June 1, 2018

Trump's summit with Kim Jong-Un is on again.

Axios reads between the lines:
Trump said talks with North Korea would be "a process” and he's been telling the North Koreans to "take your time," tempering expectations for the kind of breakthrough he had previously said was achievable. He described the meeting as "getting to know you, plus." Trump also signaled a change of tone, saying: “I don’t want to use the term maximum pressure any more.” That kind of rhetoric had angered the North Koreans, but was the standard way members of the Trump administration described their approach.

112 comments:

tim maguire said...

"Maximum pressure" got him what he wanted. If it's become a liability, then he drops it. No biggie, it's all tactics. That's what Trump's critics are so loath to pick up on--none of it is crazy, all of it is calculated.

PackerBronco said...

Given that the press is standing by their earlier misquote of a Trump spokesperson, shouldn't their headlines now read: "Trump does the Impossible!"

JackWayne said...

Yeah, a meeting about having a meeting. As expected. Good to see him depress the breathless expectations of the chattering class.

Mike Sylwester said...

The New York Times reported that this would be impossible!

mccullough said...

Trump is adjustable. Results matter. Process doesn’t.

Darrell said...

The NYT can report that there are 1000 North Koreans in North Korea. They are good at counting.

FullMoon said...

Crazy bastard wants to start world war three.
Then, gonna end abortion and round up all the alternative lifestyles and put them back in chains.
Oh, wait...never mind..

Fernandinande said...

How can Trump keep all those "Kims" straight?

Seeing Red said...

Was it really ever off or just paused working out the details like get serious?

Seeing Red said...

I’m meeting with Kim Kardashian. You need to know where you rank.lolol

traditionalguy said...

Trump’s Energy has been a wonder to behold. When does he get to sleep? When the battles are all over, perhaps.

.

Earnest Prole said...

He described the meeting as "getting to know you, plus."

So kinda like his summit with Stormy Daniels. As Lenin said, it remains to be seen who is who and who is whom.

madAsHell said...

none of it is crazy, all of it is calculated.

I agree. The trial ballon of commuting the Blagovich sentence. Pardoning Martha Stewart. This is low hanging fruit that will buy a lot of goodwill.

In my career, I wrote software for several start-ups. Looking back, the successful start-ups were all associated with leaders that were very Trump-like. They created success, and then leveraged the first success into more success.

Kevin said...

Althouse,

Once againTrump is using maximum pressure, while saying he's not using maximum pressure, because Trump can't do anything but LIE!

/Chuck

Kevin said...

Ann, you will be very sorry you ran a post on this ridiculous meeting when everyone knows Mueller is about to wipe Trump's presidency off the map like a KJU missile strike.

Numerous sources have confirmed the man he met with today is not from North Korea but is actually a Russian agent. The North Korea angle was used because no one knows what a North Korean other than KJU looks like and they would be easily fooled. Mueller and his staff have matched his face with that of a known associate of PUTIN HIMSELF, and furthermore this man is known for obstructing justice in his home country.

This was the final piece of evidence we have all been waiting for!

/Inga

Darrell said...

EarnestProle and Lenin
Sitting in a tree
K-I-L-L-I-N-G

Kevin said...

I just want to say this whole North Korean peace effort has nothing - NOTHING - to do with that lying liar Trump. It's all Pompeo. If it weren't for Pompeo, nothing would be happening as Trump can't negotiate his way out of a Big Mac wrapper.

If Kim gives up his nukes and we build the next Disneyland in Pyongyang, I will never give Trump one iota of credit. This would have happened long ago in the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Obama Presidencies if only Trump hadn't been alive and breathing air in NYC.

He has done nothing but cancel the summit so far, and thank God for Pompeo bailing his ass out time and again to keep this thing on track.

A final note, I'm not sure it was even Trump in the Oval Office today. He's such a screw-up Pompeo probably had the CIA lock him in a closet and roll out a fake Trump just so he didn't screw it up. The North Koreans are a proud people - always truth-telling - and to be in the presence of a liar like Trump would have scuttled the deal the instant they met him.

You can be sure of that!

/Chuck

James Graham said...

Not entirely OT but where the hell did Axios come from?

Suddenly it is all over the media including television which interviews people ID'd simply as an "Axios" reporter as if that's equivalent to The Times, Post, WSJ or whatever ancient name you care to mention.

Limited blogger said...

After the Trump era of good feelings ends, how will people stand 'politics as usual'?

Kevin said...

Ann, my sources are very excited at this hour. Apparently there exists MANY photos of this "North Korean" meeting with Putin and other Russians of very high rank. No one could meet with these people unless they had business with Putin and this confirms that this man is indeed a Russian agent!

The letter he was supposed to deliver was clearly from PUTIN HIMSELF and is likely a secret coded message designed to get around Mueller's airtight surveillance of Trump's every move. Once the contents of the letter have been analyzed we will all know the depths of the collusion which have occurred and impeachment proceedings can begin immediately!

/Inga

Sebastian said...

Progs said calling the meeting off was an embarrassing disaster.

So now they'll say . . . .

eric said...

This is an illusion.

It isn't really happening.

I was informed by the New York times such a meeting is impossible.

Impossible!

Earnest Prole said...

EarnestProle and Lenin
Sitting in a tree
K-I-L-L-I-N-G


Thanks. I like to play.

Darrell said...

Axios was George Soros' nickname given to him by the Nazis. And this explanation is just as accurate as anything you will see and hear on CNN today.

Vance said...

It's a good thing Kevin has his own username.... because he's channeling Inga and Chuck pretty darn well.

I really hope you have a few drinks handy, Kevin. Twisting your brain to think like Chuck is probably hazardous to your health.

n.n said...

Chaos. Life... with an underlying order.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

Shit!
Not peace talks again!!

Anything to avoid talking about the real issue--Stormy the Sagging Stripper.
WTF people! Stay focused!!!

narciso said...

Axios is politico 2.0, except they have an import from the Sydney herald, probably the worst paper in Australia, tim blair often fisks it, it's foreign correspondent, wrote a hagiography of meshal, the hamas leader,

Jim at said...

Not entirely OT but where the hell did Axios come from?

Axios is VOX, but without the drooling.
Give it time.

The Godfather said...

This thread will get really funny if the real Inga, and Chuck, and ARM show up.

Or maybe not.

narciso said...

no it's not nearly that stupid, it's politico, which of course came from the Washington posts most lefty writers, paul mcgeogh is the correspondent,

Josephbleau said...

the telegram went out from washington station and these were the words that were said.

AllenS said...

Fernandistein said...
How can Trump keep all those "Kims" straight?

Easily, big tits always TRUMPS bad haircut.

narciso said...

kim young choi, is their spychief, their beria, the man who knows where the bodies are buried because he buried them

Drago said...

Every Leftist/Lib/LLR: Gee, maybe this time Kim Jong Un can finally save us from Truuuuuuummmmmmppppppp!!!

Comanche Voter said...

The NORKs have a bad habit of welshing on their deals. Let's see what has happened six months from now. Clinton and George Bush both got two deals each from the NORKs. Obama got one deal. The NORKS violated all of them. The Donald will no doubt get a "deal" of some kind with Little Rocket Man. Give it six months and see if it sticks. If it doesn't Trump has company with the last three Presidents.

narciso said...

a fair point, I think with pompeo and Bolton, there will be more pressure to adhere to the deal.

rhhardin said...

Needs an Emotional Trump tag, mocking the view that Trump is not in control of himself.

MikeD said...

I came for the reasoned discussion & instead find to die for humor at the expense of /Inga/Chuck/ARM! Also loved Jim's "Axios is VOX, but without the drooling.
Give it time." Good times, yes, good times!

madAsHell said...

Isn't Axios a men's body wash??

Why yes it is a trademark owned by the Alberto-Culver company.

tcrosse said...

Axios was the Musketeer who didn't go along with that collectivist "All for one and one for all" shit. He went into business for himself before D'Artagnan came on the scene.

Earnest Prole said...

The NORKs have a bad habit of welshing on their deals.

Our leverage on the Norks is far more economic than military, so if Trump pulls an Obama and hands over anything of value before utter denuclearization he will deserve our equal contempt.

AllenS said...

Yah. If Trump gives the NK anything, it will be some fast food restaurants, and that will be the end if the Commie regime.

Lucien said...

I say we just scrap "Maximum Pressure" and go with "Balls in a Vise" -- who's with me?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

We note who isn't here yammering about bile-loaded l-narrative.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

He is cunning and highly experienced in high stakes negotiation. It’s one of his strengths that I thought might work well in the job. If Democrats had appealed to his vanity and fondness for deals he might have had a very different first 16 months. Instead they went 100% oppo 100% of the time aided by nevertrumpers. Might have been the costliest “wrong fork” for the Democratic Party since nominating Wilson.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

My granddaughter met Kim Kardashian last week. Kim is quite short!

Earnest Prole said...

He is cunning and highly experienced in high stakes negotiation.

I wanted to believe this, and then I watched in horror as Trump was gang-raped during federal budget negotiations by Ryan, Pelosi, McConnell, and Schumer.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

On again off again. Just like lovers.

They have so much in common.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Looks kind of desperate when you have to pay for the other leaders hotel expenses.

Kim can afford to build nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles but the American taxpayer has to pay his hotel bills?

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

If Democrats had appealed to his vanity and fondness for deals he might have had a very different first 16 months.

What bullshit. They did in fact make deals with him that turned out to be pseudo-deals that he later backed out of. As is also a part of his mendacious M.O.

Just watch when he turns America into the world's biggest bankruptcy court. The things you admire about this slime mold boggle the mind.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

So much in common? Please. The left would love to jail their opponents and often do, just like fatty Jong.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

I hope the US finds a discreet way to off with the bastard while he's here.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Mike said...
He is cunning and highly experienced in high stakes negotiation.


If you are talking about Kim, then I agree.

Kim has figured out how to get US taxpayers to pay for his vacation, while giving up nothing of value.

He gets to strut on the world stage, meeting with the leader of the most powerful nation on earth, which he has recently threatened with nuclear annihilation, while giving up nothing of value.

It is appalling weakness. The Norks and the Chinese must be laughing their heads off. Currently there are more tariffs on goods from Canada than on China.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Dickin'Bimbos@Home said...
The left would love to jail their opponents and often do, just like fatty Jong.


Yet it has been Trump who has bent over forwards to have a meeting with the little sociopath.

Drago said...

ARM: "It is appalling weakness. The Norks and the Chinese must be laughing their heads off."

Ignorance on this level is difficult to fake.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Jack Wayne said...
Good to see him depress the breathless expectations of the chattering class.


The only person. Literally, the only person creating expectations was Trump. The bullshit flowed freely.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

ARM - The fat bastard wants a meeting because he's out of options.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
Ignorance on this level is difficult to fake.


If we are talking about Trump then I agree.

Drago said...

Weakness is sending $150B in cash (including billions in hard currency, low denominations, to fund the terrorist activities of your enemies.

And that doesn't even include pardoning terrorists.

LOL

"obama strength".....

Drago said...

ARM: "If we are talking about Trump..."

We are not....

But I understand the position you are in.

You have gone "all in" on several completely contradictory positions on this and other issues. You have no where else to go, hence your inconsequential mewling from the sidelines.

Which, on some levels, is cute....but not for a grown man....

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Dickin'Bimbos@Home said...
ARM - The fat bastard wants a meeting because he's out of options.


If he is so desperate let's see him give up something of value. How about inspections of all his nuclear sites? So far he hasn't given up anything of value.

And, nothing he says at this meeting will hold any value until he has actually given up his nukes.

Drago said...

PPPT: "What bullshit. They did in fact make deals with him..."

LOL

The dems/lefties gave him everything he wanted. Up front. With only promises in return, which were broken.

Just as with Iran.

You know, the people who put us in the ditch ought to be quiet now and let the elected team drive.

A wise non-latina said something like that once....

Drago said...

ARM: "If he is so desperate let's see him give up something of value. How about inspections of all his nuclear sites? So far he hasn't given up anything of value"

LOL

ARM the moron now wants the deal hashed out before the deal is hashed out.

Too funny.

Looks like the lefties are fresh out of new and novel complaints.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
You have gone "all in" on several completely contradictory positions


This is sad pathetic nonsense, even for you.

List my positions, other than that either the Norks give up their nukes or its all bullshit.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Drago said...
You know, the people who put us in the ditch ought to be quiet now and let the elected team drive.


North Korea 20, Iran 0.

rehajm said...

As hare-brained as they are, I have to opine that the actual economic consequences of US steel import tariffs and Chinese soybean tariffs are essentially zero.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Comanche Voter said...
The NORKs have a bad habit of welshing on their deals. Let's see what has happened six months from now. Clinton and George Bush both got two deals each from the NORKs. Obama got one deal. The NORKS violated all of them. The Donald will no doubt get a "deal" of some kind with Little Rocket Man. Give it six months and see if it sticks.


Tell it to Drago (and Trump).

Drago said...

The left is spinning so furiously they can't even remember their earlier lies..all in support of our adversaries and economic competitors.

Just listen to the ARM's of the world crying in their soup over Trump demanding fair trade policies with our competitors.

Quite frankly, all the left had to do was pretend not to be anti-American and insane for 12 months and they had it all in the bag.

Needless to say, that was beyond their capabilities.

Drago said...

ARM: "Tell it to Drago (and Trump)."

Uh, tell it to obama, not that he'll listen to you. Earthly "gods" don't usually listen to the mules....

The only politician in the last 30 years who HASN'T been played by the NORKS is....Trump.

LOL

Or is this going to be ANOTHER case where the dems attempt to transfer their failures onto the republicans?

Gee, I did not see that one coming...

Drago said...

I can see today's economic numbers have upset ARM greatly.

Not surprising. Not even LLR Chuck can gather up the "steam" necessary to post on a day like this...

LOL

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Let's recall, again, that the Norks threatened our nation with nuclear annihilation, multiple times. The response of a great nation to a provocation of this kind should not be to give them validation under what can only be described as 'looking desperate' conditions.

When the Norks take back all their threats and provide a decent apology then, maybe, they get a meeting the under under secretary for garbage collection.

JackWayne said...

It’s sad to see one commenter here filled with so much jealousy. Can’t you at least acknowledge that Trump has done a something no other President has done? He has Un at a disadvantage. I don’t expect much from this meeting but it’s nice to see the USA has the upper hand for once.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Jack Wayne said...
Can’t you at least acknowledge that Trump has done a something no other President has done?


Any president could have gotten a meeting with Kim. Kim is desperate to be viewed as a 'great world leader' of a nuclear state. Only Trump has been stupid enough to indulge that need.

Molly said...

(Eaglebeak)

President Pee-Pee Tape may be Lyndon LaRouche. I say that only because the one person (or "person") I have ever read or heard about referring to hated others as "slime molds" was Lyndon LaRouche.

So that would be weird.

Seeing Red said...

Or Iran is thru the NorKs.

narciso said...

It's what's on his cue card, drop scat and leave. Trump provided a credible counterforce along with the sanctions and the collapsed testing facility.

Seeing Red said...

Just watch when he turns America into???

Ted! You should come out of your cabin more often!

Drago said...

ARM: "Any president could have gotten a meeting with Kim."

LOL

Any President could get the FED to boost Economic growth projections to 4.8% for the second quarter.

Any President could have delivered tax relief! It's so easy to deliver crumbs!

LOL

The left has nothing but hate to run on. Considering how their preferred economic policies have played out over the last 100 years and currently in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, that "hate" thing looks pretty good by comparison.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?

Drago said...

ARM: "Let's recall, again, that the Norks threatened our nation with nuclear annihilation, multiple times. The response of a great nation to a provocation of this kind should not be to give them validation under what can only be described as 'looking desperate' conditions"

What a beautiful example of lefties thinking history began this morning.

All of ARM's heroes delivered alot more than validation: they gave the NORKS food, cash, technology, energy resources, credits, etc.

You know, the very things necessary for his regime to survive.

What has Trump given him? A campaign of maximum pressure....

...and the Bowe Bergdahl hero lefties complained about it every step of the way.

Too, too funny.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Dennis Rodman got a meeting with Kim. Dennis Rodman!

I wouldn't take a meeting with Dennis Rodman.

Getting a meeting with Kim is like fucking Stormy Daniels, you are pushing on open door.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Speaking of California:

Schwarzenegger mocks Trump on coal bailout: Protect pagers, Blockbuster too

Michael K said...

Hilarious to see the lefties like ARM and Inga start the Big Freakout.

chuck said...

Scott Adams has become one of my best resources for these Trump events. Strange, is it not? The usual analytical suspects seem to have no understanding at all as to what is going on in the new world, it is like they woke up in bizarro world and are walking about going, nurrrr, nurrrr.

narciso said...

Maybe Schwarzenegger was switched out with his clone as in the 6th day, God he is as useless Darrel issa who enabled him.

Drago said...

LOL

ARM reduced to "Schwarzenegger Totally Pwns Trump" style postings.

There is literally nothing left for him.

Fabulous.

Drago said...

Shorter Schwarzenegger: Can I please, please be relevant? Look, I'm like totally attacking Trump!! Please let me be relevant...

LOL

It's so very, very sad at the same time that it is so very, very amusing....

narciso said...


Meanwhile closer to home:


https://babalublog.com/2018/06/01/mexicos-presidential-front-runner-insults-trumps-policies-as-criminal-but-worships-fidel-castro-and-named-his-son-in-honor-of-che-guevara/

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Send Jong-Un home in a body bag.

Drago said...

The lefties are falling all over themselves since their latest fake news hit job on the Trump admin (the "immigration children being separated from their parents and its all Trump's fault") has completely fallen apart.

Like all the rest of their lies.

Hilarious.

Sal said...

Any president could have gotten a meeting with Kim

I don't think Obama ever met with him. But I don't know what Obama ever did in his eight years with respect to North Korea. He probably just kicked the can down the road for the next guy. He was too busy entertaining rappers and Hollywood perverts at the White House.

narciso said...

What did he do, he did impose some mild sanctions but he put more attention on JAmes Rosen than any regime official.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - without lies and manufactured outrage, they a really are hollow.

Drago said...

Sal: "He probably just kicked the can down the road for the next guy."

Nope. It was much worse than that.

The rocket scientist-Ben Rhodes types actually accepted a North Korean verbal pledge to cease development on their nukes and delivery systems for food and other benefits.

Literally, "no drama" obama llama accepted a verbal promise, non-verifiable, from Kim Jong Un in exchange for lots of goodies!

And these are the geniuses seeking to lecture Trump!

And quite frankly, I don't care how much it upsets LLR Chuck to hear criticism of the "magnificent" obama.

Sal said...

Whatever Obama did or didn't do, it's pretty fucking forgettable. Thanks a bunch to our Affirmative Action idiot and former president.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Drago takes glee in celebrating Trump's dishonesty and penchant for mendacity - probably as his entire basis for trusting him in the first place. Which is as ironic as it is stupid. The Republican Great Savior is The Great Liar. Think about the success proposition and the statement on the Republican Party in that one.

Gahrie said...

Name the three worst things Trump has done..not said, done, since he became president.

Drago said...

PPPT: "Which is as ironic as it is stupid."

Stupid is still believing that it was Scooter Libby that leaked Valerie Plame's totally not-clandestine agent identity to the press.

So there ya go tiger...

Drago said...

Gahrie: "Name the three worst things Trump has done..not said, done, since he became president."

My favorite PPPT inanity (there is a delightful abundance to choose from) was PPPT complaining that Trump was fighting the dems as they tried to remove him from office "constitutionally".

That one was literally laugh out loud funny.

All the li'l Adam Schiff-ty fanboys really don't get how this whole thing works, do they?

LOL

Michael Fitzgerald said...

Inga said...
He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?

6/1/18, 8:35 PM

He'll see the big board!

chickelit said...

“The left has nothing but hate to run on. Considering how their preferred economic policies have played out over the last 100 years and currently in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, that "hate" thing looks pretty good by comparison.”

This worries me. The nation has thrived on dichotomy for so long - both sides one-upping each other. For one side now to just sink so deeply into negativity w/o offering anything in return is deeply disturbing. Why can’t the left doff their funk and snap out of it? Have they really nothing positive to offer?

exhelodrvr1 said...

"Why can’t the left doff their funk and snap out of it? Have they really nothing positive to offer?"
Look at the (world-wide) practical results of the policies they have pushed.


tim in vermont said...

He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?

He might read Trump’s tweets.

tim in vermont said...

he Republican Great Savior is The Great Liar. Think about the success proposition and the statement on the Republican Party in that one.

It’s a damn good thing that the Democrats are offering an honest alternative.... Oh, wait.

Birkel said...

Inga: "He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?"
I too am worried that the North Korean spy chief might see Trump's NCAA Tourney picks. If those leak early there could be a calamity.


Any Leftist Collectivists want to talk about 3.8% unemployment?

Birkel said...

Even U6 is down to 7.8%.

Obama managed to get it down to 10% with his crazy economic ideas.

Bad Lieutenant said...


Inga said...
He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?

6/1/18, 8:35 PM


Schatzie, please don't be a retard. In prior article about the new Venus Hottentot, it was noted that the desk was empty. No confidential papers to get stuck up her buttcheeks or down her poitrine. I think they can do as well or better for the Korean spymaster.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Think about the success proposition and the statement on the Republican Party in that one.

Think about that the NYT has more or less literally run out of words to praise the economy. Are they fooled by Trumpian voodoo? Are they in the tank for PDJT? Seems unlikely.

So when you say "But President Cheetos said--" I will interject "but fxnews said: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/atlanta-fed-revises-gdpnow-up-to-48-for-q2-201806011605 "-->

"The GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the second quarter of 2018 is 4.8 percent on June 1, up from 4.7 percent on May 31," the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said in its latest GDPNow report.


...


Think about the success proposition and the statement on the Republican Party in that one.

Curious George said...

"Inga said...
He let the North Korean spy chief in the Oval Office... oh boy what could go wrong?"

Why don't you tell us what could go wrong?

AllenS said...

Trumpian voodoo

That just reminded me, in New Richmond WI a new cafe just opened called VUDU

The sign in the window says that they serve STREET FOOD.

You guess is as good as mine.