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JUNE 12,  2018

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:  

MADNESS – FROM DAILY CALLER:   Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Sunday expressed regret over eating at Chick-fil-A, because of the chicken company’s CEO’s personal views on gay marriage.
Dorsey tweeted a screenshot from his phone that showed a purchase he had made at Chick-fil-A using a mobile application. After a liberal backlash, however, Dorsey apologized for eating at the popular fast food restaurant.  At issue was Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s 2012 support for defining marriage as between a man and a woman, which he described as “the biblical definition of a family.”  Former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien was among those to call out Dorsey for eating at the self-described home of the original chicken sandwich.  So now we're expected to check out the owner's religious views before ordering lunch?  Not the way a free society works.

GOOD ECONOMIC SIGN – FROM BREITBART:   Overall enrollment in the nation’s food stamp program has dipped to its lowest level in eight years, according to the latest statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The latest USDA data reveals that enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—the federal government program that administers food stamps—dropped to 40,083,954 in March 2018.  It's a sign of a healthier economy.  Fewer people need government assistance.  The liberals must be tearing their hair out.

A RATINGS HIT – FROM DAILYWIRE.COM:  The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was one of the most anticipated events of the year, and it showed in the ratings, as Fox News's Sean Hannity dominated all of television — not just cable — during the historic event.
Fox News's coverage of the historic meeting between the two leaders topped cable news, earning the top ranking in both total day and primetime for total viewers as well as the coveted 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research.  The highest rated of Fox News's coverage was Hannity's program, which dominated all of television with 5.9 million total viewers, beating out all of broadcast primetime and all of cable.  And then there's CNN's audience of six.   

June 12, 2018       Permalink

NORK PRESS REPORTS ON SUMMIT – AT 11:30 P.M. ET:   The controlled North Korean press has been reporting its version of the summit conference in Singapore.  We read this stuff primarily to get hints as to what the government is thinking.  From AFP: 

Kim Jong Un invited Donald Trump to visit North Korea during their historic summit and the US President accepted, Pyongyang state media reported Wednesday, calling it the start of a “radical switchover” in the nuclear-armed Cold War foes’ fraught relations.

The unprecedented encounter in Singapore Tuesday saw the leader of the world’s most powerful democracy shake hands with the third generation scion of a dynastic dictatorship, standing as equals in front of their nations’ flags.

Kim agreed to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” a stock phrase favored by Pyongyang that stopped short of long-standing US demands for North Korea to give up its atomic arsenal in a “verifiable” and “irreversible” way.

In its first report on the landmark summit, the official KCNA news agency ran a glowing dispatch on the talks, describing them as an “epoch-making meeting” that would help foster “a radical switchover in the most hostile (North Korea)-US relations.”

The report said the two men each asked the other to visit their country.

“The two top leaders gladly accepted each other’s invitation,” KCNA said.

Pyongyang has reason to feel confident after the meeting, which was a major coup for an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime that has long craved international legitimacy.

COMMENT:  As we noted earlier, editorial opinions expressed now should be largely ignored.  The president expressed confidence in a Fox interview tonight that the North understands our requirements for progress, which include complete de-nuclearization.  The president made clear that this whole effort may eventually fail, which was his way of signaling the North that he was prepared to walk away from a bad deal, just as Reagan did in negotiating with Gorbachev.

The people in Congress whom I respect on defense matters, like Tom Cotton of Arkansas, are displaying satisfaction at the outcome of the summit and are relaxed on whatever concessions Trump may have made.  Cotton in particular expressed confidence that Trump would not back down on our major demands.  I share that confidence and hope that I'm right.

June 12,  2018     Permalink

THE PRESIDENT – AT 1:35 P.M. ET:   He stands at 49% in today's Rasmussen tracker.  We'll know by Friday how much of a boost the North Korea summit is giving him, if any.  I would love to see him go over 50% and stay there.

Other polls have Mr. Trump lower, but the general trend has been upward. 

We're now starting to get the first real detail journalism in response to the summit conference in Singapore, and the document it produced, reprinted below.  The journalism is predictable.  A press corps that normally operates on a leftist, adolescent level may have gone up half a grade in school in covering the summit, but no more.  One senses an almost desperate attempt to disparage the president's performance, suggesting that he was taken by Kim Jong Un, that nothing real was accomplished, and that it simply proved the need for someone like...Ms. Hillary.

It's absurd.

We're told today by some journalists that Trump put Kim on the same level as the president of the United States.  Is that laughable, or what?  Our visitor from North Korea could barely pay his hotel bill.  His people are starving.  He is surrounded by American strike forces.  We could wipe his country out in 20 minutes.  He can't touch ours.  And Kim, unlike Trump, goes home to...North Korea.  He got a few days of attention, and some cosmetic concessions.  That's it.  Now it is clear he must produce, must make real change happen for North Korea, or he will be back in the box he was in last week, a little leader presiding over a bankrupt country.

And he is facing Donald Trump, not Barack Obama.

Just as Mikhail Gorbachev faced Ronald Reagan, not Jimmy Carter.

You'll be hearing all kinds of opinions in the next few days.  Discount 90% of them.  We will not know the full outcome of this summit for months, maybe years.  The real negotiating now starts, under the skillful hand of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Please remember that we are trying to turn an enemy into a friend.  Maybe some people thought Trump would hit Kim over the head with a copy of "The Art of the Deal."  Not exactly the way to do it. 

At the end of World War II, Douglas MacArthur, who became the regent presiding over the defeated nation of Japan, was photographed with Emperor Hirohito, the very symbol of what we hated – Pearl Harbor, Japanese prison camps, three years of bitter fighting with high American casualties.  But still, MacArthur allowed the photo to be taken.  He knew he had to deal with the emperor, a religious figure, who was permitted to stay on the throne as part of Japan's surrender agreement.

In Europe, General Eisenhower, after Germany's defeat, had to deal with German officials who had been part of the Nazi regime, or fought with Nazi forces.  His job was to turn them into allies, which he did.  Was it not Wernher von Braun, the Nazi rocket scientist, who was brought to America to help build our missile program?  I hated that idea, but understood it.

Unlike his predecessor, Field Marshal Obama, President Trump negotiates from a position of strength.  Several weeks ago, as you'll recall, he pulled out of this summit conference because he didn't feel that Kim was acting appropriately.  Kim straightened up, and the conference went ahead.  Kim understands that Trump can do that again.

Give the president some space and time, realizing that those American carrier groups are still in the region and are not being withdrawn, and that heavy sanctions are still locked on North Korea, and will remain if there are not satisfactory results from our ongoing talks.

Just don't expect a positive press toward the president.  CNN is already at work disparaging the Singapore summit.  Trump will last longer than CNN.

June 12, 2018       Permalink

THE DOCUMENT – AT 10:50 A.M. ET:  It was a pleasure to watch the president, at 4 a.m. our time, holding a press conference in Singapore to discuss the document he, historically, had just signed with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.  Here is the text of that document:

Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit.

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Convinced that the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:

1. The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.

2. The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

4. The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.

Having acknowledged that the U.S.-DPRK summit—the first in history—was an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries and for the opening up of a new future, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement fully and expeditiously. The United States and the DPRK commit to hold follow-on negotiations, led by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the outcomes of the U.S.-DPRK summit.

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have committed to cooperate for the development of new U.S.-DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the world.

[signature]

DONALD J. TRUMP
President of the United States of America
[signature]

KIM JONG UN
Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

June 12,  2018     Permalink

JUNE 11,  2018

1:48 A.M. ET, JUNE 12:  A breathtaking moment.  The president of the United States and the leader of North Korea have just signed a historic, unexpected statement.  We do not yet have the details of what is in it, but the sight of the signing itself was incredible.  It's obvious, as several commentators have already said, that this statement was not written as a result of today's meeting between the two leaders.  It clearly has been developed over a number of days, under the guidance of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is emerging from this week as a major American figure.  We await the fine print. 

1:14 A.M. ET, JUNE 12:  No "Short Takes" tonight.  We are awaiting more details on the historic Singapore meeting.  I find it remarkable that there have been no leaks.  We expect a statement in the early hours of the morning.  There is also the president's statement hinting at "a signing," but we know nothing about it.

BULLETIN:  FROM FOX:  President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday emerged from their "working lunch" and indicated that they were about to sign something, but did give any further details.

"We had a really fantastic meeting, a lot of progress, really very positive," Trump said "I think better than anybody could have expected. Top of the line, really good. We’re going right now to a signing.”
Trump did not go into details about the comment.

THE MEETING BEGINS – AT 9:14 P.M. ET:  It's an unusual day, and I'm following events from Singapore closely.   What I've noticed is that some of the reporters have calmed down and are realizing that this is an important moment.  Even CNN has become mildly rational. despite an extended interview with a very wacky Dennis Rodman. 

There is a sense of wonder that this summit is occurring at all.  Ed Henry and John Roberts of Fox have been pointing out that, not many months ago, North Korea was firing missiles toward Guam and President Trump was threatening fire and fury against the Norks. 

Stand by.

IS THIS A SERIOUS STORY? – AT 12:30 P.M. ET:  As the president tries to make peace in Singapore, Barack Obama is supposedly teaching potential Democratic presidents how to beat Trump in 2020.  Ah, the fantasies abound.  From the Washington Times:   

President Obama has reportedly met with 2020 presidential hopefuls and is advising members of the Democratic Party about how to run against President Trump.

A source close to Mr. Obama told CNN he has met with Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden and former Attorney General Eric Holder.

Wow.  What a depressing lot.

According to the unnamed source, Mr. Obama spends time during the meetings “on how to respond to the president, positioning and broader challenges with the party.”

A few others who have met with Mr. Obama, according to CNN, include former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, South Bend Mayor Peter Buttigieg, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and former Secretary of State of Missouri Jason Kander.

The Democratic Party expects a large field of candidates, similar to the GOP’s 17 candidates ahead of the 2016 election.

COMMENT:  I wonder if Hillary will show up at one of these sessions.  She could come dressed as a deplorable.

June 11, 2018       Permalink

ALL EYES ON SINGAPORE – AT 10:41 A.M.   Where the president of the United States is getting ready to meet with Kim Jong Un, the leader of the hermit kingdom of North Korea.  The meeting will occur within about 10 hours.

Already the pseudo-pundits are out ridiculing the president.  Ignore the pundits.  They've always been wrong about Trump. 

Initial word from our side from Singapore is that the preliminary talks are going better than expected.  But John Roberts of Fox is reporting that expectations are being kept modest.  I have a sense that there have been very serious talks already, with some basic agreements reached.  Indeed, the actual meeting between the two leaders will only last a few hours. 

There is informed speculation that there may be a surprise announcement.  Let's hope so.  Much is riding on this summit, for the world, the United States, and President Trump.  And Kim Jong Un wants to come out as a world figure presiding over an emerging nation, not the head of a starving, failed state.

This is high drama, with high stakes.  Even CNN might have to get the reporting right.  I'm just kidding.

June 11, 2018     Permalink