John

Korea is in the news and there are encouraging signs that this prolonged conflict and nuclear threat to the world may be at an end. There is always more to the story and the outcome is not yet certain. Kim Jong Un is still a tyrant with a penchant for murder, an iron grip on power and a distain for democracy. If this is a break-through, I’m inclined to credit multiple players as did President Trump in a recent news conference. I’d like to know what was said during Mike Pompeo’s visit with Kim Jong Un last month. Maximum diplomatic and economic pressure was needed and I would do the same but I am not capable of threatening an unprovoked military attack on anyone. My style is about strength and resolve without belligerence. China may have realized that beyond aggressive rhetoric its ally North Korea had actually become a real threat to the whole world. I credit specifically Rex Tillerson for his unfailing diplomatic efforts and making economic pressure on North Korea a main topic in every state visit. We wait to see if North Korea will actually give up nuclear weapons.

As days have passed since Bashar al-Assad’s most recent chemical attack in Syria, I wonder that a military response may do more harm than good.  They failed to rid Assad of chemical weapons, never the less, Russia views a strike as an attack on their ally and threatens retaliation against US forces. The continued chaos, posturing and distraction in Washington makes me doubt we can form a sensible response much less and overall plan regarding Syria. A military strike may feel like a “fire and forget” solution. We do need to clean out the remaining ISIS strongholds. However, in the long run strong economic and diplomatic efforts could be more successful in bringing lasting peace to this war ravaged land.

Reluctantly I find myself in agreement with most in our government that military action is necessary to stop Bashir Assad from using chemical weapons. I wish there were some other forceful economic action that could be taken but I’m doubtful the United States has that kind of leverage in Syria.

Rather than drop bombs, President Obama accepted Russia’s promise to remove and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. It seemed to work for awhile. But obviously Russia failed to remove all these weapons or prevent new manufacture. Now they deny responsibility and provide cover for Bashir Assad. It is so similar to the shootdown of Malaysian Airlines over Ukrane or the poisoning of an old man and his daugher in Britain. “Glasnost” was retired with Gorbachev. While sanctions may work for Russia, doubtful for Syria.

Syria is a perilous place with many world political interests with a military hand in the pot fightng for influence. I would not be surprised if some Russians would like to retaliate for the U.S. smack-down of their mercenary forces a few weeks ago. Without real time tactical information, I can’t suggest what action should be taken but a forceful response is needed. Nikki Haley is right, only a monster uses chemical weapons. The world cannot allow it.

Before the national conversation moves on entirely, I resolve not to forget the victims and families of Parkland, Sutherland Springs, Las Vegas, New York, San Bernardino, Orlando, Sandy Hook, Columbine and others.

I commend Florida for taking some small steps to prevent mass shootings and school violence. I regret that it has come to arming teachers, but I believe each community and school district must decide how best to keep students safe and prevent these tradgedies. I think the first step should always be identification and intervention of troubled and potentially violent individuals. Second should be securing the schools through preparation and lockdown procedures.

Regardless of the dilligence of Federal, State or local authorities, government can never keep track of all the crazies and some restrictions on access to guns must be part of the solution. As a nation, we all need to understand why wounds inflicted by the AR-15 and other assault rifles are so devastatingly lethal. Several excellent articles recently by doctors who treated the victims, see the Miami Herald and other publications.

I also will not forget the families being ripped apart by the abject and unconscionsable cruelty of misguided immigration policies.

And in other news, over the years I’ve purchased structural steel for various farm projects. I remember when it was all stamped “Made in USA” and I did not like changing over to foreign steel. Some industries are the foundation for other manufacturing. But if the problem is mainly an oversupply of Chinese steel on the world market, then we should embargo Chinese steel. We don’t need to kick our friends and allies in the teeth with a blanket tariff. All structural materials should be labeled with their Country of origin.

Without talking about the importance of the State Department, I think Rex Tillerson was an honest man who tried his best in a difficult situation.

Know that I am with you today today and always.  These children and heros are in God’s hands.

Once again the weapon of choice in this insanity was an AR-15, designed as a military weapon to kill most efficiently and it does so.  An estimated 8 million copies and counting are owned throughout the country.  There was a ban on assault weapons at one time.  Another copy cat school attack with an AK-47 was averted in Seattle the previous day.

If you see something, or hear something, SAY SOMETHING, is still best advice but it is NOT the fault of friends and neighbors who miss or do not understand the gravity of warning signs.  Error is human, there will always be mistakes, how can we reduce the number and death toll in these insane tragedies?  I believe it will take multiple layers of safeguards including restriction of access to the most lethal weapons.

Please see my previous posts on this subject, November 1 and November 8, 2017.

The greatest leaders in Washington right now are those groups of Senators and Congressmen doing their best to reach bi-partisan solutions to immigration and other issues facing our Nation.

Almost daily I see more examples of appalling cruelty in our immigration policies. I’d rather not talk about our President, but I think the buck stops at the top.

The Polish doctor brought here as a baby, respected practioner in his community, permanent green card, why was he deported? The Vietnamese woman denied a VISA to attend her U.S. Navy son’s funeral, why? The Mexican man brought here when he was 10, wife and three children U.S. Citizens, ripped from his family and deported. The Salvadorian refugees have been here nearly 20 years and two previous presidents have allowed them to stay. They have started businesses, found homes and started families because they worked. They should not be deported.

Political trading and bargaining with these peoples lives is disgusting. Just do the right and compassionate thing. Pass a clean DACA bill. That is who we are as a people and a nation. Remember it was the strong backs as well as the entrprenurial spirit of each wave of immigrants that built this great country. And these people should be able to apply to become naturalized citizens like any other immigrant.

See also my January 6^th post regarding immigration and securing the southern border.

Once again, the most important thing a President and Chief Executive can do, is to make our representative system of government work as well as it can. A prolonged government shutdown will harm a lot of people.

Legislative riders, that is unrelated policy issues tied to funding or other legislation are not a good way to govern. As an independent president, I would likely return such bills to the congress asking instead for single purpose clean legislation. Short term funding bills are also a disfunctional way to run the government. It would be best to fund continuing government programs and services and leave controversial issues to separate legislation.

This is a difficult controversy and the president’s role should be to try to resolve it, and not to take sides.

As much as I support DACA, and an end to the appalling cruelty of current immigration policies, these and similar unrelated issues do not belong in a funding bill.

All of the United States intelligence agencies, during the Obama administration and during the Trump administration are certain that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election through the internet. More important than all the investigations, before we go to the polls in 2018, all Americans need to know what Russia did and how they did it. Their efforts to influence us, to inflame conflict and create doubt in our democratic system of government appear to be continuing.

Sources like Facebook and YouTube should tag posts of unknown, doubtful or foreign origin. Our government should be making great efforts to inform the nation about how Russia has tried to influence our elections and democratic process.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING A PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE CAN DO,  IS TO MAKE SURE OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WORKS AS WELL AS IT CAN.

There have been a lot of deportations and there will continue to be deportations until we find a way to prevent people from overstaying their visas or entering the country illegally. However some actions currently being taken are exceedingly cruel. We should not be breaking up working families where some immediate family members are US citizens. People who were brought here as children (DACA) should be allowed to stay and become naturalized citizens.

I ask my fellow Americans to consider that some western states were part of Mexico once. Mexican-American culture is very strong in these places. It is similar to those of French or Cajun roots in Louisianna, Dutch-German people in Pennsylvania or Scandinavians in Minnesota. We are a nation descended from immigrants …. from all the lands on earth we come.

With regard to our southern border, I will pay close attention to the needs of the Border Patrol and to American citizens who live and work along the border. I believe our border officers prefer a strong fence to a solid wall so they may see what is happening on the other side. A fence by itself is not sufficient without regular patrols to guard it. In some areas desert conditions provide a natural deterant.

American agriculture depends on a seasonal labor force of “green card” workers, largely from Mexico.

Tying National Security from foreign threats to economic security in this country is misleading at best.

National Security depends partly on economic security but the strongest measure of economic security at home is a large and thriving middle class. Large public works and infratructure projects almost always boost jobs only temporarily. Trickle down economics, the belief that making the wealthy richer will benefit everyone – the main idea in the recent one party tax bill – is a doubtful path to security at home.

The Security Document presents a dark and combative world view. Foreign relations and trade are not a contest but a cooperation with our allies and at least minimum diplomatic engagement with our adversaries. The warlike tendencies of rogue nations are best reduced through international effort with a path to inclusion in the world community. Extreme natural disasters and weather events that may be the result of human-influenced global climate change are National Security threats that require a world wide solution.

If you remember the western radio and TV series “Gunsmoke”, I am like Marshal Dillon on foreign policy. Matt never threatened anyone. He never tried to bait anyone into a fight. He was always ready when bad stuff started to happen. It is another way of saying “speak softly and carrry a big stick”.