Here are my observations and opinions on my selected news of the day.

THOSE POLLS – I include them in my reports because you need to know how each negative action against the president by the left affects him, and how some fail to get traction.

I find it interesting that when a poll driven by a newspaper or TV network fails to paint a bleak picture of the president, they simply don’t report it, or they distort the findings in some way.

As I have told you in the past, the Rasmussen survey is perhaps the best for you to follow because it is the only daily presidential approval poll, and it only samples likely voters.

NOT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WANTED TO HEAR – President Trump’s trade negotiating team are close to reaching wide-ranging agreements with China that will be a boon to the United States, according to John Hinderaker of Power Line.

Details of the first phase of agreements will be announced within the next few weeks, but we have learned that China has agreed to ramp up its purchases of agricultural products to $40-$50 billion – three times the previous peak – over the next two years.

During the China negotiation hiatus, word coming out of rural America revealed that farmers and other individuals affected by the delay and tariffs continued to support Trump.

Democrats were hopeful that China would wait out the Trump administration, believing they would be able to strike a better deal for them with a Democrat in the White House.

Could it be that Chinese leadership sees the reelection of Trump in 2020? “They expect that I’m going to win, otherwise they wouldn’t sign the deal,” said Trump. “It’s very simple.”

In addition to the relief for the farmers, it appears that China will open up its financial services markets to American companies.

CLOSER TO HOME, Democrats are holding up the approval process of the United States-Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA) because they see it as another win for the Trump administration.

Nancy Pelosi is walking a fine line on this because the unions want it. It protects American workers.   USMCA would strengthen union protections, create more jobs and discourage U.S. firms from outsourcing work abroad.  Unions have railed against NAFTA for three decades.

THE SYRIA WITHDRAWAL – President Trump’s decision to move 50 to 100 special forces troops out of Northern Syria was met with criticism, as might be expected, from the generals, active and retired, and the likes of Sen. Lindsay Graham.  Even Cindy McCain, widow of the late Sen. John McCain, felt the need to offer how he would have reacted to the announcement.

Not so surprising, even Democrats, like Sen. Chuck Schumer, normally opposed to our involvement in wars around the world, said he would demand a vote to prevent the withdrawal.  Not because he wants our troops to stay there, but because it is in opposition to Trump, of course.

The esteemed military strategist Peggy Noonan called it a “reckless rush to withdraw.”

A friend offered a humorous viewpoint on the consequences.  “Withdrawing 50 troops!  They must have been supermen.”

Another sent me a quote by someone concerned that Trump operates on a whim and has no strategy. Remember Obama’s lead from behind strategy?  And the Bushes strategy of recruiting other countries to go to war with us?

One has only to recall how Trump’s reference to “Little Rocket Man” and “fire and fury” was going to get us into a war in North Korea, while his restraint against Iran’s attacks reveals a weakness.  He can’t win, folks.  But if we do go to war, he will go to win.

FORMER SEN. HARRY REID, appearing on the “Axe Files,” the CNN show hosted by former Obama-man David Axelrod, said “I used to think that Donald Trump was not too smart.  I certainly don’t believe that anymore.  He is basically a very, very smart man.  No matter what the subject, any argument he involves himself in, it’s on his terms.”

When asked what advice he would give to a candidate running against Trump, Reid responded, “Well, what I say initially and I say it right here on your show, anyone that thinks Trump’s going to be beaten easily should have another think coming.”

MEANWHILE, John Kasich is still dealing with losing his shot at the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016, and offers his advice to Republicans to “look in the mirror and figure out how you want to be remembered later and how you feel about yourself today,” and “don’t be afraid of telling Trump their true feelings.”

Ridiculous.  And to think I supported him early in the 2016 campaign.  Kasich is a bright guy but he seems to think Washington politics is like playing bean bag.  Surely, he knows that CNN‘s Jake Tapper invites him on the air because he knows he’ll get a negative comment on Trump.  And Kasich complied.

THE IGNORANCE OF SCHIFF – Nancy Pelosi make soon regret naming the arrogant Rep. Adam Schiff’ and his House Intelligence Committee to prove that the president committed an impeachable offense.  It’s normally the task assigned to the Judiciary Committee.

During one of his trips to the microphones this week, he referred to his committee’s investigation as analogous to that of a grand jury, suggesting he missed a few classes at Stanford and Harvard Law.

HILLSDALE COLLEGE, the private college in Michigan, known for refusing to accept taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly via student government loans, has announced the launching of its Steve and Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington DC, starting in January 2020.

The school will be focused on working professionals in the government-dominated area of the country, offering a Master of Arts in Government.

In making the announcement, officials say the school will offer an approach to the study of government that is a much-need breath of fresh air, in a sea of master’s programs devoted to the upkeep of the status quo.

Hillsdale hopes to cultivate a community of political thinkers whose ingenuity is only deepened by a profound understanding of America’s founding.

Steve Van Andel is the son of the late Jay Van Andel, who along with Rich DeVos, started the Amway Co. in Ada, Michigan in 1959.

I guarantee you will not see students at Hillsdale protest a government speaker as was witnessed at Georgetown University by students protesting a speech by acting DHS head Kevin McAleenan last week.

AS IF TWO LIBERAL COLUMNISTS aren’t enough to endure with the Arizona Republic, now Robert Robb, whose columns on politics and business have been quite insightful, has joined the left.

Columnists Laurie Roberts and E. J. Montini are constantly reaching to create another attack on Sen. Martha McSally, for her support of President Trump.

Now Robb has challenged Rep. Andy Biggs and other Republicans for their undying support of Trump.  He compares the Republican obsession with Trump to the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) on the left, where Democrats are so obsessed and consumed by their political opposition to President Trump that they have lost perspective and the ability to see things as they are.

“Those GOPers are so obsessed and consumed by the TDS on the left that they have lost perspective and the ability to see things as they are,” suffering from Trump Derangement Derangement Syndrome (TDDS).

While Robb was generally kind to Biggs’ efforts in Washington, he inexplicably chose to criticize Biggs’ comparison of Trump to the fictious George Bailey of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in a recent Daily Caller piece.  A stretch, yes, but hardly a good reason to attack him for having TDDS.

Arizonans should be proud that one of its representatives is frequently called upon to comment on the issues of the day on national television.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.