Trump Trade Triumph, Investigations Galore, A Question Of Credibility

Monday, October 1, 2018

Trump Trade Triumph
 
President Donald Trump has delivered on another major campaign promise.  He successfully renegotiated the Clinton-era NAFTA agreement. 
 
Trump repeatedly said he wanted a better deal for America, and everyone repeatedly said it couldn't be done.  But Trump negotiated one deal with Mexico and conducted another set of negotiations with Canada, which was dragging its feet over a variety of issues.
 
Just a few weeks ago, Reuters reported that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "would not compromise on key demands at high-level talks." At the United Nations General Assembly last week, President Trump was asked about reports that he refused to speak with Trudeau.  Trump said:
 
"His tariffs are too high, and he doesn't seem to want to move, and I've told him forget about it, and frankly, we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada. . . We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada."
 
Well, it seems the president got the prime minister's attention.  Canada agreed to some last-minute concessions on dairy imports and auto exports.
 
As a result, NAFTA is no more.  Say hello to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.  News of the agreement caused the stock market to jump more than 200 points at the opening this morning.
 
This is indicative of who Trump is and how he represents the United States.  He put America and our workers first.  All of Washington, D.C., was against him, yet Trump knew we could get a better deal and we did.
 
But wait. . . There's more!
 
Lost in the Kavanaugh kerfuffle last week, President Trump signed a new trade agreement with South Korea.  In addition, China just announced that it is slashing tariffs on more than 1,500 products, responding to pressure from the Trump Administration to open its economy to more American goods.
 
 
 
Investigations Galore
 
Thanks to retiring Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, Senate liberals are getting the additional FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh that they demanded.  Do you think they are satisfied?  Of course not.  As Byron York notes, progressives are moving the goal posts yet again.
 
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who sat on Dr. Ford's allegations for months, is now demanding full transparency from the White House and wants to know everything the FBI is doing. 
 
Sen. Bernie Sanders is demanding that the FBI investigate Kavanaugh for perjury. 
 
Sen. Mazie Hirono says the investigation will be "a farce" if it is limited in any way. 
 
Meanwhile, Senator Charles Grassley is asking the FBI to investigate one of Judge Kavanaugh's accusers for perjury. 
 
Senator Bill Cassidy is calling on the FBI to investigate collusion between Senate Democrats and left-wing political operatives.
 
Senator Lindsey Graham is demanding an investigation to find out who in Sen. Feinstein's office leaked Dr. Ford's letter and why her attorneys did not tell Ford that Senate investigators were willing to fly to California to interview her.
 
 
 
A Question Of Credibility
 
Last week, I wrote that Dr. Ford was a sympathetic witness.  Left-wing senators and commentators have described her as a "credible witness," and they have denounced anyone who dared to question her allegations.
 
We will see what the FBI uncovers in the days ahead.  But as of now, I believe there are just too many gaps and inconsistencies in Dr. Ford's story to say she is credible.
 
If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to read the full memo released by Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who questioned Dr. Ford during last week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. 
 
It takes Mitchell five pages to outline all of the inconsistences in Ford's testimony.  This experienced sex crimes prosecutor does not find Ford's accusations credible because Ford constantly changed her story, can't remember significant details (the date, the precise location of the alleged assault, how she got there or how she got home), but Ford does remember minor details, such as her claim that she had only one beer at the party.
 
Meanwhile, I can't help but think about what the Kavanaugh family has gone through. 
Check out this picture.  The women sitting behind Judge Kavanaugh are his mother, a close family friend and his wife, Ashley. 
 
Will anyone be held accountable for the pain and anguish these women (not to mention Judge Kavanaugh's daughters) have experienced over the last several weeks? 
 
 
 
Chag Same'ach

Carol and I wish all of our Jewish friends and supporters celebrating Simchat Torah a happy and joyous holiday!