2017 July

8/8/17 North Korea

Supposedly during the Obama administration N. Korea was years away from weaponizing their nukes, and ICBM’s.  Now, suddenly, according to the news, their recent ICBM test could have reached anywhere in the US, and they have 60 miniaturized, weaponized nuclear warheads to go on them.  So Obama conveniently kicked the can down the road, and basically did nothing.  Bill Clinton touted how great a deal he’d brokered thru Jimmy Carter with N. Korea, giving them billions to develop peaceful nuclear power with the assurance they wouldn’t develop weapons.  Laughable.  Just like Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, where many more billions of dollars were given, and kicked the can down the road just a bit. 

But after decades of trying limited sanctions and diplomacy, putting up with N. Korea’s threats, at some point, and this is that point, the bill comes due.  It would have been easier to deal with it earlier, than now when they have nuclear ICBMs.  But it has fallen on this president to deal with it.  Obviously, something different and more serious has to be tried.  The unanimous UN resolution for stricter sanctions may do something – but apparently not alone, as it only caused them to threaten to fire 4 missiles very near Guam. 

But there’s a new sheriff in town, and Trump is certainly up to trying new language that maybe this time Kim Jong Un will understand – “There will be fire & fury like the world has never seen….not a threat, but statement of fact.”  He (and I for one) have had enough of N. Korea’s threats.  Defense Secretary General Mattis put the consequences more precisely and personally – that N. Korea had better stand down & cease this course that will lead to the destruction of the regime and its people – that their military power is totally eclipsed by ours.

Yes, before it would be over, their thousands of artillery pieces aimed at Seoul would inflict heavy casualties, and they might even get off a missile or 2 that might get through missile defenses, but in the end it would be Kim Jong Gone, along with his regime & all his blackmailing military might.  And his people, or those remaining, would be out from under the oppressive rule of that dynasty.  The Chinese have been given plenty of time and chances to reign in their surrogate mad dog, N. Korea, and have failed.  So they’d better not think about getting militarily involved again as in 1951 – their economy and regime as well would likely be at stake.

At least the mainstream media is finally recognizing something weightier and more substantial than Russian collusion.

7/15/17

Alexander Hamilton warned against oppressive public debt that could bring ruin to the nation, and proposed a sinking fund that would pay off 5% of the debt accumulated to fund the revolution each year.  Years ago I thought it a great idea, in keeping with Trump’s making America great for its 250^th anniversary in 2026, to pay off the national debt by then.  Now it would take 10% each year, or about 2 trillion dollars.  This would also be related to Mark Levin’s convention of the states to force a mandatory balanced budget.

7/11/17

On the Donald Trump Jr. mtg. w. a Russian lawyer – operations research done in any campaign – nothing illegal, no collusion with any Russian government official.  It may have been misguided or clumsy on the part of a political novice, but not collusion, and not illegal.  On the other hand, Democrat campaign operatives did meet with Ukrainian officials in their embassy to get dirt on Trump – e.g., the “Trump dossier” later proven to be a fabrication to smear Trump.   Mark Levin mentioned Prof. Paul Kengor, who did a book years ago showing Senator Ted Kennedy collaborated (initiated) collusion with the KGB head & Andropov to counter Reagan, with hopes in the 1984 election.  Then there’s Hillary’s Russian uranium deal that benefited the Clinton Foundation & bumped Bill’s speaking fee up.  Or Obama colluding with the Israeli opposition in their election.  But of course the media is not interested in those clear and blatant collusions, but only in pushing the Trump collusion fantasy to explain their election loss and bring down Trump.

7/14/17  Prager cited a Krauthammer article on Donald Jr.’s “unconsummated collusion.”  Only anticipated offered (not sought) information, not working together.  And she never provided any of the info she claimed to have – as an in to discuss Russian adoptions, so they cut the mtg. short as soon as they realized.  The Russian lawyer worked for years with several Democrat politicians.  Then the Dems & media focused on a US citizen present who was a former Russian counter-intel officer – maybe a good thing to have him assess this lawyer & her info.

Clearly a double standard.  Hillary should be investigated/prosecuted, regardless of whether she won or lost the election – no one is above the law.  Part of the reason she lost was that people didn’t trust her.  Now the Dems are trying hard to portray Trump as untrustworthy – more projection.

“The 100 Year Itch” (Democrats & the Left)

This year is the 100^th anniversary of the Russian revolution.  During that time, the Democrat party and Left have been sympathetic and protective of the Communist movements, e.g., Roosevelt’s “Uncle Joe (Stalin),” dismissing the “Red scare,” McCarthyism, wanting Russian resets, hardly noting or protesting the Ukraine/Crimea invasion or Syrian occupation, making uranium deals with them, dropping the E. Europe missile defense deal, telling Medvedev to tell Vladimir that “after the election I [Obama] will have more flexibility, belittling Western/US exceptionalism, etc.  But apparently, after a 100-year itch, and Russian hacking of the DNC coupled with their otherwise inexplicable election loss, the Russians are people with whom it is collusion, treasonous and impeachable to meet with. 

Interesting, also, that following the end of the Civil War in 1865, the KKK arose affiliated with the Democrats, and their Jim Crow laws, segregation, etc.  But then suddenly, 100 years later, and shortly after more Republicans in Congress voted for the Civil Rights laws than Democrats, they did another 180 – suddenly embracing Blacks with entitlements to buy their votes and become their new champions.  Amazing how abruptly, unashamedly, and opportunistically, they can pull it off for political advantage.  And they have the gall to speak of “the big switch!” (speaking of the GOP, to explain why they believe the South went Republican due to racism, but both the supposed numbers and causes have been disproven).   

I can hardly wait for them to become the party of fiscal responsibility, constitutionalism, free trade, smaller government, etc.  But it will be another 100 years – not in my lifetime.

Terrible Boy Scouts (Democrats & the Left)  or Democrats Don’t Believe in the Outdoor Code (despite all their supposed environmental concerns)

A key aspect of the outdoor code is to leave a place as nice or better than you found it.  Democrats and Left always expect others (i.e., the GOP) to clean up after their messes and do the dirty work.  The messes left by their demonstrations on the mall (and rioting at universities and Black Lives) vs the Tea Party’s pristine aftermath are symptomatic.  

One bigger mess is clearly the doubling of the national debt by Obama.  He also never stood up to the Russians, even knowing of the hacking of the DNC in Aug. 2016, other than to say “cut it out.”  Trump, on the other hand, dwelt on the issue for 40 minutes in face-to-face meeting with Putin, and has instituted other measures.  Then there is the kicking of the N. Korea can down the road that we are faced with much more serious threat to deal with.  And similarly, the Iran nuclear deal that kicked that can down the road, and will be even more serious when we face that.  And the red line in Syria.  

Yes, the Dems are great at spending money, pontificating and bragging of their compassion, espousing micro issues that are overblown for political gain, and pleasing rhetoric.  But when it comes to issues of real significance and impact, they are woefully shortsighted and lethargic.