Good Cop, Bad Cop, Bitterly Divided

A man of better character than I (or grammar skills than me?) would read past this headline and lede at the flailing NY Times to see if the obvious counter point is made. I cannot.

Kim Jong-un’s Overture Could Drive a Wedge Between South Korea and the U.S.

SEOUL, South Korea — Beyond a New Year’s declaration by North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, that he would move to the mass-production of nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles in 2018 lies a canny new strategy to initiate direct talks with South Korea in the hope of driving a wedge into its seven-decade alliance with the United States.

Just remember - if South Korea and North Korea reach a meaningful and reassuring detente the Times will only embrace it if they can "blame" Trump.

ERRATA: NO, Trump did not invent the 'good cop/ bad cop' ploy. Nor did this LA DA.

Comments

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
9m9 minutes ago

It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue...

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
9m9 minutes ago

...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?

[jimmyk on iPhone]

Exdem, I hope you were short wooly mammoth futures.

[James D.]

Sally Yates surely has one of those "Well Behaved Women Never Make History" bumper stickers on whatever green turdmobile she drives.

CH, you think she drives herself anywhere?

[James D.]

Fixed?

[James D.]

Burn it down. Burn it all down:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/brotopia-silicon-valley-secretive-orgiastic-inner-sanctum

[jimmyk]

I guess this doesn't qualify as "commercial aviation," but it's horrible nonetheless:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/world/americas/costa-rica-plane-crash.html

Two American families gone.

[Clarice Feldman]

I'm back, OL, It was freezing but my 11 y,o. buddy killed his leading role in school of Rock.

[Clarice Feldman]

I srved on a grand jury for a month in dc and I don't recall anything about garb. Might have been, but I don't reca;; that. It was mostly petty criminal stuff.

[Clarice Feldman]

You can see my fingers are still frozen,

[Captain Hate]

https://www.outkickthecoverage.com/outkick-dunks-cnn-boobs-baldwin-new-years-eve/

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

You are watching the end of Germany.

https://www.weaselzippers.us/369656-german-police-file-charges-against-lawmaker-for-criticizing-muslim-rape-gangs/

[Frau Zwanzigtausendachtzehn]

Ext -I had cleaned all the cookies etc. first thing and the comment box text would not go to preview of post. I have had an ancient yahooey address for years without using it except here. Perhaps the internet gremlins noticed. I was told that my old password did not work and fixed that all up. I still have not fixed my mac. I hate the maintenance. Ma Bell never gave me trouble except to change my area code. Sheesh.
Thanks for keeping an eye out for me.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Clarice,

It was so cold here this morning that after our Chihuahua mix (who is pretty old) went outside to do her business, she could hardly walk to get back to the house. I was afraid I was going to have to go get her, but she finally made it.

[narcisoyea]

This mensch mixup never gets old:

https://mobile.twitter.com/alimhaider/status/948291362365026304?p=v

[maryrose]

Pagar:
So true!
Before Merle’s went nuts and let tons of refugees in Germany still had a chance.
My husband and I took a German History course and they were thriving just a few short years ago.
It is a travesty how Angela has ruined the country.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

narciso,

I had forgotten about that! HA!

[maryrose]

Should be let in
Hungary and Poland had the right idea erecting a fence.

[narcisoyea]

The fainting couches are on back order:

https://mobile.twitter.com/AFP/status/948323619318456322?p=v

[Buckeye]

Jimmyk, really sad story about the two families killed in the crash in Costa Rica.

Like a lot of light aircraft, with the 208 Caravan you can fill the fuel tanks or fill the seats, but usually not both at the same time.

Given a crash right after takeoff, I won't be surprised to hear the plane was over the gross weight limit.

[JimNorCal]

Seletive and misleading use of statistics
http://donsurber.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-rest-of-story-on-coal-mining-deaths.html
"The Hill headline said: Coal-mining deaths skyrocket in 2017 ...
There were 15 coal mining deaths last year. That is tragic. ...
However, that 15 was lower than the average of 20 coal-mining deaths per year under Obama. The Hill did not mention that.

The Hill ... wrote:
Workplace deaths in the coal mining industry increased last year to their highest point in three years.
A total of 15 miners died on the job in 2017, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data show, compared with eight in 2016.
...
Under Obama there were 161 coal mining deaths, including 29 at Upper Big Branch on April 5, 2010 ... That's an average of 20 per year.

Coal production increased this year over the last.

Coal-mining is dangerous, however, (deaths have dropped) from an average of 232 miner deaths per year in the 1930s to today's figures. Coal-mining no longer is in the top 10 of the most dangerous jobs in America.

The president's repeal of last-minute regulations that had not yet been implemented under Obama has not killed anyone.

Let us not politicize the deaths of men.
And journalists should start giving President Trump's side of the stories."

[Captain Hate]

Merkel is from the former East Germany, no? What could go wrong?

[henry]

Merkel was a politician under the Coomunist East German regime. She fit right in with Obama.

[JimNorCal]

At InstaPundit
"THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL: Internal Chinese government document shows Beijing really is playing the U.S. for a fool, telling North Korea not to worry about getting more nukes and reassuring Pyongyang that China will continue supplying critical resources. In other words, China’s vote in favor of tougher UN sanctions against North Korea meant absolutely zilch."

Of all recent presidents only DJT is apt to exact a steep price. Will be interesting to see how this goes down.

[Catsmeat]

Hi, Ig--Moloch is dead on.

Daddy, of your multiple and enriching posts I would just respond to your point about Darwin. I teach Darwin all the time, both obliquely and through Origin and Descent. My students, almost to a man, or whatever, think that Darwin's contribution was to prove survival of the fittest. The merest passing reflection will make it obvious that humankind had know about the survival of the fittest since (at least) we started breeding dogs, cattle, etc.--even, God save us, cats--they have never been taught that Darwin's contribution, if you can call it, is to note that the survival of the fittest might be the mechanism to explain speciation (silly).

MM, re those flights perhaps to Gitmo--you have a Romantic mind. No slur--a Romantic mind is very important. As GKC reminds us, of one of the most prosaic parts of British existence, rain:

But the scheme of rain in itself is one of an
enormous purification. It realises the dream of some insane hygienist: it scrubs the sky. Its giant brooms and mops seem to reach the starry
rafters and Starless corners of the cosmos; it is a cosmic spring cleaning.

[henry]

Jim, Trump already publicized the cheating in a tweet, followed by S Korea nabbing a couple of the ships. Major loss of face for Xi right there.

[Jane]

What an afternoon. I picked my friend up at the airport and about half way home there was an accident. We were in a dead stop for 40 minutes. Traffic was ridiculous.

When we began to move again my car would not go over 38 MPH even when I floored it. I've got a recall pending for some electrical problem but I have no idea if this was that. We had about 30 miles to go. Apparently it was in "limp mode". When we finally got home and stopped the stench was ridiculous. Welcome to 2018.

[Frau Zweitausendachtzehn]

Mutti Merkel listened too much to her adviser who sold her on Globale Erwärmung Klima Wechsel and anti-nuclear carp. I wonder if she and Putin speak Russian or German to each other. Probably German.

[Jim Eagle]

Jane,

Heart you. What kind of car?

[Jane]

Mercedes Jack

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Catsmeat,

No insult taken, and I think you are probably right. I struggle not to make up involved explanations and stories whenever something comes out about all of this mess.

I am good at spotting details and remembering them, which sounds very analytical. But then I start connecting dots even when unfounded.

So half of me is sort of reasoned, and the other half is a fabulist. Can't help it; it's how I am.

Also, there is a mean little part of my brain which wants to say "Ha! Told ya so!"

[anonamom]

That happened to mine too Jane. It's some air pollution valve thingee that expires and does that. Three letters. ?APC?APV?

We gave that car to the Kidney Foundation or I'd go check the service record.

Seemed like a damned dangerous way to get the valve changed to me.

[Marlene]

The daughter and son-law left for the airport.I told them to text me when they board. I pray they get home tonight,the storm looks massive. A winter storm watch from Florida to Maine?!

[Jane]

I have a couple of three letter problems Anonamom - ABS which I've had for months and today it said something like BDS. It says other things don't work, and there is a recall involving electrical on the steering wheel so it may be all related. I was waiting until after the holidays to bring it in - I guess I have arrived.

The Kidney foundation must be pleased!

[Jane]

Marlene, you were probably at Fort Meyers the same time as me. I don't think the storm is due until Thursday. Are they flying to DC?

[JimNorCal]

Good point. Also the "secret document" is from September so things may have changed.

Posted by: henry | January 02, 2018 at 07:07 PM

[Jim Eagle]

ne,

Same here a GLC 450 SUV driving over to Sarasota to Capt. Erics next week. If you want to come an catch big time fish in the gulf then join me.

He is the top Captain in the Sarasota area

[Catsmeat]

Here's Chesterton at his most fanciful from Orthodoxy:

When we are asked why eggs turn to birds or fruits fall in autumn, we must answer exactly as the fairy godmother would answer if Cinderella asked her why mice turned to horses or her clothes fell from her at twelve o'clock. We must answer that it is magic. It is not a "law," for we do not understand its general formula. It is not a necessity, for though we can count on it happening practically, we have no right to say that it must always happen. It is no argument for unalterable law (as Huxley fancied) that we count on the ordinary course of things. We do not count on it; we bet on it. We risk the remote possibility of a miracle as we do that of a poisoned pancake or a world-destroying comet. We leave it out of account, not because it is a miracle, and therefore an impossibility, but because it is a miracle, and therefore an exception. All the terms used in the science books, "law," "necessity," "order," "tendency," and so on, are really unintellectual, because they assume an inner synthesis which we do not possess. The only words that ever satisfied me as describing Nature are the terms used in the fairy books, "charm," "spell," "enchantment." They express the arbitrariness of the fact and its mystery. A tree grows fruit because it is a magic tree. Water runs downhill because it is bewitched. The sun shines because it is bewitched.

[Catsmeat]

from Ch. 4, "The Ethics of Elfland": https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16769/16769-h/16769-h.htm

[Jane]

I have a good friend from Iran who escaped when the Shah was overthrown, but her family still lives there. I asked her if she had heard from them.

She said she has, but it is happening far away from her family and no news was being broadcast so they have no idea what is going on.

SHe also said both the US and and Israel are involved, and the "turbinheads hate both" so something big is going to happen - she hopes not like Syria, or a lot of protestors are going to get killed.

Most of that is sort of a quote.

[Buckeye]

Marlene

I just checked weather, nothing of consequence between Ft. Myers and DC.

They should make it tonight if there is a plane and crew.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Catsmeat,

I always loved Chesterton, and Lewis as well.

I am the sort of person who knows all the sciencey stuff but still thinks there is a part of the forest where the animals talk to each other.

Don't get me started, or I will be drawing Trump and the rest of his people into a grand epic novel. Ha!

[Jim Eagle]

Yikes. Messy comment. Off to early bed.

Slaap lekker,tot morgen.

[narcisoyea]

Shocker, seriously

https://mobile.twitter.com/AndrewLawton/status/948306595112505344?p=v

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
8m8 minutes ago

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his,

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

and my Button works!

=======================

Sorry, cut off the last part of the sentence!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump

I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 o’clock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned!

[Marlene]

Jane,they had a rental car and left from here to drive to Ft. Myers.
Buckeye,if the plane leaves from Ft. Myers tonight,they should be okay. I guess we worry about our adult kids forever! :)

[sbw]

and my Button works!

#MSM/pundit Tut-Tuttery will rev up to eleventy tomorrow.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

sbw,

Yes, and the awards ceremony on Monday should send them over the edge. LOL!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
4m4 minutes ago

Watch @seanhannity tonight at 9:00 P.M.

=============================

I swear to God I feel like we are getting secret messages through a radio hidden in the closet.

Catsmeat is right, I am a Romantic.

[Catsmeat]

Is good thing, MM, as long as you don't lose your mind!

[matt- deplore me if you must]

The Hill is reporting that Congress now has hard evidence that FBI officials were exchanging e mails about the criminality of Clinton's e mails and the vast scope of her deception.

And then we have the coverup by Comey and numerous John Doe's so far.The coverup is becoming ever more apparent. Did they think they wouldn't get caught?

This is much worse than anything that has ever occurred in our history.

We have a Secretary of State who brazenly, recklessly, and criminally avoided the proper protocols and OPSEC laws and regulations governing her top secret communications. We then have her bitbeaching and smashing hard drives and cell phones that were under subpoena, for chrissake.

We then have what can only now be described as a conspiracy within the FBI and DoJ to subvert justice and protect an insider.

Between what is going on with the phony dossier and the 3 card monty the Times is trying to pull; the ever flimsier bases for the FISA warrants, Samantha Powers and Susan Rice's criminal violations of security firewalls, and what is now coming out about Uranium One and the pure greed of the Clintons, I don't know how several of them not do hard time.

And this goes all the way to the top. Only Obama and the Ferret could have allowed the backdoor communications networks, the wholesale violations of the 4th Amendment, and the wide scale violation of security.

A good attorney can now connect an awful lot of dots that I would say amount to both proof of criminal conspiracy and RICO crimes.

This is not protected by national security. It is a wholesale violation of national security for criminal purposes.

Tarring Trump with a crazy ass dossier didn't work. Gloria Allred and her millions of donated dirty Democrat dollars and her tramp camp didn't work. The dirty tricks didn't work. Clinton makes Nixon look like the kid who stole a Snickers bar from the corner store, and Obama is right behind her.

[Buckeye]

Well said Matt!

[Catsmeat]

Didn't Comey tweet about justice raining down from the heavens like a mighty flood? Old, old tale of the biter bit. Doesn't get more Romantic than that, MM, yes?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

MLK quoted that Scripture, Catsmeat. He is trying to tie himself to King.

I am not buying that narrative.

[Janeprobably about 10 minutes after getting there]

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