Tuesday, September 18, 2018 11:00 AM
By BRIAN A. HOWEY, in Indianapolis
1. Walorski calls for Trump, Xi summit
Here are your Tuesday power lunch talking points: With another round of tariffs on China ($200 billion) and retaliation on just about every U.S. product, and both Presidents Trump and Xi defiantly guarding their super power status, U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski is calling on the two leaders to meet. “We need to hold China accountable for its unfair trade practices, but I am increasingly concerned about the harmful impact tariffs are having on Hoosier farmers and manufacturers,” Walorski said. “It’s time for President Trump and President Xi to meet face-to-face and find a long-term solution that ensures American farmers, businesses, and workers are treated fairly. Until such an agreement is reached, the administration should work with Congress to minimize the negative effects of these tariffs.”
Trump believes that China will pay for the tariffs, when the reality is that it will be American consumers who foot the bill while manufacturers and farmers twist in the wind. Trump tweeted: "Tariffs have put the U.S. in a very strong bargaining position, with Billions of Dollars, and Jobs, flowing into our Country - and yet cost increases have thus far been almost unnoticeable. If countries will not make fair deals with us, they will be 'Tariffed!'" And yetthere are signs Trump may be gaining the upper hand, per New York Times: “‘Chinese officials “are generally confused,’ said Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda, a UCLA trade specialist, who has been traveling around China speaking with officials, businesspeople and workers. ‘They don’t know what to do. They worry that the tit-for-tat model is playing into Trump’s hands.’”
Walorski appears to be weathering a challenge from Democrat Mel Hall, though tariffs could be a defining issue on this referendum election on Trump. Hall told HPI’s Jacob Curry, “Pork has dropped 44 cents, and milk has gone from about $22/100 to $13/100. So, farmers are really hurting. When it comes to tariffs, I think first of all ‘do no harm,’ and I don’t think all the costs of tariffs have been well thought out.”
2. Kavanaugh twisting . . .
We were struck by the almost nonchalant attitude President Trump displayed toward SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the wake of high school era sexual assault allegations by Prof. Christine Blasey Ford. U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly called for a delay on Thursday’s Judiciary Committee vote, it was, and now there is dual testimony under oath scheduled for next Monday. Trump said he was open to a “full process” and praised Kavanaugh as a “high quality individual.” But missing was the stinging tweets he often issues when feeling aggrieved. NBC’s Meet The Press team sniffs a potentialHarriet Miers: “We wouldn’t be surprised if this hearing never happens — because Kavanaugh ultimately withdraws his nomination. He survived yesterday. But does he survive today? Or tomorrow? Or Thursday? Or Friday?” Thirteen years ago, President Bush43 withdrew Miers nomination, and ended up with Justice Samuel Alito, a reliable conservative. Might Judge Amy Coney Barrett be the new Alito?
3. Kavanaugh peril for both parties
Sen. Donnelly was quick to call the a delay in the Brett Kavanaugh vote and was joined by potentially teetering Republicans Susan Collins, Jeff Flake, Lisa Murkowski, and Bob Corker. But a sensational Kavanaugh v. Ford hearing 23 years after Clarence Thomas v. Anita Hill is a completemid-term wild card. Republicans risk fueling the “pink wave,” with a record number of congressional, Senate, gubernatorial and legislative female candidates. But Republicans tend to win cultural wars. So these allegations have become the “September surprise.” Wonder what October will bring?
4. Lawson holding candidate schools
With Russian election assaults continuing on the U.S. election process, Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced this morning she will be hosting “candidate schools” in Terre Haute, Evansville, Jeffersonville, Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Valparaiso, Lafayette and Indianapolis from Sept. 20-27. “Candidate Schools help new candidates understand the basics of cybersecurity and campaign finance, while providing a refresher to veteran candidates,” Lawson said. It will also bring about scads of earned media in every market as she wages a reelection campaign against Democrat Jim Harper. We would be surprised if Harper enrolls in every session.