They said it couldn’t be done. “Impossible.” “Impractical.” “Unrealistic.” I’m referring to one of Donald Trump’s key campaign pledges — to achieve 3% economic growth.

Every liberal in Washington, DC, over the last eight years said that Obama’s sluggish economy was “the new normal” and we should just get used to it. They mocked Trump for suggesting we could do better.

Well, yesterday the Commerce Department released revised figures on second quarter economic output and it revised the figures up from 2.6% to 3%. You will wait in vain today for all those liberal commentators to issue their mea culpas.

I understand presidents don’t deserve all the credit or all the blame for the economy. But their policies do make a difference, and this president has made economic growth a central focus of his administration.

One of the most important things any president can do in that regard is simply to get Washington out of the way. Granted, regulatory reform doesn’t make headlines. It rarely gets hearts beating faster. But when it comes to cutting red tape, Trump has been incredibly successful.

Certainly more could be done. That is why President Trump delivered an address yesterday on tax reform in Springfield, Missouri.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. Hurricane Harvey dealt a severe blow to a crucial part of the country’s economic engine.

I would love to see a bold tax reform plan pass Congress. I disagree with my friend Larry Kudlow, who says we should do the easiest thing possible, such as cutting corporate tax rates and bringing back corporate profits held in other countries. I’m all for that, but there must be measures that help working class families.

It would be disastrous for this president and congressional Republicans to pass a tax cut that does not provide real relief to the middle class.

Condemning Antifa

Guess who said this:

Our democracy has no room for inciting violence or endangering the public, no matter the ideology of those who commit such acts. The violent actions of people calling themselves Antifa in Berkeley this weekend deserve unequivocal condemnation, and the perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.

Donald Trump? No. Attorney General Jeff Sessions? Nope. Me? I have been saying essentially the same thing, but that’s not today’s news.

Apparently, some progressive leaders are starting to realize the obvious dangers of being associated with antifa. Tuesday, House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi issued that stinging rebuke calling for antifa members to be arrested and prosecuted. Good for you, Nancy!

By the way, for all the criticism directed at President Trump following the clash in Charlottesville, Democrats are facing their own divisions.

In fact, the Democrat mayor of Charlottesville is facing growing criticism for his handling of events. It turns out that federal officials at the Department of Homeland Security warned state and local leaders three days in advance that both sides were gearing up for a big fight.

Incredibly, the DHS memo warned that the same groups had clashed in Charlottesville not once, but twice before the violent events of August 12th.

James Gagliano, a retired FBI SWAT team leader, said, “It is unconscionable that with so much advance notice of the declared intentions of extremist groups from the left and right vowing to descend upon Charlottesville that law enforcement was not better prepared.”

The Charlottesville City Council held a special closed-door session yesterday, reportedly to review the actions of Mayor Michael Singer.

“Harvey’s Heroes”

While there is no denying the troubles confronting our nation today, one thing remains true: America retains a vast reservoir of good and decent men and women who, even at great risk to themselves, can be relied upon to do the right thing. And that is something worth celebrating!

I encourage you to read this report on “Harvey’s Heroes” by The Stream’s Liberty McArtor. Please share it with friends and family.