Trump works to shape history while snapping dogs nip at his cuffs

MSNBC Guest Suggests North Korea Summit Is Just Distraction From Russia Investigation  "Mara Gay, an editorial board member for The New York Times, suggested Monday on MSNBC that the meeting between North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and President Trump exists to distract from the Russia investigation." . . .

Heritage: The U.S.–North Korean Summit: Opportunities and Dangers When Sailing in Uncharted Waters   

By criticizing the weaknesses of all preceding nuclear agreements with Iran and North Korea, President Trump may have painted himself into a diplomatic corner by limiting diplomatic flexibility. Any agreement that the Trump Administration reaches with Pyongyang must be better than the Iran nuclear agreement, previous international denuclearization accords with North Korea, and U.N. resolutions imposing punitive measures on North Korea. It must also achieve a verification regime that is equal to or greater than those in arms control treaties with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, e.g., include such measures as full declaration of all overt and covert sites (production, testing, and storage), the nuclear weapons arsenal, and stockpile of fissile materials and short-notice inspections of non-declared facilities.

Read the full report

New Poll Has Some Interesting Responses on Whether Bill Clinton is a Sexual Predator

Katie Pavlich  "Former President Bill Clinton came under fire last week after saying during an interview with NBC News he supports the #MeToo movement, but doesn't plan to ever apologize to Monica Lewinsky. He also heavily implied he was the real victim in the aftermath of the affair because he left the White House in debt.
"But according to a new poll, the majority of Americans aren't buying it and believe Clinton is a sexual predator.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that just 24% of Likely U.S. Voters consider Clinton a victim of his political opponents. Fifty-three percent (53%) describe the ex-president as a sexual predator instead. Another 24% are undecided. Interestingly, men (55%) are more likely to consider Clinton a predator than women (50%) are. 

"In a recent article for Vanity Fair, Lewinsky questioned the consensual nature of the relationship given the power dynamics at the time.

Now, at 44, I’m beginning (just beginning) to consider the implications of the power differentials that were so vast between a president and a White House intern. I’m beginning to entertain the notion that in such a circumstance the idea of consent might well be rendered moot.(Although power imbalances—and the ability to abuse them—do exist even when the sex has been consensual.)  . . .