WEDNESDAY IN THE NORTH

Yesterday was cloudy and cool and misty in The North.

But we achieved all the goals of the day: some repairs of equipment; visiting a garden center for a variety of plants for our pots and beds; saying fond farewells for a while to neighbors heading ‘downstate’ for the upcoming work week; gathering fire wood; visiting with remaining neighbors; the inevitable cocktail hour and a delightful dinner out in a newly smoke-free pub in town.

All in all, a splendid day.

Today the rain began ca. 5:00 or 6:00AM and came down most vigorously. No wind – a delightful soaking rainfall.

Dear Wife is still asleep – and the second cup of coffee is helping me think over the last day or so.

We awoke yesterday to the news that b.o. had chosen his nominee for the Supreme Court.

She is characterized as a summa cum laude; liberal; Hispanic; and a mediocre judge.

We shall see.

The pundits are suggesting that she is a relatively safe choice for b.o., that the Right will reserve the big fight for a decision changer.

Again, we’ll see.

And this AM we read/hear that N. Korea as assumed the mantle of primary tester of the new President of the US with missiles, bomb tests, threats, cancellation of treaties, and perhaps more of the like.

At The Study, we believe that ‘testing’ is ok, that it is the routine ritual of diplomatic relations.
But we also believe that the US must win the test, all the tests, and that the testers must not gain, must not irrevocably injure the hyper power. It is our hope that b.o. will continue his practice of violating his campaign pledge of ‘extending the open hand instead of the closed fist.’

The closed fist is at times necessary, especially when dealing with such as N. Korea and Iran.
Check that: is always necessary.

It is likely that current Korean and Iranian tests will result in some significant, some permanent changes in the balances of power.

From the experts we get the intelligence that the US just may decide to endorse and promote a nuclear weapons program for Japan in order to counter the emergent nuclear power of N. Korea.

This would be an historic change in US foreign policy.
Regrettable?
In some ways, but regrettable or not, probably necessary.

Ripple effect? Count on it. This step would be one of the irrevocable ones.

Surfing the news sites, we note that one commentator states that with the election of b.o. and the national dems, the libs finally have to wrestle with real problems.
So far, the conclusions of said wrestlings are very much in doubt, at least in the short run.

Maybe b.o. will surprise us.
Maybe he is not the piece of work he seems to be.

As Gramma used to say: “Hope springs eternal.”