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SEPTEMBER 20,  2017

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

A CONSTANT SERVING OF NUTTINESS – FROM DAILY CALLER:   Hillary Clinton compared herself to Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere on Tuesday, saying that she is “Paula Revere” sounding the alarm on Russian active measures during the 2016 presidential campaign.  “I don’t think anybody can with a straight face say that the Russians did not set out to influence our election, and they did so,” Clinton said during an interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”  I can just imagine her in a Mercedes, speeding through Martha's Vineyard shouting, "The Russians are coming!  The Russians are coming!" 

FRANCE COMES AROUND – FROM AFP:  France’s President Emmanuel Macron declared Wednesday that the Iran nuclear deal is no longer a sufficient safeguard against the growing power that Tehran wields in its region.  “We need the 2015 accord,” he said of the agreement. “Is this accord enough? It is not, given the growing pressure that Iran is applying in the region.”  Macron was speaking in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, while ministers from Iran the six world powers that signed the accord met to discuss it.  France has been a firm backer of the nuclear deal with Iran, but Trump has developed a very good relationship with Macron, and now Macron is calling for improvement in the deal.  Bringing France on board is a significant Trump achievement.

SPENDTHRIFT PETS! – FROM NEWS.COM.AU:  Buddy the parrot showed he’s a pretty clever boy by mimicking his owner to go shopping via Amazon’s Alexa voice-controlled system.  Shocked owner Corienne Pretorius could not work out how she had requested a $16 set of gift boxes until she realised her African grey had bought them.  The five-year-old pet had impersonated one of her conversations and placed the order while she was out.  Buddy activated her $250 Amazon Echo smart speaker, which connects to the internet shopping giant’s artificial intelligence hub.  That's nothing.  My Australian terrier got free shipping.

September 20,  2017     Permalink

SOUTH KOREA BACKS TRUMP – AT 12:41 P.M. ET:  America's most critical partner in the confrontation with North Korea is, of course, South Korea.  Without the South's backing, any policy we pursue would be wobbly at best.  South Korea is stepping up.  From Daily Mail:   

SEOUL/TOKYO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations, where he warned he would "totally destroy" North Korea if threatened, reinforced the need for Pyongyang to realise it must give up its nuclear weapons, South Korea said on Wednesday.

In a hard-edged speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump mocked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a "rocket man" for his repeated ballistic missile tests.

"We view the speech as portraying a firm and specific stance on the key issues regarding keeping peace and safety that the international community and the United Nations are faced with," the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It clearly showed how seriously the United States government views North Korea's nuclear programme as the president spent an unusual amount of time discussing the issue," the presidential Blue House's statement said.

Trump's speech "reaffirmed that North Korea should be made to realize denuclearisation is the only way to the future through utmost sanctions and pressure", it said.

Moon came to power in May on a platform of more engagement with North Korea. Since Pyongyang's sixth and largest nuclear test earlier on Sept. 3, however, Moon has said the time is not right for dialogue.

He and Trump plan to meet in New York early on Wednesday U.S. time, Moon's office said.

COMMENT:  Trump has a number of high-level meetings today.  He has brought South Korea around to his point of view.  He is emerging as an effective president, despite the noise from the left.

September 20, 2017       Permalink

GRAND ADMIRAL KERRY SPEAKS – AT 11:41 A.M. ET:  We've waited patiently for the reaction of former Secretary of State John Kerry to President Trump's UN speech.  It has come.  From US News:   

Former Secretary of State John Kerry says President Donald Trump's United Nations speech may have put America in isolation and danger.

Appearing on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show Wednesday, Kerry criticized Trump's harsh rhetoric against North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kerry said, "You have to ask yourself: Is America safer because of 'rocket man?" He was referring to Trump's characterization of Kim.

Kerry said that kind of harsh language will make it harder for the United States to engage in diplomacy on North Korea and other international issues.

Kerry also charged that Trump emphasized his "America First" mantra mostly to please his supporters at home rather than the world community. "You give a speech at the United Nations to bring people to the table," he added.

COMMENT:  You know, I could understand Kerry's logic if he had a single success as secretary of state.  But he didn't.  The Iran nuclear deal, his crowning achievement, was, as President Trump correctly said, an embarrassment to the United States. 

As far as engaging in diplomacy with North Korea, hasn't that been tried for, like, 23 years or so?  Could Grand Admiral Kerry inform us of the outcome?

Kerry is the ultimate establishment guy.  Style counts.  Results don't.  Maybe the American people caught on to that fraud when they elected Trump last November.

Mr Kerry should join another former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in some retirement enterprise.  A little flower shop would be nice.

September 20, 2017       Permalink

THE GROWING CONCERN – AT 10:29 A.M. ET:  Even some Trump haters are dismayed at the reports that Trump Tower may well have been wiretapped by federal officials.  The information leaked out just as the president was making what many of us believe was a triumphant speech at the UN.  From the great Michael Goodwin at the New York Post:

Yet even as Trump spoke, a threat to his presidency gained new steam. Reports that special counsel Robert Mueller had wiretapped former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort and plans to indict him sent Washington into a new tizzy of speculation.

According to CNN, which first carried the wiretapping report, Manafort was surveilled under a FISA warrant, meaning the FBI suspected he was operating as a foreign agent. The network said it is possible G-men listened to the president talking to Manafort because the wiretap continued into this year and Trump and Manafort often talked in 2017.

If so, that would mark an infamous history — an American president being overheard by secret agents of his own government.

It would also be additional support for Trump’s charge that former President Barack Obama “had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory.”

It was in March when Trump made that explosive claim, and the Democratic media rushed to denounce him even before Obama did. Subsequent denials from then-FBI boss James Comey and other Obama aides all were rock-solid in declaring that no such thing had happened. There was no wiggle room in their denials, some of which were made under oath before Congress.

But something certainly happened. And what if it was the worst imaginable something? What if the Republican candidate for president was put under surveillance by a Democratic administration that was trying to elect another Democrat?

COMMENT:  This is a grave matter, and one calling for the immediate attention of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The real story may not be any collusion between Trump people and Russia, a charge utterly unproved at this point, but Obama administration spying on a presidential campaign.  Mr. Sessions, what do you say?

September 20, 2017       Permalink

SEPTEMBER 19,  2017

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY – FROM BREITBART:   President Trump’s total vindication over his wiretap claim reminds me of one of the most important things I have discovered over the past couple of years: If the national media loses its ever-loving mind and launches a campaign to brand Trump a liar, that can mean only one thing — that Trump is not only telling the truth, he is telling a Big Truth, an inconvenient truth, a truth the MSM does not want the American people to hear.  Yeah, I think there's something to be said for that.  It happened again today when some elements of the press went berserk over Trump's telling of simple truths at the UN.  Trump is no angel, and he isn't always accurate, but I'm amazed at how often he winds up being right.

OUR EDUCATED YOUNG – FROM TOWNHALL:  A disturbing new poll shows that a full 19 percent of college students think that it is acceptable to use violence to disrupt a speaker who is saying "offensive and hurtful" things on campus. This number is slightly higher among students who identify as Republican compared to Democrat students (22 to 20 percent), and is significantly higher among male students (30 percent) versus females (10 percent)...The poll also found that nearly 40 percent of students do not believe that the First Amendment covers "hate speech" (which it does), and that slightly over half of the students surveyed believe that it is okay to shout down a speaker who is making controversial comments so that they cannot be heard. Unlike the question that concerned the use of violence to stop a speaker, this question found that significantly more Democrats (62 percent) were in favor of this technique compared to Republicans (39 percent).  The hope, of course, is that the young, as they mature, will unlearn much of what they're being taught now, and learn more that is truthful and correct.  I think that often happens.  We should at least try to be optimistic.  Kids don't stay kids forever.

PUBLIC SERVICE – FROM USA TODAY:  Three Democratic lawmakers were arrested Tuesday outside Trump Tower in New York as part of a pro-DREAM Act demonstration, their offices confirmed.  Reps. Luis Gutiérrez of Illinois, Raul Grijalva of Arizona and Adriano Espaillat of New York were among the 10 people taken into custody and later released, the New York Police Department said. New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was also arrested, police confirmed.  Demonstrators were calling on Congress to pass a clean version of legislation designed to shield DREAMers, undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country as children.  I kinda know those names.  They're about as far left as you can get without marrying Karl Marx.

September 19, 2017       Permalink 

STARRING DONALD TRUMP – AT 11:32 A.M. ET:  The president made his debut speech before the UN General Assembly this morning.  And...surprise...he was Donald Trump.

Although the Washington establishment no doubt prayed to the god of their choice for a "new" Trump, much like the fabulously failed Barack Obama, they got the real Trump, with some smooth diplomacy thrown in around the edges.  From Fox:   

New York (CNN ) President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that the US would "totally destroy North Korea" if forced to defend itself or its allies.

"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said during his first address to the UN General Assembly.

"It is time for North Korea to realize that its denuclearization is its only responsible future," Trump said.

Trump also warned that Kim Jong Un -- whom he again referred to as "rocket man" -- "is on a suicide mission for himself."

"Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself," he said.

Trump's strong words came after he made the case that North Korea is a "country that imperils the world" and said that it is in no country's interest that North Korea continue on its current path of nuclear and ballistic missile development.

COMMENT:  John Bolton called this speech Trump's best, and I think he may be right.  He laid it right on the line to the UN that there's a new administration in Washington, and it intends to solve problems. 

Read the whole thing.

Reaction is coming in, with the usual suspects bashing Trump.  But reaction at the UN, at least thus far, is surprisingly muted.  Delegates actually applauded Trump's comments on Iran, and even his remark that he would take care of America first.  We'll have more on this.

September 19, 2017       Permalink

AN EVOLVING STRATEGY – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  What to do about North Korea?  We're told that all the options are bad, but that's actually true in most international crises.  If not, they wouldn't be called crises.

What is the administration thinking?  From Barbara Starr, a CNN reporter I trust:   

(CNN) As tensions continue to ratchet up with North Korea, CNN has learned that the US is considering shooting down a North Korean ballistic missile even if it does not directly threaten the US or its allies.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Defense Secretary James Mattis said North Korea is "intentionally doing provocations that seem to press against the envelope for just how far can they push without going over some kind of a line in their minds that would make them vulnerable." 

An official directly familiar with options planning within the Trump administration told CNN the question that now needs to be answered is whether North Korea's missile program has progressed to the level of being such an inherent threat that the Pentagon would recommend targeting a missile even if its trajectory did not indicate it would hit the US or its allies. The official declined to speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the issue.

While US officials have long said the military maintains a full range of options for dealing with North Korea, the notion of shooting down a missile has largely centered on conducting an operation if the missile were to directly threaten the US or its allies. There has been particular concern since Kim Jong Un recently threatened the US territory of Guam.

The idea of shooting down a missile even if it is not a direct threat is not new. But with two recently launched North Korean missiles flying over northern Japan, the potential for having to consider a shoot-down without a direct threat remains very real, according to one senior defense official.

COMMENT:  It must remain a real possibility.  The heat on North Korea must be kept high.  There are risks, of course – a key one being the chance that our technology would fail and we would be humiliated if the attempted shootdown does not succeed.  There is also the risk that North Korea would react in a completely irrational manner. 

At least President Trump is addressing the threat seriously.  Previous presidents have simply kicked the can down the road through endless, and ultimately futile, negotiations.

September 19,  2017     Permalink

OBAMACARE REPEAL? – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:  This is kind of sneaking up on us.  Congressional Republicans are making a last-ditch attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, following their humiliating failure to do it earlier.  They are close.  From The Hill:   

A last-ditch effort by Senate Republicans to repeal and replace ObamaCare is gaining steam, suggesting lawmakers could face another vote on ending the former president’s signature law later this month.

Supporters do not have the 50 votes necessary to pass the bill yet, but pressure is growing on Republicans to back the measure, which could replace much of ObamaCare with block grants for states.

In a crucial boost for its chances on Monday, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) offered his support.

“Congress has 12 days to say ‘yes’ to Graham-Cassidy. It’s time for them to get the job done,” he said, referring to the bill's two main co-sponsors, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

Ducey’s support is important because Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has said the Arizona governor's position would be an important factor in how he votes.

McCain helped kill the repeal effort in July, calling for committee hearings and a bipartisan process, but he has left the door open to voting for Graham and Cassidy's bill.

Still, McCain on Monday criticized the rushed process leading up to a possible vote next week, while not ruling out voting for the bill.

COMMENT:  Could be very interesting.  I am not an expert on the technicalities of the GOP proposal, but I've always favored grants to states.  The name of the country is the United States of America, and we sometimes forget that.  State participation in medical systems makes all kinds of sense.  It brings medical care closer to the people, and forces states to compete against each other for quality, fearing citizens and businesses will leave unless medical care is done right.  Maybe this is worth a try.

September 19, 2017     Permalink