Theresa suffered three successive defeats in the House of Commons, over her Brexit deal and a revolt in her leadership in her party was barely forced back, but it is just a matter of time before she is pushed out.
     Yesterday, the Labor leader introduced a vote of non-confidence but she was able to deflect it for mid-January. Her position is tenuous both as P M and leader of the Conservative party and she is held " hostage" by the Irish Unionist. 
     Her deal with the E U over Britain's exit is based on Northern Ireland remaining in the " zone"and this has added to the problems as the " hard" Brexiters, want nothing to do with it. She, is beat a lame duck and it is only her stubbornness that remains but her days are numbered.
     Macron came into power on a very strong vote for change and renewal but his embracing of Trump on Bastille Day and his policies together with his seeming arrogance has turned against him and his drop in popularity has bee precipitous.
     He wanted to reform the economic system, getting rid of some of the more entrenched social rights that the French have enjoyed since the creation of the 5th Republic, but it only resulted in widespread protests, strikes and massive demonstrations . His very presence in office is threatened and he either as to back down or use the emergency powers to quell the uprisings and that would be foolhardy.
     He has decided to retreat, pulling back from cuts to services, taxes on pensions and has called on companies to pay year-end bonuses ( tax free), but this was dismissed as too little too late and the protests continue ( signs of 1968, when Charles de Gaulle, at the height of his popularity was brought down...the arrogance/ hauteur).
Things started to go bad when Macron was seen as too cozy with Trump, marching down the Champs Elysee arm in arm, hugging. It was too much for the French. Add to that his " royal" pretense, arrogant and seemingly out of touch ( not surprising given his quick rise to power and his job as a banker)
     He is quickly being seen as shallow and uncaring and is time in office is sorely threatened. Let's see what happens this weekend.
     Trudeau went to India, dressed up in kurta and danced the bhangra and was shunned until the last minute by the Indian prime minister. He had boasted that he had more Sikhs in his cabinet than were in the Indian cabinet ( a sore point as the Indians were very concerned with the Kalistanis ( Sikhs who want to break away from India, and had identified some in Trudeau's entourage as Kalistanis). 
     He had previously gone to Vietnam to the T P P meeting and was seen as trying to curry favor with China, by delaying the signing the agreement. Japan and the others were not happy. 
     Trudeau seem to think that his boyish " charm"( hair,socks and selfies), would be sufficient but he soon learned that in the world of rough and tumble politics, that will not suffice.
     At home, he was glib about the pipelines, the environment and the trade talks. He waffled saying one thing and then doing the opposite ( just yesterday handing out $1.6 billion to the oil industry after talking about their effects on climate change in Hungary; talking tough about N A F T A/ U S M C A, and then acquiescing on dairy and tariffs on steel and aluminum). 
     He had a public falling out with Trump and now China is mad about the arrest and detention of a Huawei executive at the behest of the Americans. The Chinese, as expected reacted very quickly and detained two Canadians on espionage and trade delegations from B C and Canada were cancelled. More to come.
     Trudeau is facing a weak opposition and may be able to ride this out.
     Trump is in trouble. All around him is crumbling as more former employees and close associates find themselves in the cross hairs of the Mueller probe. Papadoploous, Cohen, Flynn and  Manafort, sentenced to prison or awaiting sentencing and many others are indicted and still others are under investigations and the Russian " collusion" probe continues with more evidence and  the noose is closing on him and members of his family.
     All of his businesses are being investigated both federally for campaign finance irregularities and so are his children, especially his son Donald jr. and his son-in law Kushner.  
     He is tweeting away, thrashing about and insulting the " rats", who have turned state evidence
    His popularity is at an all time low, more than 60% say he is a liar and his Chief of Staff is replaced and the Democrats are at the door.
​    Vox populi; Vox dei.   

     Women came out and  sent a strong message to Trump. 100+ women elected to the House, including the youngest, two Native American; two Muslim and at least one trans.
     The voting turnout in raw numbers was high, almost 113 million but this is just about 49% of eligible voters. With voter suppression in N.Dakota ( native Americans living on reservations especially), Georgia ( the Sect. of State, Kemp, who was running for governor, culled the list) . two Democrats, one for Senate and the other for Governor went down to defeat. In Texas the Democrat O'Rourke lost by a slim margin and so too did the Democrat for Senate and for governor.
The Democrats did win power in the House and now has the means to act as a check on the rampaging Trump. They have control of the budget ( no spending on the Wall etc.); they have control of the Committees and can investigate and hold hearings , even bring up impeachment papers against Trump.
The Republicans increased their seat count in the Senate and so Trump can still get his appointees through.. However the Democrats can still act to hold Trump responsible ( can anyone?).
Trump went on a rampage. He attacked those Republicans who lost their seats in the House. It was  vicious.
He immediately fired AG. Sessions unceremoniously. and named one of his " attack dogs" to replace him. This has immediately raised concerns about the Mueller investigations.
Then he held a press conference and it all went downhill. He attacked at least 3 reporters who asked him questions he did not like. First it was the personal attack on  CNN's Dacosta,( his W H press credential was revoked). He then turned on two non-white women reporters, calling one a " racist  and telling both to " Sit Down" ( yes massa).
​This aws low and beneath the Office, but the churlish Trump could not be stopped.

     He went to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul and disappeared. 
     Once he was in the inner circle and then he became a critic, albeit not too harsh. He took a moderate line, hoping to influence the new Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who ad announced himself as more willing to ease some of the restrictions, especially on women, even permitting them to drive by themselves. 
    bin Salman has, however shown himself with his actions against Canada, Qatar, and especially in the genocidal war against Yemen to be anything but. He was volatile, erratic and showed poor judgement and had little or no tact.
His actions against Canad for a tweet fro Chrystia Freeland, the Global Affairs minister was overboard,. She had tweeted her support for women's rights blogger, Badawi , sent bin Salman into a rage. He expelled our ambassador, recalled his, froze trade and investment and ordered Saudi students studying in Canada to return home ( he acted similiarly against Qatar, because he felt that they were becoming too friendly with Iran).
His genocidal war against the Houthis in Yemen has seen women and children slaughtered by weapons sold to him by USA and Britain ( Canada has a deal to sell LAV's but he did not cancel that and neither has Canada so far. He needs them for civilian unrest at home.
The Khashoggi case has been pure savagery, no doubt orchestrated by him, as nothing gets done in that top-down, autocratic government, without approval from above. 
The Turkish government and especially the president, Recep Erdogan, have been adamant about the Saudis' involvement in the " savage murder"., From the onset they kept the world informed about what they have found out, with details and pictures. These pictures showed Khashoggi entering the embassy. He had been called in to come andget the necessary papers in order to get married to a Turkish national. He has not been seen since that Oct.2 and the Saudis have come out with a variety of answers when they were questioned about his whereabouts.
First, they said he had left ( they had someone dressed in Khashoggi's clothes leave the embassy by the back door . This speaks volumes.). Then they claimed that there was a fight and he as killed then they changed that and said he was accidentally killed in a choke hold. When all this failed ( as the Turks gave more ad more details, after they were allowed to enter the embassy and do their own investigations...a clean up crew was seen entering the building and the Turks found evidence that they had tried to clean up but they were able to find blood splatters).they finally admitted that a " rogue" element had killed him.
That was another lie. 15 Saudis, including a forensic expert had flown in earlier that day. They had a bone saw with them. They left hours after. Who were they? At least one of them was a close confidant of bin Salman ( he was seen in various pictures accompanying him on various missions abroad).
What happened? It is obvious that they wanted to kidnap and return Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia. But here things get blurry. That he as killed is of no doubt ( the Saudis have admitted that now). How he was killed is not known.
Where is the body? None has been produced and the Turks are saying that he was dismembered and his remains scattered in some nearby forests. ( thus the bone saw and the forensic specialist).
All the efforts by the Saudis are made to shield the Crown Prince bin Salman. Trump has offered them some cover, by first bringing up the " rogue" element and so far  has not been willing to hold the Saudis or bin Salman responsible. In this he is joined by one of his senior adviser, his son-in law Jared Kushner, who has established a close relationship with bin Salman. He, Kushner, has become Trump's whisperer. He is also close to Israel and its prime minister Netanyahu and Netanyahu wants to preserve the US/Saudi realstions and their opposition to Iran, which Israel sees as an enemy. He also supports Trump's scrapping the nuclear agreement and bringing back sanctions against Iran. 
So America's position and their refusal to call out the Saudis on this brutal, savage killing, is being shaped by Kushner who has dealings with bin Salman and is a known financial and religious backer of Israel.
With the exception of Germany, no other country has ( there were some murmurings from GB and France) has taken a stand afraid of losing their businesses with the Saudis. This is cowardice and it is immoral. Trump has said that he has billions in arms deal that he will not end because of potential  jobs' loss and so do the others.
Canada's Trudeau has been a vocal supporter o Human Rights and especially Women's rights and Canada has a LAV deal with the Saudis and has come under attack from them suspending trade and investments, withdrawing students and ambassador.
Canada can lead the way. When the Saudi foreign minister, Adel Al-Jubeir, asked "
 are we a banana republic? and questioned our treatment of Quebecers and " Indians", he tried to equate us with a regime that chops off limbs, stone, behead publicly, imprison without trial , , tortures,  wage a genocidal war and govern without restraint, doing what they please, we must reply firmly. Cancel the LAV deal, close their embassy, stop buying their oil ( we do not need it ), stop trading with them and show them that we stand for Law and Order, Human Rights and Decency. What can they do? 

     The voter have spoken, especially those in the Regions, and the Coalition Avenir Quebec, has won an overwhelming victory.( 73/125 seats) and their leader Francois Legault will be the provinces 43rd premier. 
     Philippe Couillard and his Liberals have gone down to defeat ( 32 seats ) after almost 14 years ( except for  a few months of PQ's Marois) and for the first time in almost 50 years, a party other than the Liberals or Parti Quebecois will be in power.. 
     The PQ has suffered its worst defeat since 1970, winning only 9 seats, with its leader JF Lisee, himself going down to defeat, ( like Marois in 2014) and resigning ( like Marois in 2014).
     Quebec Solidaire has won 10 seats, a break through ( plus 7), winning seats outside of Montreal...Quebec City, Sherbrooke etc.
     The polls were again wrong as they predicted a close race and a minority government, but the CAQ won about 37% of the votes ( the polls had shown them around 31%).
     The PQ vote collapsed and that helped the CAQ and the QS as nationalists went to the CAQ and socialists went to QS. 
     The PQ will lose its official party status in the National Assembly and with that goes financial support. It runs the risk of oblivion, unless some energetic and articulate leader emerges and defines clearly what it stands for ( Lisee was all over the place, desperately trying to please everyone, changing the party platform as the days go by and even to personal and elitist  attacks on Manon Masse, the QS outstanding face.
     The CAQ appealed to nativism...raising fears of Quebec losing its language, ite culture and its values, thus its identity in the face of  the threats from immigrants, refugees, Muslims, " les autres". He campaigned against increased immigration ( the Liberals were concerned with labor shortage due to the growing economy, the low birth rate, the aging population and the need for workers, skilled and unskilled to fill the need). Legault was adamant that Quebec should take in 10,000 less ( from 50,000 to 40,000); that those who came in would have to pass a French proficiency test in 3 years or be deported ( they are protected against this by Sec.6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms). He also wanted to limit the wearing of hijabs in the workplace and most importantly protect " Quebec Values".
     His appeal was to the Quebec of the past, with its core religious values; its homogeneity; its language insulated and its identity secured. This was an appeal to nostalgia, to the pre-60s Quebec of family farms, Catholicism, to populism and against the foreign hordes and the frightening new world that is at the gates.
     It is reminiscent of the 1944 election, when Maurice Duplessis and his Union National used lies and fears to defeat the Liberal government of Adelard Godbout. Godbout had won the election in 1939 with his support of Canada's entry in WW11 and had governed very competently, introducing many progressive reforms, like giving women the right to vote (1940), founded Hydro Quebec, free education up to grade 7 and a labor code allowing workers to form unions. Duplessis and his wealthy supporters and the Catholic church were adamantly opposed to these " progressive" changes and went on a campaign of fears, lies and against Quebec's support for the war ( PM McKenzie King's "Conscription, If Necessary"). Duplessis falsely accused Godbout of wanting to bring 100,000 Jewish refugees into Quebec, got support from Lionel Groulx and the Catholic church and money poured from wealthy businessmen fearing the workers and their unions. It worked and the Liberals were defeated. 
     La Grande Noiceur of Roncarelli, Jehovah Witness, Padlock law, communist witch hunt, anti-labor, pro business, anti immigrant became the order of the day until the Supreme Court struck the laws and he died and in 1960 the Liberals under Jean Lesage and his message of Maitre des Chez Nous won and ushered in the Quiet Revolution, which would lead Quebec out of the corrupt, priest-ridden agricultural society of large families and illiteracy to a Quebec with public schools, a new emerging middle class unafraid of technology or business innovation.
     Now we are back to fears about identity, language, culture, Quebec values  and the need to be protected from Muslims, Immigration, refugees, and the encroaching world of internet, i phones,  social media/platforms. Thus language tests, deportations, Quebec values and no hijab in the work place.  

     Municipalities are creatures of the provincial government  Sec. 92 of the Constitution Act ( previously referred to as the British North America Act, 1867, but changed with the patriation of the constitution, 1982), gave powers over municipalities to provinces. This power allow provinces to create, dissolve, reform them as they choose. 
     What Ontario  premier,Doug Ford, wants to do is quite legal/constitutional but the way he chose to do it and the timing of his action, plus personal animus towards the Toronto municipal council ( the various run-ins that he and his brother ( the former mayor Rob), was the problem.
     He can reduce the size of the Council from 47 to 25 but he acted rashly. There is an election campaign going on. Candidates are  already contesting  the 47 seats but he ploughed ahead and the court slapped him down. Judge Belobaba ruled that " passing a law that changes the city's electoral districts in the middle of its election and undermines the overall fairness of the election is antithetical to the core principles of our democracy". Ford went " bananas" and personally attacked the judge ( erroneously),  as an appointee of a previous provincial premier, Dalton McGuinty. This is a Superior court judge and these are appointed by the Federal government, but  Ford's ignorance did not stop him from repeating it again and again and he then threatened to use the " the notwithstanding clause" to override the court's decision.
     Sec. 33 of the Constitution Act 1982, allows provinces to do this, but it was not meant to be used to settle personal vendettas and this is what Ford is doing. This clause has been used rarely since its inclusion in the Constitution. It was a compromise hammered out by the Federal Justice minister Jean Chretien and the Attorney Generals of Ontario (McMurty) and Saskatchewan ( Romanov). 
     The Constitutional meeting to patriate the Canadian Constitution from Britain was in trouble as the  pro- separatist premier of Quebec, Rene Levesque put up many road blocks ( as he said prior to the talks, he was not there to " renew Canada), and the Conservative premiers of NL, Manitoba, Alberta, . PEI and Nova Scotia and the Socred. premier of BC,  who opposed individual rights and the NDP premier of Sask. who wanted rights for women, joined forces,  ( the so-called Gang of 8). Only Ontario and New Brunswick ( Progressive Conservatives), stood with the Feds.      
     Many deals and counter deals were proposed and all seemed lost. Then, the meeting in the kitchen, over coffee made the breakthrough compromise, that satisfied all but Levesque. He left in a huff and cried foul ( he was angry because he thought he had a deal with the 7, but they got a better deal. Fuming he came back to Quebec and complained of betrayal and the " Night of the Knives". He was out-pokered). He vowed to use the notwithstanding clause against all future legislation and indeed was the first to use it against the ruling of the Supreme Court over sections of Law 101. He "protected" all Quebec laws by including this clause in all its laws. He acted out of pique .  Liberal premier, Robert Bourassa also used it and so did the government of Sask. and Yukon., but all in all its use was rare. 
     When used, it would last for a maximum of 5 years. It can be reduced, or dropped after this or it had to be renewed for another 5 years. It has never been used in Ontario until now.
     When Doug Ford recalled the legislature to pass it, an uproar followed and all NDP members ( who showed their opposition by making noise and thumping their desks were named and escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-of Arms . The law will be passed but already the Toronto council and its mayor have challenged in the courts. The show is not over.
     The attack on the Courts by Ford has met with criticism from all sides ( except federal Conservative leader Scheer. ). It is not the use of the power but the way it was done. As stated above, the municipalities are " creatures" of the provinces. They give them life and they can take it away or modify them but there is accountability , legal and political. The legal we have seen; the political is yet to come.
     What people are concerned about is the threat from Ford to use over and over again. He argues that he was elected( he was not elected Premier. He becomes that as a result of being leader of the majority party) and so can do what he wants and that judges are merely appointed. Simplistic and dangerous. Our system of government is a Constitutional democracy, based upon the Rule of Law and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. There are checks on political as well as legal powers. The checks on political power is the  limited term of office and the voters and the powers granted to the  Courts by the Constitution. The Courts are limited by the Constitution and by the legislature. No one has absolute power in our system of government. That does not mean that politicians will not bluster and rant and rave and threaten, especially when ignorance abounds.
   

     This phrase came into use in Roman times, when the Senate declared emperor Nero a " hostis publicus" in ad 68 ( Wikipedia). This was done to remove a threat to the republic. 
     Since then, it has become more sinister as a weapon of demagogues and dictators and those who cast a wide net to entrap anyone they see as an obstacle to their objectives.
     It was during the French revolution that its full force and its sinister purpose seen. 
     The words " ennemi du peuple" were extensively used . On Dec. 25, 1792 Robespierre stated " the revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death"  ( Wikipedia), and many would die after so branded, even Robespierre himself. Included in the political crimes punishable by death were those " spreading false news to divide or trouble the people"( here you can glean the reason for Trump's use of the phrase, against the mainstream media and its reporters.) 
      In the Russia " vrag naroda" ( Wikipedia) was used by Lenin on Nov.28, 1917, calling for " enemies of the people" to be arrested and brought before the revolutionary court ( enemy of the laborers; enemy of the proletariat,  class enemy ).. This phrase was widely used in the Soviet Union and hundred of thousands were killed or sent to the " gulags".
 Mao used it in 1957, against  " social forces and groups that resist the socialist revolution" and hundreds of thousands died or were " reeducated"
     Nazi Germany used it in its plan to RELOCATE Jews to Madagascar " in former times sane people and sane leaders of the peoples made short shrift of the Enemies of the People. They had them either expelled or killed" ( Wikipedia) ( millions would be relocated and murdered).
     In the UK , in the aftermath of the referendum on membership of the EU, the Daily Mail, described judges who ruled that leaving would require the consent of the British Parliament, " Enemies of the People".
    In the United States, Trump has picked the usage, " the FAKE NEWS media ( nytimes, abc, cbs, cnn, nbc) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people". He has been beating this drum incessantly . Each day that goes by is replete with tweets about the " fake news " and " enemies of the people". It is self serving, dangerous and a threat . He does this to deflect and detract from the reporting on the various investigations on Russian hacking; on possible collusion; on his various relationships with women, who were paid to be silent on their affairs with him; on the people leaving his Administration; on those closely connected to him, who have been found guilty of various crimes and to rouse up and keep his " base'/ of support.
     This phrase " enemy of the people" is once again being used to perpetuate divisions; to further ones agenda, either to wrest power or to hold on to power or to be a tool to cast doubts about crimes that may have been committed, or to dull attempts to expose wrongs. It has been used in the Spanish Inquisition; in the Salem " witch trials"; in the French Revolution; in the MC  Carthy " witch hunt"; in Nixon's "Watergate' and now by Trump. In all these cases its use has been iniquitous,  perfidious and malicious.    

     Trump's decision to place  punishing tariffs on Turkey is having a very unpredictable effect on an already unpredictable and unstable region. The Turks have decided to fight back and strongman Erdogan ( just re-elected) will not back down and will move Turkey closer to its neighbor but long time " threat" Russia. Already overtures have been made and Putin is willing and eager to step in and pull the long time N A T O member and the guardian of its Eastern flank, ( where many U S A military bases are located and from where many U S-led missions to Iraq, Syria etc. were launched), away from Europe and the military alliance. 
     Turkey as signaled its intention not to cave, by putting its own tariffs on American products and to take a loan of $15 billion from Qatar ( which has had a running economic battle with Saudi Arabia. Trump supports the Saudis in its row with Qatar ( an ally, but I guess the Saudi wealth and oil and the gaudy welcome have won Trump to their side). So here we have a NATO member being flayed economically by the ostensible leader of the alliance, turning for help from Russia and getting economic aid from Qatar ( Trump has weakened NATO and this will not help).
     The Saudis continue their genocidal war in Yemen, where they indiscriminately target civilians ( the latest being the busload of young students), with the assistance of US and Britain. Why? Oil and investments from the wealthy Saudis. They have also targeted ( as noted above)  Qatar ( even their camel herd were deported) and has picked a fight with Canada over Canada's request the women rights activist Badawi ( her blogger brother is presently imprisoned ). 
     The Saudis became furious ( they were afraid that others would join Canada and expose their woeful record on human rights). They severed diplomatic relation, asking the Canadian ambassador to leave; placed a hold on all new investments; cancelled all flights by Saudi airline and recalled thousands of students on scholarship in Canada. The Trudeau government has so far stood firm and has not even cancelled the $15 billion arms deal ( that was signed by the previous Harper government). Relations are tense and Canada's longtime allies US and GB have been silent ( I guess Human Rights is not as important as Saudi wealth, so they oppress their people, deny women rights, crucify and display  body them openly, carry out a genocidal war and the " democracies" remain silent.
     Canada and Turkey are both NATO members but in Trump's world that counts for little ( Trump has also placed punitive tariffs on many Canadian goods/products, even though we have an economic pact, NAFTA. 
     In the Middle East, Russia rules while US picks fights with Turkey and cancelled the Iranian nuclear agreement ( against the wishes of the other signatories and even though his own officials agree that Iran has not broken the agreement. Syria with the help of Russia and Iran is winding down its civil war ( which has killed thousands and driven tens of thousands into  forced exile). Iraq continues to be a battleground and so too Libya and  in Yemen the Saudi-led, US -backed coalition continues to decimate the population. Israel launches attacks on Gaza and even in Syria ( recently accused of assassinating a top Syrian scientist and targeting Iranian positions). 
     The region is a sizzling cauldron and the next eruption is not far off. It will be far ranging 

     Russia Risen from the ashes of the tired, spent and over-stretched USSR and the " drunken" Yeltsin give away ( to the West; to kleptocrats and to Communist turned capitalists apparatchiks), after an obsequious Trump heaped praise on Putin and says he believed him when he says that Russia did not hack the 2016  presidential election. Putin  stood smirking, listening to Trump condemning his own intelligence services/agencies, Democrats and Republicans, his own DNI chief Coats, and so many others. He continued to blame the " fake news" media, Mueller, and all who dare to criticize him and/ or support the investigations.
     Everyone ls lying...Comey, Mueller, Intel Agencies, FBI, CIA, DNI, Hillary, Obama, women who accuse him of assault, judges, climate change scientists, etc. but bot the Lt. Col. of the KGB, Putin, trained and experienced in the art. Why?
     When Putin was asked what he had on Trump, he lied and said he never met him ( not in 2013, not ever) and that he had nothing " kompromat"/ compromising on Trump. Then why is Trump so meek with Putin, so nice and so ebullient in his praise? 
     Why did Trump agree to meet in private, without his advisers? Why did the meeting last so long/ 2 hrs.? What was discussed that could not be shared with Pompeo, and others? Why did he not confront Putin about the Russian hack" Was it because, he had asked them to hack Hillary Clinton e-mails? Did they and what did they share with Trump? Why did he not raise the invasion of Crimea? Of Ukraine? What is Trump hiding? Why is he so afraid of Putin?
     Putin stride the world stage like a colossus and Trump has enabled and empowered him. Like Kim, he has given prestige and credibility to Putin and a legitimacy that both had lacked and what did he get in return. NADA/Nothing.
     Trump has weakened America. He has weakened NATO. He has weakened America's place as the leader of the democratic world. He has weakened America's Institutions and he has made a mockery of America's Constitution. He has strengthened autocrats from Putin to Kim to Duterte to Erdogan, those who hate Rights and Liberties, the free press and the independent judiciary and free speech and all things democratic. 
     Where are the Republicans whose motto has been free trade, the Military, the FBI, the American Way?. A few, McCain, Flake, have spoken out and condemned him but most have maintained a servile silence, looking out for their own political and financial needs and forsaking the Nation, which they swore to protect.
     America is in crisis and it has been brought about by the almost "treasonous" words of Trump and weak and bent " bananas" of the Republican party. Shame on them. America  a "pushover"; Trump " treasonous";disgraceful.
     

     The expectations had been high but then Trump began to tamp it down. What began a year ago with insults and threats... from name -calling Rocket Man to Dotard; from Fire and Fury to Missile over the sea of Japan has dwindled down to " i do not have to prepare" to " I can size him down in first minute" to  meetings between leaders of the North and South, with Pompeo to Rodhman in Singapore crying on CNN. 
 It had all the trappings of a reality clown circus and Trump made it more so with his temper tantrums and attacks on the G7 and especially on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and with ad hominem attacks from his underlings, outdoing each other to win their " master's" approval, from Trump calling Trudeau " weak and dishonest" to Kudlow accusing him of " stabbing in the back" and Navarro saying that " there is a special place for him in hell". 
     Trump left the G7 meeting in a hurry, not wanting anything to dull his forthcoming meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-Un. He continued his attack on Trudeau all the way ( he had first stated that the tariffs on steel and aluminum were in " national security" interests and   Trudeau's pointing out about the past 100 years of close friendship, especially  a militarily) and that Canada will not " back down". The tirade quickly unified all political parties in Canada ( a rarity) and a resolution was passed unanimously in the Canadian parliament.
     Kim came in a plane provided by China ( but with his private toilet and limo , and two decoy aircraft), with his polished, groomed and well-dressed body guards, ready to "play". He took a tour of the City ( even having a selfie taken), waving and smiling , working the crowd, which shouted encouragement at him. It was a bizarre sight. This rabid human rights violator and alleged killer ( gave the orders allegedly), of a half-brother, an uncle and dozens of others about to be legitimized by the so-called leader of the " free world.
     While Kim was working the crowd, Trump was nowhere to be seen ( like a bride in purdah). The excitement was palpable, especially as the media kept revving it up with experts and speculations ( there was a lot of empty time to be filled and so many " experts" to conflate the issues.
     The meeting is to be held at the Singaporean island of Santosha ( sankscrit for "peace"...sam... completerly/utterly; tosh...acceptance, contentment) ). There will be a meeting of Trump and Kim with only translators and then a luncheon with others ( at these meetings the real work is done by specialists and then the leaders show up to sign any agreement). And this is how it played. 
     Trump and Kim signed a vague agreement ( short on details and/or open-ended). Trump played it up for all its worth, calling it " historic ( and the media lapped it up ) and stated that the U S has agreed to stop the " war games " and that they have agreed to " denuclearization" of the peninsula. That's it. Kim did give up anything except for this vague " denuclearization", whatever the hell that means.
     The South Koreans, whose initiative started this whole charade were left out and then with Trump's promise  of cancelling the " war games" and " denuclearization" of the peninsula ( which means no American troops, no nuclear weapons, no naval protection), they will on their own, forgotten and exposed. China is the other bid winner out of this. They were in control from the time Kim went to Beijing ( twice) and got on that Chinese plane. Without American troops( 29,00) and weapons in South Korea, they would clearly roam free and far That is if Trump understands what he promised and kept it. ( tomorrow he may, as usual change his mind)
     The only thing " historic" about this meeting, is the meeting. Nixon opening up China, by going there and meeting Chairman Mao; Carter with Begin and Sadat and the Camp David Accords was historic ; Clinton and Rabin and Arafat at the White House shaking hands, these are historic. They change things of import...legitimizing China; bringing peace to Israel and Egypt and bringing peace and reconciliation closer between Israelis and Palestinians. 
​     Kim came away with much. He sat as an equal with the President of the most powerful country in the world, the leader of the " free world" ( six flags each). He got legitimacy. He got prestige. He got praise and a whole lot a great propaganda video clips to show back home, his tiny hands being clasp by Trumps small hands) and a fawning ,smiling Trump leaning towards him, with a North Korean flag over his head. A grand, spectacular welcome awaits the conquering hero, who face the "Devil" and came out ahead. 

      It has been a week or so since Trump decided to put tariffs on steel and aluminum, from Canada, Mexico and the E U and the reaction was quick and fierce. Trump claimed that he was doing so for " security" reasons, saying to Trudeau, when he questioned that ( in a phone conversation)and stating that Canada has been a close ally militarily and otherwise for over a hundred years, from WW 1 to Afghanistan etc. Trump raised the burning of the White House during the 1812 war ( it was British troops under Ross who had done so, after the Americans had attacked York( now Toronto). It was actually Aug.24, 1814.
     The response came quickly with Canada imposing ta tariffs worth over $16 billion on American products, from steel and aluminum products to pizza, yogurt, coffee, maple syrup, chocolate, strawberry jam, orange juice, playing cards and whiskey/bourbon etc. These are very targeted, affecting many of the States that supported  Trump and continue to do so and where some prominent Republicans like Ryan and McConnell were elected from. The upcoming primaries and mid-term elections are a key.
     The Europeans have also responded with the European Commission president Juncker saying that " this a bad day for world trade. This is protectionism, pure and simple" and the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire stating the tariffs are " dangerous and unjustified". The Europeans have so far imposed  over $4 billion on products from motor cycles, to Levi's jeans to bourbon. The Mexicans have also levied import taxes on such items as pork bellies, apples, cheese and various types of steel.
     The " targeted" strategy are a good starting point as jobs are threatened and prices are going up. Some powerful interests like the arch-conservative Koch brothers, the American Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation have denounced the tariffs as " growth killers".
     China which Trump had accused of "raping" the American economy with its products and which has a huge trade imbalance with U S has so far not been targeted. Instead Trump has been making nice ( his daughter has just obtained more than a dozen deals and Trump himself stand to gain financially from Chinese investments in Indonesian projects that Trump has some stake), with China, which continues to increase its presence in the South China Seas, building bases on man-made islands.
     Trump's " national security" excuse( and it is that) is a cover for his " America First" platform, that he used so successfully to get elected. It is protectionist and destructive and only serve to boost his support among his " base". It may continue to do so, until the combine actions of Canada, Mexico and Europe take hold, increasing prices for consumers from manufacturing to agricultural etc. and threatening employment from California to Colorado( sleeping bags) to Florida( orange juIce) to Kentucky ( bourbon) to Maine( maple syrup)  Michigan to Pennsylvania ( felt pens, ketchup, fridges) to Wisconsin (lawn mowers, cheese, soy sauce) to South Carolina( Zodiac inflatable and sailboats). The list goes on.
     The upcoming G7 meeting in Quebec will be a test,  for TRUMP. Some are already calling it G 6+1. The lines are drawn.