Despite setbacks in Washington and Alabama, Steve seems to have landed on his feet in Hollywood.
The Hangover trilogy has been a big hit.
Take your date and watch it at the mall!
Steve Bannon
-
-
ZipDialog Roundup for Sunday, October 22
Articles chosen with care. Your comments welcomed.
Linked articles in bold purple◆ Japan’s tough, pro-American prime minister, Shinzo Abe, wins overwhelming reelection (Reuters)
If he completes his upcoming 3-year term, he would become Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Economically, he has tried to relaunch the economy with monetary easing. Militarily, he has tried to ease the constraints of Japan’s pacifist constitution.
[Japan’s] U.S.-drafted constitution’s Article 9, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of armed forces. But Japanese governments have interpreted it to allow a military exclusively for self-defense.
Backers of Abe’s proposal to clarify the military’s ambiguous status say it would codify the status quo. Critics fear it would allow an expanded role overseas for the military.
Abe said he would not stick to a target he had floated of making the changes by 2020. –Reuters
Comment: Abe’s reelection, which infuriates China, helps the US in squeezing North Korea.
◆ Pres. Trump says he will bring “biggest tax cuts ever in the history of this country” (Fox News, Trump interview with Maria Bartiromo)
Says he thinks he has the votes, emphasizing the cuts but says there will be reform, also.Expresses some optimism on health-care changes, praises Lamar Alexander and emphasizes block grants to states.
◆ UN’s World Health Organization cancels outrageous appointment of dictator Robert Mugabe as “goodwill ambassador” (Washington Post)
The outcry rocketed around the world after this week’s announcement and seemed centered around one primary point: Can you be a “goodwill ambassador” if the world widely regards you as a violent, tyrannical despot? –Washington PostComment: Some Twitter responses parodied the appointment, suggesting Kim Jong Un as Mugabe’s replacement.
◆ Battle among Republicans: McConnell says Bannon, others gunning to knock off GOP incumbents are ‘specialists at nominating people who lose’ (Washington Post)
McConnell went on to say that the effort of Bannon and others “isn’t going to help President Trump achieve his agenda. He needs a Republican Senate and a Republican House to confirm judges, to pass legislation that is important to him and to the country.” –Washington PostComment: Bannon and his supporters respond that McConnell’s people have not actually passed the Trump agenda.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦