Washington is becoming so strang that it is like Disneyland on the Potomac—and Trump is goofy.

Stocks were on a tear for the quad witching December stock option expiration.

The underlying reason seems to be market enthusiasm for the news that it appears that the Senate has the votes to pass their 'tax reform' bill.

I think it is just wonderful that those humanitarians on Wall Street and saints among the one percent will celebrate such a tax reform windfall for the middle class. Isn't that what Dandy Don said it is?

Gold and silver managed to get a little back, closing just about where one might have expected. I would imagine that this price capping will continue until the year end unless *something happens.*  

This is not the government doing this, contrary to what some of the perennial anti-government folks seem to believe.

But there is no doubt that government regulators are turning a blind eye, in general, to the market antics of a bunch of crooks and conmen across a broad array of markets. We see the truth of this in the occasional wristslap, no prosecution settlement for fraud.

And why should the government do anything about blatant market manipulation— all regulation is bad, right?

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Next week is the last trading week before Christmas.

Please remember to feed the birds, and to love the poor in spirit.Poverty of the soul is a terrible thing.

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