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I appeared on Silvio Canto Jr's talk show from Dallas yesterday.  It's here.

MAY 22,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET: 

GOOD TASTE – IVANKA IS A HIT ON SAUDI TWITTER – FROM LONDON'S EXPRESS:  One fan took it a step further reportedly asking for her hand in marriage over the social media site.   In a video posted on Twitter, the Saudi resident is believed to address King Salman and ask for Ivanka's hand in marriage.   Wearing traditional clothing, Alalam news outlet reports the man introduces himself as Badr bin Fahd and proposes to Donald's daughter - unfortunately mispronouncing her name at the same time. 
Badr says, in Arabic: "I ask our king, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the daughter of US President Trump, Evikana's hand in marriage."  She's already married, of course, but the flattery is, I'm sure, appreciated.

A QUARTER CENTURY – It was 25 years ago tonight that Johnny Carson hosted his last "Tonight Show."  As readers know, I was a talent coordinator for Carson during part of his remarkable 30-year run on NBC.  He still reigns, in my view, as the king of late night.  He was genuinely funny, had the best guests, and never tried to sell the audience a political line.  He always stressed to us that "Tonight" was a variety show, not a talk show.  It's sad that millions of young people never had the pleasure to see him, and that millions more have probably never heard of him.  I was lucky to learn from him, and I learned a great deal.

HYPOCRISY – FROM AFP:  Havana (AFP) - Cuba's first ultra luxury hotel opened its doors Monday in Havana, with guests paying up to $2,500 a night to stay in five-star comfort on the Communist island.  The "Gran Hotel Manzana," part of the Swiss group Kempinski Hotels, is situated in the heart of the Cuban capital in front of the verdant gardens of Parque Central and the grand Alicia Alonso theater, home to the Cuban National Ballet.  Guests in each of the hotel's 246 rooms, 50 of which are suites, have the pick of four bars and two restaurants and can take a swim in the rooftop infinity pool.  The European-style building first opened in 1917, before undergoing a complete renovation.  I'm sure it will attract many high-income tourists who love to rub shoulders with genuine leftists.  Makes great dinner conversation on Manhattan's west side. 

May 22, 2017       Permalink

THE FIRST LADY EMERGES – AT 11:52 A.M. ET:  The emerging star of the president's trip is the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, who will soon move to the White House permanently. 

She has handled herself superbly, and with enormous class.  From Breitbart:

First Lady Melania Trump has won rave reviews from the foreign press — and even the American press — as she accompanies President Donald Trump on his first foreign trip.

The visit, which has taken President Trump to Saudi Arabia and Israel thus far, and which will conclude with a stop at the Vatican on Tuesday, is the first foreign trip of the administration. It is also one of the first major public events for the First Lady, who has kept a low profile thus far.

Yet she made her mark immediately in Saudi Arabia, descending Air Force One in a flowing black pantsuit and golden belt that was hailed by the local press as “classy and conservative,” even though both she and Ivanka Trump declined to cover their faces in deference to local custom.

The Los Angeles Times noted Melania Trump’s “newsmaking style,” quoting a local television host who described her outfit as a “a really considerate gesture.”

Even the British press was impressed, gushing later in the day: “Melania Trump dazzles in purple Reem Acra gown for first evening in Saudi Arabia.”

She also impressed observers in Israel with her choice of outfit: a crisp white jacket and skirt, in deference to the main color in the Israeli flag, as well as to the color of peace.

More than her sartorial savvy, however, what was most impressive was the First Lady’s gesture of holding the hand of Israel’s First Lady, Nechama Rivlin, who carries an oxygen tank due to a respiratory illness. The image of the tall Mrs. Trump guiding the congenial but frail Mrs. Rivlin (above) went beyond normal diplomatic protocol and presented an image of kindness.

COMMENT:  I would not be shocked if Melania emerges as a wise counselor to her husband, a more consequential first lady than first appeared after the inauguration.  She clearly is now an asset.  Watch for her on magazine covers.

May 22, 2017       Permalink

TRUMP'S MESSAGE – AT 11:16 A.M. ET:  President Trump seemed to be negotiating out loud in his message to Israelis this morning.  From Fox: 

President Trump, on the second leg of his first foreign trip as commander-in-chief, greeted Israeli leaders in Jerusalem Monday with hopes to lay the groundwork for a peace deal with the Palestinians – saying a “rare opportunity” exists, and the threat posed by Iran is bringing Arab neighbors together toward that goal.  

“There is a growing realization among your Arab neighbors that they have common cause with you in the threat posed by Iran,” Trump said, speaking alongside Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
He said earlier “there’s a great feeling for peace throughout the Middle East,” and suggested a potential warming by other countries toward Israel could be one “benefit” to the long-running tensions over Iran.

“It’s brought a lot of folks together,” Trump said.

COMMENT:  That is correct.  Obviously, the feeling of partnership could be short-lived, or disappear as soon as the Iranian threat is diminished.  Or...the Sunni Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia, will see benefit in an alliance with Israel.

If Trump can pull this off, he'll be a great president by definition.  But he shouldn't expect a Nobel Peace Prize.  Reagan wasn't given one for ending the Cold War.  Obama was given one after two days in office. 

The president has announced that he'll be returning to the Mideast soon to visit Egypt.  There's clearly a lot going on, and the Mideasterners are showing more respect for Trump than they ever did for Obama.  It's the old story of following the strong horse.  Flash strength and people listen.

May 22, 2017       Permalink

THE PRESIDENT IN ISRAEL – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  President Trump is in Israel, and is performing at the same high level he did in Saudi Arabia. 

It was inspiring to see the president visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites in Christianity, and the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism.  He handled both visits with sensitivity and style.

Mr. Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in an attempt to advance peace.  He will then fly on to the Vatican, where he will have an audience with Pope Francis.

Henry Kissinger, after speaking with President-elect Trump, said that Trump could become a "considerable" president.  We have not been uncritical of the president here, and he does self-destructive things.  But this trip demonstrates that he may indeed become a "considerable" president.

Most press coverage I've seen has been reasonable.  Some of the CNN types have, of course, gotten in their little digs, but even CNN is showing some restraint.  That may end, of course, when Mr. Trump arrives home to face multiple investigations.  But if his foreign policy has some breakthroughs, and if he can chalk up some legislative victories, he can emerge very well, and the pundits will have egg on their faces.  I'll welcome that day, and pay the cleaning bill.

May 22,  2017     Permalink

MAY 21,  2017

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

A SAD GOODBYE – FROM AOL NEWS:    NEW YORK, May 21 (Reuters) - The clowns, animal acts and acrobats of the storied Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus are taking their final bow at an arena outside New York City on Sunday in the farewell performance of the "Greatest Show on Earth" after nearly 150 years.  Capping a legacy that stretches back to the legendary 19th century showman P.T. Barnum, the circus bids adieu at a series of shows this weekend at newly refurbished Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on New York's Long Island.  The final show on Sunday evening was a sell-out and a worldwide audience can watch the event via a live stream on the Ringling website.  As a kid, my parents took me to "the circus," and it was always this one.  We did the same for our kids.  Now kids are taken to diversity training and psychiatric evaluation.  The excitement builds.

EVEN DIANNE – FROM THE POLITICO:   SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Liberal hecklers have protested outside Dianne Feinstein’s home. She’s been confronted at a Los Angeles fundraiser and a San Francisco town hall meeting by progressives angered by her skeptical view of single-payer health care and support for some of Donald Trump’s earliest nominees.  In a state marked by its unfettered resistance to the president, California’s senior senator and ranking Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee is dealing with burgeoning unrest in the party ranks at home, a symptom of the roiling anti-Trump politics on the left. Despite her interrogation of Neil Gorsuch at his Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Feinstein’s brand of moderation is showing signs of slipping out of favor in a state that delivered a landslide margin against Trump.  Feinstein is a moderate liberal, apparently not liberal enough for the nuts.  It's frightening.  The Democratic Party is becoming a true leftist party.  If that happens, it must be politically demolished for the good of the country.

I ALWAYS KNEW IT – FROM BUSINESS INSIDER:   Journalists' brains show a lower-than-average level of executive functioning, according to a new study, which means they have a below-average ability to regulate their emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and show creative and flexible thinking.  The study, led by Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and leadership coach, analysed 40 journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online platforms over seven months. The participants took part in tests related to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour.  Of course, this applies only to liberal journalists.  And it's so obvious.

May 21, 2017       Permalink

THIS IS TRULY CHILLING – AT 1:56 P.M. ET:  Are we a third-world country?   Maybe we're getting there.  Republican officeholders now fear for their safety.  From The Hill: 

A growing number of House Republicans are facing physical threats from angry constituents in their districts, leading many to fear for their safety. 

In the last few weeks alone, the FBI arrested a man threatening Rep. Martha McSally's (R-Ariz.) life, a woman pursued Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) in her car, and Rep. Tom Garrett (R-Va.) heightened security at a town hall event in response to death threats. 

Other Republicans still holding town halls say they haven't felt physically threatened by protesters, but they worry about the depth of anger from some constituents in the polarized environment and what it means for political civility.  

Scores of GOP lawmakers have experienced going viral this year with videos of constituents shouting their disagreement on support for President Trump and policies such as the GOP’s healthcare bill. 
Lately, though, Republicans have observed some furious constituents who appear to be going even further.

Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.) described attendees at a town hall in his district last week who booed him down after he said people’s rights are God-given. 

“They booed God. They booed the pastor. They booed the prayer. They booed the name of the church. They booed when I said rights come from God,” Brat recounted to The Hill just off the House floor. “That’s a fundamental tenet of western civilization. I mean, I didn’t think that was partisan.”

COMMENT:   I'm guessing that the threats are coming from the fringe left.  And they're going beyond politics.  Last week a college president asked that a scheduled meeting be moved to an alternate location because he feared for his safety. 

We run the risk of a serious violent incident, possibly involving multiple deaths, unless people calm down and the extremists are brought under control.

May 21, 2017       Permalink

NORTH KOREA GETS INTO THE ACT – AGAIN – AT 1:16 P.M. ET:   The North Koreans have no intention of letting President Trump visit the Mideast without interfering.  Hey, we're here too.  From CNN: 

(CNN) North Korea fired off its second missile test in a week on Sunday, sending a medium-range ballistic missile into the waters off its east coast, according to statements from the US, South Korean and Japanese governments.

South Korea, which called the launch "reckless and irresponsible," said the missile flew about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from an area near Pukchang, in western North Korea.

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said the missile hit the water about 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the east coast of North Korea. She said the missile did not go higher than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), according to preliminary data.

Altitude was key to the test a week earlier, which analysts called North Korea's most successful
ever in its quest to develop ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.

COMMENT:  The North Korean drive to develop operational nuclear weapons the missiles to carry them is relentless.  If truth be told, the Trump administration has done little to stop the North.  Trump pledged to end this threat.  I'd like to see some real action, including a Saudi-style trip to Japan and South Korea, to bolster our alliances.

May 21, 2017       Permalink

TRUMP'S SPEECH – AT 12:30 P.M. ET:  President Trump gave a much-anticipated speech on terrorism in Saudi Arabia today.  It was a good speech, although too soft on human rights.  But he got the message across that the Muslim world must do more to fight terrorism, and cannot depend only on the United States.  From Fox: 

President Trump Sunday in a highly-anticipated speech to Muslim leaders during his first foreign trip called for unity between the U.S. and Middle Eastern nations in the fight to “stamp out extremism.” 
During his second day of his first trip abroad, Trump’s speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia addressed the leaders of more than 50 Muslim-majority countries to challenge extremism by cutting off the financing of terrorist groups.

Trump announced the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which is committed to prosecuting the financing of terrorism.

“Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God,” Trump said.

“We are not here to lecture — we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship,” Trump added, noting terrorists must be condemned not rewarded. “Instead, we are here to offer partnership — based on shared interests and values — to pursue a better future for us all.”

The council comprises Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

COMMENT:  The optics from the Saudi trip are excellent, but reality may intervene.  It's one thing to throw a party, another thing to keep the guests committed.  The Muslim world is filled with problems and internal hatreds.  We'll have to judge the success of this trip by its results. 

Meanwhile, the president heads to Israel tomorrow, where things may get a bit bumpy.  Not all Israelis are thrilled with the arms deal with Saudi Arabia.  Although relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are improving, the Saudis are still seen as an enemy.  There are other problems as well.  We'll see how that phase of the trip plays out.

May 21,  2017     Permalink