaissance ship U.S.S. Liberty while it cruised in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, murdering 34 Americans and wounding 171. With friends like that, who needs enemies? The U.S. taxpayer has invested hundreds of millions in an Israeli air defense system known as Iron Dome. Why? Here’s a major sore. We developed a next generation F-16 II. The U.S. Air Force declined to buy it. Our employees in Washington agreed to allow Israel to produce it for themselves. It was called the Lavi program, and go figure, the U.S. taxpayer funded it. The clincher: Israel didn’t build it, but secretly sold the design information to...........China. And today, the Chengdu (Jian) J-10 fighter is our adversary in the South China Sea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:J-10a_zhas.png). Thank you Israel. Enjoying that dirty money? A March 1992 report by State Department inspector general Sherman Funk, "Report of Audit: Department of State Defense Trade Controls", states that alleged Israeli violations of US laws and regulations "cited and supported by reliable intelligence information show a systematic and growing pattern of unauthorized transfers ... dating back to about 1983". http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-12-28/news/1994362198_1_lavi-china-and-israel-klemow Israel again and again has transferred secret U.S. technology to........China. And its' U.S. lobbyists successfully bury it from the view of the U.S. masses. http://defensetech.org/2013/12/24/report-israel-passes-u-s-military-technology-to-china/ Again, with “friends” like that................ Israel has a me, me, me policy. I don’t want “my” tax dollars funding Israel. I’m not on Team Israel, rather, I’m on Team USA. Afghanistan, the U.S. taxpayer has spent billions so that Afghan farmers can peacefully harvest opium and send it to the US for refinement into heroin so that Americans can destroy their minds. Everything you ever wanted to know about U.S. taxpayer foreign aid http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47330-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-the-us-foreign-assistance-budget/ The U.S. taxpayer provided (acknowledged) $35 billion of economic aid in 2014 http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42614-the-us-provided-35-billion-of-economic-aid-in-2014/#comment-310964 The U.S. taxpayer provided (acknowledged) $37.9 billion of economic aid in 2016 http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2016/03/10/the-countries-set-to-receive-the-most-us-foreign-aid-in-2016-infographic/#6f1abf113433 Our employees in Washington say: Foreign assistance is aid given by the United States to other countries to support global peace, security, and development efforts, and provide humanitarian relief during times of crisis. It is a strategic, economic, and moral imperative for the United States and vital to U.S. national security. (http://beta.foreignassistance.gov/) So basically, they have a blank check to throw U.S. taxpayer money down around the world. After seeing the "official" amount, one wonders what the actual amount is.

Matt Wood, Owner/Driver / January 20, 2017 Anyone who’s been rolling around Sydney over the last four decades may recall the International DCO tow truck owned by Retriever Towing. But, before it was hauling breakdowns and wrecks for a living it was owned by Vineyard based Don McGlinshie. From 1969 to 1974 Don ran across the paddock to Perth and anywhere in between in this rare cab over Inter. This DCO came back into Don’s possession in 2012 and has been painstakingly brought back to life. These days the old girl runs a BC3 Cummins and sports a 15-speed overdrive ‘box. And while the purists may bristle, the whole thing now sits on a W900 chassis with a KW Airglide rear end. Turn up the volume and listen to the old school burble and watch a bit of rolling history! Video - https://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1701/wood-vid

In turnabout, Volvo cancels worker layoffs at Pulaski County plant The Roanoke Times / January 19, 2017 On Thursday, workers at the Volvo Trucks North American truck manufacturing plant in Pulaski County received good news: Their layoffs had been canceled. In December, Volvo announced it would eliminate 500 jobs on its second shift, effective Feb. 13, so it could adjust production to market demand. The company has since decided to keep its two shifts. “We’ve continued to monitor the ongoing reduction in new truck inventory across the industry in the weeks since the original announcement, and we’re encouraged by the trend,” Volvo Trucks North America spokesman John Mies said Thursday night. “Based on this, we’ve decided not to go forward at this time with the previously announced reduction, so that we can maintain manufacturing flexibility as we continue to monitor the market situation.” Since 1990, the plant has announced at least 14 rounds of layoffs. There was an announcement in December 2015, then in July 2016 and, most recently, in December 2016.

To the best of my knowledge, I can't think of any US content in the Valencia-built Transit Connect. Low US content is one reason USPS didn't buy it. Originally it was only built at Ford-Otosan, and there certainly was zero U.S. content. With the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, assembled in South Carolina from German-built SKD kits, the only American sourced part is the battery. Anyway, you'd be happier with a Transit Custom over a Transit Connect.

Detroit Diesel Press Release / January 20, 2017 .

I clicked past the protests and caught Saturday's big news. .

Reuters / January 21, 2017 A test firing of an [allegedly] unarmed British nuclear Trident missile from a submarine off the coast of Florida malfunctioned last June. The missile could have veered off in the wrong direction toward the American mainland. It was [allegedly] the only test firing of a British nuclear missile in four years and came shortly before Theresa May became Prime Minister last year in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. May omitted any mention of the failed test when she persuaded parliament to spend 40 billion pounds on new Trident submarines in her first major speech before parliament last July. Parliament, which in 2007 agreed in principle to replace the deterrent system, last year voted to approve the building of four submarines to ensure Britain can have nuclear weapons continuously on patrol at sea. Trident missiles have been test-fired only five times by UK submarines this century because they cost 17 million pounds ($21.03 million) apiece. May's office and Britain's Ministry of Defence said in a joint statement: "In June, the Royal Navy conducted a routine [allegedly] unarmed Trident missile test launch from HMS Vengeance, as part of an operation which is designed to certify the submarine and its crew. "Vengeance and her crew were successfully tested and certified, allowing Vengeance to return into service. We have absolute confidence in our independent nuclear deterrent. "We do not provide further details on submarine operations for obvious national security reasons."

As some here have pointed out, people have a right to protest, their right to freedom of expression.........as long as said protest is peaceful. It appears that most of the thousands of women marchers were peaceful. A handful of male individuals (200 arrested) pelted police with rocks and set a limo on fire (If king for a day, I would confiscate their bank accounts and other assets to pay for all damages and incurred policing costs). You can watch the protest on TV if it amuses, or click off the power button on your remote. The "America first" theme is highly questionable, as it inherently tells every other country that they are going to be second, or further down the ladder. No foreign government or populace is going to enjoy hearing that selfish-sounding tone. Not exactly getting off on the right foot. In any relationship, personal, business or country, success depends on mutual respect and compromise. Today's world is a much smaller place. We all need to work together. I understand what Trump meant......his speech writer could have expressed the intended message FAR better. Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire for fairer trade, but not biased trade. "Fair" is all any reasonable person wants. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking at these videos of the protesters, I simply don't see anything wrong here. It's what defines America. Why bash them? . .

Most of Trump's visible supporters don't have the time to go to Washington, however, Trump's real supporters are "big business" and Wall Street.

Trade Deals Working For All Americans The White House / January 20, 2017 For too long, Americans have been forced to accept trade deals that put the interests of insiders and the Washington elite over the hard-working men and women of this country. As a result, blue-collar towns and cities have watched their factories close and good-paying jobs move overseas, while Americans face a mounting trade deficit and a devastated manufacturing base. With a lifetime of negotiating experience, the President understands how critical it is to put American workers and businesses first when it comes to trade. With tough and fair agreements, international trade can be used to grow our economy, return millions of jobs to America’s shores, and revitalize our nation’s suffering communities. This strategy starts by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and making certain that any new trade deals are in the interests of American workers. President Trump is committed to renegotiating NAFTA. If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States’ intent to withdraw from NAFTA. In addition to rejecting and reworking failed trade deals, the United States will crack down on those nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers in the process. The President will direct the Commerce Secretary to identify all trade violations and to use every tool at the federal government’s disposal to end these abuses. To carry out his strategy, the President is appointing the toughest and smartest to his trade team, ensuring that Americans have the best negotiators possible. For too long, trade deals have been negotiated by, and for, members of the Washington establishment. President Trump will ensure that on his watch, trade policies will be implemented by and for the people, and will put America first. By fighting for fair but tough trade deals, we can bring jobs back to America’s shores, increase wages, and support U.S. manufacturing.

An America First Energy Plan The White House / January 20, 2017 Energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy. The Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximize the use of American resources, freeing us from dependence on foreign oil. For too long, we’ve been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule. Lifting these restrictions will greatly help American workers, increasing wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years. Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. We will use the revenues from energy production to rebuild our roads, schools, bridges and public infrastructure. Less expensive energy will be a big boost to American agriculture, as well. The Trump Administration is also committed to clean coal technology, and to reviving America’s coal industry, which has been hurting for too long. In addition to being good for our economy, boosting domestic energy production is in America’s national security interest. President Trump is committed to achieving energy independence from the OPEC cartel and any nations hostile to our interests. At the same time, we will work with our Gulf allies to develop a positive energy relationship as part of our anti-terrorism strategy. Lastly, our need for energy must go hand-in-hand with responsible stewardship of the environment. Protecting clean air and clean water, conserving our natural habitats, and preserving our natural reserves and resources will remain a high priority. President Trump will refocus the EPA on its essential mission of protecting our air and water. A brighter future depends on energy policies that stimulate our economy, ensure our security, and protect our health. Under the Trump Administration’s energy policies, that future can become a reality.

Bringing Back Jobs And Growth The White House / January 20, 2017 Since the recession of 2008, American workers and businesses have suffered through the slowest economic recovery since World War II. The U.S. lost nearly 300,000 manufacturing jobs during this period, while the share of Americans in the work force plummeted to lows not seen since the 1970s, the national debt doubled, and middle class got smaller. To get the economy back on track, President Trump has outlined a bold plan to create 25 million new American jobs in the next decade and return to 4 percent annual economic growth. The plan starts with pro-growth tax reform to help American workers and businesses keep more of their hard-earned dollars. The President’s plan will lower rates for Americans in every tax bracket, simplify the tax code, and reduce the U.S. corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest in the world. Fixing a tax code that is outdated, overly complex, and too onerous will unleash America’s economy, creating millions of new jobs and boosting economic growth. As a lifelong job-creator and businessman, the President also knows how important it is to get Washington out of the way of America’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers. In 2015 alone, federal regulations cost the American economy more than $2 trillion. That is why the President has proposed a moratorium on new federal regulations and is ordering the heads of federal agencies and departments to identify job-killing regulations that should be repealed. With decades of deal-making experience, the President also understands how critical it is to negotiate the best possible trade deals for the United States. By renegotiating existing trade deals, and taking a tough stance on future ones, we will ensure that trade agreements bring good-paying jobs to our shores and support American manufacturing, the backbone of our economy. The President plans to show America’s trading partners that we mean business by ensuring consequences for countries that engage in illegal or unfair trade practices that hurt American workers. By standing side-by-side with America’s workers and businesses, the President’s policies will unleash economic growth, create 25 million new jobs, and help Make America Great Again.

Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community The White House / January 20, 2017 One of the fundamental rights of every American is to live in a safe community. A Trump Administration will empower our law enforcement officers to do their jobs and keep our streets free of crime and violence. The Trump Administration will be a law and order administration. President Trump will honor our men and women in uniform and will support their mission of protecting the public. The dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America is wrong. The Trump Administration will end it. The Trump Administration is committed to reducing violent crime. In 2015, homicides increased by 17% in America’s fifty largest cities. That’s the largest increase in 25 years. In our nation’s capital, killings have risen by 50 percent. There were thousands of shootings in Chicago last year alone. Our country needs more law enforcement, more community engagement, and more effective policing. Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter, the looter, or the violent disrupter. Our job is to make life more comfortable for parents who want their kids to be able to walk the streets safely. Or the senior citizen waiting for a bus. Or the young child walking home from school. Supporting law enforcement means supporting our citizens’ ability to protect themselves. We will uphold Americans’ Second Amendment rights at every level of our judicial system. President Trump is committed to building a border wall to stop illegal immigration, to stop the gangs and the violence, and to stop the drugs from pouring into our communities. He is dedicated to enforcing our border laws, ending sanctuary cities, and stemming the tide of lawlessness associated with illegal immigration. Supporting law enforcement also means deporting illegal aliens with violent criminal records who have remained within our borders. It is the first duty of government to keep the innocent safe, and President Donald Trump will fight for the safety of every American, and especially those Americans who have not known safe neighborhoods for a very long time.

Making Our Military Strong Again The White House / January 20, 2017 Our men and women in uniform are the greatest fighting force in the world and the guardians of American freedom. That’s why the Trump Administration will rebuild our military and do everything it can to make sure our veterans get the care they deserve. Our military needs every asset at its disposal to defend America. We cannot allow other nations to surpass our military capability. The Trump Administration will pursue the highest level of military readiness. President Trump will end the defense sequester and submit a new budget to Congress outlining a plan to rebuild our military. We will provide our military leaders with the means to plan for our future defense needs. We will also develop a state-of-the-art missile defense system to protect against missile-based attacks from states like Iran and North Korea. Cyberwarfare is an emerging battlefield, and we must take every measure to safeguard our national security secrets and systems. We will make it a priority to develop defensive and offensive cyber capabilities at our U.S. Cyber Command, and recruit the best and brightest Americans to serve in this crucial area. Let us never forget that our military is comprised of heroic people. We must also ensure that we have the best medical care, education and support for our military service members and their families – both when they serve, and when they return to civilian life. We will get our veterans the care they need wherever and whenever they need it. There should be no more long drives. No more wait lists or scheduling backlogs. No more excessive red tape. Just the care and support our veterans have earned through sacrifice and service to our country. The Trump Administration will transform the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the needs of 21st century service members and of our female veterans. Our reforms will begin with firing the corrupt and incompetent VA executives who let our veterans down, modernizing the bureaucracy, and empowering the doctors and nurses to ensure our veterans receive the best care available in a timely manner. Under the Trump Administration, America will meet its commitments to our veterans.

On Friday night after taking office, Trump signed a multi-part executive order stating the administration's official policy is "to seek the prompt repeal" of the Affordable Care Act. The order does not change the law, directs the secretary of health and human services, as well as other agencies, to interpret regulations as loosely as allowed to minimize the financial burden on individuals, insurers, health care providers and others. It stressed that agencies can "waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay implementation of any provision or requirement" of Obamacare that imposes a burden "to the maximum extent permitted by law." That all said, little can be done until a new health secretary is confirmed. Tom Price, faces the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also on Friday night, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus issued a memo to all executive departments and agencies to freeze new or pending regulations -- giving the new administration time to review them. The memo instructs those regulations to be delayed for 60 days for review -- with a potential that a new notice for reopening the regulation could occur. The memo makes an exception for "critical health, safety, financial, or national security matters," and asks agencies to identify any regulations that can't be delayed for other reasons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gen. James Mattis was confirmed as Secretary of Defense, and Gen. John Kelly was confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security, in a pair of Friday evening votes. Trump earlier Friday signed into law a waiver allowing Mattis to serve as Defense Secretary. The bill, passed by Congress last week granted Mattis a one-time exception from federal law barring former U.S. service members who have been out of uniform for less than seven years from becoming defense secretary. Mattis, 66, retired from the Marine Corps in 2013.

Nominations Sent to the Senate The White House / January 20, 2017 Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to be U.S. ambassador to China Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation Wall Street lawyer Jay Clayton to be a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission for a term expiring June 5, 2021, replacing Daniel M.Gallagher, Jr. Ex-Indiana Senator Daniel Coats to be Director of National Intelligence, replacing James Clapper Billionaire republican donor Elisabeth DeVos to be Secretary of Education Orthodox Jewish bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman to be U.S. ambassador to Israel South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to U.S. representative to the United Nations Retired USMC Gen. John F. Kelly to be Secretary of Homeland Security Trade lawyer Robert Lighthizer to be United States Trade Representative Retired USMC Gen. James Mattis to be Secretary of Defense Billionaire and ex-World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration, replacing Maria Contreras-Sweet Former Goldman Sachs partner and hedge fund manager Steven Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to be U.S. Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, U.S. Governor of the African Development Fund, and U.S. Governor of the Asian Development Bank, replacing Jacob Lew Steven Mnuchin to be U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund, U.S. Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, and U.S. Governor of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of 5 years, replacing Jacob Lew Ex-Texas governor James Richard “Rick” Perry to be Secretary of Energy Kansas Representative Mike Pompeo to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, replacing John Brennan Georgia Representative and ex-orthopedic doctor Tom Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fast-food restaurant CEO Andrew Puzder to be Secretary of Labor Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, Jr. to be Secretary of Commerce Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General Current Under Secretary of Health for the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs Ex-Exxon Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State Health policy consultant Seema Verma to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, replacing Marilyn Tavenner Billionaire Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola to be Secretary of the Army, replacing Eric Fanning Montana Representative Ryan Zinke to be Secretary of the Interior ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statement By The President On Cabinet Nominee Confirmations The White House / January 20, 2017 “I am pleased by the confirmation votes of Generals Mattis and Kelly. These uniquely qualified leaders will immediately begin the important work of rebuilding our military, defending our nation and securing our borders. I am proud to have these two American heroes join my administration. I call on members of the Senate to fulfill their constitutional obligation and swiftly confirm the remainder of my highly qualified cabinet nominees, so that we can get to work on behalf of the American people without further delay.”

The Inaugural Address The White House / January 20, 2017 Remarks of President Donald J. Trump Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you. We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people. Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come. We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done. Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People. For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public. But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans. For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; We've defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world. But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down. America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams. We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American. We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth. At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable. There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God. Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action. Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow. A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions. It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag. And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator. So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, We Will Make America Strong Again. We Will Make America Wealthy Again. We Will Make America Proud Again. We Will Make America Safe Again. And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.

Although Friday is technically Trump’s first day in office following his swearing in, I think Monday (Jan 23) is more realistically his first "wide open" day in office. He looked Americans in the face and made 21 promises*. It will be interesting if he follows through. I wouldn’t expect many politicians** to keep their word, but Trump campaigned as the "anti-politician" who would. * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47669-trumps-promises/#comment-351852 ** “Listen, I'm a politician which means I'm a cheat and a liar. And when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops.”

Trump ready to shake up trade deals Automotive News / January 20, 2017 White House will renegotiate NAFTA Minutes after his inauguration, President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), moves that analysts say could have profound effects on the automotive industry. The announcement, posted online by Trump’s new White House team, comes after years of his blasting both trade deals as job-killers that hurt American workers and move jobs overseas. “With a lifetime of negotiating experience, the President understands how critical it is to put American workers and businesses first when it comes to trade,” the White House said in a release. “With tough and fair agreements, international trade can be used to grow our economy, return millions of jobs to America’s shores and revitalize our nation’s suffering communities.” In confirmation hearings this week, Trump’s choice to head the Commerce Department, former auto supplier executive Wilbur Ross, signaled that renegotiating NAFTA would be an urgent priority. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, created a free-trade bloc linking the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The White House team said Friday that if the NAFTA partners refuse “a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal,” then the president will give notice of the country’s intent to withdraw. If the U.S. makes such a move, a withdrawal from NAFTA would cost at least 31,000 U.S. auto jobs and cause vehicle prices to rise, a recent study by the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research found. Tariff plans Although there was no specific mention of it in Friday’s release, Trump has repeatedly vowed to slap a 35 percent tariff on all Mexico-built vehicles sold in the U.S. The CAR study said that would result in a loss of at least 6,700 North American assembly jobs and 450,000 units of U.S. auto sales. Because Mexican-made vehicles are made of about 40 percent American parts on average, and American-made vehicles are made of about 12 percent Mexican parts, about 20,000 U.S. parts manufacturing jobs and 11,000 U.S. assembly jobs could be lost as a result, CAR said. Mexican officials have vigorously defended NAFTA as crucial to U.S. economic competitiveness. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, on his official Twitter account, on Friday congratulated President Trump and vowed to strengthen relations between the two governments. "We will establish a respectful dialogue with the government of President @realDonaldTrump for the benefit of Mexico," he wrote just after Trump's swearing in. "Sovereignty, the national interest and protection of Mexicans will guide the relationship with the new government of the United States," Pena said. Auto industry leaders have said in the run-up to Inauguration Day that they hope government negotiators will convince Trump of the value of NAFTA for all three nations, and particularly of Mexico's role in making automakers more competitive. But union leaders in both the U.S. and Canada have attacked NAFTA since the beginning. U.S. automakers have repeatedly stressed their support of free-trade deals, although some, such as Ford Motor Co., have warned that such deals must have protections to guard against currency manipulation. Crack down The new administration on Friday also vowed to crack down on nations that violate trade agreements and harm American workers. “To carry out his strategy, the President is appointing the toughest and smartest to his trade team, ensuring that Americans have the best negotiators possible,” the White House’s release said. “For too long, trade deals have been negotiated by, and for, members of the Washington establishment. President Trump will ensure that on his watch, trade policies will be implemented by and for the people, and will put America first. “By fighting for fair but tough trade deals, we can bring jobs back to America’s shores, increase wages, and support U.S. manufacturing.”

That is correct. Even in an emergency, you can pack wheel bearings with it in the outback to get you on the way back home.