My limited view of retail doesn't look great

I've been shopping this week and the past two. This week, the big-boxers (Walmart, Target) have finally begun to look busy, although both were running about 1/3 of their available cashier lanes.

I also went to a Department Store last night - Dillards. My older daughter wanted some boots, and I was able to order them online for store pickup. Easy, no-hassle experience with no complaints. But the store was dead. A week before we all try to outdo the Three Kings for gift giving - dead. I'd remember being in Department stores in the malls in my 20s and 30s a week before Christmas, and they were packed. The cashier stands had lines. Now racks of clothes and costume jewelry and boxes of Harry & David Moose Munch and Godiva Chocolate go untouched. It came as a surprise partly because I've been told that the higher-end stores are largely escaping the carnage in retail.

I'm just one guy; this was just one store, and I have only been to this store in this place. I have to think that there will be more hemorrhaging in retail in 1Q and 2Q 2020, though. The malls are just not attracting buyers; the remaining department stores seem to not have a market to whom to sell, and free shipping and the time savings are just making online buying so simple.

If you've seen a different story, I'd be interested in you to share it.

General Questions for DUers About the Holidays & The Economy

1) Thinking about the last Holiday season, do you figure to spend more, less, or about the same this year?

2) At this point, is your shopping done? Close? Not close? Not Started? You make gifts?

3) Do you still mostly give "things" or gift cards?

4) Do you mostly shop brick and mortar or Online?

5) Has the recent rise in retail closings impacted your shopping this year?

A shout-out to all of the college kids working in these campaigns

A son of a friend of mine was working for the Harris campaign. He'd survived the staff cuts that came with the office closures a few weeks back. Honor student and recent bachelor's degree grad who had deferred law school to work on the campaign. There are a lot of those kids / young adults on these campaigns doing the grunt work - answering calls, handing out fliers at events, making calls, and knocking on doors. For many, when their candidate drops, it's back to school or the job market. For others, it will be on to another campaign - maybe another Presidential candidate, or maybe someone looking to win a House or Senate seat. Very long days, very little money, and maybe there's a staff job at the end if the candidate wins - and maybe not. It's a labor of love, and none of these candidates could do the job without them.

So thanks, guys!

Question: Why Walter Reed?

I thought the feds were closing Walter Reed, and that Bethesda Naval Hospital was where Presidents got their medicine on? I obviously missed something.

Dear Admins: Can Deval Patrick please be added as a candidate choice? (eom)

Do you want HRC to enter the 2020 race for the nomination?

I have to say the BBC comment at least sounds like she is sending up a trial balloon on entering.

Question #1: When is it actually too late to jump into these primaries?

Question #2: Patrick and Bloomberg are considering throwing their hats in the ring. What do either of them bring that other candidates have not brought already?

Question #3: This is for the undecided among us (you can answer and have a stated preference, though - I'm not the DU police): Who might you want to see running that is not running now?

Question #4: What drives your thought process most on a candidate right now: a) My main priority is a candidate that holds policy positions that I share; b) My main priority is a candidate that will defeat Donald Trump

Apropos of nothing: I had occasion to drive from the Midwest to Florida and back last week. I'd observe the following: a) I saw towns (Cairo, IL sticks out in my mind) that are in economic wreckage against a backdrop of alleged expansion; b) I saw a lot of Trump 2020 bumper stickers in Florida, so there is clearly work to be done; c) I saw flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Whether you want to think of it in terms of climate change or infrastructure, there is work to be done; d) No matter where you travel, legacy radio (AM/FM) has become dominated not only by right wing talk, but also by Christian programming - both straight preaching and Christian themed music. I'm not sure what to make of all of it, but we seem oddly disconnected to one another in this nation.

...but I digress.

I'd like to say "Thank you!" To the mebers of our SpecialForces on the al-Baghdadi raid.

He was an evil bastard, and whatever any of you did to hasten his demise is genuinely appreciated.

It's your commander in chief I dislike. None of you strike me as having bone spur issues.

I'm also glad you all had no casualties.

My Prediction: House votes to impeach. Senate fails to convict. Trump claims exoneration.

The Republicans in Congress are more concerned with keeping power than the Constitution. JMHO.

Also, expect many more less-than-veiled threats of violence/civil unrest/civil war if the President elected by a minority of the voters is removed/seriously threatened with removal. If by some miracle he is removed, also expect secession ("Texit" ) talk to loudly resume.

Unrelated: There should be a separate "Hearings & Impeachment" forum.

If you are in the Beto/Castro/Booker/Klobuchar part of the pack, do you stay thru SC or fold sooner?

Amy Klobuchar has had good debate moments, and is looking for a good showing in Iowa (a neighboring state)

Booker hasn't seemed to connect.

Castro and O'Rourke are both struggling, and I can't help but think one or both might be better served running for Senate in Texas.

Is it worth staying, or is the cake baked with Biden/Warren/Sanders/Harris/ & Mayor Pete?