On the dusty streets of Singapore, two gunslingers faced off at high noon. They have been threatening to do each other in for sometime now. The townspeople fled from the street awaiting the bloody confrontation. The two-faced off. Donnie,how are you said one? Kimmy said the other, You are looking great. Let's have our picture taken. Let's go into the saloon and have a short meeting. After about an hour, the two emerged saying we have solved all the problems between us. Kimmy has agreed to denuclearize and I am agreeing to lift sanctions and threaten him no more and to withdraw US troops from the Peninsula. In fact, I see no reason to have US troops in that part of the Pacific at all. This Kimmy is a really sweet guy. If only I had known. Donnie, you are the best said Kimmy.
Look, said Donnie. We wrote our agreement on a napkin in the bar. When you are a great dealmaker it is so easy. I am looking forward to Real estate development, even though I'm not actively involved anymore but my company is, on the North Korean Riviera. It will be huge.
So this scripted deal went down. Now all the pundents are saying yeah but the devil is in the details.(They love to say that.) Even Donnie has said there are details to be worked out but like everybody else he says it will take years. But, the important historic event, an agreement ,has been made by me and my new pal. No one else could've done it.
It appears as though Donnies feral brain got this one right. He is going to ride this on the campaign trail like a trick rider. As far as he is concerned the deal is done and his greatness has been once more demonstrated. Will this work? Probably. This is particularly true because the Democrats as usual are doing nothing, offering nothing and serving up warmed over Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Kim is now a big player on the International scene and this will doubtless help him at home. Remember, he sometimes finds it convenient or necessary to murder his rivals in order to maintain absolute control. This cannot but help him.
Meanwhile, in China, Zi is smiling. He wants a stable communist regime in North Korea and he would prefer some measure of disarmament, particularly nuclear weapons in North Korea. He wants a decreased US presence in his region so that he can become more and more important and powerful to all East Asian nations. He will now be even more able to blatantly disregard the sanctions against North Korea because Donnie is definitely not going to complain loudly. With enemies like Donnie Xi does not need friends.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Monday, June 11, 2018
Let's make a deal
Donnie, our feckless leader, is in Singapore to meet with Kim. He is well prepared for this meeting because he has attitude and instincts and incredible negotiating skills. He has demonstrated the latter by all the incredible deals he has negotiated during his presidency. At last count, the number is zero. He just left the negotiating session at the G7 summit in Canada where he refused to sign on to the joint statement his underlings had negotiated. He then had a temper tantrum on the plane to Singapore because Troudeaux had the effrontery to say that Canada was not going to be pushed around by Trump. His so-called economic advisers said that Trump could not be seen to be weak going into the summit with Kim. Apparently they believe he is much better off appearing to be a blustering buffoon.
Donnie is apparently prepared to spend several hours one-on-one with Kim. Apparently he thinks that the sheer power of his personality will Kim to say I will do whatever you want and right away and then maybe you can do something for me later.
While Donnie has been pissing off all his real allies, Kim has been spending time being the jolly fat boy who appears to love everyone. He has also destroyed one of his test sites, not shoot off any more rockets lately and has not acted at all belligerent. Nothing will come of this summit other than Trump announcing that he did something no other President has ever been able to do. He will not explain that what that means is that no other president has ever been made quite a fool of by a tinpot dictator. At the end of this cartoon show, it is pretty clear that to the rest of the world Kim will appear to be the most reasonable and rational. Of course, when one is compared to Donald Trump that is not hard.
If one wished to symbolize this meeting it is probably best done by pointing out that Dennis Rodman showed up representing some block chain Financial system used in the pot industry. Maybe he can negotiate a deal to bring pot and block chain financing to North Korea, thus bringing some economic growth. Perhaps Trump will bring Rodman into his administration. He would fit right in.
Donnie is apparently prepared to spend several hours one-on-one with Kim. Apparently he thinks that the sheer power of his personality will Kim to say I will do whatever you want and right away and then maybe you can do something for me later.
While Donnie has been pissing off all his real allies, Kim has been spending time being the jolly fat boy who appears to love everyone. He has also destroyed one of his test sites, not shoot off any more rockets lately and has not acted at all belligerent. Nothing will come of this summit other than Trump announcing that he did something no other President has ever been able to do. He will not explain that what that means is that no other president has ever been made quite a fool of by a tinpot dictator. At the end of this cartoon show, it is pretty clear that to the rest of the world Kim will appear to be the most reasonable and rational. Of course, when one is compared to Donald Trump that is not hard.
If one wished to symbolize this meeting it is probably best done by pointing out that Dennis Rodman showed up representing some block chain Financial system used in the pot industry. Maybe he can negotiate a deal to bring pot and block chain financing to North Korea, thus bringing some economic growth. Perhaps Trump will bring Rodman into his administration. He would fit right in.
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Trump Withdraws from Marshall Plan
Donnie today announced he was causing the United States to withdraw from the Marshall Plan, calling it the" worst deal he ever saw." Just look at it he said after the second world war the industrial capacity of Western Europe and Japan was totally decimated. We were the only game in town. So what did we do? We loaned those countries money so they could buy our goods. There was no reciprocity, they had nothing to sell us. It was totally unfair. Then, as a result they were able to rebuild their economies and now they compete terribly unfairly with us by sending us more goods then they purchase, thus loaning us money as a result. When asked isn't what we did under the Marshall plan exactly what China is doing with us now? He said that is the worst deal I have ever seen the way we deal with China. He was also asked about NAFTA, what he said was the worst deal he had ever seen, the TPP what you said was the worst deal he had ever seen, and the Iran joint deal, the worst deal he had ever seen.
Trump was asked whether the post second world war economic policies, including the Marshall Plan, had spurred the greatest period of economic prosperity in the history of our country. He said it couldn't have because it was the worst deal he ever saw. He was then asked about the state of the US economy. He said under his administration it is the greatest it has ever been. We have the strongest economy, the best stock market, the greatest military might, and the greatest leadership in the entire world, the best it's ever been. Now, he said we must make America Great again by changing everything. We are going to impose tariffs on most of the world, impose sanctions on most of the world and prevent access to the American financial network for most of the world. In fact, we may just close our borders to the rest of the world. That will make America great again.
Ask if he had consulted with anyone about his plans, He said he didn't need to because his experience brilliance and instincts were all that is necessary. He said his economic adviser, Peter Navarro, who is not really an advisor but whose role is to tell him he's right said that he was right. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve he said and they will probably pop into my mind overnight. We will see.
Trump was asked whether the post second world war economic policies, including the Marshall Plan, had spurred the greatest period of economic prosperity in the history of our country. He said it couldn't have because it was the worst deal he ever saw. He was then asked about the state of the US economy. He said under his administration it is the greatest it has ever been. We have the strongest economy, the best stock market, the greatest military might, and the greatest leadership in the entire world, the best it's ever been. Now, he said we must make America Great again by changing everything. We are going to impose tariffs on most of the world, impose sanctions on most of the world and prevent access to the American financial network for most of the world. In fact, we may just close our borders to the rest of the world. That will make America great again.
Ask if he had consulted with anyone about his plans, He said he didn't need to because his experience brilliance and instincts were all that is necessary. He said his economic adviser, Peter Navarro, who is not really an advisor but whose role is to tell him he's right said that he was right. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve he said and they will probably pop into my mind overnight. We will see.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
The greatest deall I ever saw
So, the summit is on. How did we get there? Upon Trump's presidency beginning Kim ratcheted up his nuclear and missile testing. Trump rose to the bait. Nobody messes with Donald Trump. I have bigger missiles than you and more bombs. Eventually, Kim said let's have a sit down. The great dealmaker said you bet. Then we went into off again on again. Trump was further nearly salivating by discussions of a Nobel prize for dealing with Kim. Now is the summit is set, probably, for June 12.
Kim is not coming to the White House as a supplicant. Rather he is meeting as an equal on neutral ground in Singapore. In the build up to this, Kim has visited China twice. China is of course much more important to him than the United States. We can assume was some assurance he has discussed his strategy with China. The best intelligence we have about China is that it wishes to keep North Korea as an independent Communist buffer state in Asia but would like to see the elimination of the nuclear weapons. Kim has also had discussions with Putin. He clearly has a plan B.
Meanwhile Trump, has set the stage for the negotiations by pissing off all his allies with stupid tariffs. He tends to forget his big sanction programs require cooperation. It is an open question how long our allies are going to put up with this before they begin serious attempts to work around the United States. We may expect to see attempts to reduce the importance of the United States dollar as a reserve currency including a new basket of currencies at the IMF. It is also probable that claims will be brought to the WTO as these tariffs have been spuriously justified on the grounds of national security, something no one buys.
So, trump, still salivating over his Nobel prize has seriously reduced his bargaining position. Does it make any difference? Probably not. At this summit we can confidently expect nothing but theater and no hard results. Trump, however, Will claim he has accomplished something no one else in history has been able to do saying that Kim uses the word"Denuclearzation". He will exaggerate if not outright lie about what he has accomplished. One thing is sure, as far as a world wide reduction of nuclear weapons it will be far less than the Iran deal. Were Trump consistent, and there is your fantasy for the week, he would have to say it is the worst deal he ever saw if indeed he claims it was a deal and we know he will have to because he is, after all, the world's greatest dealmaker even though he has never made any as president and will not on this occasion.
Kim is not coming to the White House as a supplicant. Rather he is meeting as an equal on neutral ground in Singapore. In the build up to this, Kim has visited China twice. China is of course much more important to him than the United States. We can assume was some assurance he has discussed his strategy with China. The best intelligence we have about China is that it wishes to keep North Korea as an independent Communist buffer state in Asia but would like to see the elimination of the nuclear weapons. Kim has also had discussions with Putin. He clearly has a plan B.
Meanwhile Trump, has set the stage for the negotiations by pissing off all his allies with stupid tariffs. He tends to forget his big sanction programs require cooperation. It is an open question how long our allies are going to put up with this before they begin serious attempts to work around the United States. We may expect to see attempts to reduce the importance of the United States dollar as a reserve currency including a new basket of currencies at the IMF. It is also probable that claims will be brought to the WTO as these tariffs have been spuriously justified on the grounds of national security, something no one buys.
So, trump, still salivating over his Nobel prize has seriously reduced his bargaining position. Does it make any difference? Probably not. At this summit we can confidently expect nothing but theater and no hard results. Trump, however, Will claim he has accomplished something no one else in history has been able to do saying that Kim uses the word"Denuclearzation". He will exaggerate if not outright lie about what he has accomplished. One thing is sure, as far as a world wide reduction of nuclear weapons it will be far less than the Iran deal. Were Trump consistent, and there is your fantasy for the week, he would have to say it is the worst deal he ever saw if indeed he claims it was a deal and we know he will have to because he is, after all, the world's greatest dealmaker even though he has never made any as president and will not on this occasion.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Trump confronts schoolchildren killings
Donald Trump went on television today to courageously proclaim that he is very very strongly against killing children in schools. He said he is with the people of Santa Fe, Texas by which he probably meant the survivors and not the victims.
Truck then laid out the plan he is sending to Congress to confront the problem of killing children and schools, which he is very very strongly against.Oh, just a minute. He really didn't say he had a plan to send to Congress or to enact administratively.
He said his administration was formulating a plan to send to Congress which included administrative action. Oh, just a minute. He didn't say that either.
He didn't say or propose that he would do a damn thing except to say he was very very strongly against killing children in schools. This undoubtedly provided great comfort and relief to the survivors of thevictims in Santa Fe and all the other schools which have had their children murdered lately.
Truck then laid out the plan he is sending to Congress to confront the problem of killing children and schools, which he is very very strongly against.Oh, just a minute. He really didn't say he had a plan to send to Congress or to enact administratively.
He said his administration was formulating a plan to send to Congress which included administrative action. Oh, just a minute. He didn't say that either.
He didn't say or propose that he would do a damn thing except to say he was very very strongly against killing children in schools. This undoubtedly provided great comfort and relief to the survivors of thevictims in Santa Fe and all the other schools which have had their children murdered lately.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Kim–the art of the deal
For three generations my family has been experts at the art of the deal. Because of what's going on right now I can't help but brag about this technique. My focus is upon dealing with United States, a country with infinitely more power and assets than my country.
The crucial first step in any deal is sizing up your opponents. The previous us presidents and their administration's had several characteristics we could use to our advantage. First, they were naïve and idealistic, thinking that the leaders of a country were primarily interested in bettering the welfare of that country. My family has been only interested in one thing, keeping complete control of our country ourselves. We had no interest in" democratic reforms". We adopted the communist model since it is well-suited to create a totalitarian government as it centralizes power. Second, these administrations thought that we would bargain in good faith. This allowed us to manipulate them by suggesting we were moving towards political reforms and willing to make good bilateral agreements. We were careful to structure all the agreements so that the other side would make the first commitments. This has worked well .
Donald Trump it is what we call in Korea a different breed of cat. It was easy to discern that he had only one real interest and that was self aggrandizement. It was obvious he craved applause and also lied about his accomplishments in order to receive it.
We thus begin phase 1. This was a series of provocative actions on our part to stir up the pot. We knew this would entice him to react and he did by series of belligerent and bellicose statements. Those of course were quite useful to us in continuing to convince the population of our country that we were under attack by imperialist Western nations. That keeps them willing to accept hardships.
We then began phase 2, A series of seemingly conciliatory gestures and statements indicating we knew we had to deal with this new president. We started discussing a need for a new deal and a presidential summit. We call this casting out the bait. He jumped at the bait and begin congratulating himself and preparing his Nobel prize acceptance speech. This we call setting the hook. Then we abruptly changed, saying they're probably could be no deal. This we call tightening the line. Now Trump, who was salivating over his success and crowing about it is faced with having egg on his face. He badly wants something to brag about. He really wants a deal. We now have created an advantage in dealing with him that we will begin to exploit. I wish it could always be this easy. His name should be "trout" not Trump.
The crucial first step in any deal is sizing up your opponents. The previous us presidents and their administration's had several characteristics we could use to our advantage. First, they were naïve and idealistic, thinking that the leaders of a country were primarily interested in bettering the welfare of that country. My family has been only interested in one thing, keeping complete control of our country ourselves. We had no interest in" democratic reforms". We adopted the communist model since it is well-suited to create a totalitarian government as it centralizes power. Second, these administrations thought that we would bargain in good faith. This allowed us to manipulate them by suggesting we were moving towards political reforms and willing to make good bilateral agreements. We were careful to structure all the agreements so that the other side would make the first commitments. This has worked well .
Donald Trump it is what we call in Korea a different breed of cat. It was easy to discern that he had only one real interest and that was self aggrandizement. It was obvious he craved applause and also lied about his accomplishments in order to receive it.
We thus begin phase 1. This was a series of provocative actions on our part to stir up the pot. We knew this would entice him to react and he did by series of belligerent and bellicose statements. Those of course were quite useful to us in continuing to convince the population of our country that we were under attack by imperialist Western nations. That keeps them willing to accept hardships.
We then began phase 2, A series of seemingly conciliatory gestures and statements indicating we knew we had to deal with this new president. We started discussing a need for a new deal and a presidential summit. We call this casting out the bait. He jumped at the bait and begin congratulating himself and preparing his Nobel prize acceptance speech. This we call setting the hook. Then we abruptly changed, saying they're probably could be no deal. This we call tightening the line. Now Trump, who was salivating over his success and crowing about it is faced with having egg on his face. He badly wants something to brag about. He really wants a deal. We now have created an advantage in dealing with him that we will begin to exploit. I wish it could always be this easy. His name should be "trout" not Trump.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Trump's Middle East Caper
Donnie was pissed. Ever since the campaign he had said he would shit- can the Iran deal(the worst deal he had ever seen). For months he had been requesting his intelligence people to tell him that Iran had breached the agreement but they wouldn't. It would be up to him to come up with a reason, not something he was particularly good at. The French and the Germans have been urging him not to back out of the deal. He didn't particularly care about the German woman but be kind of liked the French guy with the hot wife and nifty parades. They urged him to make a collateral deal and keep the present one in place. Donnie thought about it but decided that's for pussies. He would bring down his wrath upon them and bring them to their knees. Then he would propose a deal they couldn't refuse. That's the art of the deal. So he pulled the plug and began to sanction the hell out of Iran.
So what now? The first move is Iran's. Will the comparatively moderate President maintain control and cause Iran to honor its commitments to the rest of the signatories? Or will Iran go flank speed towards developing its nuclear capabilities? If Iran does honor its commitments, what will the other signatories do? Will the Europeans continue to trade with Iran and not reinstate sanctions? Russia probably would and who knows about China. If the Europeans stick with the deal Will trump caused the US to install sanctions against pretty much the rest of the industrialized World? What would that happen? Probably a slump in the stock market and maybe a recession.
It's hard to imagine that the rest of the world wants to be under the thumb of Donald J Trump. One would think that would be intolerable, particularly now when it appears that the United States can't be trusted to on honor its commitments.
Meanwhile, the United States has apparently abandoned its historic position as being the balancing power and the brokering power in the middle east. We now side with Saudi Arabia, that wonderfully democratic country, against Iran. We side with the Sunni against the Shia. We side with Israel against the Palestinians while continuing to say we are nurturing a peace process. We apparently no longer support the Kurds notwithstanding their role with us in defeating Ises and we are probably clueless about what to do with Turkey. If there is an endgame there it's pretty hard to see it.
Now, as of this afternoon, the wonderful relationship between Donnie and that nice guy Kim appears to be maybe cratering. Stay tuned.
So what now? The first move is Iran's. Will the comparatively moderate President maintain control and cause Iran to honor its commitments to the rest of the signatories? Or will Iran go flank speed towards developing its nuclear capabilities? If Iran does honor its commitments, what will the other signatories do? Will the Europeans continue to trade with Iran and not reinstate sanctions? Russia probably would and who knows about China. If the Europeans stick with the deal Will trump caused the US to install sanctions against pretty much the rest of the industrialized World? What would that happen? Probably a slump in the stock market and maybe a recession.
It's hard to imagine that the rest of the world wants to be under the thumb of Donald J Trump. One would think that would be intolerable, particularly now when it appears that the United States can't be trusted to on honor its commitments.
Meanwhile, the United States has apparently abandoned its historic position as being the balancing power and the brokering power in the middle east. We now side with Saudi Arabia, that wonderfully democratic country, against Iran. We side with the Sunni against the Shia. We side with Israel against the Palestinians while continuing to say we are nurturing a peace process. We apparently no longer support the Kurds notwithstanding their role with us in defeating Ises and we are probably clueless about what to do with Turkey. If there is an endgame there it's pretty hard to see it.
Now, as of this afternoon, the wonderful relationship between Donnie and that nice guy Kim appears to be maybe cratering. Stay tuned.
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