Tillerson’s ‘No Preconditions’ For North Korea Means Things Are Worse Than We Thought

The Federalist

Rex Tillerson’s startling comments signal that Pyongyang is truly on the cusp of having a nuclear-capable intercontinental missile and that a military conflict might be fast approaching.

"U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sent shockwaves through the foreign policy establishment this week when he suggested that the United States is prepared, for the first time, to come to the negotiating table with North Korea without any preconditions or promises from Pyongyang that it would halt, even if just temporarily, its nuclear program.

"Tillerson’s startling comments, which mark a major departure from U.S. policy and part significantly with President Trump’s views on the North Korea crisis, signal that Pyongyang is truly on the cusp of having a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and that a military conflict might be fast approaching.

"On Monday, an analysis was released by “38 North,” a U.S. website specializing in North Korea, indicating Pyongyang may be getting ready to test another nuclear weapon. The country’s last test, in early September, was estimated to have been 17 times more powerful than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.

"The September test resulted in a fresh round of international sanctions, which, apparently, have done nothing to deter the hermit kingdom from moving ahead apace with its nuclear program. North Korea is similarly catapulting forward with its ICBM program, making steady progress and demonstrating this year that it now has the capability to reach the entire continental United States." . . .

Social Justice warriors, the early years

Jewish World Review

Why I Secretly Wanted Moore To Lose: Brooks 2020!

Ann Coulter   "Rep. Mo Brooks was the true Trumpian candidate in Alabama, which is why I endorsed him in the primary (here, here and here). When the accusations against Roy Moore first arose, I proposed that the president make a deal to replace Moore with Brooks. 
"Obviously, the GOP would be in a much better position right now if only Republicans had learned to hang on my every word. 
"Instead, everyone did exactly the wrong thing, and they got the worst of all possible worlds. 
"Trump should have endorsed Brooks in the primary, but he endorsed Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's pro-amnesty candidate, Luther Strange, on the advice of his son-in-law. Because who knows Alabama politics better than Jared Kushner? (I guess we can scratch the expression, "As goes Kushner, so goes Alabama!") 
"Now Trump has lost twice in a state that voted for him by a nearly 3-to-1 margin over Hillary just last year. Apparently, Trump's voters won't blindly follow him, whatever he does. I wonder if this is relevant information for the midterms ... 
"McConnell spent millions upon millions of dollars in nasty ads to defeat Mo Brooks in the primary, because Brooks takes sensible positions on immigration. 
"Can't have that! McConnell pulled out all the stops to block Brooks, so he could keep big donors rolling in cheap foreign workers. Soon they'll have all the labor they need -- and a federal government run by Hugo Chavez. The Chamber of Commerce is "diversifying" Republicans out of their jobs. 
"Thanks to McConnell's brilliant strategy of opposing Brooks, now he's stuck with another Democrat -- and a razor-thin Senate majority. McConnell fully deserves to lose his majority, but the rest of us don't deserve the horror of a Democratic Senate. Unfortunately, I can't figure out a way to do one and avoid the other." . . .

POLL: Millennials would prefer to live in a socialist country

First this, because millenials hang on to Bernie's every word. But how does that affect their knowledge of the real world? :
Denmark says it isn’t the socialist utopia Bernie Sanders thinks it is "But Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, speaking at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government this week, says Sanders got more than a few things wrong." . . .
. . . "And some of the confusion may stem from the definition of socialism in the first place: Technically, a socialist state as set out by Vladimir Lenin is one where the government owns all means of production, which is certainly not the case in the Nordic countries. But in general parlance it has come to be used as a shorthand for a market economy fused with a comprehensive and generous welfare state.

Campus Reform    "A new survey reveals that more millennials would prefer to live under a socialist regime than a capitalist one, though only about 1/3 of respondents were able to successfully define the term "socialism."
"Only 36%, meanwhile, expressed a "very unfavorable" view of communism, and most said they wouldn't even be "insulted" to be called a communist." . . .

. . . "According to the study, pro-socialist sentiment is much higher among millennials when compared to the rest of the country, noting that 59 percent of Americans say they would rather reside in a capitalist country, with only 35 percent of respondents signaling a preference for a socialist state.

"Millennials were also about twice as likely as the general population to say they would prefer living in a fascist or communist country, with about seven percent choosing each option.

“ 'The percentage of Millennials who would prefer socialism to capitalism is a full ten points higher than that of the general population,” the foundation observed in its report. “It seems that the majority of America’s largest generation would prefer to live in a socialist or communist society than in a free enterprise system that respects the rule of law, private property, and limited government.”

"The survey also found that millennials, along with most other Americans, “either don’t know the definition of communism or misidentify it.' ”

About the author: Nikita Vladimirov.  . . . "After moving to the U.S. from Saint Petersburg, Russia, in his early teens, Vladimirov attended Trinity University in Texas where he triple-majored in political science, international studies, and Russian while earning honors in Modern Languages and Literatures upon graduation.

"In 2016, Vladimirov became a national finalist for the Society of Professional Journalist's "Mark of Excellence Award" for his political column "The Contrarian."

On the firing of Manigault Newman

Ed Morrissey  . . . "Manigault Newman does tells Strahan one thing about the White House — she wasn’t fired from it, nor was she physically removed from it. In fact, she’s still working there until that January 20th exit date, she says: . . .

. . . "For now, though, Manigault Newman is at least comfortable in telling CNN to clean up its act. The stories about her resignation or termination came from one person with a grudge against her, she claims, and is already contradicted by the evidence. “I believe that CNN should correct their reporting,” she tells Strahan. Maybe, but ABC would also have to correct theirs:" . . .

'I resigned, and I didn't do that in the residence as is being reported. John Kelly and I sat down in the Situation Room... and we had a very candid conversation'

CNN Gloats, Screams, And Laughs At Black Woman Who Lost Her Job In Trump Administration

Omarosa Denies Being Dragged Out of the White House . . . " 'I like to hear all of these interesting tales,” she said, “but I have to tell you they’re 100 percent false.' ”
. . . "In the interview, Omarosa said she’s going to be quiet for now but promised to dish in the future about her role as the only black woman among President Trump’s top advisors."


Legal Insurrection on some reasons possible:  . . . "Omarosa’s role confused many in the administration, many not knowing exactly what she did on a day-to-day basis for her $179,700 a year role.

Omarosa bothered others at the White House with her antics as well. Back in April, she brought her 39 bridesmaids to the White House for a photo shoot. No one knows if she had permission. The New York Daily News noted other incidents:

A month earlier, the 43-year-old endured a chaotic trip to the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in New Orleans.

Her appearance at an event during the convention was described as confrontational and hectic as she aggressively insisted reporters “Ask me a question about me,” while sidestepping inquiries about the administration.

Here Is How The Defeat Of Hillary Clinton Led To The Sexual Harassment Revolution

"In its lengthy article, TIME notes in passing: “In the 1990s, feminists stood up for accused abuser Bill Clinton instead of his accusers — a move many are belatedly regretting as the national conversation prompts a re-evaluation of the claims against the former President.” In other words, feminists of the 1990s turned against women to support their favored political outcomes, and now they are finally realizing how foolish that was."

Earl of Taint

Daily Caller  . . . "And let’s not forget that the women who professed to feel so powerless after President Trump’s election have completely shunned — and instead mocked, belittled and attacked — the powerful senior women advisors to the President: counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway (who was the first woman to manage a successful presidential campaign), White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp, Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and even President Trump’s own daughter Ivanka Trump (just to name a few).

Dhillon

"I and other conservative women feel empowered by so many examples of talented, intelligent women who have been recognized and appointed to positions of leadership by President Trump. Sadly, these powerful women are disregarded and attacked by liberals daily – often on the basis of their gender – because they do not have the correct political views. Chelsea Handler freely smears White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders based on her appearance, in ways that would never for a moment be tolerated against a liberal, accomplished woman holding a responsible position in the Obama Administration. So much for sisterhood." . . . 

. . . "I reject TIME’s facile explanation of the #MeToo moment’s timing. Hillary’s defeat, not Trump’s victory, prompted the #MeToo movement. Only when it was clear that this corrupt dynasty had finally fallen short of seizing the reins of power again, did their fellows on the left finally stop attacking victims to defend their chosen progressive leaders, because this corrosive and cynical act was no longer necessary to excuse the actions or rationalize the defense of Bill and Hillary Clinton." . . . Harmeet K. Dhillon     

Long a favorite of political cartoonists is the image of Bill Clinton in his romance-bedecked underwear:

Related: Not one of feminism's finest moments

"Tomorrow's shooting": Sandy Hook Promise releases another chilling PSA

CBS News   "A video depicting a local news broadcast about a school shooting that has yet to occur is the latest public service announcement created by Sandy Hook Promise to help bring awareness to the warning signs often displayed by people who are at risk of hurting themselves or others.

"In the minute-long video, which was released just days before the fifth anniversary of the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, a reporter interviews people about "tomorrow's shooting" involving a 15-year-old boy who kills four students and two adults before committing suicide." . . .

. . . "The scenario in the ad then replays in slow motion — this time, focusing on a troubled student in the background who's reading a magazine about guns, refusing to interact with a fellow student, getting bullied by his locker, researching guns on the internet and posing with a weapon in a selfie posted on Instagram.

"More than 10 million people have watched the powerful PSA since it was released on the organization's YouTube channel on Dec. 2, 2016. Many viewers praised the group for bringing awareness to a serious issue."

Since the Sandy Hook shooter was from outside the school, this cautionary tale would apply mainly to his friends, neighbors, and his parents. 

Sad to say, but these mass murderers have affected our relationships with all those mentioned above.

Bonfire of the academies: Two professors on how leftist intolerance is killing higher education

At an institution of higher education, it is the faculty’s job to teach, not to preach; to educate, not indoctrinate. Some of the students who became protesters will be paying off their loans for years, and for what? They were let down by an institution that imposed and nurtured grievance and propaganda rather than educating and conferring knowledge.

Washington Examiner

Evergreen State College's outcast professors Heather Heying
and Bret Weinstein describe how postmodern leftist intolerance
 is killing higher education.

"At colleges and universities all over the country, students are protesting in increasingly virulent and sometimes violent ways. They demand safe spaces and trigger warnings, shouting down those with whom they disagree. It has become rote for outsiders to claim that the inmates are running the asylum; that this is analogous to Mao’s Red Guard, Germany’s brown shirts, the French Revolution’s Jacobins; and, when those being attacked are politically “left” themselves, that the Left is eating its own. These stories seem to validate every fantasy the Right ever had about the Left. . . .

"We were among Evergreen’s most popular faculty, and year in, year out, our students wrote stellar evaluations of us. Our programs were always full, even in a time of falling enrollments. Yet, we work at Evergreen no more. What happened to this brilliant, flawed experiment? There are too many subplots to recount, but here is one thread that, we hope, others can use to spot insurgencies on their own campuses." . . .

. . . "These faculty members and their accomplices in the administration are primarily at fault. They are the adults. At an institution of higher education, it is the faculty’s job to teach, not to preach; to educate, not indoctrinate. Some of the students who became protesters will be paying off their loans for years, and for what? They were let down by an institution that imposed and nurtured grievance and propaganda rather than educating and conferring knowledge. Evergreen handed them temporary power, an intoxicating thing, instead of establishing boundaries and legitimately empowering them with insight and wisdom."  Full article.

Latest news in pictures

For all who read the Tunnel Wall just for the pictures. TD

http://usbacklash.org/political-cartoons/

https://earloftaint.com/

And finally this pièce de résistance from Earl of Taint:

"It’s a totally irreverent act, but if you insist on defiling your Christmas tree with a Hillary Clinton topper, at least tell the true story.  The one we’ve all seen for sale with the angel wings on The Beast is a freaking lightning rod. You’re just asking to get Smote. Ours is much safer – because it’s honest . . ."

Discussing Roy Moore

First Virginia, now Alabama. The left will celebrate this as a rejection of Trump and the GOP.

What the defeat of Roy Moore does not prove  "Democrats and the media are busy today furiously spinning the results of the Alabama Senate race where Republican Roy Moore was beaten by Democrat Doug Jones by about 20,000 votes.

"It's a catastrophe for Republicans. It's a mortal blow to Donald Trump. It validates the Democratic strategy to nationalize a local election. Doug Jones is the second coming of Bill Clinton.

"Well, maybe not. But what fun would it be to present the illusion that Democrats don't have to do very much to win in 2018 - just sit back and let the press destroy Trump and the Republicans?" . . .

5 Things to Know About Doug Jones' Victory Over Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate Race

Point #3 is: "Write-ins could have decided the race." . . .

Alabama’s new Democrat senator: An avoidable disaster  . . . "The Republican governor Robert Bentley appointed Luther Strange to replace Jeff Sessions.  Bentley had ethical problems of his own and resigned. The replacement Republican Governor, Kay Ivey, then chose to hold a special election to fill the seat this year. Ivey could have allowed Strange to hold the seat until November 2018, the next federal election date." . . .

Why Moore’s loss is a bad sign for Trump in 2020  . . . "What’s even more significant for the Democrats is that Doug Jones won in a highly red state that Donald Trump won by well over twenty points. This is huge for the Democrats moving forward to the next Presidential election and will play the biggest part in their strategy to defeat President Trump." . . .

Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee Tweets Congratulations to ‘Doug Moore,’ Links Victory to NFL Anthem Protesters

What Doug Jones’ victory over Roy Moore really means for Washington (and America) in 2018  . . . "Surely, Jones emboldens Democrats to compete in states like Nevada, where Republicans are potentially now vulnerable. To succeed, the Democrats will need more than a message of resistance or opposition. They will need a centrist, pro-growth agenda of their own.
"While Jones’ victory is significant for the Democratic Party because it narrows the Republicans’ leadership margin in the Senate entering 2018, the more pernicious consequences from the election are those facing the Republican Party." . . .

Trolling, probably:

Moretti Underground

To Both Parties, Moore's Loss Is a Potential Win for 2018  "Doug Jones’ victory over scandal-plagued Republican Roy Moore in Alabama’s Senate special election delivered a gut punch to Donald Trump, putting the president’s legislative agenda -- and the GOP’s already tenuous grip on the upper chamber -- in jeopardy. Once Jones is seated early next year, Republicans will hold just a perilous 51-49 majority. And while Democrats’ path is narrow, their upset victory in Alabama gives them a shot at gaining control in 2018. 

"But Republicans who opposed Moore have characterized the loss as a longer-term gain for the party. In a sign of the cockeyed dynamics of the race, some are breathing sighs of relief as they no longer face the liabilities that were sure to come if the alleged sexual predator became their colleague. Some GOPers are also pointing fingers at former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who championed Moore through the election." . . .

Strzok-Page texts reveal deep bias: Clinton ‘just has to win’

Thomas Lifson

"The first 90 texts between adulterous FBI lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page have been released by the Justice Department, revealing bias so severe as to disqualify the work performed by both government employees (who still are receiving paychecks, so far as anyone can tell) concerning Presiddent Trump, Hillary Clinton, and any politician of any stripe, for that matter.  Even the New York Times and NBC News, both reliably anti-Trump, are giving the story play.

"The Times summarizes:

Senior F.B.I. officials who helped investigate Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign last year wrote in text messages that Hillary Clinton “just has to win” and described a potential Trump victory as “terrifying,” according to texts released Tuesday night.

A top counterintelligence agent, Peter Strzok, exchanged the messages with Lisa Page, a senior F.B.I. lawyer. Some messages criticized Mrs. Clinton’s team, the Obama administration, Congress and other Democrats. But the two appeared appalled at some of Mr. Trump’s comments during the campaign and feared that he would politicize the F.B.I. (snip)

On July 27, Ms. Page wrote, “She just has to win now. I’m not going to lie, I got a flash of nervousness yesterday about Trump.” That text message was sent after the Clinton investigation had been closed. Days later, the F.B.I. began investigating possible coordination between Russian officials and the Trump campaign.

The two F.B.I. officials also criticized Mr. Trump as the Russia investigation was continuing. They told internal investigators that their comments were influenced by the troubling evidence they were seeing about Mr. Trump’s campaign ties to Russia, according to a person familiar with the internal investigation." . . .Read more.

There must be a burnt sacrifice to appease Godess Hillary

"If Mueller has any personal honor, he should resign immediately, along with his yapping hyenas. . . There may be no way to stop it, but the damage to public faith in the system will be immense." James Lewis

'F TRUMP': Texts between ex-Mueller team members emerge, calling Trump 'loathsome human,' 'an idiot' (Video)  . . . "Strzok also oversaw the bureau’s interviews with ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn – who pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators in the Russia probe.
"He also was present during the FBI’s July 2016 interview with Hillary Clinton at the close of the email investigation, shortly before then-FBI director James Comey called her actions "extremely careless" without recommending criminal charges."

I have to admit that to being repelled by Trump during the primary campaign and he was not among my choices. His comments about Carly Fiorina and Megyn Kelly were repulsive and I still resent them.
But now I see the boldness with which he has been attacking Obama's oppressive regulations and executive orders, the new way he responds to enemy threats and his friendship toward Israel, the antithesis to the feckless Obama (the darling of television talk shows and celebrities). Trump has begun to free the American economy from the shackles of liberal leftist socialism (redundant, I know but I wanted there to be no doubt). 
President Reagan wisely claimed that it was good to have America's adversaries think he might be crazy and that seemed to have worked for him.
The Tunnel Dweller

Does Mueller need blood?   . . . "The media mob desperately wants to see somebody hanged to make up for Hillary losing the last election. A just system of laws and procedures is designed to prevent that, but in the case of the so-called “Special Counsel” there are no safeguards. We must have faith on the integrity of the individuals running the show, and today they have lost that faith." . . .

FBI Agent Peter Strozk Anti-Trump Messages Released To Media – However, The Key Question is Not Content…  . . ."However, Agent Strzok leaking information to the media; his changing the outcome of an FBI investigation into a political ally, Hillary Clinton; and his investigative involvement in the Trump Russia Conspiracy, via the Steele Dossier and FISA warrant, well, that’s the real issue evident here."

Text Messages in Hand, Republicans Plan to Accuse Justice Department of Bias

"The release Tuesday night of F.B.I. officials’ text messages describing the possibility of a victory by Donald J. Trump as “terrifying” and saying that Hillary Clinton “just has to win” is certain to fuel a Republican campaign to attack the impartiality of the Justice Department and its special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III — and possibly hamper him with an investigation of the special counsel’s office." . . . Lucianne