Scared by President Trump's bombing of Syria and Afghanistan, evil dictator Kim Jong-un tried to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile, but it barely made it off the launching pad.

By way of background, the mid-30s Kim Jong-un is new to the evil dictating business. The 35-year-old Lil’ Kim inherited the role from his dad, Kim Jong-il, who got it from his dad, who acquired North Korea in a hostile takeover in 1948.

They are all ruthless.

Kim Jong-un — the third son of Kim Jong-il, who died a few years back — blustered that he would use his high-tech missiles, which he says can reach Los Angeles, to obliterate America.

Trump has called upon his new bestie, the leader of China, to ask North Korea to chill. China does not want regime change or a war in North Korea because tens of millions of refugees would stream over the border to China.

Millions they would have to feed who don't even know how to make iPhones.

When North Korea threatened the United States, it was thought that fellow (supposedly) communist China would be the one who would calm things down. You’d think China would side with its fellow communist North Koreans.

But when the U.S.A. owes China $1.3 trillion, they want to make sure we are OK.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Concerning Kim Jong-un's failure to launch

We all kept looking for the evidence that, as the Democrats and their media kept saying, Donald Trump was in bed with the Russians.

As of last week, there was no evidence, and then he bombed Russia’s ally, Syria. So the final answer is: No.

Since most are disciplined and rewarded by the Democrat machine in many big cities, Dems stick to the talking points. There is never much independent thought, no breaking of ranks,  and no open debating of ideas like Republicans have; Democrats do what they are told by their party elders. 

I wondered why they were breathlessly advancing this narrative that Trump has Russian ties. Now we know. By surveilling Donald Trump and his campaign, then-NSA head Susan Rice (likely with orders or a wink from her bosses in the White House) used her spy agencies to “weaponize” our intel community for political gain.

They knew it might come out, so they want to act like they had reasons to sic the Feds on him. That is why they have frantically pushed the nonsensical “Russian ties” narrative they fabricated and continue to espouse.

Now it makes sense: to cover for impending Rice/White House revelations of spying on a political opponent. Next, Rice will need to testify before the Senate.

Like the way Barack Obama's Department of Justice went after his political opponents (as did the IRS with Lois Lerner’s targeting of Tea Party groups), history will record that the Obama administration used government power against its political enemies like no other.

Democrats are great at conflating issues. They conflate illegal immigration with immigration. If you are in favor of legal immigration, you are somehow a racist. We have one of the highest marginal tax rates in the world; if you think it should be lower, you do not want to pay your "fair share." If you oppose any wasteful spending program, you are racist and mean. The Dems have now conflated a hacking incident that had no bearing on the 2016 election into a big international conspiracy.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Crimea, in Obama’s mind our nation’s biggest threats were the Koch brothers. Obama even mocked Mitt Romney in the debates when Romney said Russia was our greatest geo-political threat. Obama smirked and said, “And the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.”

This passive, “nice guy” diplomacy all started when Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize before he was in office even a year. Putin was also nominated for the Nobel Peace, as was Hitler in 1939. 

The real story here is that there was no reason to investigate Trump and Russian ties. Democrats keep yelping about it to cover for using our government for their own political gain.

“Unmasking” Trump political operatives and leaking their names to the press was the crime. The Dems know that if the police find a reason to follow your car for 100 miles, they will find a reason to pull you over.

Democrats put their hate of Trump above what have been the laws of this country for years. One party does not get to use the blunt power of the federal government to go after rival politicians.

So Dems want to throw Republicans in prison for colluding with Russia, and Repubs want to send Democrats to jail for illegal surveillance and leaking.

All the facts contradict Trump’s "cozy relationship" with Russia. He has ramped up sanctions, he just bombed Putin’s buddy in Syria, he has never done a deal in Russia, and he hasn't even married a Russian woman — yet.

If Trump really wants Russian puppet Bahshar al-Assad gone from Syria, he needs to call on his corporate friends to forcefully remove him. 

I suggest he use United Airlines.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Democrats have mastered the Great Conflation

On Sunday, President Donald J. Trump used golf to woo a member of the more conservative Freedom Caucus into seeing things his way and to try to forge an understanding on moving forward on important matters like ObamaCare reform.

Invitee Sen. Rand Paul Tweeted: “I had a great time today with @realDonaldTrump and believe we are getting closer to an agreement on health care!”

Sen. Paul and White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney played golf at Trump National Golf Club in nearby Virginia to discuss such matters.

Hopefully, it is “an art of a deal” in the making.

There have been rancorous campaigning and debates on issues between Rand Paul and President Trump, but when wealthy WASPs meet to play golf, they are suddenly reminded that much more unites than divides them.

Trump is realizing that success in business does not translate into governing in Washington. Washington is a different world of archaic and illogical structures, egos (not just his), and entrenched bureaucrats. Trump is having a hard time “draining the swamp.” But he is serious about it.

Golf has long been the "sport" of the rich and famous. Obama played a lot of golf, but rarely for business. Politicians, government bureaucrats, executives and retired lawyers, in their latter years, usually play golf.

Obama, the first black president, did famously play with Speaker of the House John Boehner when they were having their differences. And they did gamble some. They ran up $19 trillion in gambling debts on the golf course, but true to form, laughed as they left the bill for some younger golfers behind them to pay.

Hopefully, as he retires we can also retire Obamacare, and Obama will now be able to play more golf.

Paul, an ophthalmologist and Tea Party darling, has his own Obamacare replacement plan. He and other conservatives feel Trump’s bill did not go far enough; they want to fully repeal and replace the 2010 plan. 

Paul's plan does more to spark competition and he thinks it is a better plan. He should know — he’s a doctor.

Rand’s dad was an MD too. Dr. Ron Paul was a gynecologist and kept trying to retire to become the leading libertarian in Congress.

It will be interesting to see if anything will happen in the wake of the match. It will probably be like watching golf itself: You rather expect something exciting to happen, so you watch. And it never does.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Trump’s golf summit more than a match

I dreamed I had come up with a solution to America's greatest problem: eliminate Congress.

Unfortunately, when I awakened, I was in greater distress because the television was on and Congress was in session haggling.

Tragically, my dream awakened to America's ongoing nightmare.

Politics and Congressional gridlock have come to dominate America's way of life. Americans have come to live and breathe the tension of Capitol Hill through internet and cable television. People have chosen sides or removed themselves totally from the fray to enjoy their remaining days of life.

Hold everything — now here is an idea: Totally shut off CNN, MSNBC, Fox, NBC and all news feeds from The Washington Post and New York Times and just simply have a marvelous day!

In the meantime, totally unplug from Facebook, Twitter and get away from the computer — because every time you log on, you are bombarded with something to incite you or suck you into the daily fray for all.

Hey, pal, is this really the life you dreamed of living?

My fear is if I keep my head buried in the sand that I will pull it out and ISIS will be driving down my road dragging my neighbors by their necks with a noose reserved for me.

I don't want that for my neighbors or for me.

I have to try to stay with it because, if all Americans go on our merry way neglecting what freedoms we have left, we will have no freedoms at all. 

So I say this to you, dear friend: Let us not give up on doing what is right. Little children in this country deserve a free and safe place to live. We must stay alert and do our part every day.

This doesn't mean that we don't get a little sick and tired, though.

Many of us were irked with how the new health care bill played out. I want a new health care bill as badly as anyone, but hold the phone. Buying insurance across state lines was not part of the new proposal.

If I had been there voting, I would have to say “no deal.” All we have heard about for two years is the promise to rein in these insurance businesses and give Americans a chance at more reasonable, competitive insurance rates.

Capitol Hill still has a lot of work to do on a new health care bill.

Medicaid has to be fixed. Medicaid should only be for the very poor and the truly disabled. There also should be a lifetime limit on Medicaid. Healthy poor citizens should be limited to a maximum of five years on Medicaid with never more than a two-year increment of Medicaid coverage. People should have to go off a year before coming back into the system.

When your five years are complete, then it's over. Five years should give people enough time to move to a part of the country where they can find a sustaining job.

Also, any health care bill that hints of bailing out insurance companies will not work. Those companies often make billions and must be responsible. Bailing out banks and insurance companies will only add to America's debt and lust for more of your tax dollars.

Find some ways to relax and live the life you have dreamed about. The first step is to disconnect from anything that plugs you into Congress and Capitol Hill.

But wait; don't stay unplugged forever because you might not have an America when you reconnect.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author. 

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Congress is America's nightmare