The Arizona Republic

If I were doing North Korea deal, here’s what I’d say

- Mike Livingston, Mesa Jeff Troy, Mesa Patrick Mazzarella, Scottsdale Lou Parker, Phoenix

If I was President Trump meeting Kim I would say, “Ya know, Kim, you have beautiful beaches, nice shorelines that could be turned into hotels and resorts.”

“Your economy would grow, jobs would grow, you would have food for your people and the people would love you for it.”

“The U.S. will guarantee your country’s safety and we will send people to help you make it happen. No more sanctions for no more nukes.”

What do you say, Kim?

Would plea deal be on the table if this had been an Arizona woman?

The family of the slain ASU student wants justice and so do I. When 19-yearold student Yue Jiang was murdered in Tempe in 2016, I was particular­ly stunned when I read the circumstan­ces surroundin­g her death.

The victim and assailant did not know each other. Jiang was out with her boyfriend when suddenly, her car was struck from behind by Holly Davis (a career criminal, who spent time in Prison in Missouri).

Davis then walked up to Jiang’s car and shot her to death. No reason for it. A 19-year-old girl, filled with promise, wanting nothing more than to live her life and complete her studies at ASU.

Shockingly, prosecutor­s made a deal on this tragedy. They reduced the charge to second-degree murder. Davis can walk out of prison in 25 years.

That is a disgrace to our system of justice. How do prosecutor­s explain a plea deal to Jiang’s family back in China? This was an execution, pure and simple!

Davis is a thoughtles­s monster who should never experience freedom ever again. I know why plea deals are made, however, it can’t always be about the money.

I have to wonder if this deal would be on the table if the victim was from a prominent Arizona family?

Yes, in this instance, I’m intolerant and I’m extremely proud of it

I am a proud member of the “intolerant left.” Here are just a few things I won’t tolerate.

The trashing of our long-time democratic allies, such as Canada, France and Germany, while praising murderous thug dictators like Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Hypocritic­al Christians supporting a man who has bragged about sexual assault.

The praising of white supremacis­t racists as “very fine people.”

The attacks on a free press.

The scurrilous attacks on a true hero, Robert Mueller, and the brave men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department.

The mocking of a disabled man. The attacks on John McCain Gold Star family members.

There are many other things as well, and and I will continue to speak out and be “intolerant.”

Trump delivers the modern version of ‘peace in our time’

So now Trump is going to tell us how he demonstrat­ed his great negotiatio­n skills at the Singapore Summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un?

How is what he negotiated in Singapore different from what Neville Chamberlai­n negotiated in Munich in 1938?

 ??  ?? You can reach Steve Benson at 602-444-8035 or steve.benson@arizonarep­ublic.com
You can reach Steve Benson at 602-444-8035 or steve.benson@arizonarep­ublic.com

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