The old saw that “history doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes” brings to mind the ribald rhyme beginning with “There was a young man from Nantucket,” in relation to the Ukraine/Russia fiasco. Hungary was to host a follow-up pas de deaux featuring your President and the sack of dung representing Russia. Actually the only difference between the murderer, as revealed post-Anchorage, and the sack of dung is the sack. After the arabesque in Alaska Mr. Trump had planned to “negotiate” with the heinous character for whom he has admitted “admiration.”

Mr. Trump has many flaws, and some praise-worthy achievements in his second term, though many refuse to acknowledge them. He got played in Anchorage, and judging by the recent success(?) in Gaza, he could have negotiated a similar “agreement” that might have been honored for a short time. Hamas, Iran, Russia, China, North Korea — will the one that honors agreements and negotiates in good faith please step forward. As North America’s indigenous peoples used to say, “Many moons go by…”

The latest agreement to meet had the President proposing a deal (when isn’t he beating “deals” to death?), that would have set current battle lines as a new border with a ceasefire. Such a deal, let’s admit this, rewards the executioner for his invasion…and likely tee up another invasion at a date TBD. Lessons have been there to be learned, but never seem to be. Until now, maybe. The bromance may be over as the Putrid one appears to have stiffed the President once too many times and the Hungary meeting is on hold.

What to do? How about a hard line and get this over with? Give the Russian twerp the lands he has stolen but Ukraine gains NATO membership. He doesn’t like that? Tell him the fighting continues, Ukraine is getting a boatload of Tomahawks, plus heaviest sanctions squeezing Russia’s economy take effect now. He can take his pick. China did nothing when Iran’s nukes were bombed. With China’s economy in the doldrums, does Xi have the internal support and will to step up? It seems from this view that Xi supports his lackies only when it’s convenient, inexpensive and non-critical. The bad guys are always probing for weakness. When it’s found, it’s exploited. No more fawning. Time to quit dancing with the devil.

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In the backwash of NO KINGS day it’s worth considering what these events accomplish. Demonstrators will argue that clogging the streets, shouting “Hey hey, ho ho” is a worthwhile investment of time and energy. This corner of the blogosphere has lived through Viet Nam protests, Chicago D convention protests, MLK protests — the lone example in our memory that actually made a difference, Black Lives Matter protests, George Floyd protests, anti-semitic protests, Michael Brown/Ferguson Missouri protests, climate protests, oil and gas protests, nuclear protests, Planned Parenthood protests and some others lost in the waves of signs, shouting and confrontations. The only “Kings” in recent memory are Benny Goodman, Elvis Presley and Larry King. And, oh yeah, Sky King. Is DJT a wannabe king? Don’t think so, more likely pumping for a Nobel. We suppose the urge to march cannot be sated, if it makes one feel good, fine. So be it, but it’s exhausting. Then there’s this from the fringe at NO KINGS Denver…

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Following our recent negativity on The Denver Post editorial missteps, now comes a lengthy op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, no less, penned by Gerard Baker. The ever-so-gentle headline reads “Biased Media Needs a Complete Culture Change.” Mr. Baker posits that the problem is organic. ” The people who have the commanding heights of news — from editors down to reporters — (have a) philosophical outlook,” Baker writes, “(that) reflects a degree of convergence in their shared metropolitan, expensively educated, narrowly focused minds.” Baker notes that there is some turning away from the calcified news model that has held sway for decades. The Washington Post and CBS News are reorienting their focus with, according to Mr. Baker “…thoughtful and honest journalists intent on restoring high standards and pushing the pendulum back toward the plumb-line.”

It’s a start but only that. The once conservative Chicago Tribune is no longer so. New Yorkers have the New York Post, but the New York Times as always dishes up the liberal line. Newspapers across major metroplexes, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and so on, serve their liberal constituencies. As The Denver Post wrote in a rare admission, there have been missteps by elected officials they’ve endorsed. A search for chapter and verse of those missteps in proximity to their occurrence is a fruitless pursuit.

Mr. Baker concludes, “Without structural change — a repopulation of the demographically, educationally and geographically sealed units these places have become — real change is improbable. That change is harder still in organizations rooted in the old forms of predigital content delivery. Changing form and content at the same time is herculean. We should wish them luck…everyone who has an interest in fair, honest and objective news and information is the means by which people are informed about their government and the way they hold the powerful accountable.”

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This week, in that same edition of the WSJ, a miracle was revealed…by William McGurn, former speechwriter for George W. Bush and a visiting fellow at Hillsdale College. He authors the weekly “Main Street” column for The Wall Street Journal. He writes:

“It’s good to be back. Seven months ago in Manhattan I went into cardiac arrest and my wife was told I had less than a 1% chance of survival. I’ve been informed that my heart stopped — twice — for a total of 14 minutes. By the grace of God and the good doctors at Mt. Sinai I’m still here. For most the next few weeks I was out of it, so I don’t remember anything, including most of my many visitors. People were great to me, starting with those at this company…When I look back over these past months I am overwhelmed by the kindnesses bestowed on not only me, but my wife and daughters. What I owe is beyond my ability to repay.”

Truly a miracle! Welcome back, Bill!